Use HARO to Get Backlinks and Improve Domain Authority

If you're looking for high-authority backlinks that can truly move your Domain Authority (DA), HARO is one of the best platforms to start with.

HARO (Help A Reporter Out) connects journalists with expert sources.
When you provide useful insights, your quote may be featured — often with a dofollow backlink to your website from major news publications, magazines, and blogs.

It’s ethical, fast, and scalable — and one of the easiest ways to earn links from DA 70+ sites.

What Is HARO and How Does It Work?

HARO is a free service where:

•   Journalists from sites like Forbes, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, etc.,
•   Submit requests for expert quotes, opinions, stats, or real-world experiences

You (the source) can reply with insights.
If selected, they’ll include your name, brand, and often — a dofollow link to your website.

New requests arrive via email 3 times a day, Monday to Friday.

Why HARO Helps Boost Domain Authority

HARO backlinks:

•   Come from high-DA publications (often 70–90+)
•   Are editorial and natural — Google sees them as trusted signals
•   Increase your referring domains count, a key DA factor
•   Build brand recognition and visibility

Just 1–2 links a month from HARO can boost DA more than 20 generic backlinks.

How to Get Started with HARO

•   Sign up at helpareporter.com
•   Choose “Source” (not journalist)
•   Check the email digest for relevant requests under your niche
•   Reply quickly with a concise, expert-level quote

Pro Tip: Create a HARO-dedicated email to avoid inbox overload.

What Makes a Winning HARO Pitch?

1. Respond Quickly

Journalists usually get 50–100 replies per query. The sooner you respond (within 1–2 hours), the higher your chances.

2. Keep It Short and Insightful

•   Don’t pitch your service — answer the question
•   Be original and professional
•   Use bullet points if possible
•   Avoid jargon

Avoid jargon

“Local SEO is more than Google Maps — it’s about relevance, trust, and neighborhood-based backlinks. When we optimized our client's NAP and earned links from regional blogs, traffic grew by 38% in 60 days.”

3. Include a Short Bio and Link

Most journalists ask for:

•   Name
•   Title
•   Website URL
•   LinkedIn or company profile

Include these at the end of your answer — no attachments.

4. Stay in Your Expertise Zone

Only reply to queries that fit your domain.
Your insights will sound more natural — and journalists prefer specialists.

This is especially relevant when answering marketing/SEO topics. Example:
Is E-E-A-T Important for Google Rankings?

Alternatives to HARO (Also Great for DA)

While customer reviews don’t pass link equity, they:

•   Terkel (terkel.io): Curated Q&A for marketers
•   Help a B2B Writer: Niche-focused and selective
•   SourceBottle: Popular in Asia-Pacific
•   Qwoted: Connects professionals with journalists
•   Featured.com: High DA placements, especially in business

You can use multiple platforms at once for higher outreach volume.

How to Track Backlinks Earned Through HARO

•   Use Ahrefs or Moz to monitor your referring domains
•   Set up Google Alerts for your brand name
•   Use Google Search Console to see traffic and links to your submitted page
•   Save each link in a tracker spreadsheet with DA and anchor text

Sometimes, the journalist won’t inform you that you’ve been published — so search regularly using your name or company.

Realistic Expectations — Not Every Pitch Gets Chosen

Don’t be discouraged. On average:

Instead:

•   1 out of 5 well-crafted pitches gets accepted
•   Some quotes are published without backlinks (still good for branding)
•   It takes consistency over 4–6 weeks to see results

Stay patient and keep improving your pitch quality.

Best Pages on Your Site to Link From HARO

When possible, ask the journalist to link to:

•   Your homepage (for general brand mentions)
•   A service page (if relevant)
•   A blog post that expands your quote (builds topical relevance)

Example:
You pitch a quote about content strategy, and the backlink points to
Does Your Content Fill or Kill?

Conclusion — HARO Is Low-Cost, High-Value Link Building

If you want to:

•   Boost Domain Authority
•   Gain exposure from trusted websites
•   Build brand authority without shady tactics

HARO is your go-to method.

With consistency and expertise, you can build powerful links that not only lift your DA — but your entire digital presence.