Help A Reporter Out, Help Yourself Out

Help A Reporter Out is a service that connects reporters with sources. A recent article on Open Forum suggests that answering media queries can be a great way to share expertise and get the word out about your company.

“Reporters’ queries are aggregated, categorized and distributed via e-mail to subscribers several times a day,” said Leyl Master Black of Spark PR. “When you find a relevant query, send the reporter a brief ‘pitch’ saying that you saw their query and explaining why you’re a good resource for their story. Make sure to respond as soon as you see the query so you don’t miss the reporter’s deadline!”
Take time away from “cold pitches” via e-mail, and focus it on those reporters who are requesting information for their stories. The value proposition here is a no-brainer.

After reading the article I became a member of HARO. I plan to answer reporter requests and make some of my own requests when I have my industry reporter hat on.
Since I joined and started to receive daily email from HARO, one thing jumped out at me right away–the use of detailed text ads at the very top of each email.

HARO claims a 75%+ open rate, which is off the charts for email marketing. I’m not sure what it costs to run an email text ad with HARO, but I am sure it’s worth further inquiry.