June 29th, 2012
by Darla Bea Smith
Representing Web Marketing Therapy at the "Social Media for Your Growing Business" Event.
My job at Web Marketing Therapy is to help clients look good on the wild web. A huge part of Online Public Relations is finding publications and media sources that fit the niche for what our clients do, sell, teach and or preach. There are many high-level tools that I use to help accomplish this task and some grass roots (i.e. roll up the sleeves and make some phone calls) strategy implemented as well.
Last Fall I was excited to hear the founder and President of “Help a Reporter Out” aka HARO, Peter Shankman speak at the Fess Parker Double Tree in Santa Barbara for a unique panel presentation on Social Media Marketing. A bigger perk was supporting my colleague and COO of Web Marketing Therapy – Nicki Gauthier who dominated the panel with examples, expert tips and insight. Go Nicki! Okay back to HARO. Mr. Shankman started HARO for publicists, PR agency’s and for the publications themselves to find the perfect match between the promoters and the need to be promoted. HARO is an online filter of top stories you read in some of the biggest News and Media sources in the World.
HARO makes my job not only easier but adds that exciting edge of winning over a writer or journalist with a pitch on one of our clients that highlights their skill set and thought leadership in a specific field. These PR stories can take their business to another level. It can influence potential clientele, members of the same industry and grab the attention of other publications who in turn want to profile this client i.e. through video, business blogs, print and online magazines, television and radio interviews — this is the Wild World of Online Public Relations!
How “Help A Reporter Out” can benefit your Business:
- HARO is a free service that boasts 30,000 reporters and bloggers. It is a resource to 80,000 news and media sources world-wide.
- HARO gives small businesses a chance to get recognition from the press while promoting their brands and products.
- HARO gives your SEO a boost with free links and backlinks from major media and valuable news sources like The New York Times, Business Week and CNN.
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HARO is for any business owner who is focused on branding, with an interest in increasing traffic to their website, a need to generate leads, and a goal in higher ranking in search engine results (SEO).
For more Public Relations and Personal Branding Tips hit me up @darlabea on Twitter.
Virtual High-Fives,
Darla Bea, Public Relations Specialist
Calla Gold
(June 30th, 2012 at 9:00 am)
Thank you for talking about HARO. I’m signed up and have had a number of PR opportunities. The biggest was being quoted in an article in my jewelry industry by Fox News – Small Business.
HARO is an amazing tool and you are awesome to tell people about it!
Many PR people keep it as a big secret to their success.
I love the empowering feel that Web Marketing Therapy gives by giving us this helpful data.
By the way Nicki a funny and snarky friend of mine who went to the event said that Peter was kinda loud and sometimes non-sequitor and you were on point and gave interesting examples and made helpful points. You were way better in the speaking department. Just thought I’d share!