Are you looking for great HARO alternatives for link building?
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) has been a go-to platform for businesses and individuals looking to secure media mentions and backlinks through journalist requests.
However, with its growing popularity, it has become increasingly competitive and sometimes overwhelming to navigate.
This has led to the emergence of alternative platforms that offer similar services, with some even expanding the scope of opportunities beyond just media requests or journalist queries.
In this blog post, we will explore some of these HARO alternatives and how they can provide fresh PR opportunities for your brand awareness without wasting a lot of time.
In search of the best HARO alternatives for gaining media exposure, we also sought insights from CEOs and marketing experts.
From leveraging Twitter for media exposure to Featured.com’s thoughtful, specific responses, discover the top recommendations for connecting with journalists and securing quality backlinks.
Table of Contents
HARO Alternatives: Expanding Your Options for PR Opportunities
Check out this list of HARO alternatives and experiment with them to find the one that best fits your needs and elevate your online presence to new heights.
Cision
Cision is a comprehensive platform that offers not only journalist requests but also media monitoring, analytics, and influencer outreach.
With over 1.6 million journalist contacts in its database, Cision provides a wide range of opportunities for small businesses to pitch their stories and secure media coverage on specific topics.
Its user-friendly interface and advanced search filters make it easier to find relevant opportunities for your brand.
While there’s no free plan, you can get a free personalized demo to see if it helps you reach the right people and amplify your story.
What sets Cision apart is that it has been trusted by 84% of Fortune 500 companies and public relations professionals.
Muck Rack
Muck Rack is another popular alternative to HARO that focuses on connecting journalists with sources for their stories.
It boasts a network of over 50,000 journalists and media professionals from top publications such as The New York Times, CNN, and Forbes.
Muck Rack also offers an advanced search feature and personalized alerts to help businesses stay on top of media requests related to their industry.
It’s a great alternative to HARO link building and a big competitor of Cision above.
It’s a great PR tool with media lists and contact information.
Monitor Twitter’s #journorequests Hashtag
Twitter #journorequests is a great HARO alternative!
Twitter (now X) is a platform where users can post brief messages, images, videos, and links, and it’s accessible to both followers and the general public.
It serves as a crucial source of news and information and is utilized by journalists to seek sources, stories, and trends.
Journalists on Twitter often use the hashtag #journorequests to seek advice or contact from users who may have pertinent expertise or experience.
Publicists and PR professionals frequently monitor this hashtag to spot potential media opportunities for their clients, aiming to secure media exposure.
By keeping an eye on the #journorequest hashtag, experts can quickly respond to journalists’ requests for sources in their field, enhancing their likelihood of gaining publicity.
It’s a free option that content creators can easily use.
-Patrick Beltran, Marketing Director, Ardoz Digital
Meltwater
Another great tool as a HARO alternative is Meltwater.
With Meltwater, you can increase your online presence by responding to comments on your social media accounts.
This tool also allows you to monitor conversations on various social media platforms, so you can stay updated on the latest trends and discussions related to your industry.
Moreover, Meltwater offers sentiment analysis, which helps you understand how people perceive your brand and products.
You can use this information to improve your marketing strategies and address any negative sentiment.
Meltwater media intelligence also provides competitive intelligence, allowing you to track your competitors’ online activities and analyze their performance.
In addition to its social media monitoring features, Meltwater also offers media monitoring services.
This includes tracking mentions of your brand in news articles, blog posts, and other online publications.
Keep in mind that this is a paid subscription that costs thousands of dollars a year but its advanced features will be worth it for large companies.
ProfNet
ProfNetProfNet is a service offered by PR Newswire that allows businesses to connect with journalists and experts for media opportunities.
It offers a wide range of services, including expert profiles, press release distribution, and media monitoring.
With over 14,000 journalist members and access to PR Newswire’s vast network of media outlets, ProfNet is a valuable resource for securing media coverage.
ProfNet is not a free option; there’s a fee to receive and submit responses to journalist queries.
Qwoted: Nurturing Media Relationships
Qwoted is a bread-and-butter PR platform with a solid professional track record that continues to successfully bridge the gap between media and expert sources.
It’s not entirely free; based on your membership, a certain level of give-and-take and time goes into pitching.
But ultimately, it has one of the highest-quality and most efficient source-to-journalist channels compared to any other PR platform.
Qwoted takes away the anonymity and transactional feeling between media and subject matter experts.
It helps to create and nurture more fulfilling business relationships than any other platform.
Communicate clearly and keep in touch with your favorite journalists and bloggers—chances are, you can help each other down the road.
-Logan Shooster, VP of Strategic Growth, Answering Service Care
PitchRate
PitchRate is another platform that goes beyond journalist requests and offers a range of PR services, including media coaching and press release distribution.
It offers s free online service for PR leads and media coverage with a lot less competition.
It also has a community of experts who can provide insights and advice on how to improve your PR efforts.
PitchRate is particularly helpful for businesses that are new to the world of PR and need guidance on navigating the media landscape.
SourceBottle: Smooth Journalist-Source Connection
One notable alternative to HARO that has shown promising results is SourceBottle.
This platform facilitates a smooth connection between journalists and sources, making it significantly easier for those seeking media exposure to find relevant opportunities.
From personal experience, the effectiveness of SourceBottle in garnering high-quality responses and fostering productive collaborations stands out.
Its user-friendly interface and targeted approach have yielded excellent outcomes, positioning it as a compelling resource for anyone looking to enhance their media presence.
The great news is that there’s a free plan to get started.
-Tristan Harris, Demand Generation Senior Marketing Manager, Thrive Digital Marketing Agency
Respona
Another great alternative to HARO is Respona.
Respona is an all-in-one PR and link-building platform that helps businesses get media coverage, backlinks, and brand mentions.
It’s not a free platform but great for high-quality links and online visibility.
It has features specifically designed for journalists and publishers, making it an effective tool for getting mentioned in the media.
HERO: High-Quality Journalist-Source Bridge
One of the top alternatives to HARO is the recently released HERO (Help Every Reporter Out).
Operating on a similar premise, HERO is a unique platform built to bridge the communication gap between journalists and sources.
Contributing to its excellence, HERO is designed by the same visionary founder as HARO, bringing a sense of familiarity to its operation yet still delivering refreshing features to better suit current journalistic needs.
Just like HARO, it efficiently facilitates a seamless connection between journalists seeking expert inputs and sources eager to provide insightful answers.
However, what sets HERO apart is its sharp focus on ensuring the value of responses.
It takes a meticulous approach to keeping the relevance and quality of source contributions at a high level. The system prioritizes the credibility and worth of responses, not just the quantity, ensuring that journalists access only the most noteworthy inputs for their stories.
Moreover, HERO promotes a sense of community and philanthropy among its users.
Despite being a free service, the platform encourages users to donate to animal welfare organizations.
This unique aspect fosters a deep sense of goodwill and community among its users, making HERO more than an informational platform but a force for good as well.
Lastly, the transparency and simplicity of HERO are indeed remarkable.
It has stripped away unnecessary complications, delivering a straightforward process for both journalists and sources.
-Cesar Cobo, Director of Operations, Webris
OnePitch
PR and marketing professionals love OnePitch as one of the best HARO alternatives.
It helps you connect with the right journalists with its media list and pitch checker and you can email journalists directly.
You can get started with their free service to source requests and even get expert insights in pitch planning.
Agility PR Solutions
This platform provides a media contact database, along with options for distributing press releases and tracking coverage.
It also offers a journalist inquiry service similar to HARO for connecting sources with relevant journalists.
You can reach a broad audience with their newswire service and pitch journalists your story ideas.
Unfortunately, there’s no free version but they have a paid plan with different options available to pick from.
Side note:
Imagine having the ability to earn an impressive $500 to $3,000 every day by sending pre-made emails, all from the comfort of your home.
JustReachOut
JustReachOut is a great HARO alternative for link builders.
You can get extensive press coverage and find a database of journalists who are looking for the best answers.
The key features of JustReachOut for Small Business Owners are:
● Pitching Insights: JustReachOut offers valuable insights on how to pitch your story to journalists effectively. This can help increase the chances of getting your story picked up and published.
● Media Database: With JustReachOut, you have access to a database of over 50,000 journalists and bloggers. You can filter the results by keyword, location, and publication type to find the most relevant contacts for your brand.
● Email Templates: The tool also provides email templates that are proven to be successful in getting responses from journalists. These templates are customizable and can save you time when reaching out to media contacts.
● Performance Tracking: JustReachOut allows you to track your press mentions and measure the impact of your outreach efforts. This can help you identify areas for improvement and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Overall, JustReachOut is a comprehensive PR software tool that can help you effectively reach out to journalists and get valuable media coverage for your brand.
It’s a great alternative for those looking to improve their link building efforts through PR outreach.
There’s no free trial, but the price is reasonable at $147 a month to get started.
PitchResponse
PitchResponse is designed by a team of specialists in media outreach.
It’s perfect for website owners, SEO professionals, marketers and public relations specialists who want to get their brand mentioned in top publications.
Some of the key features of PitchResponse include:
● Expert Help: With PitchResponse, you can get expert help with crafting your pitches and finding relevant media contacts. The team behind the tool has years of experience in media outreach and can provide valuable insights and guidance.
● Keyword Alerts: You get on-platform pitching with keyword alerts for your outreach project
● Custom Pitches: PitchResponse allows you to create custom pitches for different journalists and publications. This helps you tailor your message to fit each individual’s needs and increases the chances of getting your story picked up.
● Analytics: You can track the performance of your pitches and measure the success of your media outreach efforts with PitchResponse’s analytics feature. This helps you understand what works and what needs improvement in your PR strategy.
Overall, PitchResponse is a powerful tool for building relationships with journalists and getting valuable press coverage for your brand.
Its user-friendly interface and expert assistance make it a great alternative to HARO for those looking to improve their media outreach efforts. Give it a try and see the results for yourself!
It’s not a free tool but quite affordable at $29 a month to get started.
Featured.com: Thoughtful, Specific Responses
Featured is a perfect alternative to HARO.
Rather than needing to reply to a large article brief with multiple answers and back-and-forth on HARO, on Featured, you can answer individual questions for certain publications.
That has allowed me to answer more thoughtfully to questions that specifically apply to my expertise and interests.
And Featured has resulted in a lot more publications!
-Corey Schwitz, CEO and Founder, Skydog Ops
Best Tools for Media Outreach
When pitching, you may be wondering what business tools can help you so check out the list below:
- Jasper for responding to journal queries or media outreach
- Originality AI for checking your AI responses
- Content at scale is another great way to draft blog posts or responses quickly (it’s an AI SEO writer)
- Quillbot for paraphrasing text
- Outrank your competition with this tool
How to Choose The Best HARO Alternative For Your Business?
When it comes to choosing the best HARO alternative for your business, keep these 5 important factors in mind. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help make the decision:
- What specific features do I need? Each HARO alternative offers different features and services, so it’s important to determine which ones are most important for your brand’s PR strategy.
- How much am I willing to invest? Some HARO alternatives may come with a monthly or yearly cost, while others may offer free options. Consider how much you’re willing to invest in a tool and if the benefits outweigh the cost.
- How user-friendly is the platform? It’s important to choose a tool that is easy to navigate and use, as this will save you time and frustration in the long run.
- What kind of support is available? Look into the customer support options for each HARO alternative, as you may need assistance or have questions while using the tool.
- Are there any trial periods or demos available? If possible, test out a few different HARO alternatives to see which one fits your needs best before committing. Many tools offer free trials or demos for potential users as stated above.
Ultimately, the best HARO alternative will depend on your specific business needs and goals.
Take your time to research and compare different options before deciding on the right one for you.
Final Thoughts on HARO Alternatives
While HARO remains a popular choice for securing media coverage, these HARO alternatives offer a broader range of opportunities for businesses to expand their PR efforts and get featured in major publications.
From media monitoring to influencer outreach, these platforms provide a comprehensive suite of services to help your business gain exposure and build its brand reputation.
So why limit yourself to just one platform? Explore these HARO alternatives and see how they can elevate your PR game.
HARO links have historically been great but with its increasing popularity, it can be challenging to stand out among the sea of pitches.
With these alternatives, you have a better chance of getting noticed by journalists and securing valuable media coverage for your brand.
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