HARO - Complete Guide to Using HARO for Backlink Building

What is HARO?

HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is a platform that connects journalists, bloggers with industry experts. Founded in 2008 by CEO Peter Shankman, HARO allows journalists to seek expert opinions for their articles, in exchange for experts getting mentioned and receiving backlinks.

In 2023, HARO was renamed to Connectatively but still operates on the same principles. This is a free and effective way to get backlinks from reputable media websites like Forbes, Huffington Post, CNN, and thousands of other websites.

Why Called "Help A Reporter Out"?

The name reflects the platform's essence: helping journalists complete their articles. When you provide valuable information, you're "helping" them, and in exchange you receive recognition in the form of quotes and backlinks.

Important Note: HARO/Connectatively is completely free. Never pay to be featured - if someone asks for money, it's a scam.

To learn more about other link building strategies, check out our article on Link Building Strategy 2026.

Why is HARO Effective?

1. Completely Free

No investment required, just investment of time and expertise. This is one of the most cost-effective backlink building methods.

2. Backlinks from Authoritative Websites

When selected, you'll be featured on reputable media websites. These are high-value backlinks because media websites typically have high Domain Authority (DA).

To learn more about DA, check out our article on What is Domain Authority?.

3. Personal Branding

Not only getting backlinks, HARO helps you build your reputation as an industry expert. Being quoted on reputable websites increases credibility and brand awareness.

4. Wide Audience Reach

You can reach millions of readers through journalists' articles. This is a highly effective free marketing method.

5. Industry Relationships

The participation process helps you build relationships with journalists and bloggers in your industry. This is a valuable asset for future media campaigns.

To learn more about Digital PR strategy, check out our article on What is SEO Offpage?.

How to Register for HARO/Connectatively

Step 1: Visit Website

Visit the official website: connectatively.com (formerly helpareporter.com)

Step 2: Create Account

1. Click "Sign Up" or "Join"
2. Enter personal information:
   • First and last name
   • Email address
   • Password
3. Verify email

Step 3: Complete Your Profile

Fill in complete information to increase your chances of being selected:

1. Expertise: Your field of expertise
2. Brief bio: Short bio about you and your experience
3. Social media: LinkedIn, Twitter for journalists to verify
4. Profile image: Professional headshot
5. Website: Link to your website (if any)

Tip: The more detailed and professional your profile, the higher your chances of being selected.

Step 4: Confirm Registration

After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email. Click the link in the email to activate your account.

How to Use HARO Effectively

1. Receive Request Emails

HARO sends 3-5 emails daily (morning, noon, afternoon depending on US timezone):

• 6:30 AM ET: Requests for today's morning articles
• 12:30 PM ET: Requests for today's noon articles
• 5:30 PM ET: Requests for today's afternoon articles

Note: Add HARO email to your whitelist so it doesn't go to spam.

2. Filter Relevant Requests

Read each request carefully and filter by:

• Topic: Related to your expertise
• Deadline: Enough time to respond
• Size: Large or small website (prioritize large websites)
• Specific requirements: Can you provide what they need?

3. Respond Quickly

Speed is the most important factor! Requests typically receive hundreds of responses. You need:

• Respond within the first 1-3 hours
• Best is within first 30 minutes
• No more than 24 hours after receiving the email

4. Write Quality Responses

Effective response structure:

Subject: [Request name] - [Your name]

Hi [Journalist name],

Thanks for reaching out. I'd be happy to share my thoughts on this topic.

[Quote your opinion/experience - 2-3 sentences]

[Add a unique insight or statistic if available]

[Brief introduction about you and your experience]

Contact: [Email/Phone]

Best regards,
[Your name]

5. Track

• Note requests you've responded to
• Follow up articles after posting
• Check if you've been mentioned
• Thank the journalist if quoted

Types of Requests on HARO

1. Quote Requests

Journalists need a expert quote. This is the most common type and easiest to respond to.

How to respond:

• Provide 1-2 short quotes
• Emphasize a unique point
• Add real examples if available

2. Expert Source Requests

Journalists need an expert for the entire article. This is a bigger opportunity but requires more time investment.

How to respond:

• Introduce yourself and experience fully
• Provide links to related content you've written
• Be ready for an interview

3. Data/Research Requests

Journalists need data or research results. Suitable if you have exclusive data.

How to respond:

• Describe data you have
• Propose to share (can be exclusive to them)
• Conditions if needed

4. Product Review Requests

Journalists need product reviews. Suitable if you have related products/services.

How to respond:

• Describe product briefly
• Highlight key features
• Provide sample if available

5. Story Contribution Requests

Journalists need contributors for articles or programs. Suitable if you have deep knowledge of a topic.

How to respond:

• Identify part you can contribute
• Provide examples or case studies
• Propose how to contribute

Tips to Get Selected More Often

1. Speed Is the Most Important Factor

Respond as early as possible. Usually only 50-100 people respond in the first hour. If you respond after 24 hours, your chances are nearly zero. Set up email notifications to receive alerts immediately when new requests come in and check your inbox at HARO's email times (6:30, 12:30, 17:30 ET).

2. Personalize Every Response

Don't send generic templates. Read the request carefully and respond to match the journalist's tone. Mention the journalist's name, the article they're working on, and show that you genuinely care about that topic. Generic templates will be detected immediately and marked as spam.

3. Provide Real Value

Don't just answer yes/no. Provide unique insights, statistics, or perspectives that no one else has. Share a specific case study, an interesting statistic, or a contrarian view to make an impression. Journalists are always looking for new angles, so don't just agree with what they already know.

4. Keep Responses Concise

Journalists don't have time to read long responses. Keep responses under 200 words. Get straight to the point and leave contact information so journalists can follow up if needed. Don't write an entire essay in the first email.

5. Build a Complete Expert Profile

Complete profile, professional photo, and links to previous articles increase credibility. Include your LinkedIn, published articles, and relevant certifications. Journalists often check profiles before selecting, so a good profile is a deciding factor.

6. Be Patient and Don't Give Up

It may take 10-20 responses to be selected once. Don't get discouraged! Consider each response as a learning opportunity. Track which requests receive many responses to adjust your strategy.

7. Follow Trends and Journalists

Knowing which journalists often cover what topics helps you prepare in advance. Follow frequent HARO journalists on Twitter/LinkedIn and note who frequently posts requests. When you understand their style, you can better customize your responses.

Mistakes to Avoid

1. Responding Too Late

After 24 hours,几乎没有机会. Speed is the most important factor. Even if your response is great but sent 2 days late, it will be ignored. If you don't have time to respond within 1-2 hours, skip that request and wait for the next one.

2. Irrelevant Responses

Only respond to requests matching your expertise. Don't spam! If you respond randomly, you'll be marked as spam and your account may be suspended. Focus only on 2-3 areas where you're truly an expert.

3. Advertising in Responses

Don't advertise products/services in responses. Journalists need real information. If you want to mention a product, wait for the journalist to ask directly. Advertising will put you on the blacklist immediately.

4. Copy-Paste Templates

Journalists are very good at detecting templates. Each response should be personalized. Instead of "I'm a marketing expert", say "I helped 50+ startups grow 300% in the past year". Specific numbers make stronger impressions.

5. Writing Too Long

Overly long responses will be skipped. Be concise and get straight to the point. Goal is under 200 words. Journalists evaluate hundreds of responses daily, they need concise and to-the-point people.

6. No Contact Information

Always include email or phone so journalists can reach out if needed. But don't include too much contact info (just email is enough). Don't ask them to visit your website first - let them decide.

7. Not Following Up After Being Selected

After being selected, follow up the article and check for backlinks. Thank the journalist if mentioned. Following up creates good relationships and increases chances of being selected in the future. Share the article on social media and tag the journalist.

Alternative Platforms to HARO

1. ConnectPress

Similar to HARO but focused on technology and startup industries. This is a good platform if you work in tech. ConnectPress has less competition than HARO but the quality of journalists is also high. Sign up and set up alerts for areas related to startups, AI, and technology.

2. Qwoted

Platform connecting experts with journalists, operating similarly to HARO but with a more modern interface. Qwoted has smarter matching features, helping connect you with the most suitable requests. Free to use, Qwoted is especially good for experts in lifestyle and business areas.

3. SourceBottle

Free platform connecting experts with journalists. SourceBottle has a different approach - instead of email, it uses an online dashboard for you to browse and respond to requests. This is a good option if you don't want to receive too many emails.

4. Journalistopia

Database of journalists and experts looking for sources. Journalistopia allows you to search directly for journalists by field and media outlet. This is a good tool to build proactive relationships instead of just waiting for requests.

5. Terkel

Platform connecting experts with journalists with modern interface. Terkel has both free and paid features. Paid version gives access to more requests and detailed analytics. Terkel is especially popular in B2B and enterprise fields.

6. Aidly

Similar platform to HARO but focused on social impact and nonprofit. If you work in charity or social enterprise, Aidly is a good choice.

7. HelpLinks

Free tool helps you find journalists looking for experts across multiple platforms at once. HelpLinks aggregates requests from many different sources, saving you time.

How to Measure HARO Results

1. Times Selected

Track how many times you're selected out of responses. Success rate is typically 5-10%. Calculate this monthly to evaluate your strategy. If rate is under 3%, review how you write responses.

2. Backlinks Received

Check if you've been linked. Use tools like Ahrefs or Google Search. Search your name + website name to find mentions. Check if backlinks are dofollow (some websites automatically add nofollow).

3. Website Domain Authority

Evaluate backlink quality through DA of websites you've been mentioned on. Goal is websites with DA 50+. Bookmark the best sites and track their DR/DA rankings over time.

4. Referral Traffic

Track traffic from websites that mentioned you using UTM tracking. Set up Google Analytics goals to accurately measure traffic from mentions. After each mention, check if traffic increases.

5. Personal Brand

Measure brand awareness growth through mentions. Track how many times your name appears on Google. Track follower growth on LinkedIn after mentions.

6. ROI Calculated by Opportunity Cost

Calculate the opportunity cost: time you spend. If you answer 20 times taking 30 minutes each = 10 hours/month. Consider if this time is worth the backlinks received.

To learn more about tracking backlinks, check out our article on Google Search Console.

Conclusion

HARO/Connectatively is one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to build quality backlinks. By providing value to journalists, you not only get backlinks but also build personal credibility and reach a wide audience.

To succeed with HARO, remember:

• Quick: Respond in the first hour
• Quality: Provide genuinely valuable information
• Patient: May need many responses before being selected once
• Expertise: Only respond to requests in your field
• Track: Always track and improve your strategy

Next Step: Sign up for HARO/Connectatively today and start responding to requests!