HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
HARO, which stands for Help a Reporter Out, is a platform (now rebranded as Connectively) that connects journalists seeking expert sources with subject-matter experts willing to provide quotes and commentary. Journalists send out daily queries for sources they need for articles they are writing, and SEO professionals respond with relevant expertise in hopes of being quoted and earning a backlink from the publication.
When executed well, HARO participation can generate high-authority editorial backlinks from top-tier media outlets including Forbes, Business Insider, The New York Times, and industry-specific publications. The key to HARO success is responding quickly with highly relevant, expert-level insights — generic or off-topic responses are almost universally ignored by journalists.
Why it matters for SEO
HARO is one of the most scalable ways to earn editorial backlinks from authoritative news publications without direct outreach campaigns. A single successful placement in a major publication can deliver more ranking authority than dozens of lower-tier links, making it a high-ROI tactic when executed consistently.
Free tools to help with HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
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