Help a Reporter Out (HARO) connects journalists and bloggers with relevant expert sources to meet journalists’ demanding deadlines and enable brands to tell their stories. HARO distributes more than 50,000 journalist queries from highly respected media outlets each year. Additionally, the widespread use of Haro has led to an oversaturation of responses to journalist queries, making it difficult for legitimate sources to stand out.
In order to increase your chances of success with journalists, it’s important to tailor your pitch to align with Google’s EAT algorithm. This means highlighting your expertise, authority, and trustworthiness as a source. Additionally, it may be beneficial to set a reminder for when the journalist’s newsletter is released to ensure that your pitch is received early.
As a journalist or blogger, social proof is the most effective technique to identify fraudulent accounts. Inquire about their LinkedIn profiles and how active they are. Let me offer some better approaches for overcoming the aforementioned issues.
1. SourceBottle
The SourceBottle service is free and allows you to receive notifications whenever journalists are searching for information or insights in your field.
SourceBottle also offers more options if you opt for a paid subscription. At Giveaways, you receive samples, gift bags, giveaways, and products that you can test and evaluate. Its case studies are very useful to most PR professionals. You have the opportunity to demonstrate your expertise by providing insights that you can use in your media pitch.
The beauty of SourceBottle is that you can filter your queries to get only relevant queries that match your preferences. You will receive his Drink Up!
Pricing
There is no charge for using SourceBottle, but there are paid subscriptions for more advanced features.
2. Terkel
There is a community behind every brand, according to Terkel. Over time, each group has developed its knowledge and expertise. Terkel gives you the platform and voice to share your knowledge.
Terkel works with reputable publishers. As a result, I advise companies seeking for publishing chances to use this alternative and publish on one of Terkel’s website partners, such as the University of Arizona.
Terkel offers the complete article, in contrast to his HARO, which only quotes the findings’ content. Terkel posts inquiries from partners to start the process. Next, choose the best response, find a final draught, and submit it. Articles must be approved for posting on partner websites.
Pricing
The Lite plan is free for up to 5 replies per month. Paid plans start at $99/month.
3. Muck Rack
Muck Rack contains three main features that a PR platform should offer. Find journalists, monitor news, and produce press reports all on one platform.
With Muck Rack, get notified when your key contacts write or tweet about their industry, niche, or beat. With the Media Watch feature, you can create keyword alerts in Muck Rack to watch for new stories related to your space. One of its main functions is measuring the impact of works and influencer campaigns. Optionally, you can convert the data into professional reach reports to report on your campaigns.
In contrast to other Muck Rack alternatives, it lets you add graphics and article snippets to show off your work.
Pricing
Muck Rack pricing starts at $5,000/year.
4. Qwoted
Qwoted is a platform that connects journalists and media professionals with sources and experts. The platform allows experts and sources to create a profile, submit their information and areas of expertise, and be matched with journalists and media professionals who are looking for sources for their stories.
Qwoted is beneficial for experts and sources as it helps them gain visibility and media coverage, and for journalists and media professionals as it saves them time and effort when searching for sources and experts.
Qwoted is free to join for experts and sources, and operates on a subscription-based model for journalists and media professionals.
Pricing
Qwoted is free to join and you can respond to journalist inquiries up to three times a month. There are also paid plans starting at $149.99 per month.
5. JustReachOut
JustReachOut is a platform that helps businesses and entrepreneurs generate media coverage and visibility. The platform provides tools and resources to help users identify, research, and connect with journalists and media outlets that are relevant to their industry and target audience.
Users can search for journalists and media outlets by keyword, topic, or location, and can also use the platform to pitch their story ideas, track their progress and measure the results.
JustReachOut is designed to help users generate media coverage and visibility quickly and efficiently, without the need for a PR agency.
Pricing
JustReachOut starts at $199/month or $1,910/year.
6. ProfNet
Similar to HARO, you can connect with journalists looking for experts in press releases and build media lists.
ProfNet is a platform that connects journalists with sources and experts in various industries and fields. It is a service provided by PR Newswire, a well-known press release distribution service. Journalists can submit queries to ProfNet, and sources and experts can respond with relevant information and quotes.
ProfNet is a great tool for experts and sources to gain media visibility and promote their business, research, or other areas of expertise. It is also beneficial for journalists as they can quickly find sources and experts for their stories. ProfNet is available to both journalists and experts by subscription.
Pricing
ProfNet starts at $1,500 for one industry segment with five information officer accounts. You can create unlimited expert profiles and have the right to send unlimited pitches on request.
7. OnePitch
OnePitch is a platform that connects journalists and media professionals with sources and experts. It allows users to create and submit their own pitches, and it also has a feature called “Opportunities” that allows journalists to post their queries and sources to submit their information.
OnePitch is an efficient way for experts and sources to promote their business, research or other areas of expertise, and gain visibility and media coverage. It also saves time for journalists by allowing them to find relevant sources easily. OnePitch is free to join for sources and experts, and operates on a subscription-based model for journalists and media professionals.
Pricing
Creating an account on OnePitch is easy and free. You can also request a product demo.
Final thoughts
HARO has long been a valuable tool for small businesses looking to increase their online visibility. However, with over a million subscribers, it can be more difficult to be selected as a source. There are alternative platforms available such as SourceBottle, ProfNet, and JustReachOut, which are also highly regarded in the market and offer similar functionality. With over 75,000 journalists and bloggers using HARO, it remains a primary tool in the market, but it’s also worth exploring these other options and determining which one best suits your needs. Ultimately, the key to PR success is to try out different tools and find the right one for your business.
