SearchEye Launches Pro Membership

We are excited to announce the official launch of our Pro membership program at Searcheye.io. Designed with a focus on scalability and control, Pro revolutionizes your search marketing strategy, helping your brand reach new heights in search traffic and organic visibility.

As part of the program, Pro offers the following benefits to your existing SearchEye account:

Flat Rate Mentions

Pro introduces a more streamlined and cost-effective approach to acquiring mentions. Instead of paying varying prices per mention, which could range anywhere from $300 to $1000, we’ve standardized the pricing. With Pro, you can purchase tokens starting at just $289 per mention (with savings up to 80%), ensuring predictability in your budget.

Exclusive Mentions

SearchEye’s Exclusive Mentions feature sets us apart from traditional mention-building services. This feature presents you with the opportunity to get your brand mentioned on some of the most highly respected websites on the Internet. We’re talking about renowned platforms like vimeo.com, blackberry.com, att.com, hubspot.com, and more. Not only does your brand get to appear on these prestigious sites, but it also gets woven into content crafted by some of the most talented global writers.

Free Mentions

Pro membership also opens doors to exclusive offers for free mentions, subject to availability. This value-added feature lets you optimize your digital PR efforts without any additional cost.

Shop the ENTIRE List

As a Pro member, you gain access to our expansive database of over 5,000 mention-building opportunities. This isn’t just your regular database; it includes those hard-to-get opportunities we offer on 3pm links, but now you have thousands of possibilities for mention inserts, guest posts, and digital PR. It’s a treasure trove of opportunities waiting to be tapped!

See Before You Buy

We believe in transparency and want you to feel confident about your purchases. With Pro, you can see each URL before checking out. We also provide samples, giving you an exact idea of what your article or mention will look like. This feature ensures you know precisely what you’re getting, helping you make informed decisions.

Additional Benefits

The perks of being a Pro member don’t end here! As a member, you’ll enjoy an additional 10% off on all mentions, further driving your cost efficiency. Plus, you’ll receive $50 in credits each month, adding more value to your mention-building efforts.

Become a Pro member today

Join Pro today and take control of your search marketing strategy. Discover how effortless mention-building can be when you have the right tools and opportunities at your fingertips. To learn more, check out our pricing page here.

Frequently
Asked Questions

As you’re likely aware, attracting organic traffic from search engines like Google is a powerful way to be discovered, showcase credibility, and drive revenue.

While rankings are affected by many complex factors, a strong and healthy backlink profile is essential for improving website authority and achieving the highest possible rankings, especially for competitive keywords.

However, links are only as beneficial as the company that provides them—with low-quality link building services potentially doing more harm than good.

If you’re looking to partner with a service provider that delivers high-quality links, here’s a selection of the best link building services in 2024.

But first, let’s cover the basics.

What are Link Building Services, and Why Use Them?

Link building services are specialized offerings that help companies acquire high-quality backlinks from other reputable sites to improve SEO, i.e., increase website authority and drive organic search traffic.

These services are generally offered by agencies, but you can also find specialized marketplaces and platforms that provide link building services. Services help companies build links in various ways, including niche edits and other methodologies such as broken link building or creating high-quality “linkable” content assets that naturally attract links.

So why use them? Link building services are a worthwhile investment as links are one of the primary ways search engine algorithms determine a website or page’s relevancy and overall quality. In general, the more high-quality backlinks, the better.

For example, let’s say you have a website design agency and a service page targeting the focus keyword “SaaS website design services.” A link building service can help you build quality links to that page. In this case, a “quality link” could mean a link from an article about SaaS website design examples on a high-DR website focusing heavily on SaaS and/or design.

If a service secures that link for you, it could give your service page the edge needed to outcompete other service pages in SERPs. With higher rankings comes more traffic, and ultimately, more sales.

The Best Link Building Services

1. SearchEye — Best Overall

Trusted by teams at leading companies like HubSpot and Monday.com, SearchEye is the best link building service in 2024. SearchEye’s data-driven approach connects brands with top publishers to help them stand out in saturated markets, increase overall visibility, and improve their average cost savings. SearchEye has carefully vetted publishers across various industries for optimal impact, from SaaS and finance to legal and AI.

With an exceptional commitment to quality, SearchEye is all about strategic and powerful publisher PR opportunities, without the hassle of manual outreach. With just a few clicks, connect with relevant publishers to integrate your brand into new or existing content specially crafted for visibility—including quotes, interviews, brand mentions, and valuable backlinks.

2. Siege Media 

Based in San Diego, California, Siege Media is an organic growth agency that utilizes a unique blend of SEO, content marketing, and PR to drive impactful growth. When it comes to link building, Siege Media focuses on long-term link generation rather than one-off traffic spikes by creating a compounding content “machine.”

With an impressive range of case studies and a transparent process, their link generation approach through top-funnel rankings ensures high-quality links that are recognized and rewarded by Google. Plus, because the links are generated organically, the cost per link decreases over a few months.

3. uSERP 

From smaller startups to global brands, scaling traffic and revenue remains a priority. uSERP’s performance-driven process scales organic growth with a mix of authority backlinks and SEO. By helping brands earn brand mentions and links, increase authority in their industry, and outrank competitors, this company helps teams across the world improve key SEO metrics.

uSERP has a world-class link building process, which includes a thorough audit and analysis, content and link strategy, authority link building, KPI reports, and strategy calls. This end-to-end process is ideal for teams with ambitious goals who don’t know where to start.

4. FATJOE 

Hailed as the “smarter way to get SEO done,” FATJOE offers a wide range of services, from link building and digital PR to full-scale SEO and content writing. Unlike most of the companies on this list, FATJOE is a workplace platform, similar to Upwork, positioning itself between in-house SEO and freelancers.

With over 40K SEO agency accounts on the platform and a well-rounded range of link building services offered, including blogger outreach and niche edits, FATJOE provides the tools you need to outsource efficiently and keep your work all in one place.

5. Sure Oak 

With a wide range of SEO, link building, content, and lead generation services, Sure Oak is an experienced New York-based agency that uses a human-centric approach to achieve long-term results. The company’s link building strategy is incredibly flexible and even offers a free strategy session that can be scheduled in advance.

Whether you’re looking for backlink audit services, guest posting, competitor link analysis, editorial link insertions, or a combination, Sure Oak’s link building methodology includes thorough prospecting, vetting, and outreach steps to deliver optimal results.

6. Page One Power 

Page One Power is a full-scale link building company designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing workflow. With over 13 years of experience and 15,000+ links earned every year, Page One Power’s services are customizable yet highly affordable, making it  an excellent link building service for small-to-medium-sized companies.

With a focus on white hat and sustainable link building, this company’s range of services is designed to drive meaningful growth without spammy content or a one-size-fits-all approach. If you’re also looking for options to help with your content marketing and SEO, Page One Power offers additional services, such as technical SEO audits and SEO-focused content marketing.

7. Green Flag Digital 

If you need assistance with your entire content marketing strategy, not just for link building and SEO, then Green Flag Digital is an excellent option. With data-driven strategies proven to significantly impact overall growth marketing, their services range from creative content to technical SEO and link building.

And for Green Flag Digital’s link building offerings, the company combines content creation with link building to earn respected placements in world-class publications—through evergreen content and on-brand content.  

8. dofollow.com

Are you struggling to gain visibility and stamp your mark in a sea of your SaaS competitors? dofollow.com specializes in helping B2B SaaS companies boost their rankings, reach a wider audience, and grow top-of-funnel traffic faster, but also more strategically. 

Because Dofollow.com has narrowed its focus to B2B SaaS companies, the team has become subject matter experts and has built key relationships over many years. This means they’re more likely to secure relevant, high-quality, and trusted links for their clients.

9. LinkDoctor

Unlike other SEO agencies that offer a wider scope of services, LinkDoctor focuses strictly on link building. With strategies that are as adaptable as they are effective, LinkDoctor’s human-focused approach is more likely to retain your existing audience, connect with potential customers, and perform better when it comes to Google’s strict algorithm.

Currently, LinkDoctor assists companies in various industries, including healthcare, real estate, law, and ecommerce. The company’s existing experience with over 500 happy customers means the team is perfectly poised to help you achieve your traffic and ranking goals.

10. Loopex Digital 

Screenshot

As a boutique SEO agency, Loopex Digital prioritizes quality over quantity. The company offers a comprehensive range of SEO services, including local and international SEO, SEO consulting, white label link building, broken link building, and digital PR link building.

Loopex Digital’s SEO process is described as a “well-oiled machine,” emphasizing personalization and deep knowledge to conduct a holistic evaluation of the best link building strategy for each brand. From the initial link audits and prospect outreach, to detailed reports and more, Loopex Digital can work with you at every stage.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re looking for specialized link building solutions or full-scale SEO and content marketing strategies, there is a wide range of high-quality link building services in 2024 to choose from.

Take the guesswork out of link building and follow the expertise of services that have spent years perfecting their craft and working with companies just like yours. Leaving your link building strategy in the hands of the experts on this list means you’ll be able to rank better, increase website traffic, and hit all the key metrics you have in mind.

For a strategic approach to link building that blends ethical practices with strategic insight, consider exploring SearchEye, and see how our platform makes building high-quality links effortless.

Frequently
Asked Questions

Just like most SEO services, the cost of professional link building services can vary, depending on the link building campaign and quality of the service.

Other factors that can affect the final cost include:

  • The industry you are in
  • The methodology used
  • The quality of the links
  • The type and complexity of outreach (if it’s manual or a long-term relationship)
  • The reputation and credibility of the link building company

Generally, for lower-end link building services, you can expect to pay $100-$500 per link. For higher-quality link building services, you can expect to pay in the range of $1,000-$5,000+ per link. And for custom, enterprise-level, or long-term link building services, prices can range into the tens or hundreds of thousands.

As with any service, yes. While numerous benefits come with using link building services, they can also come with potential risks that should be considered beforehand:

  • Insufficient ROI: For smaller businesses with a limited SEO budget, the increased traffic or rankings may require a higher upfront cost and longer time to get results.
  • Low-quality links affecting reputation: Some low-quality link building companies may use black-hat or spammy SEO techniques that can damage your brand credibility and rankings.
  • Regular compliance monitoring: Link building services need to constantly ensure they're adhering to ever-changing SEO guidelines. Otherwise, you will be at risk of being penalized.

You can reduce these risks by working with reputable link building companies. While lower-quality link building companies may offer services at a lower price point, the risk of getting a penalty from Google or sub-par results will be higher.

While almost all link building services state the potential for growth as part of their marketing strategy, how can you take it as a guarantee?

The answer is you never really know. High-quality link building services may have policies in place that guarantee results within a certain time frame—or your money back. Others have an extensive portfolio of past clients that have received specific rankings or traffic increases.

As a general rule, the more credible the link building service is (they can back their claims up with testimonials and case studies) the more likely you will get guaranteed results.

Link building is an SEO tactic that can take time to generate results but reaps long-term benefits. Campaigns can take a long time to carry out and generate more than just a single link. This means an increase in ranking and traffic can build up over time as the campaign progresses.

If you're working with a reputable link building company, they may be able to give you a rough timeline for when you can start to see results, based on the scope of their services.

Generally, you can start to see tangible results within six months to a year for moderately complex link building campaigns. In some cases, you can start to see smaller results in just a few months.

Analyzing key link building metrics is crucial to see the impact and growth potential of a campaign.

  • Referring domains: Google views each website that links to yours as a “tick of confidence.” This means that the more quality domains refer to your website, the better your website will perform.
  • Quality and quantity of backlinks: Both the quality and quantity matter as they can signal a website’s popularity, relevance, and trustworthiness.
  • Referral traffic: Direct traffic that lands on your website by links from other sites can lead to potential engagement, conversions, and growth.
  • Domain/page authority: In the eyes of Google and other search engines, domain authority is crucial and signals better credibility and chances for higher ranking.

Other metrics worth considering include anchor text optimization, link position, search ranking, conversions, and lead generation.

Link building services often build a complex campaign based on your individual needs and SEO goals, involving customized outreach, partner acquisitions, smart and unique strategies, guest posts, and more.

By using a mix of these tactics and leveraging their years of experience, they’ll be more likely to ensure all links are high-quality and relevant.

Is It Better to Work with a Link Building Service or Do It In-House?

There are pros and cons to either hiring an external link building service or doing it in-house.

Link building is a highly technical SEO tactic, and unless you have in-house staff that are proficient in it, it’s worth partnering with a link building service that has extensive experience working with companies just like yours.

However, keeping it in-house can also mean having more control over the link building process and ensuring quality assurance is kept at a high level.

Ultimately, the decision to keep link building in-house or outsource it to an external agency/service will depend on your budget, capabilities of your in-house team, and SEO goals.

Writing is an art. Each writer brings a unique style when crafting their blogs. However, a blog’s structure can significantly impact its performance on search engines and its ability to engage readers. Across the internet, there are over 600 million active blogs, with two million produced daily and used in marketing. As such, it’s imperative to write one that stands out. 

The publishers we collaborate with have varying degrees of selectiveness. But our overarching aim is to deliver uniform excellence across the board for every client. Our primary focus is crafting content that provides real value rather than merely serving as a vessel for client links.

Elements of the Perfect Blog Post

Think about it: Your goal is to develop content that’s truly useful to the readers, not just a webpage with links. With that in mind, here’s how you should structure your blog post: 

Catch attention with a title

Your title or main headline will guide readers through what they can expect once they click on your article. It should have the primary keyword and promise value that is too good to pass up. A well-crafted title sets the stage for both SEO success and reader intrigue.

However, in an era when clickbait has become common, your priority should be setting the right expectations with your title. Crafting genuine titles is also about establishing trust and ensuring your content delivers its promises. 

Avoid sensationalizing or exaggerating the benefits or insights provided in your post. If your title promises “10 Revolutionary Tips to Transform Your Writing,” ensure that your content truly delivers on that revolutionary promise. 

Knowing what your audience is seeking can help you craft titles that resonate without resorting to clickbait tactics. Use language and themes that speak directly to their interests, challenges, or questions. 

Your title should hint at the value readers will gain by engaging with your content, but always aim to deliver more than you promise. This over-delivery can take many forms, including additional insights, tips not mentioned in the title, and downloadable resources. 

Feel free to experiment with different title formats and styles to see what resonates best. Use analytics to monitor engagement and adjust your approach based on actual data. Testing and refining your titles over time can help you discover the perfect balance between attractiveness and authenticity.

Engage with a strong introduction

Grab your readers’ attention from the get-go. Use the introduction to empathize with your audience, present a relatable problem, or pose a question. It sets the tone, establishes expectations, and decides whether your audience will stay engaged or leave the page. This is your opportunity to hook readers and give them a taste of the value awaiting them.

Think about it as making a lasting impression. Like in real life, you only have about seven seconds to leave that first impression. So you have to make it count and make it worthwhile. 

Main body: deliver on your promise

Crafting the main body of an article is where your storytelling skills shine, blending informative content with engaging narrative. 

Here are best practices to ensure your article’s main body is both informative and reader-friendly:

Use clear and concise headings

Ensure logical flow and coherence

Incorporate evidence and examples

Engage the reader

Visual elements and formatting

Keep it accessible and inclusive

Encourage action with a strong conclusion

An effective conclusion is key to leaving a lasting impression on your readers. It should wrap up your article cohesively, reinforce your main points, and encourage further thought or action. Here’s how to craft a conclusion that resonates:

Summarize key points

Reflect on the implications

Offer a call to action (CTA)

Pose questions or a challenge

Provide a forward-looking statement

Best Practices for Writing 

Here are the best practices to elevate your blog writing and ensure your posts stand out:

Write for readability

Keep paragraphs short. Aim for two to three sentences per paragraph to make your post easier to scan. Use bullet points or numbered lists. They’re great for summarizing information or illustrating steps in a process. It’s also good to mix short and long sentences to keep the rhythm of your writing engaging.

Optimize for SEO

Do keyword research, and make sure to use these keywords naturally. Add relevant keywords in the title, headings, and content without overdoing it. Remember to optimize meta descriptions and title tags: Write meta descriptions and title tags that include your primary keyword to improve search engine visibility.

Add internal links, but make sure they’re relevant to your content. This motivates visitors to delve deeper, aiding website indexing and enhancing SEO performance.

Edit and proofread

Always review your work. Check for clarity, grammar, and spelling errors. Editing tools like Grammarly can be helpful. Have someone else review your post to catch mistakes you might have missed.

Promote your post

Leverage social media. Let your audience know about your recent post. When you receive a comment, take time to reply to show appreciation and build a community around your blog.

Engage the Marketplace 

Standing out from the crowd demands a strategic approach to ensure your posts gain the visibility and authority they deserve. One effective method to achieve this is by leveraging SearchEye’s Marketplace. Our platform offers a unique opportunity to enhance your content’s reach and significantly boost its position in search engine rankings. With our high-quality links and mentions through SearchEye, you’re increasing traffic to your site and establishing a stronger online presence.

Elevate Your Content Strategy with SearchEye

With a solid foundation for crafting the perfect blog posts, it’s time to take your content strategy further with SearchEye. Explore our tools and marketplace to boost your content’s reach and engagement. Let’s work together to reshape your digital footprint and achieve measurable results.

With SearchEye, optimizing your blog posts for search engines and engaging readers becomes not just a goal but a reality. With us, every post is a step towards success.

Frequently
Asked Questions

Search engine optimization (SEO) efforts require a combination of different internal adjustments and external connections and collaboration. Coordinating a successful SEO strategy entails link-building, which involves getting other websites to link to your web pages.

Business websites often have different web pages in their arsenal. You can categorize these pages into the home page, product or service pages, and resource pages. Let’s discuss how you can select the best web pages for your link-building efforts.

Understanding the Types of Mentions and Their Implications

Here at SearchEye, we offer different mentions across various written content types. Each mention has its unique characteristics and works best with specific linked pages.

Here is a quick guide on the mentions we offer and our recommended link placements.

Link

A link, also called a hyperlink, is a way to connect one web page to another. When someone clicks on a link, they arrive at a destination page. This destination page could be on the same website or a different one.

Links play a significant role in helping sites perform better on search engines. External links or backlinks help search engines find your website more quickly and increase its authority and credibility. 

When SearchEye places links to your website on a content piece, we recommend selecting a product or resource page. These pages often work better and blend more easily with the existing content.

Expert quote

An expert quote is when we insert a direct quote into a content piece and cite a brand’s representative as the source. The representative will speak about a topic related to the article and expound on ideas that might relate to the brand’s products or services. 

This type of mention is an excellent way to inject your brand voice into a piece of content. It allows you to establish your credibility and attract new audiences to your site.

For an expert quote mention, we recommend linking back to your homepage. Your quote can be a jumping-off point to introduce your company to audiences that might align with your company’s vision and product or service offerings.

Brand mention

A brand mention is when a brand, product, or service gets acknowledged or referenced in a piece of content. We could name the brand and its products explicitly or be more implicit and simply allude to the brand, its products, or its values.

Brand mentions are essential to any digital or content marketing strategy. It’s an excellent way to get more eyes on your company and help audiences remember your brand. 

In this type of mention, your brand is not the main focus of the content. Instead, it gets subtly incorporated into the piece. This placement ensures that the content does not come off as overly promotional. 

When incorporating a link as a brand mention, we recommend placing a link to a product page or your homepage. These links provide better value to readers, especially if the linked product or brand relates to their needs or a topic that interests them.

Interview

An interview could come in a Q&A format or as a feature article. What sets it apart from other mention types is that it gives brands extended exposure, as their words become the meat of the content piece.

An interview article could have multiple interviewees, typically brand representatives or professionals, sharing their experiences and expertise. 

This type of mention is an excellent way to establish credibility and authority within one’s niche. It lets you directly promote your product or service or share your brand’s success, story, and vision. It can also help brands engage directly with their audience by answering questions and addressing concerns.

In an interview mention, we recommend linking back to your homepage. Interviews offer a broader view of your company, its offerings, and its values. A link to your homepage opens up an avenue for audiences to explore your brand.

Full feature

As the name suggests, a full feature is an article focused entirely on your brand, leaders, products, services, values, and unique characteristics. It aims to create and present an engaging story about your brand, explaining what makes it valuable for your audience and sets it apart within the industry.

A full feature can help you strengthen your brand identity, showcase your strengths, and position yourself as a thought leader or expert. You can share your insights, recount your growth journey, or humanize your brand by discussing your employees and company culture.

For a full feature, we recommend linking your homepage. This type of mention can cover a lot of ground. Your homepage is an excellent place to encourage readers to learn more about your brand.

Deep Dive Into Page Promotion Strategies

Why is there a distinction between product/service and resource pages and a website’s homepage? Different web pages perform various functions and communicate different messages. Each page has unique characteristics that work best with specific content mentions.

Product/service and resource pages

In our experience, product/service and resource pages work best in link mentions. We insert links into content pieces that address potential audience concerns or topics of interest. 

These types of pages provide the most value for our readers. They are often more relevant to the content topic and are more likely to offer solutions to problems or questions readers might have.

Most publishers also prefer link placements not to be overly promotional, as it could affect the quality or integrity of the content piece. In most articles, it’s more natural to link to an educational resource, product, or service than a brand name.

The principle “higher relevance equals more value” applies significantly in these situations. Here’s an example of using a product, service, or resource page when linking vs. using the homepage.

Homepage

The homepage is the primary or introductory part of your website. Many visitors start on this page before moving to other product or resource pages within your website. 

We recommend linking to your company’s homepage for expert quotes, brand mentions, interviews, and full features. These mentions often mention your business or company by name, so it makes sense to lead readers to your company’s main page.

Linking to the homepage in these mentions or articles invites readers to access your company’s core. They can experience your brand for themselves and help increase brand recognition.

These content pieces will likely discuss your company at greater length, discussing your products, services, values, and culture. Leading readers to your homepage allows them to access these different aspects of your company through your website. 

Best Practices for Page Linking

Creating backlinks and promoting your content is both a science and an art. While you can be creative in choosing link placements, we have some recommendations for making the most of your page-linking strategy.

Understand page hierarchies

A website comprises different web pages that work within a hierarchy. In most cases, resource and product/service pages exist lower down the chain. These pages cover more specific topics and often have a singular purpose.

As we go up the ladder, we see the homepage at the top. The homepage covers the most ground and guides site visitors to the different pages within your website.

When linking pages, it’s essential to understand where the page lands within this hierarchy. The content’s context must match the linked page’s relevance. This practice ensures a more natural and beneficial connection.

Use descriptive anchor text

The anchor text is the clickable text attached to a link. In most cases, it will serve as a brief descriptor of the linked page’s content. It also provides context for readers and search engines.

When selecting anchor text for your links, using descriptive and relevant phrases that accurately represent the linked page’s topic is best.

For example, instead of writing generic anchor text like “click here,” use specific phrases or keywords that convey the content’s context and relevance. 

Descriptive anchor text informs readers about the linked content and helps search engines understand the link page’s relevance, which can help your SEO efforts.

Add contextual links

Contextual linking refers to incorporating links within your content in a natural and relevant way. Contextual links aim for seamless integration into the text. As the name suggests, they also provide additional context or related information to the reader.

Contextual links work similarly to descriptive anchor text. However, they go one step further and ensure the link doesn’t look out of place within the content.

For example, the anchor text “managing your reputation online” works better in an article or section about digital marketing than in a piece about children’s study habits.

Strategic Considerations for Page Promotion

Properly selecting which web pages to promote is good for SEO, but it is also critical to achieve your overall business goals.

Selecting pages that already attract traffic and rank well is a good practice. Well-performing pages will likely gain even more attention if you use them for backlinks. This strategy will also help bring up your entire website’s SEO performance.

However, the page you select will influence the audience you bring to your website. While a specific page could gain more traffic, you need to consider if it is the traffic you want. Consider the audience for that particular web page. Is it the audience you want to visit your website?

These considerations will help you improve your selections for web page promotions.

Optimize Your Page Promotion Strategy

Selecting the best web pages to promote in your linking strategies requires both an art and a science. It involves understanding the content you are working with and aligning it with your business goals. These practices allow you to craft page promotion strategies that boost your SEO performance and aid business growth.

Frequently
Asked Questions

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur, adipisicing elit. Odio perspiciatis, molestiae sunt non ex commodi atque quasi, nesciunt quae est impedit, rerum quidem distinctio sit?

Content creation and management have grown exponentially in the past years. With the advent of AI in content generation, it’s understandable that readers will demand authenticity. 

SearchEye understands that integrating public relations (PR) strategies can meet these demands – and we aim to do better than being a HARO alternative. Hence, our new Q&A feature.  

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

The Heart of Innovation: Q&A Feature

At the heart of this strategic shift is our Q&A feature, a testament to our commitment to innovation and quality. This tool is a game-changer for publishers and writers, enabling them to weave brands into their narratives organically and meaningfully. Here’s how it revolutionizes content creation:

How the Q&A Feature Works

Part of our innovation initiatives is making each feature as straightforward as possible. Here’s how it works:

With these insights, writers can craft authentic, engaging content that naturally incorporates the brand’s voice and knowledge.

Who Benefits From the Q&A Feature?

The Q&A feature represents a dynamic evolution in the digital content landscape that benefits the following: 

Content creators and digital marketers

For content creators and digital marketers, the Q&A feature is a game-changer. It provides a fresh avenue to produce content that’s not just informative but also highly interactive. This interaction fosters a genuine connection with the audience, making content more relatable and engaging. Creators can use these features to tailor their content with the brand’s messaging. 

Brands

Brands can integrate their messages into content that is far removed from the perception of traditional advertising. They can weave their narratives and values into discussions naturally and authentically. 

By participating in or sponsoring Q&A sessions, brands can address consumer inquiries, showcase their expertise, and build trust. This deeper level of engagement fosters a sense of community and loyalty among consumers. 

In the consumer’s eyes, these brands listen, care, and respond to their needs and concerns.

Publishers

With our newly launched publisher feature, the Q&A can significantly elevate the quality and authenticity of content hosted on their platforms. This tool enables publishers to curate a more interactive and engaging experience for their readers. Engaging content that invites reader participation can transform passive readers into active community members, contributing to a loyal readership. 

Supports Marketing, Growth, and Brand Objectives

The Q&A feature is SearchEye’s strategic asset for marketing, growth, and branding. Here’s how it aligns with broader objectives:

A Seamless Fit With SearchEye’s Ecosystem

Integrating the Q&A feature into SearchEye’s comprehensive digital toolset enhances our Blueprint and Marketplace components. Our partners can benefit from an integrated ecosystem that maximizes ROI on digital marketing investments. 

With our continuous aim for innovation, SearchEye has already set a high standard. The Q&A feature raises the bar further, ensuring that every piece of content reaches and genuinely engages the target audience.

Explore the New Feature

In the landscape of digital content, standing out requires creativity and the right tools. SearchEye’s Q&A feature is a gateway to creating content that truly connects, engages, and resonates. 

We invite you to explore the new Q&A feature and discover how it can transform your content creation process. Let’s embark on this journey together, crafting stories that inform, inspire, connect, and engage. 

Explore the new feature today and take your content to the next level of authenticity and strategic brand integration.

[cta_widget text=”Looking to monetize your content?” button_text=”Join as Publisher” button_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form“]

Frequently
Asked Questions

New search engine optimization (SEO) trends will impact how modern marketers develop their strategies in 2024. One approach that has recently helped advertising teams reach new heights is link buying. As the new year begins, marketers are wondering if the strategy will continue to provide the same value for their investment.

To help equip marketers with the right SEO strategy this year, we will discuss how buying backlinks can help brands build their presence online. After reading, you can decide whether buying links is a strategy your organization can heavily benefit from.

[cta2_widget]

Understanding the Role of Links in SEO

Link buying is an SEO tactic involving paying a site owner in exchange for backlinks. A website owner sells a placement or position on their site, allowing other brands to publish posts and links that redirect to their website. 

This year, SEO professionals believe that marketers will continue to get value from investing in paid links. The strategy allows brands to quickly boost their content and web pages at the top of the search engine results page (SERP). It aims to improve a website’s trustworthiness and domain rating/domain authority (DR/DA).

Search engines use various factors and metrics to determine the ranking of a particular website. Trustworthiness is only one of these factors. By getting high-quality backlinks from other trusted websites, modern brands can prove that their websites deserve a high ranking.

The more high-authority backlinks on your content, the higher you can place in the search results. Meanwhile, those who acquire cheap backlinks or spammy links will appear lower. In some cases, Google may even completely devalue a webpage and remove it from the rankings if the search engine deems it unhelpful to searchers.

Remember that your website’s backlink profile impacts overall authority. Having reputable websites publish your links encourages organic search growth and generates more traffic.

Due to its impact on a brand’s online presence, link buying must be a part of your company’s SEO strategy. There are rarely free backlinks, and link building remains a crucial component of optimization. In fact, 43.7 percent of top-ranking pages on Google use link-building strategies, such as link exchanges.

How SearchEye is changing link building

One effective way to do link-building properly is to work with expert digital marketing agencies. At SearchEye, we help clients implement SEO strategies that will make them stand out in a crowded market. 

For example, one of our clients is a virtual private network (VPN) provider facing dwindling traffic, pressure from competitors, and low brand recognition. The VPN industry is highly competitive, and getting audience attention is a constant battle among the most prominent players.

To help turn things around, SearchEye developed a content strategy for the brand. The aim was to find the right content that resonates with the VPN company’s audience and boost search traffic.

Content Strategy Preview

This strategy was supplemented with a link-building approach focused on securing impactful backlinks from publishers active within the VPN industry.

After a year of working with our company, our client saw a significant boost in organic traffic and visibility, recording 238,000 new searches per month. Keywords in the top 100 also grew by 80.7 percent, from roughly 76,800 to 138,900.

Through SearchEye, the VPN provider also collaborated with publishers like:

Today, the SearchEye team continues to work hard to help the company maintain and accelerate growth.

Benefits of Buying Backlinks

To highlight the significance of this approach, let us take an in-depth look at the positive impact of buying backlinks for web pages. After reading, you will learn how your brand can benefit from implementing this SEO strategy in 2024.

Boosts site quality

In the early days of SEO, the number of backlinks on a webpage was the most crucial factor in determining its ranking. However, as time passed and search algorithms became more sophisticated, search engines shifted their focus on the quality of the links. 

This year, building a diverse and high-quality backlink profile is more crucial than ever. This process involves including links from authoritative, relevant, and reputable sites, which carry more weight than low-quality links. Characteristics of a high-quality link include the following:

To develop a high-quality backlink profile, marketers must focus on establishing relationships with thought leaders and industry influencers. These individuals can offer valuable links to a website and help boost visibility and authority within a particular industry. 

Moreover, staying active on social media can be an effective strategy for building new relationships and getting backlinks. By engaging with followers and sharing high-quality and relevant content, brands can attract attention from potential link partners and develop better SEO campaigns.

Establishes social proof

Now that social media and networking reign supreme among marketers, backlinks are a crucial tool for establishing social proof. While social media posts may not qualify as backlinks, they still offer a myriad of advantages for brands, including the following:

Reputable websites linking to your social media posts bolster your credibility with your target audience while improving your visibility. 

You can also maximize the impact of your social media advertising campaigns by connecting your company profiles with your website. This strategy allows you to feature your accounts in the knowledge panel of SERPs when searchers look up your brand.

You can encourage your audience and followers to interact with your original content by incorporating a call-to-action (CTA). Ask them to share snippets of your article on social media so their followers will also get your message.

Builds authority

When ranking web pages on SERPs, Google places significant weight on website authority and trustworthiness. One of the critical factors search engines use to evaluate a website’s authority is backlinks. 

Backlinks work like virtual endorsements, telling search engines that other popular and reliable sites endorse the content of the webpage. The more relevant backlinks a website has, the more likely search engines will consider it a reliable and authoritative source of information.

In 2024, the role of backlinks in building authority and gaining audience trust may become even more prominent. To cement their authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines, site owners must prioritize building high-quality backlinks from reputable sources. 

Marketers should always prioritize relevancy and human value when looking for authoritative backlinks. Ensure that the page linking to the website is relevant to your brand and audience. 

To incorporate human value into your link-building strategy, consider the following best practices:

By integrating human value and relevance into your link-building strategy, you can get authoritative backlinks that can boost your website’s visibility, credibility, and trustworthiness.

Elevates user experience

User experience remains significant in SEO, especially when talking about backlinks. When searchers click on a backlink, they expect to be redirected to additional valuable content. This process enriches their online experience and helps extend their time on the website. 

This engagement shows search engines that the website produces high-quality content that aligns with user intent.

Consider search engines as expansive libraries encompassing various subjects, with each book author trying hard to be endorsed. Similar to votes of confidence, backlinks serve as an effective way to get recommended and carry significant influence. 

Just as an endorsement for a popular book holds sway, a reputable site linking to another website conveys a similar sentiment. Google evaluates these backlinks or “endorsements” and says, “If reputable sources recommend this particular webpage, the content must be valuable.”

Backlinks also function as navigational aids, directing searchers to where they have to go to get the information they need. A link pointing in the right direction saves valuable time and effort, which can help improve user experience. Search engines use these navigational cues to determine which websites are most beneficial and relevant to users’ search queries.

Ethical Considerations of Link Buying in 2024

According to Google Search Essentials, links designed to manipulate rankings in SERPs are considered link spam, which undermines search results. This process includes the following strategies:

Despite this rule, site owners and web admins still sell backlinks, and marketing agencies continue to offer paid linking services.

Why site owners sell backlinks

After learning Google’s guidelines, you may wonder why web admins still sell backlinks. Website owners also benefit when selling links, making the process mutually beneficial for both parties.

By selling links, webmasters can give their audience exciting and relevant content without spending time and effort making it themselves. The payment from link-building opportunities can also help them cover operational expenses, such as administrative or website maintenance costs.

Site owners recognize how valuable backlinks can be to modern businesses, seeing them as lucrative money-making opportunities. With this knowledge, only a few are willing to offer free links.

That said, not all publishers are the same, with some site owners following Google’s guidelines better than others. Some accept every paid link offer, which can be a mistake that may devalue their site in the future. Meanwhile, others have more stringent requirements on the content and links they accept. 

If you plan to implement a backlink acquisition strategy this year, work with publishers who care how your content will impact their audiences.

Why marketing agencies offer paid links

With free backlinks becoming rare and reputable sites charging for publishing posts, developing a high-quality backlink profile has become challenging without expert assistance.

The best marketing agencies recommend an SEO strategy that involves developing high-quality content for relevant sites, supplemented by a strategic backlink approach to yield the best results.

Since the most sought-after link placements come with a fee, marketing agencies often provide paid links if needed. Buying links may be an effective way to break through in fiercely competitive industries where acquiring backlinks is almost impossible.

That said, the best agencies get paid not to help clients buy links but to provide expertise. These companies help clients develop professional relationships with site owners, build the right content strategy, and provide the tools to perform competitive analysis and keyword research.

Choose to work with link-building agencies that can help your site appear higher in relevant search results without relying on cheap black hat tricks that damage searcher’s online experience and websites.

In short, while Google considers link buying a link scheme, paid backlinks remain prevalent in the SEO industry. Today, getting top rankings against competitors can be a real challenge without some form of a link acquisition strategy.

Google prefers and rewards organic SEO practices. Unfortunately, the massive amount of online content makes organic backlink acquisition nearly impossible. 

Additionally, Google is aware of the common practice of buying and selling backlinks. However, there are significant differences between outright purchasing backlinks from marketplaces and working with experts to facilitate the acquisition of high-quality backlinks through organic, content-based tactics.

Hiring reputable, white-hat link-building agencies allows brands to acquire backlinks through high-quality content creation, strategies, and outreach. This approach eliminates the risk of jeopardizing your website’s ranking and reputation in your effort to get links.

In 2024, backlinks will remain crucial for brands wanting to improve their reach and build their online presence. Marketers should be prepared to pivot as backlinking continues to evolve and search engines focus even more on the quality, relevance, and context of links.

The SearchEye Solution: Optimization Beyond Link Building

SearchEye stands out as a beacon for forward-thinking content marketers navigating the complexities of SEO in 2024. Our company connects brands with reputable publishers, facilitating the acquisition of high-quality links, mentions, and quotes. Our marketplace model emphasizes transparency, efficiency, and, most importantly, adherence to SEO best practices.

We offer a strategic approach to getting high-quality backlinks, blending ethical practices with strategic insight. Our approach not only aligns with Google’s guidelines but also paves the way for sustainable digital growth. 

As we look towards the future of SEO, it’s clear that the landscape is shifting from traditional link building to a more integrated approach of brand building. At SearchEye, we understand that authority and credibility cannot be established through backlinks alone. Hence, we’re expanding our strategies to include securing Expert Quotes, Brand Mentions, Interviews, and Full Features for our clients. 

This multifaceted approach is designed to not only enhance your SEO performance but also to solidify your brand’s authority in your industry. By leveraging these elements, we help brands craft a narrative that resonates with their audience, establishes their expertise, and positions them as leaders in their field. 

This is the new era of SEO—where brand building and storytelling take center stage, ensuring that your brand doesn’t just appear in search results but dominates them. Through SearchEye’s innovative strategies, your brand can achieve unparalleled visibility, credibility, and engagement, setting the foundation for long-term success in the digital landscape.

Sign up to SearchEye today and check out how our solutions can position your business to succeed in the competitive landscape of SEO.

[cta_widget]

Frequently
Asked Questions

Delivering quality content involves a bit of back and forth between clients, content creators, and publishers. Especially in the marketing space, a lot needs to be done to ensure each party meets established standards and preferences.

Several factors can affect content fulfillment. Content production is one thing. Clients and publishers finding common ground is another. SearchEye toes this line, ensuring its product aligns with publisher standards and guidelines while taking care of the client’s marketing needs.

As a growing presence in the digital marketing and PR space, SearchEye continuously strives to update its platform and features to make the process easier for clients and publishers. 

Our new Verified Publisher feature can help you do just that. Here’s how it works.

What are verified publishers?

Verified publishers are those with strong, established relationships with SearchEye. We have worked with these publishers many times, and these relationships have helped us minimize the back-and-forth and hasten fulfillment times for our users.

You can quickly check for verified publishers upon logging into SearchEye. A verified publisher will show up with a green tick or verified badge next to its name.

verified publishers

You can also filter for verified publishers when conducting a search. We have added a filtering section. This feature allows you to opt for verified publishers only, so your searches can pull up the sites you want.

Verified publishers respond much quicker to client requests than non-verified publishers. SearchEye also has more information and insights into what each publisher requires for content submissions. This capability ensures we deliver content that caters to publisher preferences while promoting client brands.

The filter system also makes it easier for SearchEye to match publishers and clients according to niche, creating more meaningful connections between brands and publishers.

What Brands Can Expect

The verified publisher feature can make content fulfillment easier and more efficient for publishers and brands. Users can find publishers that match their budget, preferences, and goals, and publishers can access quality content that blends well with their style and values.

Opting to filter your searches to show only verified publishers ensures your brand can reach your target audience efficiently. Verified publishers are receptive to content that aligns with their niche, guaranteeing quicker responses and turnaround times.

Working with verified publishers brings speed, reliability, and improved collaboration among brands, publishers, and writers. Finding the right verified publishers allows you to reach established audiences and present your brand as a viable solution for audience queries.

Helping Writers and Publishers

Publishers are always on the lookout for quality content to add to their platforms. Marketers like us help fill this need by pitching content collaborations and publishing on their sites. 

Selecting verified publishers allows us to guarantee suitable matches between publishers and brands. This process ensures that we don’t compromise publishers’ standards while positioning your brand favorably in our content.

These matches also make the writing and production process more efficient. Natural and effective brand and keyword placements come with knowing the publisher and the client.

Well-matched publishers and brands allow writers to develop engaging, relevant, and well-researched content to aid your marketing efforts.

The SearchEye Quality Guarantee

SearchEye is always committed to delivering quality content and providing products that bring out the best in your brand and allow you to reach your marketing goals. 

Our new Verified Publishers feature is a great way to make content fulfillment more efficient. It also helps improve collaboration between brands and publishers. Explore this tool today to enhance your marketing mix and reach broader audiences.

Frequently
Asked Questions

Verified publishers are those with strong, established relationships with SearchEye. These publishers have been consistently reliable in responding to client requests and have clear standards and guidelines for content submissions. A verified publisher is indicated by a green tick or verified badge next to its name, making it easy for users to identify them on the platform.

Verified publishers offer several benefits, including quicker response times and more efficient content fulfillment. These publishers are more receptive to content that aligns with their niche, ensuring your brand reaches the target audience effectively. Working with verified publishers also improves collaboration, resulting in high-quality content that meets both publisher standards and client marketing goals.

To find verified publishers, simply log into SearchEye and look for the green tick or verified badge next to a publisher's name. Additionally, you can use the filtering system to search exclusively for verified publishers. This feature allows you to refine your search results to include only those publishers, ensuring you connect with the most reliable partners.

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

If your website or brand is looking for opportunities to get featured on websites or in the news media, you’ve likely heard of Help a Reporter Out. 

HARO is a popular resource for writers and journalists looking for expert sources for articles. It’s also popular with brands and experts who want to elevate their profiles through media mentions and backlinks.

HARO is so popular, though, that it has also become extremely competitive.Writers can find it time-consuming to sort through dozens of HARO responses.  In a recent Searcheye HARO survey, writers reported getting as many as 100–150 responses to a single query. Frustration with off-topic and low-quality responses is common.

Brands and sources also find it hard to stand out and get quoted. They may spend significant time crafting unsuccessful pitches. 

It’s worth noting that Cision Inc., the owner of HARO, announced at the end of 2023 that it is rebranding HARO as Connectively, though that migration appears to still be underway.

Here are 12 HARO alternatives, listed alphabetically, along with tips for deciding which one may be best for your business needs.

1. Searcheye

Searcheye offers a dynamic marketplace that brings together brands, creators and publishers. Rather than focusing on PR generally, it helps brands and experts build traffic and links. It also offers writers and publishers opportunities to monetize their work.

Benefits

Writers/Publishers:

If you’re a writer, journalist or publisher, Searcheye offers the ability to post queries and get expert content for your articles. Unlike other platforms, writers and publishers can choose compensation for links they publish, credit for media mentions of their own, or no compensation. 

Bloggers and publishers can also request full SEO-optimized guest posts.

Brands/Sources:

Find highly targeted opportunities to get quoted, along with link opportunities. Opportunities include domain rating and traffic, and you can screen them using custom filters. Searcheye’s AI Product Recommendation Engine helps you respond faster and with highly targeted responses.

Best for:

Writers and publishers looking for sources with the option to monetize links, and brands/publishers looking to earn links with top sites.  

Cost:

Searcheye is free to writers and journalists, and offers the unique opportunity for compensation. Brands and sources can choose from four different pricing plans, including Free, Plus ($79.month), Pro ($499/month), and Agency ($999 a month). The cost of a link is clearly displayed with the opportunity. 

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

2. Featured (formerly Terkel) 

Featured is a platform that allows experts to answer questions. Sources can use it to get media mentions and links, while content creators can use it to get quotes or complete articles. 

Benefits

Writers/Publishers:

Ask a question and get quotes from vetted sources to include in your article. Or you can request a complete “question and answer” article for free. 

Brands/Sources:

Fill out a profile with your name, title, company name, URL and LinkedIn profile. Set alerts by listing up to ten keywords indicating your area of expertise, and up to 25 publications in which you’d like to target. 

You’ll then see a list of questions you may want to answer. The dashboard lists questions with the source (publication), domain rating, attribution (do follow link, no follow link or no link), and deadline. Domain rating and attribution are only visible on a paid plan. 

Featured chooses the best answers to forward to the writer. You can track your answers and results. 

Best for:

Sources with expertise who can provide writers with unique insights. Featured says it judges content quality using Google’s standards for EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust).

Cost:

There are three pricing plans for experts; Starter, Pro, Team. The Starter plan is free. It allows you to answer up to 3 questions per month. The Pro plan is $99 a month and allows for unlimited answers per month along with more details about queries. The Team plan for PR pros and agencies is $199 a month plus $30 a seat. 

Publishers and writers pay nothing to request contributions from experts, and are not obligated to publish the quotes or articles they get. They also have control over the types of links they will include (if any).  

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

3. Help a B2B Writer

Help a B2B Writer connects writers with expert sources for articles about B2B. Started by a freelance writer, it is now run by Superpath. 

Benefits

Writers/Publishers:

Sign up and submit requests for quotes for an article. Publishers may submit up to three requests per week. There is no similar limit for writers. 

Brands/Sources:

You can register as an expert and choose your specified area(s) of expertise. You’ll then get emails with related queries, and you can respond directly to the writer. 

Writers and publishers are encouraged to include links when they quote sources, but there is no guarantee or requirement they do so.  

Best for:

This service is for B2B writers and sources in specific areas such as advertising, ecommerce, SaaS, or social media. (Areas of expertise are listed on the home page of the site, and in the drop down menu when you sign up as a source.) It takes a hands off approach; writers and sources will need to sort through opportunities and responses to choose the right ones. 

Cost:

HelpAB2BWriter is free for both experts and publishers. There are no fees or caps on the number of requests and/or responses for experts or writers, except that publishers may submit up to three requests per week to avoid too many requests from a single publication. 

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

4. Just Reach Out

Just Reach Out bills itself as “AI powered PR software.” It offers brands and expert sources tools for journalist outreach, podcast outreach, guest post outreach, pitch requests and broken link outreach.

Benefits 

Writers/Publishers:

Journalists do not sign up for Just Reach Out. 

Brands/Sources:

Just Reach Out aggregates pitch requests from HARO, Qwoted, Featured, Twitter (now X), ProfNet, and Source Bottle. You can view, sort and reply to queries from its dashboard. It also offers a database of journalists. Use it to find and pitch journalists. You can choose AI-generated pitches for your campaign. It offers a similar service for podcast pitching, and broken link building. 

If you are newer to PR and looking for a long term strategy, Just Reach Out offers a PR academy, and it provides software that helps with podcast outreach, email pitch templates, AI email pitch templates, and a database of journalists. 

PR takes time and effort, so brands and sources should be willing to dedicate time and effort to using the tools offered. 

Best for:

Sources with a budget for PR but who don’t want to hire more expensive PR firms. The software helps brands and publishers with various types of PR, such as sending emails, creating PR pitches, and finding qualified journalists. 

Cost:

There are three plans available on Just Reach Out for PR professionals: Starter Outreach ($147/month), Advanced Outreach ($247/month), and Ultimate Outreach ($497/month). Each plan offers a 20% discount for annual plans. There is  a 7-day free trial.

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

5. Muck Rack 

Muck Rack is an established and higher end PR platform. It helps brands and PR pros find journalists, build media lists, create press releases, pitch journalists and track coverage. While it does include pitching tools, it is more comparable to Cision, the company that owns HARO. 

Benefits

Writers/Journalists:

MuckRack allows journalists to create a profile to showcase their work, find new outlets, gain insights into different media outlets, see how many times an article was shared and by who, and more. 

Brands/Sources:

For those on the PR side of the business, it provides an extensive database of media contacts, assists in sending personalized emails, helps track industries, companies and competitors, and campaign reporting.

Best for:

Brands and PR pros who need a comprehensive PR software tool and have the budget to pay for it.  

Cost:

Muck Rack doesn’t publish their pricing for PR professionals. Instead must set up a demo and get a quote. It is free for journalists. Customers who share their link can $25 for referrals who schedule a demo and $100 if they become a customer.

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

6. Meltwater Media Intelligence

Meltwater Media Intelligence is a SaaS company offering a suite of products designed for PR, marketing, and sales. 

Benefits

Writers/Journalists:

Meltwater has an extensive database of journalists, but writers do not sign up with Meltwater. 

Brands/Sources:

Companies sign up for Meltwater for a variety of services, including media monitoring, building relationships with media outlets, custom reporting and managing brand reputation, among others. 

Best for:

Companies that want deeper data insights into their brand, along with advanced media monitoring tools. 

Cost:

Meltwater Media Intelligence offers four different plans; Essentials, Advanced, Suite, and Enterprise. Pricing isn’t listed on the website; you’ll need to reach out for a quote. 

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

7. OnePitch

PR software OnePitch provides tools designed to make finding and pitching journalists easier and more effective. 

Benefits

Writers/Journalists:

This service is not designed for writers or journalists. 

Brands/Sources:

Brands and PR pros can upload a pitch, press release byline, and a company boilerplate to get a list of targeted journalists to pitch, and then track outreach. Submit a pitch and you’ll get a list of up to 50 journalists with data points. You can also get feedback on your pitch. One Pitch also offers resources such as pitch templates and a PR 101 eBook.

Best for:

Brands and PR pros that need an affordable and straightforward PR solution with support. 

Cost:

OnePitch costs $50 per month or $510 for the year. There is a 14-day free trial. 

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

8. PitchResponse

PitchResponse is designed to help writers and publishers find expert sources. It helps brands and experts get media mentions and find linking opportunities. It includes a variety of tools designed to make pitching more efficient.

Benefits

Writers/Journalists:

Create a profile and request sources for articles. Provide general information about the outlet and article. You can also include the type of link you can offer (do follow, no follow or no link), domain rating, and traffic. You’ll then be able to track responses on the platform. 

Brands/Sources:

Set up your account or client account with relevant keywords and filter through the responses. You can also create custom alerts, including email or Slack. Opportunities include a PitchResponse Score based on SEO metrics, and a proprietary Difficulty Score. Review data to track outreach efforts. It also offers pitch tutorials and a pitch optimizer.

Best for:

Writers that want a more robust HARO alternative. Companies that want better tools for targeted pitching. 

Cost:

Free to journalists, PitchResponse offers brands/sources three different plans; Starter ($29 a month), Pro ($99 a month), and Agency ($199 a month).

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

9. Profnet / PRNJ

Also a service of PR Newswire (and owned by Cision), Profnet connects journalists and sources. 

Benefits

Writers/Journalists:

Journalists sign up for PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) for free. Submit queries detailing the type of expertise you’re seeking,  deadline, geographic location, and more. PR Newswire is a global company with international reach.  Relevant experts with subscriptions will then receive the queries and can respond. Both sides can also sign up to receive newsletter updates as well. 

Brands/Sources:

As an expert, brand or PR pro, you can sign up to get emails with queries from journalists and others looking for expert commentary. You can also view requests for speakers for conferences and tradeshows, as well as product reviews. Pitch stories and story ideas to journalists as well. 

Best for:

Journalists looking for a HARO alternative platform. Brands and PR pros looking for more comprehensive PR tools. 

Cost:

Profnet is free for journalists. Otherwise, request a pricing quote, which Profnet bases on “the type of institution and the number of subscribers.” 

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

10. Prowly 

Prowly offers a PR CRM for PR agencies, in-house PR professionals, and small businesses. It offers a media database and media pitching tool, press release creator, media monitoring and PR reporting tools.

Benefits 

Writers/Journalists:

This service is not designed for journalists or writers seeking sources. 

Brands/Sources:

Prowly positions itself as a more affordable alternative to Muck Rack, Meltwater and PR Newswire. It lists side-by-side price comparisons that show it is less expensive than those alternatives. But it may be more expensive than some of the other services listed here. 

Best for:

PR pros and brands with budget for PR, looking for a comprehensive and more affordable PR software. 

Cost:

Prowly offers a Basic subscription ($369/month) and Pro subscription ($589/month) Annual subscriptions get 30% off the monthly price. There is also a 7 day free trial. 

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

11. Qwoted

Qwoted connects writers and journalists with expert sources and PR professionals representing them. 

Benefits

Writers/Journalists:

Sign up for a free account to post queries for articles. Responses come into the Qwoted dashboard where you can manage communications. You can also search the database for experts and reach out directly. Qwoted also offers a global job board. 

Brands/Sources:

As a source, you can build a profile on the platform and receive real-time media requests you can choose to respond to. If you are a PR pro, you can also build profiles and respond on behalf of clients. Either way, you’ll see when writers review your response. Qwoted also maintains information about industry events and awards to save time. 

Best for:

Writers looking for more vetted sources, and brands/PR pros looking for other opportunities.

Cost:

Qwoted is free to writers/journalists. It also encourages writers and PR pros to sign up for free. The Basic plan for sources is free. It offers two pitches a month along with other benefits such as a listing in the expert database. A Pro account is $99 a month, and Teams pricing is by inquiry only. 

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

12. SourceBottle

SourceBottle bills itself as a free service that connects writers and sources, including global sources in Australia, Canada, the UK and Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States. 

Benefits

Writers/Journalists:

If you are a journalist, blogger or writer, you can sign up for free, then fill out a survey describing your query. You can post a call out (query), give away or case study. It spells out guidelines, including no requests for payment or reciprocal backlinks. SourceBottle identifies potential experts. It sends emails twice a day to those who have signed up for the service. 

Brands/Sources:

Sign up for free as a source and get emails tailored to your interests. Respond to the ones that interest you. 

Best for:

Those who want a basic global platform as an alternative to HARO.

Cost:

Sign up as a journalist or source for free. For $25, SourceBottle will pitch your profile for you. 

 

[cta2_widget text=”Join the leading marketplace” button1_text=”Join as Brand” button1_url=”https://app.searcheyestag.wpengine.com/” button2_text=”Join as Publisher” button2_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form”]

HARO Alternatives: Summary

Help a Reporter Out is an affordable and popular platform that brings together journalists and brands. It can also be time-consuming, both for writers and sources. Brands may find it difficult to get media mentions due to the sheer volume of responses.

Whether you’re a writer looking for high quality expert sources for articles, or a brand or blogger trying to increase traffic or backlinks, HARO alternatives are worth exploring. These services may help you save time, and even monetize your efforts in new and creative ways. 

[cta_widget text=”Looking to monetize your content?” button_text=”Join as Publisher” button_url=”https://searcheyestag.wpengine.com/publishers/monetize-your-site/#link-partnership-form“]

Frequently
Asked Questions

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur, adipisicing elit. Odio perspiciatis, molestiae sunt non ex commodi atque quasi, nesciunt quae est impedit, rerum quidem distinctio sit?

At the start of 2023’s fourth quarter, 5.30 billion people worldwide were using the Internet. This number was equal to 65.7 percent of the world’s entire population. Imagine tapping into this figure through different mentions in your website’s content. You will set yourself apart from other publishers within your niche by using these “content mentions.”

Now, you might already be familiar with social media mentions.  We can expect that, considering you could be among the people who spend almost 12 billion hours on social media platforms daily. However, this could be the first time you encountered the term content mentions. We at SearchEye will change that right now. 

As a platform dedicated to enhancing digital content, SearchEye is at the forefront of empowering publishers through innovative content strategies. We are amping up mentions by going beyond social media platforms. We are bringing them into website content.

This article will help you understand content mentions, their different types, and their advantages to publishers. It will highlight how you can enrich your content through them and boost your publication’s engagement and success. 

Key Takeaways

  • Content mentions work like social media mentions, except you can find them on website content.
  • SearchEye offers different content mentions, including links, expert quotes, brand mentions, brand feature articles, press releases, and interviews.
  • These content mentions help brands and publishers provide more value to target audiences through better engagement, additional resources or information, and unique insights.
  • SearchEye’s edge in offering these content mentions to publishers and brands is its unparalleled support in integrating them into your content strategy, thus enhancing your publishing success.

[cta2_widget]

What are content mentions?

According to SocialPilot, mentions are when users or the public acknowledge, discuss, or mention brands or other users on social media channels like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. They are when people tag businesses in their posts or simply “mention” a brand in social media captions. 

Content mentions work similarly to social media mentions, except that you can find them on website articles. As they provide more resources to readers, they can add value to posts and generate increased attention from target audiences. 

Additionally, there are different types you can use. These include links and expert quotes. You can also go for brand features, press releases, or interviews. 

For publishers on the SearchEye platform, leveraging a variety of content mentions allows them to create engaging, informative, and authoritative digital content. By understanding the unique benefits of each mention type, publishers can craft stories that resonate deeply with their audience. They can also enhance their brand’s reputation and stay in the lead in the competitive world of digital publishing.

Links: Navigational Powerhouses

Many know links or hyperlinks as highlighted words on articles that redirect them to another online page. They could lead readers to a resource, a post, an image, or a product page. If you are a publisher, these links will help you provide more value to your target audience and boost your search engine rankings simultaneously.

Search engines have robots that crawl these links to uncover web pages online. If your posts contain links these robots have crawled before, it’ll be easier for them to find your website. So, you’d be more visible to all these robots when your website has more hyperlinks. You can even be considered an authority in your niche with the right ones.

Screenshot from fairshake.com

Here are some other benefits of placing more links on your published articles.

Expert Quotes: Credibility Through Knowledge

These quotes, or what others term media mentions, are usually taken from industry expert interviews and provide insights into niche topics. 

Integrating these into content transforms them from merely informative to credible knowledge sources, adding depth and positioning them as authoritative articles. As a publisher with these posts, you can elevate your website into a hub for reliable information.

Screenshot from productplan.com

The following are some of the other advantages you can get from incorporating expert quotes into your website content:

Brand Mentions: Integrating Brands Into Narratives

A brand mention is when you refer to a brand or its services in your content. You can point out a client’s brand or cite its products, values, or impact without naming them directly within the article.

These brand mentions provide a low-key way of growing visibility and brand awareness. However, you should never forget that your article’s main focus should not be the brand to prevent it from sounding overly promotional. They shouldn’t exceed 10-15 percent of your content to seamlessly become part of it. 

Skillfully weaving brand mentions into content can significantly boost brand recognition and audience engagement. When done right, they can enrich a narrative without seeming intrusive, providing subtle yet effective brand promotion.

Screenshot grabbed from fastestvpn.com

What are the benefits publishers can get from brand mentions? They include the following:

Brand Feature: Deep-Dive Brand Storytelling

A brand feature is a full-length article that tells the story of a brand or company. It showcases its history, culture, values, mission, products or services, and unique attributes. Primarily created to boost a brand’s identity, its other objective is to provide its target audience with a compelling narrative to amp up engagement.

Brands often use feature articles to put themselves forward as thought leaders, as they could impart insights related to their industries. They could also share the stories of their employees to present a human aspect to their journey, making them more relatable.

So, if you have brand features on your website, you’d have a cache of evergreen content that will be relevant even in the future. This aspect alone will allow you to promote and monetize this content over a longer period.

Screenshot grabbed from 99signals.com

There are tons of benefits publishers can get from brand features. Here are some of them.

Interviews: Conversations That Matter

An interview is an article presented as a straight Q&A or an edited Q&A that reads like a feature. Companies, personalities, or thought leaders are often the subjects of these interviews. They usually share their thoughts or discuss ideas related to their industry or brand. While some interviews present the entire conversation, others only incorporate excerpts or quotes into the story.

Interviews provide a platform for voices from various sectors to share their insights, adding a unique and personal dimension to content. They offer direct perspectives on industry trends, challenges, and innovations that provide more value to the readers.

Screenshot grabbed from starterstory.com

As a publisher, you would do well posting these interviews, and here are some pros once you do it.

Press Releases: The Pulse of Current Happenings

An official statement from an organization, company, or brand, a press release announces recent news, events, or other developments. Like a news article, it is informative and unbiased. It comes with a headline and a lede, or what many know as the lead statement. It contains facts and even the latest statistics without any promotional language.

Used as a brand awareness tool, it is usually part of a brand’s marketing or promotional campaign to generate interest for a new project, service, or product. It’s to establish credibility and authority in a specific industry or field. The usual press releases for brands include announcements for product launches, rebranding, expansion or relocation, recognitions and awards, mergers and acquisitions, environmental and charitable initiatives, and funding.

As tools for announcing vital news and developments, press releases are a goldmine for timely and relevant content. They keep the audience informed and can position your platform as a current and authoritative news source.

Screenshot grabbed from betakit.com

Now may be a good time to start if you have yet to post press releases on your website. Here are some of the other benefits you can get from doing this.

Capitalize on Diverse Content Mentions With SearchEye

The diversity and quality of content mentions are not just enhancements but essential tools for success. You can significantly elevate your content’s value and appeal by understanding and utilizing links, expert quotes, brand mentions, brand features, interviews, and press releases.

SearchEye’s marketplace is crucial in using content mentions to your advantage. It connects you with brands seeking high-quality mentions, streamlines the collaboration, and ensures a match that benefits your site and the brand. This direct connection bypasses the inefficiencies of traditional outreach methods, allowing you to focus more on publishing impactful content.

As a SearchEye publisher, you have the advantage of gaining the following:

Harnessing the power of SearchEye’s content mentions lets you publish high-quality content. It also strategically places your website at the forefront of authoritative and engaging digital publishing. 

[cta_widget]

Frequently
Asked Questions

Our goal at Searcheye.io is to empower brands and publishers with clear and actionable insights to grow their business. Our new AI Page Recommendation Engine within SearchEye makes it even easier for brands, publishers and writers to collaborate quickly and effectively. 

Here’s how it works.

Targeted Recommendations

Brands that want to elevate their media presence through media placements and earn links / brand mentions with top sites will find lots of options in SearchEye’s database of more than 5,000 publishers. 

But sometimes having so many choices can be overwhelming. 

Brands may find it challenging to choose the best pages or links to recommend to publishers, leading to decision-fatigue. Writers and publishers may not get relevant suggestions, or may find it difficult to incorporate those suggestions.

Our AI Page Recommendation Engine improves and streamlines the process of bringing together brands and publishers in two key ways:

Using our AI technology, brands can now quickly identify the best page to pitch for placement opportunities, along with recommended language to suggest to the writer. 

Writers and publishers save time with highly relevant suggestions along with ideas for incorporating them.

Let’s look at these features more closely. 

Benefits for Brands

We’ve improved what was previously a manual process by integrating AI. Before you respond to an opportunity, you’ll now see our recommendation for the best page to pitch. It will say “Top Pick.” 

You’ll also see suggested alternatives. To help you evaluate your options, you’ll also see:

Relevant keywords and
Search volume 

Use these recommendations to save time and increase the chances that the writer will accept your request.

Here’s an example of how it looks within SearchEye:

Click on “Show page integration” on any option to see the AI-generated language for integrating that recommended page into the article. For example: 

You remain in control. You can choose the page you want to suggest and edit anchor text. 

Bringing Value to Publishers and Writers

The AI Page Recommendation Engine also benefits writers and publishers.

Writers and publishers get more relevant suggestions. They also get proposed language to integrate requests into their articles. This can save time, as it requires less manual work to find and include the right resources. It also increases the chances that the writer will be able to include the requested mention.

You can continue to set rules such as no product page or homepage links, for example, or that you are looking for certain types of resources, and we’ll use them to either eliminate or include them from suggestion pages.

Ultimately, both publishers and brands get better matches and fewer missed opportunities.  

Our Focus on Quality

To ensure high quality standards, SearchEye continues to screen for criteria such as traffic volume, value, and trends. Domain authority, keyword rankings, industry focus and authenticity are among the other metrics we evaluate.

SearchEye’s new AI Page Recommendation Engine is available for all brands using SearchEye, including Plus and Pro members.

Frequently
Asked Questions

HARO is a popular platform that connects writers and sources for media-mention opportunities. Writers and journalists post queries describing the type of expertise they are seeking. Bloggers, business owners, and subject matter experts respond with pitches, hoping to get a media mention. 

How well does HARO work for writers and journalists seeking sources, and what do they like or dislike about the service? To learn more, Searcheye surveyed journalists and writers. Our ultimate goal is to learn what journalists want in a platform that connects writers, publishers and brands to continue to create a truly valuable alternative. 

Here, we’ll share responses to the survey questions as well as additional insights we received from writers who expanded on their experiences in a follow up questionnaire. 

[cta2_widget]

About The Writers and Journalists Surveyed

Most of the 101 writers who completed our survey said they cover a number of different topics/industries. Though a few specialized, most cover multiple beats. 

Lifestyle, business and tech were the most common ones mentioned, as illustrated in this word cloud illustration of responses.  

Source: SearchEye 2023 HARO Survey, writer responses

Many Writers Are Prolific

We asked, “How many articles do you get published per month?” Twenty-three writers indicated they generally write 5 or few articles per month. The other 75% of respondents write more than 5 articles per month, with many stating they often write 10, 20 or 30 or more articles per month. 

At the high end, one writer said they have 120 articles published per month, another said 115, and still another reported 100-120 of their articles are published each month.

Overall, Satisfaction is Mixed

When asked to rate their experience with HARO, just over one quarter (29%) report “it’s okay” and about 7% are either unsatisfied or very unsatisfied. 39% report they are satisfied while a quarter of respondents best identified with the statement, “I’m very happy to use HARO for my articles.”

When asked to subsequently elaborate on what they did not like about HARO, most commented on poor quality responses.

Source: SearchEye 2023 survey of writers who use HARO

How Many Pitches Do Journalists Receive?

Journalists and writers reported a wide range in the number of pitches received in response to queries. 30% of writers responded with a range that totalled 10 or less; for example 4-6 or 5-10 pitches. 

Many said the number of responses they get to queries can vary dramatically. Here are some of those responses:

How Much Time Does It Take to Review Pitches?

An equal percentage of writers (37%) spend 15-30 minutes reviewing pitches, or 30-60 minutes reviewing pitches. Nearly 13% spend one to two hours on that task. 

Source: SearchEye 2023 HARO Survey, writer responses

In follow up, we heard from writers that they also often spend time verifying the credentials of the sources they quote. This is in addition to reviewing responses for relevant quotes and insights.

Satisfaction vs Time Spent on Responses

There appears to be a strong relationship between time spent reviewing responses and satisfaction with the service. 

Those who report being unsatisfied or very unsatisfied with HARO tend to spend more time reviewing pitches (responses) from sources. More than half of those who said they were “unsatisfied” or “very unsatisfied” spent 30 minutes or more on this task, with 28% reporting they typically spend 60 minutes or longer reviewing responses. 

Unsatisfied: More Time Spent Reviewing Responses

Source: SearchEye 2023 HARO Survey, writer responses

Satisfied: Less Time Spent Reviewing Responses

By comparison, those who report being satisfied (“it’s OK, “I’m satisfied with the responses I get,” or “I’m very happy with the results I get”) are less likely to spend a large amount of time reviewing pitches. 

Almost 52% of these respondents said they spend 30 minutes or less on this task, and 12% spend less than 15 minutes reviewing responses. 

Source: SearchEye 2023 HARO Survey, writer responses

Most Satisfied: Least Time Spent Reviewing Responses

Those who said they were “very happy to use HARO” spend the least amount of time reviewing responses. 56% said they spend 30 minutes or less reviewing responses, and 12% spend less than 15 minutes on this task. 

Source: SearchEye 2023 HARO Survey, writer responses

How Many Links Do Writers Include?

Sources using HARO may include subject matter experts, authors, bloggers, influencers or PR representatives working on behalf of these types of clients. Sources often hope to secure a link to their website to increase the visibility of their online presence in web searches. 

Only three survey respondents said they are not able to include links to sources in their stories. For the rest of the writers who responded, the number of links they include in articles varies widely depending on the type of story and the number of responses received. 

Source: SearchEye 2023 HARO Survey, writer responses

And a few mentioned they may include more links in certain stories:

It’s worth noting that while sources often submit responses hoping to get backlinks, they cannot insist on them. HARO rules prohibit sources from requiring links when quoted. Specifically, those rules state: 

What is HARO?

Journalists and writers looking for sources to quote in articles they are writing often turn to platforms like Help A Reporter Out (HARO) to connect with potential sources. 

HARO states on its site that it “reaches more than 1 million sources and 75,000 journalists and bloggers, making it a vital tool for brands and reporters alike.” Users fall into one of two broad roles: 

Journalists can submit queries for free, as long as they abide by HARO’s journalist rules for those queries. 

Individuals and companies looking for opportunities to be quoted by the media can also use HARO for free, or pay a monthly fee for additional access. 

HARO is rebranding as Connectively, and the new pricing is listed as follows:

Sources with a free account can pitch up to 5 times per month, while those with a core plan can pitch up to 15 times per month. Sources can buy more pitches in quantities of 1, 6, or 15.

HARO is owned by Cision, a global leader in PR and marketing communications technology and intelligence. 

What Writers Say About HARO

We reached out to journalists and writers who responded to our survey for more insight into their experiences with HARO. 

HARO Pros And Cons

For many, HARO is a mixed bag when it comes to pitches. While they may get some great responses, sorting through all of them can be time-consuming. 

Melanie Allen, a journalist who writes for Partners in Fire, appreciates many of the responses she’s received. “A lot of professional people with a wealth of experience respond to queries on HARO,” she notes. “I’ve gotten expert quotes from medical professionals, historians, and psychologists that I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. “ 

At the same time, she gets responses that are unqualified and a waste of time. “There’s a lot of spam,” she observes. “I’ll request specific credentials, and a lot of responses will be from people who don’t have any background or experience in the topic and are just looking for a link.”

Jon Morgan, CEO of Venture Smarter, loves the “speed and diversity” of responses he receives.

But he also recognizes the shortcomings.”It’s fantastic to have so many potential sources at your fingertips, but sifting through them to find the right fit for a particular story can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Sometimes, you get flooded with pitches that don’t quite align with what you’re looking for, and it can take a significant amount of time to filter through them all.”

The quality of responses can vary tremendously. 

“Many responses are spammy or unqualified,” observes John Paul Hernandez, a B2B/ SaaS freelance writer. “For every 50 responses that come in my inbox, I might get one qualified answer. Of course, it’s worth it when you find the right person.” He finds that some respondents ignore clearly spelled out requirements in the hopes of landing a mention. 

As a result, Hernandez sometimes goes outside the platform to find sources. “I like HARO,” he notes, “but it needs some improvement on qualifications.” 

Bhavya Aggarwal is a writer at Gartner Digital Markets. He says he loves how HARO lets him connect with small business owners who are “excited to share their personal stories, and business knowledge.” 

But he’s been getting “a lot of AI-generated pitches from ChatGPT just to get easy backlinks. Sifting through so many spammy queries eats so much time.” He’s becoming more intentional about stating in his query that he doesn’t want to receive AI-generated responses. 

Rob Swystun, independent content marketing strategist and writer, finds that he tends to get responses from PR professionals offering to connect him to their client, “rather than just getting their client to answer the question.” However, he doesn’t find it takes a lot of time to pick a source to include. 

Amna Muqeem is a writer but he’s also a baking enthusiast and home cook who responds to queries in the food and kitchen niche. He notes that spammy queries can come from writers, too. “HARO is not good at filtering out fake queries. Many writers pose as writers from bigger publications which is ethically wrong.”

How Writers Vet HARO Sources

We asked writers how they choose from so many sources.

“I vet sources by looking at bios, credentials, and if they answered my questions in a useful way,” responded Caroline Lubinsky, Senior Shopping Editor for Family Handyman. 

Hernandez approaches it this way: 

“First, I make sure the person is qualified. Are they notable online? Do they have a job title or work for a company that gives them credibility? Or did they produce results that give them authority in the field?

Then, I review their response. It needs to be concise and articulated very well. Lastly, the substance needs to be valuable and fit right with my piece.

As long as I have a name, link, or a way to credit the person, then I’m ready to incorporate their input.”

Shawnna Stiver, Founder and CEO of Ampersand Copy and Content, says she chooses roughly 2-5 responses that:

“Don’t look like copy/pasted content from an existing blog, ones that include a personal angle or first-hand testimonial, and truly unique and helpful content that can support what I’m writing about. I don’t spend a lot of time vetting sources but do look for websites that look legitimate.”

McKayla Girardin, a writer at Forage relies heavily on LinkedIn to help her vet sources. While she says she appreciates the range of responses she’s received from HARO,  also spends time sifting through spam and plagiarized responses.

“Ultimately, if a source doesn’t have a LinkedIn, I’m probably not going to use them,” she explains. “It’s also important for our blog that we use sources who are located in the U.S. or have considerable experience working in the U.S., so verifying that via LinkedIn or other channels is important.”

And since the blog she writes for does not include backlinks, she says there is additional back and forth required. “I always email a source beforehand to check that their attribution is correct and that no backlinks are required, but that also adds time to the process when waiting on their response,” she adds. 

Allen says, “I always check their websites if I’m asking for a credential. I like to use as many qualified respondents as I can. If someone takes the time to write a well-thought-out response to my inquiry and has the background experience I’m looking for, I’ll try to fit the quote in. That’s not always possible, as often the answers get repetitive, but I do my best.”

“Credibility is a non-negotiable factor,” Morgan insists. “We vet sources meticulously to ensure they have the expertise and authority in the subject matter. This involves checking their background, professional experience, and any previous work or contributions they’ve made in their respective fields. We want our audience to trust the information we present, so credibility is paramount.” 

He also seeks diversity in terms of professional backgrounds, geographic locations and demographics. “It’s important for our content to reflect a broad spectrum of ideas and experiences,” he adds. 

Lauren Lauren Anderson, Affiliate Commerce Editor at Woman’s World, appreciates that HARO gives her “access to people I wouldn’t have the time or bandwidth to find otherwise.” At the same time she finds it frustrating “when PR reps/business owners don’t read the fine print of the request or I get blanket pitches that don’t pertain to my ask at all.” 

Survey Conclusion: Do Writers Like HARO?

Overall, both the survey results and the additional comments provided indicate that writers have mixed feelings about HARO. 

Most value the speed in which they receive responses from potential sources.Spam and irrelevant responses are a time-consuming problem, however. 

If HARO switches to Connectively’s new pricing model that limits the number of free pitches each month, that may change, though it may also limit responses as sources will likely strive to be more strategic about whom they pitch. 

“HARO has a great system to send out your query and get responses. If they can find a way to filter out unqualified responses, it would be 10x better and efficient,” Hernandez observes.

Searcheye: HARO Alternative

SearchEye is building a dynamic marketplace to facilitate seamless collaboration between brands, creators, and publishers. Tools like Searcheye’s AI Page Recommendation Engine improves and streamlines the process of bringing together brands and publishers. 

Brands can quickly identify the best page to pitch for placement opportunities, along with recommended language to suggest to the writer. 

Writers and publishers save time with highly relevant suggestions along with ideas for incorporating them into their article.

[cta_widget]

Weigh In

Do you use HARO as a source? We’d like to hear from you! We will be surveying bloggers, business owners and other subject matter experts on their experiences using HARO to get media mentions. Contact us here to get notified when that survey is open.

Our Methodology

Searcheye sent a survey to writers and journalists in its database and received 104 responses between April 17, 2023 and June 20, 2023. We eliminated three responses. (One did not use HARO, another had only used it once, and one used it as a source.) We also reached out to journalists who agreed to share additional insights in December, 2023. 

The survey was not in any way affiliated with Help A Reporter Out (HARO) or Cision. 

Frequently
Asked Questions

Book a Demo Sign Up