How will you become the news?
For small or emerging business, finding opportunities for media coverage can be a challenge to say the least. Finding a starting point is one of the hardest hurdles to clear, but with resources like Help a Reporter Out (HARO) the process is much easier. . These tips are sure to help any small or emerging business in their quest for news.
What is HARO?
HARO is a service that brings reporters, bloggers and businesses together throughout North America to share stories, build brands and better their businesses. HARO is 100% free and has featured over 7 million media pitches. This tool is a priceless resource for any business or brand looking to grow their presence with media coverage. Here are a few tips to use the service effectively:
1. Open and read all inquiry messages: HARO will send you email messages on a daily basis. It might be easy to overlook these messages in your inbox, but be conscious of the message contents and remember that each message could contain a media coverage opportunity that will benefit your business. HARO emails are very organized and set up for quick readability. Be sure to take the five minutes each day to look through these email messages for opportunities. You won’t regret it.
2. Be precise in pitching: Be mindful of the writer. These HARO opportunities are sent out to many other individuals and each journalist is bound to receive dozens if not hundreds of email pitches in return. Keep your own pitch on point and relevant to the details of the query by reading and rereading the query details as set forth by the journalists. Make sure that you always respond by the reporter’s deadline and follow any specific instructions they include.
3. Pay it forward: Don’t be greedy with your HARO messages. If you get a query that could benefit someone else within your professional network, forward it to them and hope that they would do the same for you. So much of gaining media opportunities comes from the concepts associated with networking and word-of-mouth sharing. Show your colleagues that you are thinking of them and in turn, they will think of you.
HARO is a highly beneficial and user friendly service for securing media coverage for your business. While it is free and open to the public, using the platform successfully could take some training. Here at Three Girls Media & Marketing, we are experts in using this platform to get results. If you or anyone you know is helping to grow your brand or business we encourage you to contact us today! We can’t wait to spread the good news about you!
Special Offer: Complimentary Consultation
Three Girls Media & Marketing Inc. is a public relations and social media management agency with teams in Silicon Valley and the Seattle area. We love working with small and emerging companies across the nation to raise their brand awareness and name recognition. We offer a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation with our CEO and can answer your questions and discuss your specific marketing needs. Call 408-871-0377 or Contact us today to arrange yours!
Photo Credit: NS NewsFlash