13 Tips For HARO Link Building: Get Featured on Top Sites

HARO link building offers busy writers a direct way to secure valuable backlinks from authoritative publications. However, 47% of marketers believe building high-quality links is one of the most challenging aspects of SEO. For time-strapped writers juggling multiple deadlines, traditional link building strategies demand too many hours and resources.

But HARO (Help A Reporter Out) connects journalists seeking expert sources with professionals who can provide valuable insights. When journalists feature your responses in their articles, you earn backlinks from respected publications, often with domain authorities that would otherwise be nearly impossible to access.

Similarly, a single well-placed HARO backlink from a top-tier publication can boost your website's authority, visibility, and traffic. This is how savvy content creators have secured features on sites like Forbes, Business Insider, and HuffPost through strategic HARO efforts.

This blog covers tips for HARO link building that fit your busy schedule. You'll learn how to identify high-value opportunities, craft pitches that get picked, and build lasting relationships with journalists who need your insights.

What Is HARO and Why Writers Should Care

HARO changes the game for securing media coverage and valuable backlinks. This platform works as a digital matchmaker between journalists seeking expert sources and professionals ready to share their insights.

How HARO connects experts with journalists

Here's how it works: Journalists submit queries when they need expert commentary for their articles. These requests get distributed to potential sources through email newsletters sent three times daily at specific intervals (5:35 a.m., 12:35 p.m., and 5:35 p.m. EST). The platform has built an impressive network featuring one million sources alongside over 75,000 journalists and bloggers.

What makes HARO particularly powerful is its reach. Every day, journalists from prestigious publications like Forbes, Business Insider, and The New York Times use the service to connect with relevant experts. For you as a writer, this creates a direct line to media professionals actively seeking your specific expertise. The process follows a straightforward pattern:

• Journalists post queries specifying the expertise they need

• You receive these opportunities via email

• You respond with your insights if the topic matches your knowledge area

• If selected, your commentary appears in their published piece

Benefits of HARO backlinks for SEO and authority

Beyond media exposure, HARO delivers SEO advantages. Each time a journalist includes your insights with a link to your website, you gain an editorial backlink, widely considered among the most valuable in SEO circles. Unlike paid alternatives, these merit-based backlinks reflect genuine expertise and serve as authentic endorsements.

HARO also unlocks access to premium websites usually beyond reach through conventional outreach methods. These high-authority backlinks are powerful trust signals to search engines that naturally boost your search rankings and strengthen your digital presence.

Moreover, regular appearances in respected publications build you as a thought leader while enhancing your E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness), factors increasingly important to search algorithms. This increased visibility often creates a positive feedback loop, where initial media features lead to additional opportunities.

13 Tips for a Successful HARO Link Building

Your HARO profile is your first impression with journalists. A professional setup separates you from thousands of competing sources and directly impacts your success rate in securing valuable backlinks.

1. Create a Connectively account

The platform previously known as HARO has evolved into Connectively, with the original HARO service officially sunset on April 2, 2024. Setting up your account takes just a few minutes:

• 1. Visit the Connectively website and select "Sign Up" as a Source/ Subject Matter Expert. 

• 2. Complete the registration form with your name, email, and basic information 

• 3. Verify your email address through the confirmation link 

• 4. Set up your password to activate your account

Connectively offers both free and paid options. The free Connectively Lite plan gives you access to the queries feed and allows up to 10 pitches monthly. This works well for most beginners. Premium plans range from $19 to $149 per month for additional features such as extra profiles or early query access.

2. Write a strong expert bio

Journalists evaluate your credibility before responding to your pitch. Here's what makes a compelling profile:

• Professional headshot: Upload a quality image to your website or image hosting service, since attachments aren't permitted in HARO responses

• Concise bio: Prepare both a short version (under 100 words) and a longer version (single paragraph) highlighting relevant credentials

• Digital presence: Make sure your website and online profiles demonstrate your expertise through published articles, speaking engagements, and client testimonials

• Relevant links: Include your social media profiles, LinkedIn, and website URL to help journalists verify your authority

3. Choose your areas of expertise

Selecting the right industry categories determines which queries you receive. You're automatically subscribed to the Master HARO list, which includes all queries. Beyond this, carefully select specific industry categories matching your genuine expertise. Common options include Business and Finance, High Tech, and General.

Be strategic with your selections, since each category receives three emails daily. Consider using a separate email address or robust filtering capabilities to manage this volume. Many successful users recommend focusing on 1-2 specialty areas rather than broad topics to improve your response quality and selection rate. With these profile elements in place, you'll have a solid foundation for your HARO link building strategy.

4. Spot High-Value HARO Backlink Opportunities

Success in HARO link building hinges on your ability to identify and prioritize high-value opportunities. HARO distributes queries three times daily at specific intervals: 5:35 a.m., 12:35 p.m., and 5:35 p.m. EST. This timing creates a competitive environment where quick evaluation becomes improtant. Instead of responding to every industry-related query, focus on opportunities that align perfectly with your expertise. Here's how to evaluate queries effectively:

Review HARO's rules for sources to understand qualification requirements. Rule number two specifically states that if your expertise isn't obvious from your title or brand, you must explain why you're an authority. Violating this directive repeatedly could result in permanent blacklisting.

Analyze query requirements carefully. Journalists usually list their specific needs within the query itself; they might seek professional chefs in New York or individuals with hands-on email marketing experience. This targeted approach saves time and positions you as a specialist in your field.

5. Use tools to assess domain authority

After identifying relevant queries, evaluate the publishing website's authority. Many journalists disclose their media outlets alongside query details. Below are specialized authority checkers to assess domain quality:

• Moz Domain Authority (DA): Measures relative search engine ranking performance on a scale of 0-100

• Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR): Assesses a website's "link popularity"

• Majestic Trust Flow: Scores websites against trusted seed domains like BBC or The New York Times

• SEMrush Authority Score: Calculated from backlinks, referring domains, monthly visits, and keywords

6. Avoid anonymous or spammy requests

Anonymous queries require careful consideration. While HARO states anonymous queries usually come from larger media outlets, avoiding spam or competitors stealing stories, exercise caution before investing time in these opportunities.

Some anonymous queries may come from less reputable sites hiding their low authority status. Others might be legitimate; one agency secured a Fortune Magazine feature from an anonymous query.

For effective evaluation, look beyond metrics. Consider website traffic, industry relevance, and professionalism. Check for contact information, office addresses, author profiles with images, and LinkedIn profiles; these indicators determine legitimacy far better than anonymity status alone.

You need to have a strategic approach to query selection. You'll maximize your time investment and dramatically increase your chances of securing valuable HARO backlinks.

7. Scan HARO emails efficiently

You need a system to spot relevant opportunities fast. Without organization, you'll either miss great chances or waste time on low-value requests.

HARO delivers query emails from Monday through Friday. This predictable schedule lets you develop a routine that works. Here's what experienced HARO users recommend: Set up your email system:

• Create a dedicated email folder specifically for HARO communications

• Set aside specific times daily to review these opportunities

• Respond within the first 3-6 hours after receiving emails, as early responses increase selection odds by approximately 20%

Each email contains categorized sections (Business, Health, Technology, etc.), so you can quickly jump to your areas of expertise.

8. Use filters and keyword alerts

The free HARO version doesn't include built-in keyword alerts, but you have options to simplify your search:

• Featured.com (HARO's parent company) offers free keyword alerts to help spot relevant opportunities

• Create custom email filters to automatically sort queries by category or specific keywords

• Paid subscriptions let you set precise keyword matches and receive SMS alerts for immediate notification

9. Avoid low-quality or irrelevant requests

Focus your energy where it counts:

• Stick to queries directly aligned with your genuine expertise 

• Research the target media outlet before responding to ensure it matches your standards 

• Choose fewer, highly relevant queries over trying to answer everything 

• Look for technical or specialized topics; they attract fewer responses, giving you better odds

10. Crafting a compelling subject line

Your subject line is the doorway to your pitch; if it doesn't entice the journalist to enter, your expertise remains unseen. Establish authority immediately by including your role or the most impactful phrase from your pitch. For technical queries, incorporate relevant keywords from the journalist's request: "RE: Data Security for Startups, Information Security Analyst at Cisco". Subject lines that work are concise, specific, and straightforward.

11. Structure your pitch for readability

Busy journalists don't want to wade through walls of text. The ideal HARO pitch runs between 150-250 words enough depth without overwhelming. Here's how to structure it:

• Start strong: Open with a bold, clear statement that directly answers the question

• Establish credibility: Briefly explain why your voice matters

• Make it scannable: Use short paragraphs, bullet points, or subtle formatting

• One idea per paragraph: Keep each section focused on a single concept

12. Add unique insights and data

Journalists want quotes they can't find on the first page of Google. Personal experiences and case studies dramatically increase your selection chances. Support your insights with specific data points, statistics, or research findings whenever possible. Create "quotable" lines; succinct, memorable statements that require minimal editing. These ready-to-use snippets make journalists' jobs easier and boost your selection odds.

13. Avoid common pitch mistakes

Even experienced writers fail with HARO when they make these errors:

Responding after deadlines have passed

• Sending generic, copy-paste responses to different queries

• Overwhelming journalists with promotional content instead of helpful insights

• Submitting unedited AI-generated text lacking a personal perspective

• Providing off-topic information unrelated to the specific query

Successful HARO link building depends on crafting responses that make journalists' jobs easier while showcasing your genuine expertise.

Track Results and Build Relationships For HARO Backlinks

Sending your HARO pitch is just the beginning. The value comes from tracking your successes and building lasting relationships with journalists.

How to know if your pitch was used

Most journalists won't notify you when they use your content. Set up these tracking systems:

• Create a Google Alert for your name and company to receive notifications whenever you're mentioned online

• Use plagiarism checkers to detect if your exact text appears on websites

• Check publication websites directly, filtering by recent content

Remember that the time between submission and publication ranges from 1 day to 9 months

Use backlink tools to verify links

Beyond simple mentions, you need to track your valuable backlinks: 

• Maintain a spreadsheet documenting queries, submission dates, and outcomes. 

• Use Semrush's Backlink Analytics to identify newly acquired links. 

• Try BacklinkManager.io to monitor published links and detect status changes.

• You can also employ brand monitoring tools to find mentions without links, which you can potentially convert into backlinks later.

Follow up and thank journalists

Building goodwill is crucial for long-term success:

• Send a brief thank-you note when featured. 

• Share published articles across your social channels, tagging the journalist. 

• Express willingness to contribute to future stories.

These simple gestures help you stay top-of-mind for journalists who need expert sources.

Build long-term media relationships

Transform single features into ongoing opportunities:

• View HARO as relationship-building, not just backlink acquisition

• Add media outlet logos to your website's "featured in" section

• Mention previous features in future HARO pitches to build credibility

• Remain consistently visible to stay top-of-mind for journalists seeking experts

The most successful HARO users understand that each response is an investment in building their reputation as a reliable source. Over time, journalists will start reaching out directly when they need expertise in your field.

Conclusion

HARO link building offers high-authority backlinks without the time drain of traditional outreach. Set up your Connectively profile to showcase your expertise, then strategically identify the highest-value opportunities from daily query emails. Your ability to craft compelling, readable pitches will dramatically increase your selection chances. 

Remember that journalists value unique insights backed by data and personal experience; elements that separate standout responses from forgettable ones. Moreover, HARO gives you direct access to these valuable assets without overwhelming your already busy schedule. 

FAQ

What is HARO in link building?

HARO in link building refers to Help a Reporter Out, a service where journalists request expert input for their articles and, in return, often provide a backlink to the source’s website. It’s one of the most trusted ways to earn editorial links from authority publications.

Is link building still relevant to SEO 2025?

Link building is still very relevant to SEO in 2025. While Google has become smarter at assessing content quality and user intent, backlinks remain a strong signal of credibility and authority. The difference now is that relevance and quality matter more than sheer numbers. A few strong, niche-relevant backlinks are far more valuable than dozens of low-quality ones.

How to use HARO for backlinks?

To use HARO for backlinks, you sign up for the service and receive queries from journalists by email. When you find one that fits your expertise, you send a quick, clear, and insightful response. If the journalist finds it useful, they feature your contribution in their article and include a backlink to your site. The key to success is speed, value, and clarity;  the faster and more helpful your response, the higher the chances of earning the link.