Guest post by Derek Vaughan.
In addition to registering a domain name, actually creating a website design, writing the content and maintaining your site - the greatest challenge facing website owners is how to promote the site. There are the obvious ways: try to get listed well in search engines, buy advertising, issue press releases. Then there are the less obvious ways. The ways that really work wonders. I came across one of those golden gems while conducting research for reseller hosting company 34SP.com. It's a great opportunity for exposure if you do it right. The service is called HARO or 'Help a Reporter Out'.
So exactly what is HARO and how does it work? HARO is the acronym for the website: http://www.helpareporter.com. If you are interested in gaining free publicity for yourself as an expert, or your website as an expert source, you've hit pay dirt. Help a Reporter is a service which puts together reporters who are looking for sources to add credibility to their new articles and subject matter experts who are willing to share their expertise with reporters and their readers. The home page of the HARO website brags, ''From The New York Times, to ABC News, to HuffingtonPost.com and everyone in between, nearly 30,000 members of the media have quoted HARO sources in their stories.''
So how does one get started with HARO and have a chance to be published as an expert in major publications? It is very easy to get started. You simply go to the signup page here:http://helpareporter.com/
Here are some snippets of a few recent HARO requests:
''I need info on how to get discount promo fares that cut the cost of passenger jet flights. The more relevant your background the better. Pls just state credentials first...''
''I’m working on a story about the mother of the bride, and I’d love to hear from recent brides about your most memorable moments with Mom at your wedding or leading up to your wedding- these can be funny or sentimental. Please share what happened and include your name, age and city/state (ex.: Betty D., 32, Columbus, OH.)''
''Looking for experts in growing Hops, Malts, and Brewing Herbs who are willing to answer questions about their experience.''
There are many queries that come up in the course of a week ranging from the general to the very specific. To submit your availability you generally email back a summary of your credentials and what you think you can contribute. Additionally, the media outlets requesting the experts range from smaller, online-only publications to the national media. There is also a Twitter feed which has urgent requests posted as soon as they are identified at : http://twitter.com/
If you are interested in promoting yourself or your website brand, I suggest signing up for the HAROs and looking them over for a few days to get a feel of what's being requested. If you work at it and apply to those requests that fit your expertise you stand a good chance of getting some free media coverage. Who knows? You may even end up on USA Today or the Huffington Post.
Derek Vaughan is a web hosting industry veteran, marketing consultant and writer. Mr. Vaughan has architected the marketing growth of several prominent web hosting success stories leading to acquisition including Affinity Internet, Inc., Aplus.Net and HostMySite.com. Prior to his entry into the web hosting industry, Mr. Vaughan was responsible for online marketing at The Walt Disney Company where he marketed ecommerce for the ESPN.com and NASCAR.com brands. Mr. Vaughan received his M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University and currently serves on the HostingCon Advisory Board.
In addition to registering a domain name, actually creating a website design, writing the content and maintaining your site - the greatest challenge facing website owners is how to promote the site. There are the obvious ways: try to get listed well in search engines, buy advertising, issue press releases. Then there are the less obvious ways. The ways that really work wonders. I came across one of those golden gems while conducting research for reseller hosting company 34SP.com. It's a great opportunity for exposure if you do it right. The service is called HARO or 'Help a Reporter Out'.
So exactly what is HARO and how does it work? HARO is the acronym for the website: http://www.helpareporter.com. If you are interested in gaining free publicity for yourself as an expert, or your website as an expert source, you've hit pay dirt. Help a Reporter is a service which puts together reporters who are looking for sources to add credibility to their new articles and subject matter experts who are willing to share their expertise with reporters and their readers. The home page of the HARO website brags, ''From The New York Times, to ABC News, to HuffingtonPost.com and everyone in between, nearly 30,000 members of the media have quoted HARO sources in their stories.''
So how does one get started with HARO and have a chance to be published as an expert in major publications? It is very easy to get started. You simply go to the signup page here:http://helpareporter.com/
Here are some snippets of a few recent HARO requests:
''I need info on how to get discount promo fares that cut the cost of passenger jet flights. The more relevant your background the better. Pls just state credentials first...''
''I’m working on a story about the mother of the bride, and I’d love to hear from recent brides about your most memorable moments with Mom at your wedding or leading up to your wedding- these can be funny or sentimental. Please share what happened and include your name, age and city/state (ex.: Betty D., 32, Columbus, OH.)''
''Looking for experts in growing Hops, Malts, and Brewing Herbs who are willing to answer questions about their experience.''
There are many queries that come up in the course of a week ranging from the general to the very specific. To submit your availability you generally email back a summary of your credentials and what you think you can contribute. Additionally, the media outlets requesting the experts range from smaller, online-only publications to the national media. There is also a Twitter feed which has urgent requests posted as soon as they are identified at : http://twitter.com/
If you are interested in promoting yourself or your website brand, I suggest signing up for the HAROs and looking them over for a few days to get a feel of what's being requested. If you work at it and apply to those requests that fit your expertise you stand a good chance of getting some free media coverage. Who knows? You may even end up on USA Today or the Huffington Post.
Derek Vaughan is a web hosting industry veteran, marketing consultant and writer. Mr. Vaughan has architected the marketing growth of several prominent web hosting success stories leading to acquisition including Affinity Internet, Inc., Aplus.Net and HostMySite.com. Prior to his entry into the web hosting industry, Mr. Vaughan was responsible for online marketing at The Walt Disney Company where he marketed ecommerce for the ESPN.com and NASCAR.com brands. Mr. Vaughan received his M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University and currently serves on the HostingCon Advisory Board.
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