On November 8, 2024, Cision sent an email notifying that Help A Reporter Out (HARO) was being permanently discontinued starting December 9 of the same year. According to their communication, they were looking to focus on their core offering.
Well, you know how the market and businesses constantly change, right? Today, Help a Reporter Out (HARO) announced it is officially back. Featured.com has acquired Connectively and brought HARO back to life.
Why is this important? It all comes to your SEO efforts.
What is HARO?
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is a service that connects journalists and bloggers with expert sources. Founded in 2008 by Peter Shankman, HARO became a go-to platform for media professionals seeking quotes, insights, and data—while giving businesses and experts a chance to earn valuable media coverage.
When HARO shut down in late 2024, many marketers and PR professionals scrambled to find alternatives. But now, with Featured.com’s acquisition of Connectively (HARO’s parent company), the platform is back—and that’s great news for your SEO strategy.
The Magic of Backlinks
If you are in any way familiar with SEO, you know that backlinks are ✨magical✨ and a great way to build a stronger reputation and authority and increase your page ranking. When a high-ranked and reputable source links to your content, search engines interpret it as a sign that it is valuable, trustworthy, and authoritative. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the higher your site will rank in search engine results pages (SERPs).
And that is what makes HARO’s job valuable too.
HARO connects you with journalists from established media outlets, niche blogs, and industry publications requesting input from relevant, expert-level insight. These aren’t just any backlinks—they’re often from high domain authority (DA) sites, which carry even more weight in SEO algorithms.
Earning organic media mentions can be tough, but HARO offers a more authentic way to gain visibility. It rewards expertise, clarity, and quick responses. Using HARO strategically can give you an edge if you’re a business owner, marketer, or thought leader.
High-quality backlinks remain one of the strongest ranking factors in Google’s algorithm: they push you higher in search results.
HARO Turns Expertise Into Authority
HARO’s real power is not just in “getting backlinks” but in transforming your knowledge into tangible SEO results. Here’s precisely how this happens:
1. The Authority Multiplier Effect
When a site like TechCrunch or Harvard Business Review links to you, it’s an endorsement. Google’s algorithm treats these links as “expert votes,” compounding your domain authority over time. HARO gives you a direct line to these opportunities without expensive PR campaigns.
2. The Relevance Boost via Backlinks
Google prioritizes links from topically relevant sources. A backlink from an industry-specific publication (e.g., AdWeek for marketers or Medscape for healthcare) signals to algorithms that your content deserves to rank for related searches. HARO lets you filter queries by niche, so every pitch strengthens your topical authority.
3. The Traffic Snowball
One great HARO placement can trigger compounding benefits:
- Direct referral traffic from the publisher’s audience
- Increased brand searches (people Googling your name/company)
- Secondary backlinks as other sites reference the original piece
Of course, we shall point out that not all HARO responses turn into backlinks—but they’re worth it when they do. How can you increase your chances? Well, there are four simple things you can do:
- Be Fast: Journalists often work on tight deadlines. Responding within the first few hours gives you the best shot.
- Be Concise: Get to the point quickly. Offer a brief but valuable quote or insight.
- Be Credible: Include your credentials, website, and social proof (like relevant past features or experience).
- Be Consistent: Make it a habit. Set up daily alerts or delegate the task to someone on your team.
Backlinks are valuable. According to a traffic study by Ahrefs, sites with backlinks from top publications see up to 25% higher organic traffic. Of course, higher traffic can increase your ROI.
Remember: SEO is a long game. It takes 3-4 months of consistent HARO use to see measurable SEO impact—but the links last years. If you’re serious about SEO, backlinks, and growing your digital footprint, it’s time you got back into the game just as HARO did.
