If you know how to use HARO (HELP A REPORTER OUT), you can easily connect with writers, reporters, and editors. It’s one of the top PR resources available. And it’s FREE! If you are trying to get media coverage for your business or brand, subscribing to HARO is something you absolutely must do.  

While there are similar services available, many of them are often paid or aren’t as user-friendly. HARO is simple to use and incredibly straightforward for writers and businesses. Better yet, all types of publications use HARO whether it’s news like The New York Times, lifestyle such as Bustle, heath publications including Very Well, Men’s Health, and Women’s Health— staff and freelance writers alike all use HARO to find experts and look for new products to feature in their articles.

Whether they are looking for financial experts to comment on the stock market, the newest moisturizers for a product roundup, or a registered dietician to share their opinion of keto, HARO provides a seemingly endless amount of potential opportunities across the board. If there is one thing you can do to get PR for your business, this is it! 

While there aren’t any “hacks,” for how to use HARO, there are certainly ways to make the most of it. This is because sometimes there are hundreds of queries a day and it can feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to. No matter what type of press coverage you are looking to get for your business, here are five tips for maximizing this platform. 

Sign up for updates three times a day

The first thing you should know about how to use HARO is that it comes out three times a day: morning, afternoon, and evening. You can sign up to receive it just once a day, but I recommend getting it three times a day. Even if you think it will clog up your inbox, know you can always delete. 

You don’t want to miss an opportunity. While it’s best to skim the latest HARO newsletter immediately, we all know that’s not always possible, so seeing it in your inbox more than once can be a helpful reminder to open the email when you get a chance. 

Look at HARO as soon as the email arrives

Sometimes writers and reporters get hundreds of responses to a HARO query and can’t accept all of the pitches. So, responding to a pitch early is the best way to be sure that your pitch isn’t only opened, it’s seriously considered. 

So, plan to look at that email as soon as it comes in. It only takes a minute or two to read through the first part of the newsletter, which has a summary of all the queries. Most won’t apply to your business but there is a good chance that several will. 

You can quickly scroll through the email while you're on the phone, in line for coffee at Starbucks, or even in the bathroom (no one has to know). Make a habit of it. Put it on your to-do list! 

Respond to relevant queries ASAP

The early bird gets the worm, so it’s important to respond as soon as you can. This is not a guarantee that your pitch will be accepted, but it certainly increases the possibility. 

You might have the best pitch, but sometimes if a writer only needs two or three sources, you will miss out because they've already gone forward with their other sources. While the deadline will always be noted, it’s still best to send your pitch immediately. And never send it in past the deadline because you’re likely wasting your time. 

You might even want to schedule or block off 20 minutes each day for this.

Make a pitch template 

Having a HARO pitch template is a great idea because you will always be ready to go. This will save you time and energy. Just keep in mind that not all of your pitches will be the same. So divide them into categories such as expertise, product roundup, etc. You will still need to edit your pitch for each HARO query response, but having some of the information on hand and ready to go makes life a lot easier. 
Here are some examples of the kind of information you can have on your template:

Founded in 2017, XYZ Corp is the leader in environmentally sustainable widgets. We are currently available in over 400 Whole Foods locations, but 90 perfect of our sales come through Amazon.

We are more than happy to send you a sample or answer any questions you might have. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Here’s another example:

As an RD, I am an expert in keto. When I put 15 of my clients on my modified Keto program, they lost on average more than 30 pounds each. This is a link to the report on my blog with further information. [Don’t forget to insert the link]

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would prefer to set a phone call.

Thank you,

If you need additional information on how to use HARO, creating a pitch template or simply responding to queries, this aspect of PR is covered in depth in our online public relations course, Pitch, Please!

Offer to send samples

If you have a physical product, it’s a smart idea to offer the writer a sample. While this isn’t a guarantee that they will write about or review the product, it’s a great opportunity for them to experience it fully.

This s not about giving anyone free stuff (although many writers enjoy that), it’s that getting to experience a product enables them to write about it more thoroughly. 

It also increases the likelihood you will get press coverage more than once from the same writer. For example, let’s pretend you have a moisturizer and respond to a HARO query for a moisturizer roundup. When you send a sample, the writer will likely keep using it and have it on his or her shelf. The next time they’re planning to write a different beauty article, for example, winter skincare tips, they will be more likely to include your product. Or better yet, they may follow up and ask you to share your best tips for winter skincare.

If you have a digital product, such as an app or a book, guide, etc, you will definitely want to send the writer a code or link for a free download. 

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