While browsing the latest BBWO Discussions I came across one entitled Help A Reporter Out (HARO), in which Michelle D was sharing her insight on HARO and looking for other women entrepreneurs to share their experience using the service.
As Michelle stated:
For those who don’t know HARO, it’s essentially a listing that you can subscribe to that highlights requests for sources in specific areas (e.g., business, travel, etc…). If you’re an expert at a particular topic, you simply respond directly to the reporter making the query.
In response to her discussion I shared the following: HARO is a great resource. One of my social media partners, Richelle Shaw loves it and highly recommended it to our coaching clients – some of which signed up and got interviews. Reporters need responses fast so you definitely have to respond in a timely manner. I am always late so I personally missed out on a few things.
Also note that interviews aren’t just good for a one time traffic spike! As you can seen via BBWO or even on my sistasense.com blog I use my interviews and magazine quotes from Essence and Black Enterprise often to show that I’ve been recognized in established, trusted media outlets and that helps to boost my credibility.
A BIG part of building your brand online is being connected to BIGGER brands that your target audience knows and trusts. Think about franchises like McDonald’s – a good reason someone would invest in the McDonald’s franchise as opposed to building their own mom and pop Burger joint is because the automatically would be aligning themselves with a brand the public already trusts.
Same thing with interviews – a good interview from a trusted media outlet can work for you overtime. Again interviews have two benefits – Traffic and Credibility/Brand Building. FYI – I mentioned HARO as a great resource in my How To find Customers Online – 7 Day ecourse which is available in the new “Super Sized” Black Business Starter Kit.
Another great BBWO post to checkout: Transparency in Business: Do you want your business to get GREAT publicity BUT have a fear of being the FACE of your business? Plus if you are NOT yet a BBWO member follow the link below to learn more about your last CHANCE to become one.
Great post HARO has been a heaven sent for my personal “brand” and for YSB. I get a great hit at least once a month. One landed myself and YSB a feature in a Wiley publication that hits stands in B&N and Amazon June 28th. It also helped me get an upcoming feature in BE.com. I can’t say enough about HARO. I HIGHLY recommend it. I use it now as a media person for my book and I”ve gotten some AWESOME businesses contact ME to be interviewed. Doesn’t matter how small you are. believe in yourself, your expertise and respond to those HARO query’s!!! They work!
Thanks for featuring my post. I’m having a good experience with HARO so far. Although I haven’t been featured in anything, I have reached out to a few individuals. It’s partially a numbers game, so I’ll keep going.
I have had success with HARO, also. I was featured in a national magazine called “First for Women,” and significantly grew my mailing list from that.
Thank you, LaShanda.