How to Use HARO Link Building to Grow Your Blog
Heard of HARO link building but not quite sure what it is or how it can help you grow your blog? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this powerful tool!
HARO, which stands for Help a Reporter Out, is a service that connects journalists with sources for their stories. Essentially, it's a win-win situation: reporters get the information they need for their articles, and sources get free publicity.
But how does this benefit bloggers? Simple. By signing up for HARO and keeping an eye on the opportunities that pop up in your inbox, you can score high-quality backlinks from authority websites – which will do wonders for your blog's SEO. And trust us, getting your blog to rank higher in search engine results pages is well worth the effort. Not only will it help you attract more organic traffic, but it will also make it easier for people to find and share your content.
So without further ado, let's dive into how HARO link building works and how you can use it to give your blog a much-needed boost!
How Does HARO Link Building Work?
HARO sends out three emails daily with different opportunities for sources – one at 5am, one at noon, and one at 5pm EST. These opportunities come in the form of ‘queries,' which are basically requests from reporters looking for information on specific topics. As a source, all you have to do is reply to the query that best fits your area of expertise – easy peasy!
Once you've submitted your response, the reporter will take a look and decide whether or not to use it in their article. If they do use your quote or mention your blog in their article, they'll include a link back to your website as a way of saying ‘thanks'. And voila – that's how you score a sweet backlink from an authority website! Now let's take a look at some tips on how to make the most out of HARO link building…
Tips For Using HARO Link Building To Grow Your Blog
1. Be prompt with your responses.
Reporters are often working on tight deadlines, so the quicker you can reply to their queries, the better. Not only does this increase your chances of being selected as a source, but it also shows that you're reliable and easy to work with – two qualities that reporters value highly. So if you see a query that you think you could provide valuable insights on, don't hesitate to hit ‘reply' right away!
2. Keep your responses short and sweet.
While there's no strict word limit for replies, it's always best to keep things short and concise. After all, reporters are looking for soundbites that they can easily incorporate into their articles – not novel-length essays. So take some time to edit your responses before hitting ‘send', and remove any unnecessary fluff or filler words.
3. Provide value without self-promotion.
Your goal should be to provide value without coming across as salesy or promotional. Remember, reporters are looking for experts who can offer insights and perspectives on various topics – not people who are trying to sell them something. With that in mind, focus on offering helpful information and resources that will be useful to their readership without overtly plugging your own blog or website. If you can strike this balance successfully, there's a good chance the reporter will include a link back to your site in their article!
4. Follow up after each opportunity.
Even if you don't hear back from the reporter after submitting a response, it's always best practice to follow up with them later down the line (usually about 1-2 weeks after the initial query was sent out). This shows that you're proactive and committed to being involved in the story – two qualities that reporters love! Plus, following up gives you another chance to sell yourself as a source for future stories – so definitely don't skip this step.
Conclusion:
HARO link building is an incredibly powerful tool that every blogger should be utilizing – especially if they're looking to grow their blog's traffic and authority. By signing up for HARO and keeping an eye on the opportunities that pop up in your inbox, you can score high-quality backlinks from authority websites – which will do wonders for your blog's SEO. So what are you waiting for? Go sign up for HARO today and start growing your blog!