This website sends you media opportunities (Part 1)
Looking for opportunities to get media coverage? Being a media source can be a great way for you to get press coverage, quotes in articles, and shareable links! It’s also an important way to position yourself as an expert in your field who is recognized by the media.
Though there are many paid options, I’m featuring a few websites that offer free registration and can be helpful in getting quotes and soundbites in the media. For part 1, we’re looking at HARO, which stands for ‘help a journalist out.’
How it works: HARO sends out daily (sometimes twice daily) emails with a summary of journalists who are looking for sources and quotes for their articles.
How to sign up: On the home page, click SIGN UP and then it will give you options for which topics you’d like to receive daily notifications about. HARO sends out a lot of emails (you can opt-in to around 10 per day if you want), but if you are serious about wanting to be interviewed and building your resume of links and press clippings, it’s worth looking through as you have time.
Here’s an example of one of the queries that will be shown in an email. This could be one of 5 queries in the General category. This could be a great fit for a store owner or a home decor expert.
—
Summary: Looking For Items That Will Spruce Up Anyone’s Home
Name: Megan Lane Motherly
Category: General
Email: query-civp@helpareporter.net (mailto:query-civp@helpareporter.net)
Media Outlet: Motherly
Deadline: 7:00 PM EST - 8 July
Query:
Hey all,
I'm writing another guide for Motherly, "15 Items That Will
Spruce Up Your Home." I'm pretty open here -- throw blankets,
storage containers, candles, towels, bedding, cutting boards --
definitely open to suggestions. Please reach out and let me know
if you have anything that would be a good fit.
Thanks!
Requirements:
- Please provide a link to the website and product page(s) for
products you're recommending - Must provide product samples in
order to be considered for inclusion (I would like to make sure
the quality is up to par -- hard to tell from a photo.) -
Please only pitch me regarding this query.
Thank you!
—
Now, here’s an example of a query looking for a subject matter expert.
—
Summary: Need to connect with organizational experts on how to set professional development goals
Category: General
Email: query-cj21@helpareporter.net (mailto:query-cj21@helpareporter.net)
Media Outlet: Anonymous
Deadline: 11:00 PM EST - 7 July
Query:
I'm working on an article for a well-known people management
platform on how to set professional development goals.
I need to connect with organizational/management experts
(management consultants, organizational psychologists, etc.) for
their insights into why setting professional development goals
is important, the characteristics of an effective professional
development goal, how to set--and follow through on--effective
professional development goals.
—
The key to HARO is responding quickly and meeting the reporter’s deadline.
Pros:
⁃ Lots of opportunities for the serious media source-seeker
⁃ Daily emails
⁃ Great way to get in the habit of looking for media coverage
Cons
⁃ They send out lots of emails, which can be difficult to weed through to find what could be a good fit
⁃ Some clients have reported reaching out to HARO queries and never hearing back
⁃ Some queries are “Anonymous” so you don’t know what media outlet you could be submitting to
I want to hear from you!
If you’ve booked an interview or gotten press coverage from HARO, comment below or respond to this email. What was your experience like?
