According to some research, backlinks are one of the most important factors when it comes to search engine optimization. But how can you get those backlinks?
That’s where HARO comes in. It’s free, easy, and can quickly improve your business.
Keep reading to learn all you need to know about HARO and tips on how to be successful on the platform.
What Is HARO?
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) started as a Facebook group in 2008, but now it helps journalists and reporters get feedback from the public. Eventually, it grew off of Facebook and turned into a mailing list.
Eventually, Vocus Inc. bought it and merged it with Cision Inc. Now, it has its own website, and many people now help reporters.
Before HARO, many businesses would have to pay a public relations firm or a publicist to be featured in a media outlet. They may have even had to write their own press release. Now, with HARO and a HARO competitor, it’s easy to get featured in the public.
Every niche can enjoy the benefits of using HARO, and there are even different categories and queries that you can answer. Any business could probably find something that’s related to your business.
However, you may want to wait for queries that you feel are an exact match for your business.
Benefits of Using HARO
Many businesses wonder if it’s worth it for them to use HARO, but this can be a great backlink strategy without having to buy backlinks.
Backlinks will help you with search engine optimization (SEO). When a lot of companies link to your company, Google will see that you are reputable, and they will start promoting your content to more people when they search.
That’s where HARO comes in. It can help you get links featured on quality sites, and a journalist or blogger can have a credible source for their article.
There are subscription packages that you can sign up for, but you don’t have to use them. It’s free to sign up to be a source, and you can even get quoted get a backlink to your website.
How to Submit a Story
If you’re interested in getting a backlink to your business, then you’ll need to have a reporter choose you for an article. You can start by being honest and genuine.
Journalists are known for fact-checking their stories and sources, and they’ll be able to tell if you’re lying to them.
You’ll also want to follow all the instructions. Some reporters are really specific about what they want, and if you don’t follow the rules, you likely won’t be chosen.
When a reporter does select you for the story, they will email you with more instructions and any other questions. They likely won’t email you if you weren’t chosen.
When the article is published, they’ll send you a link and encourage you to share it. After that, you’ll have a nice backlink to your website. Now if you can do this multiple times, you’ll get a lot of quality backlinks that Google will take note of.
Tips to Be Succesful
You’ll also want to add value to their story. Think about if what you’re contributing fits into their angle and if their audience would like it. This means that you should also be interesting.
Include personal stories, fun facts, or examples. This will make you more likely to get chosen by a reporter. You need to give them exactly what they’re looking for.
For example, if a reporter just wants a quote, send them only a quote. If they want a story, send them a story and not a quote.
You should also ensure that you don’t have an agenda when you’re talking to a report. You shouldn’t contact them outside of HARO because they will likely ignore it. They want the rules followed exactly.
You should be friendly in your HARO response, but make sure that you get to the point. They’re likely on a deadline, and they just want something that they can copy and paste into their story.
However, make sure that you still have authority when you submit a story. You need to seem credible, or they may not choose you.
You’ll also need to be fast when you are looking for queries. Each request will get hundreds of responses, and if you’re not one of the first ones, then the reporter may never see your response.
Even if you weren’t the first person to respond, you can still send in your response to see if it’ll be helpful. The first few sent in could’ve been spam or not what the reporter is looking for.
Keep in mind that a lot of reporters have to sift through a lot of spam and incorrect responses, so you can make yours stand out by being professional and accurate.
What To Do When Accepted
If a reporter does accept your response, make sure that you share their story on your social media. This will not only help the reporter, but it can also act as a thank you for taking the time to choose yours.
It’ll also help to boost your SEO and position you as an industry expert.
Discover More About HARO
These are only a few things to know about using HARO, but there are many other strategies you can use HARO for.
We know that marketing your business can be a stressful job, but we have more information that will make it easier for you.
If you’re interested in more information on marketing, explore our website to find more information.
