What’s Next for HARO Backlinks? Exploring Alternatives After HARO’s Shutdown

With HARO shutting down, what’s next for your link-building strategy? 

HARO was a game-changer for connecting experts with journalists and revolutionizing how businesses secured media mentions and backlinks from trusted domains. Its closure might feel like the end of the HARO backlinks era, but it’s also an opportunity to rethink and refine your approach.

This guide breaks down HARO’s legacy, the value of expert-journalist collaborations, and actionable strategies to pivot to new tools and platforms for high-quality link building.

What was HARO?

HARO (Help a Reporter Out) was a PR and media outreach platform designed to connect journalists with subject-matter experts. 

HARO’s success went beyond just being a platform. It thrived on the synergy of expert insights and meaningful collaborations with journalists. This dynamic fostered trust and produced high-quality, impactful stories that benefited experts and publications. 

Journalists would post relevant queries seeking expert commentary or insights for their stories, and professionals could respond to media queries to gain media mentions and backlinks from high authority websites. Its simplicity and effectiveness made it a go-to resource for building relationships and media coverage.

Why HARO backlinks worked

• High-Authority Links: HARO allowed users to build backlinks by connecting experts with journalists from high authority publications, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. These backlinks boosted search rankings by associating businesses and professionals with trusted domains, enhancing SEO performance and online credibility.
  
• Boost to SEO: The platform frequently facilitated do-follow backlinks, directly contributing to increased domain authority, improved rankings in search engine results pages, and more organic traffic.
  
• Brand Credibility: These recurring mentions amplified brand visibility and positioned contributors as credible industry authorities. By providing expert commentary and insights, users could establish thought leadership and build trust with broader audiences, reinforcing their reputation in media and market spaces.
  
• Ease of Use: HARO’s straightforward query-response system made it accessible to a broad audience, from solo entrepreneurs to large organizations. Journalists would post specific haro queries, and users could easily pitch their insights or expertise via email. This streamlined process eliminated the complexity of traditional media outreach, enabling users to focus on crafting compelling responses rather than navigating cumbersome systems.
  
• The Impact: For small businesses and emerging experts, HARO democratized access to high-impact PR opportunities, making it a trusted resource for credible backlinks and exposure. HARO’s simplicity empowered businesses of all sizes to connect with major publications and secure valuable HARO links without extensive PR resources.

What’s changing 

The shutdown of HARO has created a significant gap for professionals and businesses that relied on it for high quality links and media exposure. This void leaves many scrambling to find alternatives for connecting with journalists and maintaining effective link-building strategies. 

However, the landscape is evolving, and several emerging platforms are stepping up to fill the gap.

What it means for SEO professionals

To adapt, SEO agencies will need to lean more on emerging platforms like Qwoted and SourceBottle, as well as diversify strategies such as:

• Building strong ongoing relationships with journalists through social media.
• Creating high-quality, shareable content to build links.
• Leveraging niche PR tools tailored to specific industries.

This transition emphasizes the importance of exploring innovative ways to maintain and grow online visibility without any HARO pitching process.

Alternatives to HARO for Link Building

When selecting an alternative to HARO platform, it’s essential to weigh several factors to ensure you’re investing time and resources in the right place.

• Platform Authority: Choose a platform that connects journalists and reputable publications. A strong network increases your chances of earning high-quality backlinks, editorial links and media mentions from trusted sources.
• Competition Level: Platforms with a broad user base may compete intensely for journalist queries. Look for alternatives where your niche expertise is more likely to stand out, especially if you’re targeting specific industries.
• Ease of Use: Opt for platforms with intuitive dashboards and seamless filtering of journalist queries by relevant topics, industries, or interests. Features like email alerts and simple response mechanisms can save time and streamline your pitching process.
• Pricing Models: Many alternatives, such as Qwoted and SourceBottle, offer a mix of free and premium tiers. Some platforms offer a free account to help you understand the entire process. Assess each level’s pricing structure and features to determine what aligns with your budget and link-building goals.

Now that you know what to look for, let’s dive into some of the most effective HARO alternatives available today, designed to fit other link building strategies.

1. Qwoted

Qwoted is a media platform designed to connect journalists with expert sources, similar to HARO link building but with additional features that enhance usability. 

Experts can create detailed profiles showcasing their expertise, credentials, and past media appearances. Journalists benefit from structured query filters. As a result, it becomes easy for everyone to find relevant matches.

Why It’s Valuable: 

• Qwoted offers more targeted opportunities for building links and PR, often with less competition than HARO. 
• Its advanced profile system allows experts to stand out, and the platform’s curated approach ensures that responses are more aligned with journalist needs. 
• For businesses seeking focused and high-quality media exposure, Qwoted provides a reliable and efficient alternative to haro pitches.

2. Terkel

Terkel is another new platform that creates collaborative content by connecting brands and experts. 

They respond to relevant queries, and partnering websites and blogs use these answers in their published articles. The platform prioritizes simplicity, directly matching journalist queries and expert profiles based on relevance.

Why It’s Valuable: 

• Terkel’s straightforward design streamlines the process of contributing to content. 
• With tailored matching, experts receive relevant opportunities that align with their expertise, reducing wasted effort. 
• For businesses and professionals looking to enhance their online presence, Terkel offers a user-friendly way to secure media placements and backlinks while participating in meaningful content creation.

3. Expertise Marketplaces

Expertise marketplaces like JustReachOut and SourceBottle provide platforms for experts to pitch directly to journalists, often in niche or specialized industries. These platforms simplify outreach by curating journalist queries and allowing experts to respond with tailored pitches, maximizing the relevance and impact of their contributions.

Why It’s Valuable: 

• These marketplaces excel at fostering connections in specific fields, ensuring experts can showcase their knowledge to the right audiences. 
• By targeting niche industries, they offer unique opportunities for acquiring links that might be overlooked on broader platforms. 

4. Leverage Social Media and Networking

Many journalists use Twitter to post real-time requests for expert insights, often tagged with hashtags like #JournoRequest or #PRRequest. By following these hashtags, professionals can discover opportunities to contribute expertise directly to stories in progress. Engaging with journalists’ tweets and providing timely responses increases the chances of being featured.

LinkedIn offers a more structured way to connect with journalists and industry leaders. By joining relevant groups, engaging with journalists’ posts, and sharing thoughtful comments, experts can build relationships over time. To uncover collaboration opportunities, you can monitor updates and directly message journalists in your niche.

5. Direct Outreach

Direct outreach is a proactive strategy to build links. This strategy involves building relationships with journalists and pitching responses to their needs. This approach can decrease your reliance on intermediary platforms. This approach includes:

• Researching Target Publications: Identify media outlets that align with your niche or target audience.
• Building a Media Contact List: Compile a list of relevant journalists and editors, focusing on those who cover your industry or topics of expertise.
• Personalized Pitches: Craft individual responses tailored to each journalist’s past work, audience, and current needs.

Direct outreach offers greater control over who you pitch to and how your message is presented. It bypasses competition from broader platforms, giving you a more personalized and focused way to connect. 

How to Pivot Your Strategy Post-HARO?

HARO’s closure might seem like a setback, but it’s an opportunity to reassess and evolve your PR and link-building strategies. You should understand what worked and where to focus next to maintain momentum and uncover new opportunities.

Audit your HARO successes

Start by analyzing how HARO works and your past performance with this platform.

• Identify the industries and types of publications that delivered the most ROI in terms of backlinks, traffic, and credibility.
• Evaluate the quality of your pitches—what resonated with journalists and why?
• Use these insights to refine your approach and target publications or platforms that align with your prosperous areas.

Diversify link building efforts

To adapt to the post-HARO landscape, it’s crucial to explore a variety of link-building strategies beyond traditional journalist outreach:

1. Guest Blogging

• Identify reputable sites within your niche that accept guest posts.
• Pitch unique, high-value content ideas tailored to their audience.
• Include a well-placed backlink to your website in the author bio or within the article (if appropriate).

Guest posting helps you build high quality backlinks, reach highly relevant audiences, and showcase your expertise in your field.

2. Thought Leadership Content

• Use platforms like LinkedIn and Medium to publish insightful articles on trending topics in your industry.
• Focus on creating data-driven or opinion-based pieces that provide unique perspectives.
• Journalists often discover credible sources and experts through engaging thought leadership content.

By establishing yourself as an authority, you can attract media attention and naturally earn relevant backlinks from publications referencing your work.

Invest in relationship building

Building strong relationships with journalists and influencers is a long-term strategy that pays dividends in both PR and link-building efforts:

• Research Journalists in Your Niche: Identify those who consistently cover topics related to your industry or expertise.
• Personalized Outreach: Start with genuine, thoughtful communication, referencing their past work to show your interest and understanding of their style.
• Offer Value: Share exclusive insights, data, or resources that align with their interests and audience needs.

• Interact with Their Content: Like, comment on, or share their articles on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Add Value to Discussions: Contribute meaningful insights to conversations they initiate, showcasing your expertise while building rapport.
• Be Consistent: Engagement establishes familiarity and trust over time, making them more receptive to your pitches.

Journalists and influencers are more likely to work with professionals they trust. By investing in relationships, you not only improve the chances of getting featured but also open doors to exclusive opportunities that may not be available through traditional platforms.

SEO tips to follow

Here are some actionable SEO tips to help you stay ahead and achieve sustained growth.

1. Anchor text optimization

• Use descriptive, relevant, and natural anchor text for backlinks obtained through alternatives of haro link building services.
• Avoid over-optimization or keyword stuffing, as this can trigger penalties from search engines.
• Focus on contextually appropriate phrases aligning with the linked content, boosting relevance for users and search algorithms.

2. Diversify backlink sources

Balance media mentions with other strategies, such as:

• Guest Posts: Write articles for niche-relevant websites.
• Partnerships: Collaborate with other businesses or influencers for mutual backlinks.
• Resource Link Building: Create valuable assets like guides or infographics that others naturally link to.

A diverse backlink portfolio enhances domain authority and reduces reliance on any single source.

3. Track and adapt

• Use SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to monitor your backlink profile and evaluate the quality of links obtained.
• Analyze which strategies and platforms yield the best results in terms of traffic, rankings, and conversions.
• Continuously refine your tactics based on performance data, focusing on what drives sustainable growth.

All these strategies help you build a robust link profile that withstands algorithm updates and maintains long-term SEO success.

Scaling Your Link Building with Automation

Leveraging automation tools can significantly streamline your link-building and PR efforts. Here are some effective tools to scale your link-building strategy.

1. Pitchbox

Pitchbox is an outreach management tool designed to automate and organize your link-building campaigns. It helps you find and manage relationships with journalists, bloggers, and influencers, making the outreach process more efficient. 

Pitchbox automates personalized outreach emails and follow-ups to track your campaign progress, allowing you to focus on nurturing connections rather than manually managing each outreach effort.

2. Hunter.io

Hunter.io is a powerful link building tool for discovering journalist email addresses for direct outreach. It enables you to find the contact details of professionals within your niche by searching for domains or company names. 

With its straightforward interface, Hunter.io saves time by providing accurate contact information, which is essential for effective and targeted outreach.

3. BuzzStream

BuzzStream is an outreach and relationship management tool that helps organize and track your PR efforts. It allows you to store journalist details, manage communication history, and monitor the success of your link-building campaigns. 

BuzzStream also offers robust reporting and analytics to assess the effectiveness of your outreach so that you can optimize future efforts.

Crafting the Perfect Pitch on Any Platform

A well-crafted pitch is essential to making a lasting impression and securing valuable media mentions or backlinks. Here’s a structured approach to ensure your pitch stands out.

Catchy subject line: Your subject lines should immediately grab attention while incorporating the query and your name. Make it concise and clear, sparking curiosity while aligning with the journalist’s needs. 

For example: “Expert Insights on [Topic] – [Your Name]”.

Concise and focused pitch: The body of the pitch should be straightforward and directly address the query. Journalists often need more time, so keep it focused on offering value to their story.

• Start by briefly introducing who you are and why you’re qualified.
• Address the query by providing concise, relevant insights or answers.
• Highlight how your response will add value to their piece.

Clear Call-to-Action: End your pitch with a clear and actionable next step. Whether it’s offering to provide more information, a quick interview, or further quotes, make sure the journalist knows precisely what you are offering and how they can reach you. 

For example: “Let me know if you’d like more details or a quote for your article.”

Tips for writing a winning pitch

To increase your chances of standing out in a crowded field of pitches, follow these tips and craft high quality responses:

• Hook the reader early: Open with something intriguing—highlight a unique insight, fact, or angle related to the journalist’s query that will grab their attention.
• Provide value: Make sure your pitch directly addresses the journalist’s needs or query and offers something valuable, whether it’s expert advice, data, or a unique perspective.
• Be clear and concise: Journalists are busy and appreciate pitches that get straight to the point. Avoid unnecessary fluff and focus on what matters most.

• Boost discoverability: Including relevant keywords related to the journalist’s topic or query can help make your pitch more discoverable, whether the journalist is searching for sources or if the pitch is reviewed by a platform’s algorithm (such as a HARO alternative).
• Ensure relevance: Using industry-specific terms helps convey your expertise and makes it easier for journalists to assess if your input fits their story.

• Introduce yourself quickly: Start with a short introduction explaining who you are, what you do, and why you’re qualified to speak on the subject.
• Highlight your expertise: Make it clear why you are an expert in your field, citing relevant experience or qualifications that make your input valuable.

Building Relationships with Journalists

Building strong connections is essential, but how do you ensure those relationships lead to tangible results? Let’s look at some actionable steps.

Engaging with social media

Social media is a powerful tool to extend the reach and impact of your media mentions. Here’s a quick overview:

• Amplify your Media Mentions: Share your media features across platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Tailor your post captions to highlight the key takeaway or insight that makes your feature valuable. On LinkedIn, a professional tone with actionable advice works best, while a casual and conversational tone is more effective for Twitter or Instagram.
• Strategic Hashtag Usage: Research and include trending hashtags related to your industry, such as #TechLeadership, #HealthInnovation, or #MarketingInsights. This increases discoverability among users searching for similar topics. Combine popular and niche hashtags for balanced reach.
• Tagging Publications and Journalists: When sharing, tag the publication and journalist who featured you. This acknowledges their work and encourages them to engage with your post, increasing its visibility. A journalist’s likes or shares can expose your post to their professional network.
• Leverage Multimedia Content: Include an engaging visual, like a branded image, a short video summarizing your insights, or a screenshot of the article. Posts with visuals perform better, drawing attention as users scroll.

Tracking Your Success

Tracking the outcomes of your link-building efforts is crucial for refining your strategy and maximizing ROI. 

Here’s how to effectively monitor and evaluate your progress:

• Utilize Comprehensive SEO tools: Use platforms like Google Analytics, Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to monitor your website’s organic traffic, rankings, and backlink profile. These tools provide insights into which backlinks drive the most traffic and authority to your site.
• Analyze Key metrics: Focus on domain authority, organic search rankings, referral traffic, and conversion rates. Understanding these indicators will help you determine the effectiveness of specific link-building campaigns.
• Custom Dashboards for Real-Time Insights: Create a personalized dashboard using tools like Google Data Studio to consolidate metrics from various sources. This gives you a holistic view of your performance and allows for quick decision-making.
• Refine Your Strategy: Identify trends in the data to understand what’s working. For example, which types of content or sources provide the highest-quality backlinks? Use this knowledge to fine-tune future campaigns and develop the best link-building strategies.

GrowthOG offers advanced tracking and reporting tools to provide a clear picture of your link-building ROI. Clients gain access to detailed metrics, actionable insights, and a customized backlinks report, empowering them to make data-driven improvements.

How GrowthOG Can Help

Navigating the post-HARO landscape can feel daunting, but GrowthOG is here to simplify and elevate your link-building efforts:

• Expertise with HARO alternatives: Our team has in-depth knowledge of HARO alternatives like Qwoted, SourceBottle, and Terkel, ensuring we leverage the best platforms tailored to your needs.
• Targeted Query Identification: We excel in identifying high-value opportunities that align with your niche, ensuring maximum impact from every pitch.
• Crafting Winning Pitches: GrowthOG specializes in creating compelling, professional pitches that resonate with journalists and secure media placements.
• Diverse Strategy Development: By combining traditional outreach with emerging tools and platforms, we build a comprehensive link-building strategy that aligns with your business goals.
• Data-Driven Results: We track every effort with robust reporting tools, providing clear insights into ROI and continuously refining strategies for optimal growth.

With GrowthOG as your partner, you can confidently transition to a new online platform while maintaining and amplifying your link-building success.

Over to You

The closure of HARO doesn’t mark the end of achieving high-quality backlinks; it signals a new era of opportunities. By exploring alternative platforms and rethinking your approach, you can land killer links while amplifying your brand’s visibility and credibility.

Ready to take your link-building efforts to the next level? 

GrowthOG is here to guide your transition, answer queries and help you adapt with tailored strategies and expert solutions to keep you ahead of the curve. Our experts can help you identify and remove links from low quality sites. Let’s redefine your success together!