How will you help a reporter out?
Free publicity services are popping up all around the world, but one service in particular has been making a positive impression on the public relations world since 2008. Help a Reporter Out, or HARO for short, is widely considered to be the fastest growing and most valuable free publicity service currently in existence. In this blog post, we will introduce the innovative concept that is brought to life with HARO and explain 5 ways a small business owner can utilize the service to its fullest potential.
What is HARO? According to HelpAReporter.com, “Every day, HARO brings nearly 30,000 reporters and bloggers, over 100,000 news sources and thousands of businesses together to tell their stories, promote their brands and sell their products and services.
Since its inception, HARO has published more than 75,000 journalist queries, facilitated nearly 7,500,000 media pitches, and marketed and promoted close to 1,500 brands to the media, businesses and consumers. HARO is entirely free to sources and reporters, and serves as a vital social networking resource.”
What can I do as a business owner? HARO publishes publicity queries on a daily basis. When a query comes across your email that fits an aspect of your business, brand or product, simply reply to the query as instructed. The following five tips will help you use each publicity opportunity to its fullest potential.
1. Read the query in its entirety: Be sure to read each part of the query and not just the headline. The full description within the HARO query could contain very specific details that may or may not apply to you or your business. Only respond to a query that you are qualified for – otherwise it is a waste of your time and the reporter’s time.
2. Be mindful of deadlines: HARO deadlines are set in stone. Keep this in mind when drafting your response. The HARO email address associated with each query will stop accepting emails as soon as the deadline is reached and the reporter will no longer receive your response. Do not miss out on an opportunity for publicity because of such a small oversight. In addition, the faster you can get a response into the reporter the better your chances of having a positive result.
3. Respond to every portion of the query: Chances are good that your HARO query will have multiple questions and required aspects included in the description. When you are preparing a response, be sure to answer each question completely and leave no stone unturned. A full response will get much more attention from a reporter than one that is missing crucial information.
4. Show your qualifications: When drafting your HARO response, be sure to include your credentials in order to prove your relevant qualifications in relation to the specific publicity query.
5. Don’t be lengthy: Length does not guarantee publicity, so leave it behind. Keep your responses short and be mindful of the reporter when drafting your content. Keep in mind that a few paragraphs are more than enough information to capture their attention.
HARO queries have the potential to provide a terrific publicity boost for businesses and brands alike. If you or anyone you know if looking to increase their publicity, we urge you to contact Three Girls Media Inc., today.
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Photo Credit: Reporter do Futuro