If you need a way to build links and improve your SEO, HARO link building may be just what you’ve been looking for.
Here’s everything you need to know about this strategy.
What is HARO link building?
HARO link building is a type of link building that uses the ‘Help a Reporter Out’ (HARO) platform to connect with journalists and bloggers who need credible and qualified sources for their stories.
HARO is a free service, allowing anyone to sign up and receive daily email updates with opportunities to be featured as a source.
To participate in HARO link building, all you need to do is sign up for a free account and then respond to any opportunities that are relevant to your expertise or niche.
If your pitch is successful, you’ll be featured in the story and most likely will receive a link back to your website.
HARO link building is an effective way to get high quality, niche-relevant backlinks that can help improve your website’s SEO.
What are the benefits of HARO?
HARO provides a number of benefits for those looking to build links and improve their SEO.
The first benefit is that it’s a great way to score high quality, niche-relevant backlinks. When you’re featured in a story as a source, you’ll likely receive a link back to your website.
These links are valuable because they’re coming from a high-authority, niche-relevant site. This means that they can help improve your website’s SEO by increasing your websites DR/DA which helps you rank higher in search engine results pages. We’ve seen a site with a DR of less that 10 jump up to a DR40 after just a few link placements.
Another benefit of HARO link building is that it can help you build relationships with journalists and bloggers in your industry. These relationships can come in handy down the road for future opportunities, so if you can add any journalists on LinkedIn and thank them for featuring you as a source, it may pay off in the future.
Finally, HARO link building is a great way to build credibility and social proof for your business. When you’re featured as a source in a story, it’s a shoutout to your expertise and authority in your industry. This can help build trust with potential customers and clients, which can eventually lead to more business and sales.
What are the downsides of HARO?
The main downside of HARO is that it can be extremely time-consuming to do yourself. You need to sift through the hundreds of daily opportunities and pitches to find the ones that are relevant to your niche, and then craft a personalized response for each one.
Another downside is that it can be difficult to stand out from the other sources who are pitching for the same opportunity. In the digital marketing niche specifically, competition is fierce and it can be quite difficult to get your pitch noticed.
If you’re not really careful, your pitch may come across as spammy or unqualified, which will not only destroy your chances of being featured, but could also damage your reputation in the future.
Can anyone do HARO link building?
Yes, HARO link building is open to anyone who signs up for a free account. However, competition is quite fierce in some industries, so it’s important to make sure that your pitch is well-crafted and relevant to the opportunity.
If you’re not experienced in link building or PR, it might be worth hiring a specialist (like us) to do this for you.
Does HARO link building really work?
HARO link building is definitely an effective way to build high quality, niche-relevant backlinks to your website. It can be quite time-consuming, but if you’re able to land even just a few links, the SEO benefits will be well worth the effort.
How to answer a HARO request
If you want to increase your chances of being featured in a story, it’s important to craft a well-written and relevant pitch.
Here are a few tips:
1. Read the request carefully and make sure you understand exactly what the journalist is looking for.
2. Keep your thoughts short and to the point. Remember, your comments will most likely be included as a quote, so write with that in mind.
3. Highlight your most relevant qualifications and experiences (to show that you’re qualified to respond).
4. Use a professional and friendly tone in your writing.
5. Offer a unique point of view that other sources are unlikely to offer.
6. Make sure to double check and proofread your pitch before clicking send!
Wrapping Up
If you’re looking for a way to get more links and exposure for your website, HARO link building is a great option to consider. We offer our own DFY HARO link building service that can help save you time and get you results. For more information, feel free to contact us today.
