HARO (Help A Reporter Out)

Definition of HARO (Help A Reporter Out)

HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is a free online platform that connects journalists, bloggers, and media professionals with expert sources who can provide authoritative quotes, insights, and commentary for their stories. Founded in 2007 by Peter Shankman, HARO operates as a digital PR and media sourcing tool that facilitates direct communication between reporters seeking expert input and subject matter experts looking to gain media exposure. The platform functions through a simple email-based system, delivering three curated daily digests (Monday through Friday) containing journalist queries across diverse industries and topics. When a source’s response is selected by a journalist, it typically results in a published article with a backlink to the source’s website, making HARO a powerful tool for both brand visibility and search engine optimization (SEO). The platform’s relevance extends beyond traditional PR, as it has become integral to digital marketing strategies, link building campaigns, and thought leadership positioning in the modern media landscape.

Historical Context and Platform Evolution

HARO’s journey reflects the evolution of digital media and PR practices over nearly two decades. Originally launched as a simple Facebook group connecting a handful of journalists with sources, the platform grew exponentially to become one of the most recognized media sourcing tools globally. By the time Cision acquired HARO, the platform had established itself as an industry standard, with over 800,000 registered sources according to Cision’s data. However, in 2024, Cision’s decision to rebrand HARO as Connectively introduced significant changes that complicated the user experience with paywalls, login requirements, and a more commercialized approach. This rebranding proved unsuccessful, leading to the platform’s discontinuation by December 2024. The acquisition by Featured.com in early 2025 marked a pivotal moment, with new ownership committing to restore HARO’s original mission of simplicity, speed, and free access. This relaunch demonstrated the platform’s enduring value in the media ecosystem, with over 15,000 connections made in the first 15 days of the new iteration. The platform’s resilience and reinvention underscore the critical role it plays in connecting journalists with credible sources in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.

How HARO Works: The Complete Workflow

HARO operates through a straightforward four-step process that maximizes efficiency for both journalists and sources. First, journalists submit queries to the platform specifying their information needs, publication outlet, deadline, and any specific requirements for sources. These queries are then compiled into three daily email digests and distributed to registered sources who have opted into relevant topic categories. Second, sources review the queries and identify opportunities where they can provide genuine expertise and value. Third, sources craft and submit targeted pitches directly to the journalist’s anonymous email address, ensuring their response is concise, relevant, and publication-ready. Finally, journalists review submissions, select the most valuable responses, and publish articles featuring the chosen sources with backlinks to their websites. This workflow emphasizes speed and relevance, as journalists often work on tight deadlines and begin reviewing pitches within minutes of sending queries. The platform’s email-based model eliminates friction, allowing sources to respond directly without navigating complex dashboards or login systems, which is a key differentiator from competing platforms.

HARO’s Impact on SEO and Link Building

HARO has become one of the most effective link-building strategies in the digital marketing arsenal, with research showing its significant impact on search engine rankings and organic traffic. According to Authority Hacker’s comprehensive survey, more than 46% of SEO experts frequently use HARO as part of their link-building strategies, making it the second most popular approach after guest posting. The platform’s effectiveness stems from the high domain authority of publications that use HARO, including major outlets like Forbes, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Huffington Post. When sources secure placements on these high-authority sites, they gain backlinks from domains with significant organic traffic and established credibility, which directly correlates with improved search rankings. Research from Backlinko demonstrates that pages ranking number one in Google search results have an average of 3.8x more backlinks than competing pages, highlighting the importance of quality link acquisition. HARO backlinks are particularly valuable because they come from editorially vetted content rather than low-quality link farms, meaning they carry genuine SEO weight. Additionally, 78% of digital marketers report seeing worthwhile returns on investment from link building, with HARO being a primary contributor to these positive outcomes due to its accessibility and effectiveness.

Comparison Table: HARO vs. Alternative Media Sourcing Platforms

Technical Mechanics and Platform Architecture

HARO’s technical infrastructure is designed for simplicity and reliability, prioritizing email delivery and query management over complex feature sets. The platform operates on a subscription-based email system where journalists submit queries through a web interface, which are then automatically compiled and distributed to sources based on their selected topic preferences and industry categories. The query distribution system uses intelligent filtering to ensure sources receive only relevant opportunities, reducing inbox fatigue and improving response quality. Behind the scenes, HARO has implemented enhanced verification systems including AI-generated content detection, LinkedIn validation, and community reporting mechanisms to combat spam and maintain source credibility. The platform’s email masking feature protects journalist identities while enabling direct communication with sources, creating a secure channel for media outreach. Additionally, HARO’s backend filtration process now flags unhelpful or spammy responses in real time, helping journalists identify the most valuable submissions quickly. The 2025 relaunch introduced improved infrastructure to handle increased traffic and user engagement, with the platform capable of processing thousands of queries and responses daily. This technical foundation ensures that HARO remains fast, reliable, and user-friendly, which are critical factors in its continued adoption among journalists and sources.

Strategic Value for Different User Types

HARO serves distinct but complementary purposes for journalists, expert sources, and marketing professionals, each deriving unique value from the platform. For journalists and reporters, HARO provides access to a vetted database of credible sources across virtually every industry and topic, dramatically reducing the time spent on source research and enabling faster story publication. Journalists can post queries and receive dozens of qualified responses within hours, ensuring they have multiple perspectives and expert opinions to choose from. For expert sources and thought leaders, HARO offers a cost-effective path to media exposure without requiring expensive PR agencies or retainers, democratizing access to high-profile publications. Securing even a single placement in a major publication can significantly enhance personal brand authority, professional credibility, and thought leadership positioning. For marketing and SEO professionals, HARO represents a scalable link-building strategy that generates backlinks from high-authority domains, directly contributing to improved search rankings and organic traffic. For small businesses and startups, HARO provides an affordable alternative to traditional PR, enabling them to compete with larger competitors for media coverage. For agencies and PR firms, HARO serves as a foundational tool in their digital PR arsenal, often integrated into broader media outreach campaigns that combine multiple platforms and strategies.

Best Practices for Maximizing HARO Success

Securing media coverage through HARO requires strategic planning, rapid execution, and high-quality pitch craftsmanship. The most successful sources follow several proven best practices that significantly increase their chances of being selected by journalists. First, respond quickly to queries, ideally within the first hour of receiving the email digest, as journalists often begin reviewing pitches immediately and may make selections before the deadline. According to Authority Hacker research, using a contact’s first name in outreach increases success rates by roughly 50%, so personalizing pitches whenever possible is critical. Second, customize each pitch to the specific query rather than using generic templates, demonstrating that you’ve read the journalist’s request carefully and understand their exact needs. Third, provide publication-ready quotes that are concise, quotable, and directly address the journalist’s question, typically keeping responses to 2-3 paragraphs unless more detail is specifically requested. Fourth, highlight your unique expertise and credentials early in the pitch, establishing why you’re the ideal source for this particular story. Fifth, avoid promotional language and sales pitches, as research from Fractl shows that overly promotional responses are among the top reasons journalists decline pitches. Sixth, never include attachments, as HARO strips them from submissions; instead, provide links to resources or offer to send additional information if selected. Finally, track your submissions and monitor publications using Google Alerts to identify when your responses are published, enabling you to promote the coverage through your own channels and build relationships with journalists for future opportunities.

Key Aspects and Benefits of HARO Participation

• Free access for both sources and journalists, eliminating financial barriers to media participation
• Three daily email digests (Monday-Friday) with curated journalist queries across diverse industries
• High-authority publication opportunities including Forbes, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Huffington Post
• Dofollow backlinks from editorially vetted content that directly improve search engine rankings
• Rapid publication timelines, with stories often published within days of journalist selection
• Global reach with over 35% of users located outside the United States
• Enhanced verification systems including AI detection and LinkedIn validation to ensure source credibility
• Direct journalist communication through anonymous email addresses, protecting privacy while enabling direct outreach
• Thought leadership positioning through media mentions that establish authority and expertise
• Cost-effective PR alternative compared to traditional agencies and retainers
• Scalable link-building strategy that can be integrated into broader SEO campaigns
• Community-driven quality control with user reporting and spam detection mechanisms
• Mobile-friendly email format enabling sources to respond from anywhere, anytime
• Keyword alert capabilities (in premium tiers) to filter opportunities by relevance
• Multiple profile support (in premium tiers) for agencies and larger organizations managing multiple experts

Future Evolution and Strategic Outlook for HARO

HARO’s future trajectory reflects broader trends in media, PR, and search engine optimization, with the platform positioned to remain central to digital PR strategies for years to come. The 2025 relaunch under Featured.com’s ownership signals a commitment to modernization while preserving the platform’s core simplicity and effectiveness. According to Brett Farmiloe, Featured.com’s CEO, the immediate roadmap includes keyword alert features to help sources filter opportunities by relevance, addressing one of the most frequently requested improvements from users. The platform is also exploring partnerships with professional associations and member networks, which could expand HARO’s reach by distributing queries directly to niche experts within specific industries. This strategic expansion would create vertical-specific opportunities where highly targeted sources receive queries most relevant to their expertise. Additionally, HARO is likely to continue enhancing verification and spam detection systems, as maintaining source quality is critical to journalist satisfaction and platform credibility. The integration of AI-powered tools for pitch optimization and content generation may become more prominent, helping sources craft more effective responses. Looking ahead, HARO’s role in the broader AI search landscape will likely expand, as platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and Claude increasingly cite media sources in their responses. This evolution means that securing HARO placements will become even more valuable for brand visibility in AI-generated content, making the platform relevant not just for traditional SEO but for emerging search paradigms. The platform’s commitment to remaining free and accessible suggests it will continue democratizing media access, enabling smaller businesses and individual experts to compete with larger organizations for media coverage and thought leadership positioning.