What Is HARO Meaning and How It Help You Get Media Coverage

Building an online brand today is all about visibility, trust, and authority. One of the most effective ways to achieve that is by getting featured in top-tier media outlets — and that’s exactly where HARO can help.

If you’ve come across the term but wondered what is HARO meaning, it stands for Help a Reporter Out — a platform that connects journalists with expert sources. It gives entrepreneurs, marketers, and professionals the chance to share insights and get quoted in articles on sites like Forbes, Business Insider, and Mashable.

Used right, HARO can become a powerful tool for earning media coverage, building backlinks, and growing your brand organically.

Let’s take a closer look at how it works and why it still matters today.

What is HARO Meaning? Everything You Need to Know

Source: Acronyms and Slang

HARO stands for Help A Reporter Out. It’s a platform that connects journalists with experts who can provide quotes, insights, or experiences for their stories. 

If you’ve ever wondered how people get featured in big-name publications like Forbes or Business Insider, there’s a good chance HARO played a role behind the scenes.

At our company, we’ve used HARO to build valuable media connections and secure high-authority backlinks that move the needle for SEO.  It has become one of the smartest ways to grow brand visibility without spending a fortune on ads or outreach.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what HARO is:

• It began in 2008 as a simple Facebook group started by Peter Shankman, built to connect journalists with sources in real time.
  
• As it gained traction, it turned into a formal platform and was acquired by Vocus in 2010, which later merged with Cision in 2014.
  
• For years, HARO operated under Cision as a go-to platform for journalists and experts alike — until things changed in late 2024, when Cision rebranded HARO as Connectively and then shut it down permanently on December 9, 2024.
  
• In a surprising turn, Featured.com acquired the platform from Cision in April 2025. They dropped the Connectively name and brought back the HARO brand — restoring the familiar email-based format and reconnecting journalists with sources.
  
• The first set of HARO emails under Featured’s ownership officially went out on April 22, 2025.

So if the name sounds familiar but the platform feels different, that’s why — HARO has essentially restarted, but with its original mission still intact.

So, when we talk about HARO, we’re talking about a simple but powerful way to get noticed by the media. And if you’re in SEO, digital PR, or content marketing, you know just how valuable that can be. 

How Does HARO Works in Simpler Terms? 

Now that you know what HARO stands for, let’s talk about how it works.

1. Journalists Submit Questions (Queries)

Reporters, writers, and editors submit questions on topics they’re covering. These questions are called “queries,” and they usually need expert quotes, insights, or experiences to help complete their article.

2. You Get Daily Emails with Opportunities

HARO sends out three emails every weekday—morning, afternoon, and evening. Each email contains a long list of queries, organized by category (like Business, Tech, Health, Lifestyle, etc.). You can skim through and look for topics that fit your expertise.

3. You Choose the Right Query

When you find a query related to your industry or expertise, start by checking the listed requirements. These usually mention who the journalist wants to hear from — such as a CEO, marketer, or subject-matter expert — and what kind of input they’re looking for.

4. You Send a Pitch

If you meet the criteria, you can respond directly through the anonymous email address provided. Your response should be clear, relevant, and show your authority on the topic. If the journalist likes your pitch, they might quote you in their article—and often include a backlink to your website.

That’s what makes HARO so valuable for SEO. When you get featured in a credible publication, it often includes a backlink, which helps improve your site’s authority and rankings in search engines.

How to Get Started with HARO

Getting started with HARO is super easy — even if you’re brand new to it. 

Step 1: Sign Up for HARO

Image Credit: HARO

To begin, head over to HARO’s homepage, add an email address, and click the Sign Up button. Nothing too complicated.

Once that’s done, just check the box. HARO will then send you an email confirmation. Click the link in that email to verify your account.

Step 2: Set Up Your Profile

HARO is an email-only service — there’s no online dashboard or profile section like other platforms. You’ll receive queries directly in your inbox, and you respond via email.

That said, since HARO is now owned by Featured, you can set up an optional profile on Featured.com. It won’t affect how HARO works, but it may help you get picked for other media requests that run through their platform.

It includes:

• Name and role
• Short, relevant bio
• Website link
• Socials (optional)

Why HARO is Important for SEO 

There are many reasons why you should use HARO for SEO. 

Earn High-Quality Backlinks

HARO gives you direct access to journalists and editors from well-known publications. When your response is selected, you often get a backlink from their site. These aren’t random low-quality links — they’re authoritative, editorial mentions that Google values highly. A single HARO feature on a top-tier site can do more for your SEO than dozens of smaller links.

Improve Domain Authority

Domain authority is heavily influenced by the quality of sites linking to you. HARO links usually come from trusted domains like news outlets, niche magazines, or industry-leading blogs. These links signal to search engines that your website is credible, improving your chances of ranking higher for competitive keywords.

Increase Brand Visibility

When your insights appear in an article, you’re not just getting a backlink — you’re putting your brand in front of thousands (or sometimes millions) of readers. This visibility drives referral traffic, introduces your business to new audiences, and builds awareness that goes beyond search rankings.

Build Industry Credibility

Being quoted in respected publications positions you as a thought leader in your field. The more credible you appear, the more likely other journalists, bloggers, and potential customers are to trust your expertise. This credibility can make your future HARO pitches more successful too.

Long-Term SEO Impact

Paid ads stop working the moment you stop paying. HARO backlinks, on the other hand, remain live for years, often continuing to drive both traffic and SEO value long after they’re published. Over time, multiple HARO links can compound into a significant boost in search rankings.

Wrapping Up 

HARO is a perfect way to get media coverage, build backlinks, and grow your online presence. And luckily, you don’t even need expensive tools or a huge team. What you do need is a clear message, some time to respond regularly, and the ability to match your insights with what journalists are actually looking for.

Whether you’re doing it yourself or getting expert help, consistency is key. The more you pitch, the more chances you have to be seen and quoted.

If you’re ready to start, check the daily emails, pick your opportunities, and send clear pitches. And if you’d rather have someone handle it for you, we can help. Just reach out.

FAQs 

1. What does HARO mean?

HARO stands for Help A Reporter Out. It’s a platform that connects journalists with people who can provide quotes, expert opinions, or real-life experiences for news stories and articles.

2. What is HARO used for?

HARO is mainly used by journalists, bloggers, and content creators to find expert sources for their stories. At the same time, it’s used by business owners, marketers, and professionals to get featured in the media and earn valuable backlinks for SEO.

3. What is the full form of HARO?

The full form of HARO is Help A Reporter Out. It’s a well-known service that helps reporters and sources connect quickly and easily.

4. What is HARO in SEO?

In the SEO world, HARO is used as a link-building strategy. By replying to journalist queries with helpful, expert answers, you have a chance to get featured in articles—and often, those articles include a backlink to your website, which helps improve search rankings.

5. What does HARO mean for my business?

Using HARO can boost your brand’s visibility, build trust with your audience, and improve your SEO through high-authority media mentions. It’s a smart way to grow without relying on paid ads or cold outreach.