What Is HARO (Help A Reporter Out)?
Definition
HARO (Help A Reporter Out) was a free platform that connected journalists seeking expert sources with professionals willing to provide quotes and insights for articles. It was widely used for link building because being quoted in media articles often resulted in high-authority backlinks.
How HARO worked
HARO operated on a simple model. Three times per business day, it sent email digests containing journalist queries organized by category (business, technology, health, lifestyle, etc.). Sources could browse these queries and send pitches directly to the journalists.
If a journalist selected your pitch, they'd quote you in their article — usually with a link to your website. The resulting editorial backlinks came from high-domain authority sites like Forbes, Business Insider, The New York Times, and HuffPost.
What happened to HARO
HARO was acquired by Cision and rebranded as Connectively in 2024. Connectively was subsequently shut down in 2025, ending the platform entirely.
The shutdown left a significant gap in the source-based link building space. Many SEOs who relied on HARO as a primary link building channel had to find alternatives or shift strategies.
Why were HARO backlinks considered so valuable for SEO?
Correct! HARO links were valuable because they were editorial links from authoritative publications — earned by providing genuine expertise, not through payment or link exchanges.
HARO backlinks were valuable because they came from high-DA media outlets as genuine editorial citations. They represented real journalists choosing to quote you based on your expertise — the highest-quality type of backlink.
Alternatives to HARO
Since HARO no longer exists, here are the current alternatives for source-based link building:
- Qwoted. A journalist-source matching platform similar to the original HARO model.
- Featured.com. Connects experts with journalists, with a focus on quality matches.
- SourceBottle. An Australian-based alternative popular with international media.
- Help a B2B Writer. Focused specifically on B2B and SaaS content creators looking for expert quotes.
- #JournoRequest on X/Twitter. Journalists post source requests using this hashtag, which you can monitor and respond to.
- Direct journalist outreach. Build relationships with reporters covering your industry through digital PR and media pitches.
Tips for source-based link building
- Respond fast. Journalists work on tight deadlines. The first quality responses usually win the placement.
- Be specific and quotable. Provide concrete data points, unique perspectives, or memorable phrasing that makes for good copy.
- Stay in your lane. Only respond to queries where you have genuine expertise. Journalists can spot generic answers immediately.
- Include credentials. Briefly mention your relevant experience, title, and company to establish credibility.
- Keep it concise. Journalists are busy. A 2-3 paragraph response is usually ideal.
What happened to HARO?
Correct! HARO was acquired by Cision, rebranded to Connectively in 2024, and then Connectively was shut down in 2025. The platform no longer exists.
HARO was acquired by Cision and rebranded to Connectively in 2024. Connectively was then shut down in 2025, ending the platform entirely.
HARO is gone. Automated mentions are here.
MentionAgent finds relevant blogs and gets your product mentioned naturally, earning the kind of editorial backlinks HARO used to deliver, without the manual effort.
Start Getting Mentioned For $99/moFrequently asked questions
Is HARO still available?
No. HARO was acquired by Cision and rebranded to "Connectively" in 2024. Connectively was subsequently shut down in 2025. The platform no longer exists in any form.
What are the best alternatives to HARO?
Current alternatives include Qwoted, Featured.com, SourceBottle, Help a B2B Writer, and direct journalist outreach via social media (especially X/Twitter). Many SEOs have shifted to proactive digital PR and building direct relationships with journalists.
Why was HARO so popular for link building?
HARO was popular because it provided a free, structured way to earn backlinks from high-authority publications like Forbes, Business Insider, and major news outlets. These editorial links carried significant SEO value because they came from high-DA sites and were earned through genuine expertise.
Can I still do source-based link building without HARO?
Absolutely. The core strategy, positioning yourself as an expert source to earn media mentions — still works. You just need different channels: journalist request platforms (Qwoted, Featured.com), Twitter/X journalist hashtags like #JournoRequest, direct outreach to reporters, and creating quotable content that journalists find organically.