Be lightning fast and personal. I recommend monitoring queries by category, then crafting a sharp, tailored pitch within minutes—ditch the generic intros. Highlight a recent success or unique insight tied directly to the query, and always include a quick quote that journalists can drop in. Finally, follow up once—and keep it brief.
Brief and Direct At Mealfan, we've seen the best results by keeping responses brief, direct, and easy to scan. We make sure every answer speaks clearly to the question without filler. Start with a useful takeaway to make your reply easy to use. We avoid jargon and long paragraphs and instead focus on one insight. Know who you're talking to. We always look at the outlet's audience and shape our answer to match what they care about. It helps to balance credibility, logic, and a bit of relatability. The goal is to make the journalist's job easier.
I get myself chosen on HARO by making each response sound as if I am addressing the writer of the article rather than pitching to them. I use one concrete example from the business, something we have literally done, and I explain it in a non-fluffed and non-marketing jargon way. Reporters are going through hundreds of responses, and the majority of them sound the same. I ensure that mine is spoken by a person running a team, working with real customers and making decisions that cost money or save money.
I've been featured over 50 times, and my best HARO tip? Treat every pitch like a micro interview. Don't recycle answers. Editors spot lazy copy a mile away. Open with a hook, back it up with a quick stat, and close with a POV that sounds like a real person said it, not a press release. Also, skip the fluff. No one wants to read how you're "thrilled" to respond. Just give the goods. If you're short on time, voice-type your answer. It keeps your tone casual and your sentences short. One more thing, don't be afraid to disagree with the crowd. Reporters love contrast.
To get featured on HARO, focus on rapid, high-quality responses. Be selective; only answer queries where you have genuine expertise. Craft a concise pitch that directly answers the journalist's questions - no marketing fluff. Immediately establish your authority by stating your credentials. Write in clear, quotable sentences to make the reporter's job easy. By consistently providing valuable insights, you'll increase your chances of being selected and build relationships for future opportunities. This approach prioritizes the journalist's needs, which is the key to getting your submission picked.
Getting featured on HARO is like fishing with the right bait; generic pitches don't get bites. At Social Sellinator, we use a Problem-First Positioning. Instead of offering vague tips, we lead with a specific client challenge, the strategy we used, and the measurable outcome. For example, we pitched a HARO on email automation by explaining how behavioral triggers helped a SaaS client triple conversions. That answer got picked up. My tip? Anchor your pitch in real data and lived experience. Editors don't want theory, they want proof that what you did actually worked.
Been using HARO for press releases at ROI Amplified since 2017. My game-changer is treating each response like a mini-case study with actual numbers journalists can cite. When a reporter asked about "local SEO trends," I didn't give generic advice. Instead, I shared how our client's Tuesday morning yoga promotion generated 47% more neighborhood traffic within 30 days using location-specific content. The key is leading with the problem, then the solution with measurable results. I always include one surprising stat they won't find elsewhere - like how we've seen 23% higher conversion rates when businesses mention specific neighborhood landmarks in their content. Most people send fluff. I send data they can quote directly in their articles. Journalists remember sources who make their job easier with ready-to-publish statistics.
VP of Demand Generation & Marketing at Thrive Internet Marketing Agency
Answered 9 months ago
Remember, journalists only skim the pitches so provide the value in the FIRST FEW LINES. My best performing pitch started with a brief, personal stat ("I landed 3 features in 5 days using this...") and followed it with a tip that actually worked. I also reflect the tone of the question and establish my qualifications without ever being pushy about it. You should make your first sentence quotable, and everything else will be a breeze.
I've secured dozens of HARO features by focusing on one thing most people ignore: response timing. I set up keyword alerts and respond within 30 minutes of queries going live. My secret weapon is leading with the most shocking stat from our client work upfront. When a journalist asked about B2B growth challenges, I opened with "One client saw 278% revenue growth in 12 months" then explained the plateau-breaking strategy behind it. The key is being brutally specific about your methodology. Instead of saying "we do SEO," I mention exact tactics like "we generated 40+ qualified sales calls monthly using LinkedIn outreach combined with cold email sequences." Journalists can visualize and verify concrete processes. I always include one counterintuitive insight that challenges common advice. Most agencies promise slow SEO results, but I share how we delivered 5,000% ROI on Google AdWords campaigns because speed sells stories.
As someone who started as an in-house copywriter before building King Digital, I've had 50+ HARO features by focusing on timing and local angles that others miss. My hack: I respond within 30 minutes of queries going live, but here's the kicker—I always include local business data from my Albuquerque clients. When a journalist asked about small business challenges, I shared how our local franchise clients struggle with 40%+ bounce rates on their websites before our conversion optimization. The magic is in being the "boots on the ground" source. While others share generic advice, I mention specific regional trends like how New Mexico service businesses see different Google Business Profile engagement patterns than national averages. Most people overthink it. I just share real problems I'm solving daily—like how our cleaning industry clients needed different review management strategies than other sectors. Journalists love industry-specific insights they can't Google.
I'm Cody Jensen, CEO of a SEM agency called Searchbloom. My HARO tip? Pitch like you're already in the article. No intros, no elevator pitch, just drop the mic and walk out. Reporters don't want a warm-up. They want the knockout punch. I treat every pitch like I've got one sentence to make them pause mid-scroll and think, "That's the one." Be original, be fast, and for the love of backlinks, don't sound like a press release in khakis.
Chief Marketing Officer / Marketing Consultant at maksymzakharko.com
Answered 9 months ago
My top HARO tip: Answer fast, specific, and like a human. I reply within 30 minutes, personalize the intro, and lead with a clear, concise takeaway or stat. No fluff—just value. I always include a 1-sentence bio that positions me as an expert and a real example to back up my point. That combo gets results.
I've found that responding quickly with real numbers and case studies has been key - like when I shared how we increased a local plumber's visibility by 312% through targeted SEO tactics. Instead of pitching my business, I focus on sharing actionable insights that journalists can actually use in their stories, which has gotten me featured in industry publications like Search Engine Journal. My best tip is to set up email filters to catch HARO queries immediately and have a template ready with your basic credentials, but always customize the meat of your response with specific, relevant examples.
In order to be included in the HARO list, you should send a quick terse answer that is of real value. There is no need to make any fluffing or using complex words, simply paraphrase what the reporter wants to know. Personalize your end response and do not make it sound like a copy pasted message. Also, make sure that it is grammatically and perfectly spelled to appear professional. Reporters do not have a lot of time so the simpler you can make it, the more persuasive your answer will be used by a reporter. That is what worked best to me.
Answer fast, stay on-topic, and make the journalist's job easier. Start with a bold, direct answer, then back it up with 1-2 short sentences or examples. Avoid fluff, intros, or pitching your services. If the question is about a strategy, give a specific one you've used, not theory. Keep it short, clear, and quote-ready.
I earned my first HARO win by providing reporters what they CAN'T Google. When I saw this query about scaling a business with no funding, I had to jump in and share how we grew from 0 to $180K/month using only Reddit AMAs and Reddit Ads - with screenshots and real numbers. So I send original proof: be it data, personal examples or screenshots and I write as if I'm helping a friend. Think like journalism, not marketing. If you give them something they can't pass to include in their piece, then you win.
After building Security Camera King to $20M+ annually and helping countless local businesses dominate Google's first page, I've learned HARO success comes down to speed and specificity. I keep templates ready for common topics in my industry. My secret weapon is leveraging real client changes with hard numbers. When reporters ask about small business digital marketing, I share how we increased one client's qualified traffic by 200% through conversion-focused redesigns, giving specific conversion rate improvements. I always include the technical "how" that other responders skip. Instead of vague SEO advice, I explain the exact GBP optimization tactics that outranked national competitors for our local clients, making my responses more actionable for journalists. The key is monitoring HARO throughout the day and responding within the first hour. I've landed multiple features by being among the first 5 responses with concrete data from our South Florida campaigns.
After getting 500+ clients featured through strategic PR, my HARO success comes from treating it like funnel optimization—not generic pitching. I target queries where I can share process data, not just opinions. When reporters ask about website conversions, I lead with our 66% cost reduction system or the 3,000% engagement boost we achieved for clients. Specific numbers beat vague expertise claims every time. The magic happens in my subject lines—I write them like high-converting ad headlines. Instead of "RE: Marketing Expert Available," I use "How We Boosted Client Sales 50% With Custom Landing Pages." Reporters open emails that promise concrete stories, not credential lists. I've landed features by being the guy who actually tracks what works. While others share theory, I share the exact landing page elements that turned repeat business around for our agency clients.
With 25 years helping online stores, I approach HARO pitches like optimizing content for Google: every word must deliver value. My top tip is to craft thorough, high-quality answers that directly address the journalist's query. Think semantic language. Don't just state the obvious; provide related, complementary insights that showcase a comprehensive understanding of the topic, just as we advise for product descriptions. Crucially, like a compelling meta description, your pitch's opening must immediately hook the reader. Be concise yet thorough, answering the question completely without any fluff to stand out in a crowded inbox.
After 15 years scaling businesses from $1M to $200M+ revenue, I've cracked HARO by focusing on the execution gap that most responses miss. While others share theory, I lead with specific implementation data. My winning approach: I always include exact conversion metrics from real campaigns. When journalists ask about SEO strategies, I don't just mention "create quality content"—I share that our clients typically see 40-60% traffic increases within 90 days using our featured snippet optimization techniques. The secret is positioning yourself as the "how-to-actually-do-it" expert. I mention specific tools, exact timeframes, and real obstacles. For landing page queries, I'll reference concrete elements like "action-oriented CTAs increased our client conversions by 23% over generic button text." Most HARO pitches are surface-level advice. I win by being the strategist who's actually implemented these tactics at scale and can share the messy reality of what works.