PR Link Building Strategy #2: Responding to queries through journalist platforms
Another effective way to build links through PR is by becoming a ‘source’ for journalists. You will need to have the right experience and knowledge to share insights or data they may want to cite in their articles (with backlinks to you for their audience to read more).
Platforms like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) or Qwoted to respond to journalist queries and opportunities for media mentions.
- HARO is a classic. Once you sign up with your professional email, you’ll start receiving three emails a day. Each one contains a list of journalist queries across categories like business, health, lifestyle, and more. You simply click through, decide if you can answer the question, and submit your response. Some queries are super broad, others are very niche, and the journalists can range from writers at major outlets to contributors for smaller sites. It’s really a hit or miss. While it is completely free and super well-known amongst reporters, it results in insane levels of competition. All you can do is respond to as many as you are qualified to, pray and hope. Most of the time, you won’t hear back, but when you do, it can lead to fantastic media coverage and backlinks.
Note: Do make sure you reply to the journalists with the same email you signed up with HARO. Otherwise, it will bounce, and you will never get a reply from journalists.
Note: It is worth noting that Haro is mostly made up of U.S. users (60%), with about 35% of queries coming from major U.S. news outlets such as Forbes and The Wall Street Journal. If you are strictly looking for a local audience, Haro might not be for you.
- Qwoted is another great option. After signing up, you’ll get to create a profile where you summarise what you do, add hashtags so people can find you, search according to service and industries, and answer queries from journalists looking for specialists in your industry. The free version limits you to two pitches a month, but it’s still a solid way to get exposure. It’s also very user-friendly, having an intuitive profile system and dashboard that is easy to navigate, unlike Haro, which is just pitch and pray.
Responding to journalist queries through dedicated platforms is trickier in Singapore because there isn’t really a local equivalent to HARO or Qwoted as of 2025. Opportunities tend to be less obvious, such as through LinkedIn connections or professional networking.
For small businesses that want to focus on local audiences, Login Marketing recommends more focus on Strategy #1: Content‑driven outreach to news outlets.
