What is HARO?HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is a media service (now rebranded as Connectively) that connects journalists seeking expert sources with brands and individuals who can provide relevant commentary, data, or expertise. Journalists post specific queries (for example: seeking a SaaS founder to comment on enterprise software pricing trends for a TechCrunch article),
What is HARO?
HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is a media service (now rebranded as Connectively) that connects journalists seeking expert sources with brands and individuals who can provide relevant commentary, data, or expertise. Journalists post specific queries (for example: seeking a SaaS founder to comment on enterprise software pricing trends for a TechCrunch article), and brands respond with pitches offering relevant expertise. When a journalist selects a response, they typically include a quote and a link to the source website in the published article. HARO and similar services (Qwoted, ResponseSource, PressPlugs, HelperSources) are among the most accessible link building and PR tactics available to SaaS companies.
HARO Strategy for SaaS Companies
Effective HARO participation requires: daily monitoring of email digests (or real-time alerts) for relevant queries matching your expertise areas, rapid response (most journalists select sources within hours of posting; responses within 30-60 minutes of query posting have the highest selection rate), concise and directly responsive pitches (answer the specific question asked, lead with the key insight rather than company background), credentialing your expertise clearly in the response (name, title, company, why you are qualified to speak on this topic), and providing genuinely useful insights rather than promotional content (journalists select educational commentary, not marketing copy). Set up email filters for queries in your categories to prioritize relevant opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What response rate should I expect from HARO pitches?
Average HARO response-to-selection rate for well-crafted pitches is approximately 5-15%, meaning you should expect 1-2 successful placements for every 10-20 quality responses submitted. Response quality and speed are the primary drivers: generic, slow, or overly promotional responses are almost never selected. Track your HARO efforts in a spreadsheet: query topic, date responded, days since response, and placement result. This data helps you identify which topic categories and response styles generate the most successful placements.
Are HARO links dofollow and high-authority?
HARO-earned links vary in authority: placements in Forbes, TechCrunch, Entrepreneur, Inc., and similar publications are typically dofollow links from DR 80-95 domains that provide significant SEO value. Smaller publications may provide lower-authority links or nofollow links. HARO response is still valuable for nofollow placements from highly authoritative publications because they: build brand awareness in your target audience, generate direct referral traffic, contribute to E-E-A-T signals (even nofollow brand mentions from authoritative sources signal entity recognition), and can lead to ongoing journalist relationships that generate future coverage opportunities.