Using HARO (Help a Reporter Out) for Case Studies & Interviews
-for-Case-Studies-and-Interviews.jpg "Using HARO (Help a Reporter Out) for Case Studies & Interviews")
I recently used HARO (Help a Reporter Out) and submitted a query on blogging and how CEOs use blogs to the company’s advantage. (Thank you for all of your replies, bloggers!) I wanted to pass this great tool along as a PR Blogger to other bloggers who may be interested in creating stories, interviews, or case studies, as I plan to use the service again in the future.
Here are a few tips/steps for using HARO:
- Go to the HARO homepage.
- If you are on the blogging end of the spectrum, you will want to click on the link that will take you to a page for journalists looking for sources. The home page of HARO takes you to the site’s “I am a source” page where you can volunteer yourself as a source for reporters/journalists/bloggers.
- Fill out the information in the required fields. A tip to remember: writing well makes a great impression and tells readers that you are intelligent (or know how to use spellcheck) and that you take the time to re-read your work and ensure that it looks professional. When you fill out the Query section, ensure that your writing is done well, you clearly specify what you are looking for from respondents, and when you need it by.
- To make the responses faster, put your own email address. Use a generic address if you like to retain some sense of anonymity, but it would be best to use your own name and email to garner the best responses.
- Set your deadline and Submit.
Depending on the deadline you set, HARO will send out your query to the people on their emailing list. These people have signed up to be a resource for reporters, journalists, and bloggers who use the service. HARO writes that they will send out 1-3 emails a day with ~15 queries, and you, as a source, will have the opportunity to email the query’s author. As the author and query submitter, you will get emails directly from respondents (depending on the email you choose), and you can choose to reply to whomever you see will fit the best for your project.
Overall, HARO is very simple and easy to understand; with two pages to enter content on, it is a matter of minutes before you are able to use the site. It’s a great resource to talk to people who volunteer their feedback or insights, and you can often offer them something as simple as publicity on your blog or in your publication.
Any success stories, tips, or feedback from your use of HARO?
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Tags: Creating Case Studies, Finding Sources for Interviews, HARO, Help a Reporter Out, How to Use Help a Reporter Out (HARO)
I've been using http://www.PitchRate.com because it’s easy, free and gets results. As a source, I've landed some great interviews with bloggers that use it. I've even landed an interview with the Associated Press!
I think it works a little differently for journalists and bloggers that use it to find me and other sources. One thing I've noticed is that they don't have to set up a generic email address. I never see their email address unless they decide to share it with me after I've sent them my pitch.