What Are Some Alernatives to HARO?
Aug. 24, 2023, 3:42 p.m. in
So you've been using HARO, and you're either not getting the results you're looking for, or you just want more opportunities. If so, it might be time to try something new.
This article is part of our series on HARO.
X (Twitter) #JournoRequests
Cost: Free
Using Twitter can be an efficient way to identify journalists who are actively seeking sources for their stories. One specific approach to doing this is to use the hashtag #JournoRequests.
When you type #JournoRequests in the Twitter search box, you'll find a long list of tweets from journalists across varying industries and subjects. In these tweets, the journalists outline the particular type of data or information they need, or discuss the perspective they are looking to include in their article.
To effectively use this hashtag, it is vital that you sort through these tweets strategically. You can filter them based on fields or topics that are relevant to you, or within your expertise. This will help ensure that you are contributing meaningful and accurate information to these journalists.
It's not just about searching though, you also need to interact. When you find a tweet that aligns with your knowledge or experience, respond directly to the journalist. Offer them the information they're seeking and present yourself as a credible source. The journalist might contact you for further inputs.
Following the hashtag #JournoRequests can also helpful. This way, you will receive regular updates or notifications directly in your Twitter feed. It’s a live insight into what journalists are working on or interested in, and it provides potential opportunities to contribute to those pieces.
Remember, relevance and timing are crucial. So don’t just answer any request. A prompt response to a request related to your field will certainly attract more attention and potentially spark more meaningful engagements.
Help a B2B Writer
Cost: Free
Help A B2B Writer (HABW) is a fresh and cost-effective service that caters specifically to the B2B marketplace. It is an excellent alternative to Help A Reporter Out (HARO) because it offers its services free of charge, making it an appealing choice for businesses operating on a budget.
HABW operates as a regular newsletter and allows for unlimited story submissions. This is a noteworthy advantage because it allows businesses to tell their story as often as they want, without having to deal with stringent word counts or limited chances. As such, companies get the freedom to express themselves fully, ensuring that their messaging and branding stay consistent.
However, it's worth keeping in mind that HABW may not provide as many opportunities as other platforms. But this downside doesn't necessarily make it a less appealing option. Being a niche service means that the focus is on quality, not quantity. You may not get countless opportunities, but the ones you get are likely to be highly relevant and more likely to result in conversions.
Featured (Terkel)
Cost: Free* (Up to 3 Answers Per Month), $99/mo
Featured.com, previously known as Terkel, presents a new avenue for opportunities. The premise of Featured.com is similar to HARO, it's a tool aimed to simplify the connection between journalists and sources, business professionals and experts. The site offers a platform where journalists can get expert opinions, quotes, and insights for their stories while experts get a chance to showcase their knowledge and experience, ultimately boosting their brand visibility.
However, there's a noteworthy difference between featuring.com and HARO that affects the user experience. Featured.com has a limit on the number of pitches you can send each month. If you plan on pitching more than three times a month, it is going to cost you $99 monthly. This sets an expectation for users to be more selective and conscious about the opportunities they pitch for, intending to ensure the quality of pitches.
Despite the cost, this investment can ultimately prove beneficial for avid users. Giving a small amount of your budget to Featured.com provides you with the opportunity to potentially connect with a greater range of journalists and experts than you might on HARO. Not to mention, pitching on Featured.com may come with less competition given that every pitch comes with a price tag.
Source Bottle
Cost: Free (Respond on Website), $5.95/mo (Respond via Email)
Source Bottle is an excellent online resource that serves as a viable alternative to Help a Reporter Out (HARO). This platform functions in a similar manner but has a specific geographic focus geared towards Australia and its surrounding regions. Utilizing this platform provides numerous opportunities for individuals and businesses that are concentrated or extend their services within this geographical locale.
One of the primary advantages of using Source Bottle over HARO is its region-centric feature. Since the majority of its outlets are located in Australia, it provides a more narrowed down, focused platform for those seeking responses or looking to connect in these areas. The contextual relevance is significantly higher, making it more effective for specific geographic marketing, branding, and promotional efforts.
In terms of cost, Source Bottle offers a very cost-effective model. For starters, it offers a free model where users can respond on the website at no cost. The platform also offers a subscription model that costs $5.95 per month where responses can be sent via email.
This feature not only provides a more convenient way of communicating but also ensures a quicker response time, increasing the chances of opportunities. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with a higher volume of sourcing needs as email tends to be more direct and receives quicker attention, ensuring the best possible results and value for your investment.
Qwoted
Cost: Free* (Up to 2 Answers Per Month), $124.99/mo (Unlimited Responses)
If you're seeking a suitable alternative to HARO (Help A Reporter Out), Qwoted is an option worth considering. Although the basic version of Qwoted is free, it only allows for two responses per month. If you're seeking a more proactive role in engaging with journalists, you might find the free version somewhat limiting.
Qwoted, like HARO, is a platform that bridges the gap between journalists who need expert sources for their stories and professionals who want to share their insights. You receive daily emails with opportunities to provide your expert input, and these range across various industries. However, the main difference lies in the cost. To get unlimited access to respond to these opportunities, you need to choose the premium version which costs $124.99 a month.
This premium version allows you to pitch your thoughts and ideas in response to an unlimited number of requests from journalists. This can be highly beneficial for those who are eager to establish their authority in their field and increase public visibility.
Yes, Qwoted is indeed more costly than HARO, but the pricing must be weighed against the potential benefits. The access to unlimited pitches might be the game-changer that takes your industry authority and public visibility to the next level. So, if you are all set to give a boost to your brand visibility, investing in Qwoted might be the key.
ProfNet
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/profnethome/what-is-profnet.aspx
Cost: Unknown
ProfNet is a great alternative to HARO if you're looking for quality over quantity. An exclusive service, ProfNet is widely used by added-value seekers due to its distinct nature. It’s a service of PR Newswire specifically designed to connect with business professionals and experts in various fields. Rather than free access to all, ProfNet operates via selectivity, generating high standards of value within its network.
Unlike HARO, ProfNet's costing isn't shared publicly, inferring a higher, more premium pricing structure. This suggests that the service is likely more appealing to large businesses or experienced PR agencies looking for targeted outreach strategies. Despite the lack of transparent pricing, its reputation as a preferred tool amongst established PR firms keeps it in high demand.
With ProfNet, the process of connecting journalists to industry experts is swift and accurate. It’s particularly useful for critical or deadline-driven projects, where speed and accuracy are vital. Furthermore, ProfNet's strict application process ensures both requesters and respondents are highly relevant, credible, and approved, ensuring a higher standard of interaction and engagement compared to other similar platforms.
Press Plugs
Cost: £29/mo
PressPlugs is a dynamic platform that offers a brilliant alternative to HARO, especially if your focus is the UK market. The service presents a multitude of opportunities for businesses and PR professionals to connect with journalists and media outlets looking for stories, quotes, or product reviews largely sourced from Twitter.
Unlike HARO, PressPlugs provides an advantage for firms seeking to build their presence in the UK, offering a localized approach. It's an essential tool for PR professionals wanting to have their finger on the pulse of what journalists are currently interested in.
The process of connecting with journalists on PressPlugs is fairly straightforward. Once you’ve signed up, you'll receive a daily media request in your inbox. From there, it's up to you to decide if the request aligns with your business's PR goals and if you can provide valuable insights to the journalist.
PR Bot
Cost: $49/mo
The innovative PR Bot presents an effective and efficient solution to connecting businesses with journalists. Unlike services that rely on rudimentary keyword matching, PR Bot utilizes advanced AI technology, ensuring a much higher level of precision in pairing the right sources with the appropriate writers.
PR Bot strategically navigates the vast media landscape to find the perfect journalistic match for your unique business story. The advanced AI algorithm doesn't just match keywords; it understands the context and nuances of your brand, making it more personal than other generic matching services.
In comparison to other PR tools like HARO, PR Bot saves you valuable time and effort by doing the meticulous groundwork on your behalf. It efficiently filters out irrelevant pitches, ensuring only pertinent, high-quality connections between you and journalists. The automated nature of the service significantly reduces the chances of missed opportunities, often caused by manual errors.
Conclusion
So there you have it, 8 Alternatives to HARO that send you the opportunities without needing to do outbound press releases.