The Social Media Guide on Ulitzer

Chances are, if you're not a journalist, you haven't heard of HARO. It stands for Help A Reporter Out, and it's a site that was created to help journalists connect with experts or sources to interview for articles that they're writing.

Chances are, you're thinking: OK, but I'm still not a journalist, so why is HARO useful to me?

Well, if you're blogging or creating content regularly, you are similar to a journalist in some ways. You're trying to come up with interesting ideas, connect with an audience, and potentially find interesting sources to interview.

Once you have signed up on HARO, you will receive three free daily emails containing lists of articles that journalists have submitted because they're looking for sources. Here are a five ways content marketers and producers can use HARO:

1. Get inspiration for blog topics: The lists of articles give you a window into how to better develop your own ideas, or hone in on timely discussion topics. One recent article idea in the business section of a HARO list: "It's too damn early for Christmas!" Perhaps that idea, or a variation on it, would make a good topic for discussion in your next blog post. As you go through the list, think about whether any of the article topics listed would be relevant to your readers, and whether the topics can be adjusted to work as a blog post.

2. Blog about source requests: If you see a source request that's in your topic area and think your blog audience might be able to help the reporter, pass it on. Write a blog post about the request and see if your audience connects with it. Spread the good karma.

3. Find out about trends: One area where many bloggers need help is planning their content in advance. But journalists (whether newspaper or magazine) always have to look into the future and decide what topics and trends people will be thinking about in the near future. Just cruising through a few lists will help you get a better idea of newsworthy trends, events or topics.

4. Use HARO to find sources for your own posts: What makes articles and blog posts memorable are often the people interviewed. Reading pundits' predictions about the rebounding economy, for example, is fine. But reading about a shop owner whose business is finally picking up after their worst year ever, makes it much more real. You can relate to that person. They are human. Likewise, with your content, it's always great to have personal anecdotes or examples that illustrate the subject. No matter how dry it is. One case in point: a recent HARO request is for people who have switched from Wordpress for SEO reasons. If you're writing a blog post about a trend or topic and want to include others' perspectives on it, post a request on HARO. Here's a video posted by blogger Pete Williams of Preneur Marketing about using HARO to find sources for your blog posts.

5. Find opportunities to be a source. In reading the lists, you may come across a request and decide that you or your company would be a great source for the reporter. Bingo! It's an opportunity for exposure - as long as you sincerely have something genuine and valuable to share. As the site says: "By joining this list, just promise us that you'll ask yourself before you send a response: Is this response really on target? Is this response really going to help the journalist, or is this just a BS way for me to get my client in front of the reporter? If you have to think for more than three seconds, chances are, you shouldn't send the response."

Give HARO a spin and see what you can learn!

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