How to Write a Successful HARO Pitch [The Complete Guide + Examples]

In the recent past, HARO (Help a Reporter Out) was a digital platform connecting journalists with industry experts to gain insights into their stories. Today, HARO is more like an umbrella term for all platforms that provide such opportunities.

This article will guide you through the entire process of writing a HARO pitch, along with best practices and strategies. As a bonus, you’ll get our real-life examples of successful pitches.

So let’s begin, shall we?

Key Takeaways

• A HARO pitch is a focused response from experts to journalists’ queries.
• Writing pitches connects you with a broad network of writers, bloggers, and reporters.
• A compelling HARO response involves a catchy subject line, a clear introduction of your expertise, and a unique response to the query.
• Common mistakes include sending too brief or lengthy responses, being off-topic, using unedited AI-generated content, or turning pitches into sales ads.
• Timeliness is crucial—responding quickly to requests increases the chances of being noticed.

What Is a HARO Pitch?

A HARO pitch is a short and focused reply that experts, marketers, or PR professionals send to a journalist’s question. These pitches usually come from businesses, groups, or individuals who share useful information in return for media attention.

Generally, the HARO email structure looks like this:

1. Subject line: Click-worthy so that reporters want to open the email.
2. Introduction: Your name, title, business, and level of expertise.
3. Actual response: A compelling and unique answer to the query.
4. Conclusion: Thanking the reporter and stating you’re open for further discussion or an interview. However, not every HARO response will result in coverage, so keep trying and refining your approach.

Why Are HARO Responses Valuable for Media Coverage?

Without further ado, let me summarize the reasons why HARO pitches are so important for securing media coverage:

• Access to a wide range of journalists: HARO platforms provide access to a network of reporters who otherwise may be challenging to contact. Writing publication-worthy responses can put you on the reporter’s radar for future reference.
• Targeted pitching: You can target the specific journalists or outlets you believe will benefit most from your pitch. This is much more effective than sending unsolicited emails that are likely to be ignored.
• Improved personal branding: Thanks to creating a pitch for HARO, you’re featured in a prominent media outlet, enhancing your public credibility. As you enhance your individual reputation and visibility, your name is perceived as an authority among peers and potential clients.
• Increased exposure: Publications expose you to a broader audience than you may reach through your usual marketing channels. Answering HARO queries makes it possible to improve brand awareness and reach audiences that are actively engaged with the topics you specialize in. This means more leads for your business.
• Building links to your homepage: Most writers include a link to your website when they quote you in their articles. Securing high-quality backlinks from authoritative sources improves your domain authority and link profile, which are key factors for search engine optimization (SEO).
• Boost in E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness): E-E-A-T is a concept that Google uses to evaluate the quality and relevance of web pages. By contributing to reputable publications with effective HARO pitches, you demonstrate your E-E-A-T and boost your Google rankings.

10 Tips on How to Write a HARO Pitch That Gets Noticed

How do you catch the eye of a busy reporter who receives hundreds of pitches every day?

You need to master the art of writing HARO pitches. After signing into your desired platform, here are the steps to follow:

1. Research journalists and media opportunities

I’ve found that doing a little extra homework on a journalist’s style makes a pitch feel much more genuine and tailored.
Check their previous content, style, niche, and audience. If a media website is mentioned in the query, read a few articles to see what they publish.

Then, read the HARO request carefully to understand the request better. Additional requirements (if provided) are also important to match your answer.

2. Choose queries relevant to your industry and knowledge

Focus on the HARO queries that match your expertise. Generic pitches that don’t address the specific question are not likely to get media attention.

This approach not only increases your chances of being featured but also enhances your reputation as a go-to expert in your field. Read the query carefully to understand what the reporter wants to know, what kind of sources they are looking for, and what structure they prefer.

3. Craft a compelling subject line

I believe a great subject line is like a handshake—it sets the tone for the entire interaction. That’s also your first chance to make an impression and show expertise. So make it catchy, succinct, relevant, and click-worthy.

Avoid generic or vague subjects that do not convey your value proposition or expertise. Instead, use keywords from the query, numbers, or questions that spark curiosity and show you’re a great fit for the story.

However, this step doesn’t apply to some HARO alternatives, such as Qwoted and Featured, where you can submit a pitch directly and not over an email.

4. Use an effective structure

Reporters have to sift through hundreds of responses daily. They just don’t have time to read long emails that don’t get to the point. Therefore, your pitches must be short and clear.

• First paragraph: Introduce yourself and explain why you are a qualified source for their story. Include social proof, i.e., share the most prominent websites that have already published your words, if applicable. Address the reporter by name, mention their previous publications, and show that you have done research on them. Compliment them on their work to show that you care and are familiar with their articles.
• Second paragraph: Provide your main answer or insight to their query, with relevant facts or examples. Avoid self-promotion, sales pitches, or generic advice that does not address the query.
• Third paragraph: Include a call to action, such as asking them to reply if they are interested or offering to send more information. Also, provide your credentials, such as a link to your website, social media page, blog, podcast, videos, or other content that showcases your expertise.

Use bulleted lists, subheadings, and bolding—if the platform you chose allows it—to make your text easy to scan and digest.

Some pitches may require answering multiple questions in a single query. You can make those longer (over 200–300 words), but always read the journalist’s request and requirements before replying.

5. Express a unique idea

Journalists are looking for fresh and original perspectives that will make their articles stand out. If you provide information that’s already widely known or covered on the internet, you’ll most likely get ignored. Instead, think of a unique angle, insight, or experience that relates to the topic and demonstrates your expertise.

For example, you could share a personal story of how you overcame a challenge, a case study of how you helped a client achieve a specific result, or original research that reveals a surprising trend or finding in your industry. A unique idea will spark the reporter’s curiosity and make them want to interview you for their story.

Furthermore, the reporter may reach out for a follow-up interview or quote if your pitch is interesting enough. That’s a good sign—you’re a step closer to getting media coverage.

6. Incorporate targeted keywords and phrases

One of the first things journalists look for in a pitch is relevance.
To stand out from the hundreds of pitches they receive, you must incorporate targeted keywords and phrases that match their query and headline.

Strategically and sparingly placed keyphrases highlight the pitch value. Use relevant keywords in your subject line, introduction, and the actual HARO response.

For example, if the query is about “advice for remote workplaces,” use terms like “remote work,” “productivity,” “communication,” “collaboration,” etc.

7. Ensure correct grammar and spelling

For me, taking the time to proofread has made a big difference—simple mistakes can sometimes make a pitch feel less professional.

Therefore, proofread your pitch carefully to correct typos or grammatical errors before you hit send.

Here’s what else you can do to ensure correct spelling and grammar:

• Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to improve clarity and readability. They are among the best grammar checkers, which also identify spelling mistakes and weirdly structured sentences.
• Read your answer aloud to see if it sounds natural and clear. If you stumble over any words or phrases, rewrite them to make them simpler and smoother.
• Ask someone else to review your response. A fresh pair of eyes can spot any mistakes or inconsistencies you may have missed.

8. Act quick

It’s also important to be timely in your response, as journalists are often flooded with HARO emails. Each request has a deadline, so responding quickly increases your chances of being seen and then chosen as a source.
You need to find the right balance between speed and quality. I recommend spending no more than 40 minutes writing a HARO pitch.

9. Have a helping mindset

Pitch to journalists with the intention of helping them write better stories, not just getting exposure for yourself. Provide value to their audience by answering their question in a clear, relevant, respectful, and useful way. Think of ways you can solve a problem with your reply.

Pitching with the sole intention of publicity and backlinks can hinder your inspiration. Alternatively, writing a HARO pitch with a helping mindset will make it more authentic, engaging, and persuasive. So relax your mind to produce the most helpful answer possible.

10. Follow the platform’s guidelines and etiquette

Following your chosen platform’s guidelines and etiquette improves your chances of success. Avoid pitching for queries that are not relevant to your industry or expertise. Don’t include attachments or images in your pitches unless they’re requested. Follow up with journalists only if they reply to you first. Thank them for the opportunity to be featured in their story.

How NOT to Pitch on HARO Platforms: 9 Common Mistakes

Missing the mark with your HARO pitch? It happens more often than you’d think.

I have been in the journalists’ shoes, collecting expert quotes to include in my articles. While this has been helpful, I’ve also encountered examples of what not to do when crafting a pitch.

To make a great impression, steer clear of these nine common mistakes:

1. Pitching something too short or too lengthy

If your pitch is too short, you risk providing barely enough information to be helpful. On the other hand, if it’s too long, you’ll overwhelm the journalist with unnecessary details. Keep your response concise, but provide enough depth. Aim for a pitch that’s just the right length to communicate value clearly and effectively.

2. Being overly conversational

Keep it professional. It’s easy to get too comfortable, but here’s an example of where that went a bit too far:

“Mate, I’ve always been into tech and how things work online. SEO was like cracking a code to me—figuring out how to get websites noticed. Plus, every business needs to be found online these days, so it seemed like a good gig.”

3. Sending unedited AI text

Unedited AI-generated content often lacks a personal touch. Don’t send a pitch like this:

“In [Your Country], the potential for career advancement in SEO is quite promising. With the increasing emphasis on digital presence for businesses of all sizes, SEO specialists are in high demand. There are ample opportunities for growth, from advancing to senior SEO roles and managing teams to branching out into digital marketing strategy and consulting. The rapid pace of technological advancement also means that ongoing learning and specialization are crucial for career progression.”

When you see a pitch that sounds the same as every other one you’ve received, you know it’s not the real deal.

AI tends to generate repetitive phrases and doesn’t sound human.
Check out these examples—it’s clear they’re from different people, but they all sound identical:

• “The SEO community here in the US is incredibly developed and supportive, with numerous meetups, conventions, and online forums for continued learning and exchange of practices.”
• “The SEO community in Spain is well-developed and supportive. There are numerous conferences, meetups, and online forums where professionals share insights, strategies, and best practices.”
• “The local SEO community is vibrant and collaborative, with numerous meetups, webinars, and forums where knowledge exchange is encouraged.”

4. Going off-topic

Sending a response that doesn’t align with the journalist’s query is a surefire way to get ignored. Journalists are looking for specific answers to their requests, not vague or unrelated information. Stay focused on what they’re asking and tailor your pitch to meet their needs. A pitch that misses the mark wastes their time—and yours.

5. Turning your pitch into a sales ad

Journalists don’t want to read a sales pitch disguised as a response. If your pitch is all about your product or service without offering actionable insights, it’s likely to be dismissed. Focus on providing genuine value instead. Share your expertise and how it relates to the query rather than using the opportunity to promote yourself.

6. Using plagiarized content

Plagiarized content is a major red flag for journalists. Copying text from other sources without proper attribution damages your credibility and lowers your chances of being taken seriously. Instead, craft original responses that reflect your unique perspective and voice. Authenticity always wins when it comes to building trust. You can always double check your HARO pitch using one of the best plagiarism checkers online.

7. Submitting low-quality pitches

Pitches with errors, poor grammar, or unclear writing are likely to be dismissed as spam, cluttering the reporter’s inbox. And even if they don’t, a sloppy response makes you look unprofessional and unprepared.

Take the time to proofread and refine your pitch before sending it. A well-written, polished response shows that you care about the quality of your work and helps you stand out in a positive way.

Example of a HARO Request and Response

Below, you’ll find HARO pitch examples and templates to help you submit your next pitch properly. I will also showcase some of our winning HARO responses.

HARO query

The following query was posted by a journalist from Forbes who was looking for expert sources on how to improve customer retention:

I’m looking for experts who can share tips on how to improve customer retention for online businesses. What are some strategies or best practices that can help online businesses retain their customers and increase their loyalty? Please provide specific examples or case studies if possible. Also, please include your name, title, company name, headshot, and website URL.

Subject line

Use the suggestions below as a HARO pitch template for your own opening line; just change the topic and title.

Here are 5 possible subject lines you can use for the above customer retention request:

• [Company] Owner with Top Tips on Customer Retention
• 10-Year Online Business Owner on Improving Customer Retention
• CEO of [Company] with Advice on Retaining Customers
• Online Marketing Expert Tips on How to Retain Customers
• Brand Manager on Strategies to Improve Customer Retention & Loyalty

Introductory paragraph

Here is a sample introductory paragraph of a HARO response:

Hi there (use the reporter’s name if provided instead of “there”),

I’m [expert’s name], the founder and CEO of [Company], a company that provides online marketing solutions for small businesses. I have over 10 years of experience in online marketing and customer retention, and I have helped hundreds of clients grow their businesses online.

Actual response + conclusion

Let’s continue with the customer retention topic and an example of a HARO pitch. Bolding and numbering make the pitch easier to read.

Here are my top 5 tips on how to improve customer retention for online businesses:

1. Segment your customers based on their behavior, preferences, and needs. This allows you to tailor your communication and offers to each segment and increase their engagement and satisfaction.
2. A loyalty program rewards your customers for their repeat purchases, referrals, reviews, and feedback. It encourages them to stay with you longer and become your advocates.
3. Provide excellent customer service and support. Make your customers feel valued and appreciated, and, thus, reduce the chances of them leaving you for a competitor.
4. Ask for feedback and testimonials from your customers regularly. It helps you understand their pain points and expectations and improve your products or services accordingly. It also shows them that you care about their opinions and experiences.
5. Showcase your social proof and credibility. This way, you build trust and authority with your potential and existing customers and persuade them to choose you over other options.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Feel free to contact me with additional questions.

Kind regards,

[expert’s name]

Experts Share Their Secrets to Crafting the Perfect Pitch

Let’s take a look at some expert opinions about leveraging HARO platforms as a source of authoritative backlinks.

Leverage an Agency for SEO Content

“You could not achieve the intended results even after adhering to all HARO writing recommendations. Due to the SEO agency’s ability to develop a unique online presence through content creation, you can count on getting high-quality links. Using their set of professionally qualified writers, an agency will deliver content that gives your business digital visibility.” — Marc Hardgrove, CEO, TheHOTH

Provide unique, anecdotal answers

“What seems to work best is offering something unique and rooted in experience. An answer that is genuinely helpful and can be backed up by an example from personal experience will stand out and give the publication very little reason not to select you.
On a couple of occasions, I’ve had a straightforward answer selected, but the risk is that there will probably be somebody else saying the same thing. On the other hand, I’ve tried thinking outside the box with answers (and even answering questions on topics I’m unfamiliar with), but generally, this can be a real time-drainer with little reward.
Stick to questions where you can offer genuine value with your answers, and always aim to provide an anecdotal contribution.” — Joe Cowman, Head of SEO, FATJOE

Match answers to field experience

“The best tip I can give is to highlight your personal experiences. You don’t want to sound like you researched or looked up answers online because reporters seeking answers can do that as well. Instead, share your knowledge and experience to add value to their upcoming piece. Additionally, ensure you have experience in the field so you are perceived as a more reliable source of information.” — Tristan Harris, Demand Generation Senior Marketing Manager, Thrive Digital Marketing Agency

Stand out from the crowd

“Most responders follow a similar pattern for writing pitches. They perform a Google search and pitch content already available on the internet. That results in copious pitches with the same angles. To get pitching success, you need to avoid this. Before writing any pitch, perform solid internet research to find out all the available points on the internet that you should avoid. This will help you stand out from the rest of the pitches and increase the chances of selection.” — Shivbhadrasinh Gohil, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-founder, Meetanshi

Collaborate with industry experts

“One highly effective strategy for obtaining high-quality backlinks through HARO is to embrace collaborative content creation. By collaborating with other industry experts or thought leaders, you can create engaging and insightful content that attracts attention and generates backlinks. Collaborative content benefits from the expertise and diverse perspectives of multiple contributors, and they, too, can share and promote the content, increasing its reach and the likelihood of gaining quality backlinks from reputable sources.” — Matias Rodsevich, CEO, PRLab

Track and Evaluate HARO Pitch Performance

Not every HARO response results in a successful placement.

That’s why it’s important to track and evaluate your HARO pitch performance over time to identify what can be improved.

Key evaluation metrics

• Number of pitches sent
• Number of follow-up emails received
• The placements you secure (mentions or links—both dofollow and nofollow)
• The outcomes placements generate (traffic, rankings, conversions)

Methods for monitoring pitches

• Create a spreadsheet to record the details of each pitch, such as the date, topic, outlet, reporter, response status, placement status, backlink, traffic, leads, etc.
• Add UTM tracking (codes added at the end of a URL to monitor performance) to your HARO link to track how many clicks, visits, and conversions your pitch generates.
• Use media monitoring tools like Google Alerts to track when and where your pitch gets published and the social feedback it gets.

Benefits of pitch performance tracking

• Measure the return on investment (ROI) and see if it’s worth your time and resources.
• Improve your pitching skills and learn how to write more effective pitches for different media sites and topics.
• Optimize your pitch strategy and focus on the optimal opportunities for your brand and goals.
• Build stronger relationships with journalists and become a trusted source for future stories.

By regularly tracking and evaluating HARO pitch performance, you gain valuable insights into your digital PR efforts and improve them over time. You can also celebrate your wins and showcase your achievements to your team, clients, or other stakeholders.

Case Studies of Winning Pitches

InBound Blogging has been using HARO platforms to pitch expertise and insights to top media outlets for nearly 10 years, and we have landed incredible placements that boosted our clients’ brand awareness, credibility, and traffic.

Here are some of our notable winning pitches:

• DR94 link on Forbes.
• DR94 link on GoDaddy.
• DR93 link on DreamHost.
• DR93 link on HubSpot.

We are interested in growing your online presence. Our services are focused specifically on earning the most valuable backlinks and mentions for your business. We pitch only to authoritative publications.

Conclusion

HARO pitches are a powerful way to get media coverage for your business, brand, or product. You can also position yourself as an industry leader by responding to HARO queries from journalists and bloggers. HARO platforms help you build relationships with influential media outlets and increase your online visibility.

However, HARO responses are not easy to write. They need time and attention. Following best practices is a great starting point. Not every pitch will be a success, though, due to the high competition. Practicing pitching perfects the process. Just keep going, and you’ll definitely see results.