AI SEO Tools/HARO / Connectively
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HARO / Connectively

Link Building

Best for: Businesses, PR professionals, SEO specialists, and content marketers seeking to earn high-quality media mentions and backlinks through direct journalist outreach.

Connect with journalists seeking expert sources for articles

4.6on G2(150)
4.5on Capterra(100)
Free trial (7 days)Free plan

Company

Founded 2008
Chicago, USA
1000+ employees
Acquired by X

Pricing

Starting at Free

Setup

Beginner
5 minutes to get started

What is HARO / Connectively?

HARO (Help a Reporter Out), now transitioning to Connectively under Cision, is a crucial platform for businesses, PR professionals, and SEOs aiming to secure high-quality media mentions and backlinks. It functions as a daily email service delivering queries from journalists, bloggers, and content creators who are actively seeking expert sources for their articles. Users subscribe to relevant categories and receive email digests containing these queries, which range from broad industry trends to very specific niche topics.

The platform's primary strength lies in its ability to connect sources directly with verified media professionals, offering a direct pathway to earned media. For SEOs, this translates into valuable editorial backlinks from reputable publications, significantly boosting domain authority and organic search performance. Beyond SEO, it's an excellent tool for brand visibility, establishing subject matter expertise, and building relationships within the media landscape. The free tier makes it accessible for even the smallest businesses or individual consultants to begin their PR journey.

However, HARO/Connectively is not without its challenges. The volume of queries can be overwhelming, and the competition to get featured is intense, often requiring quick and well-crafted responses. There's no guarantee of placement, and the time investment in monitoring queries and drafting pitches can be substantial. Users must also contend with the occasional irrelevant query and the manual nature of tracking their outreach and results, as the platform itself offers limited analytics or CRM functionalities.

HARO / Connectively interface screenshot

Key Features

Daily Query Digests

Delivers aggregated journalist requests directly to your inbox, streamlining the process of finding relevant media opportunities.

Category-Based Filtering

Allows users to subscribe to specific industry categories, ensuring they only receive queries pertinent to their expertise.

Source Profile Creation

Enables users to create a profile detailing their expertise, making it easier for journalists to understand their background.

Direct Pitch Submission

Provides a straightforward method to respond to journalist queries with expert insights and credentials.

Connectively Platform Interface

Offers a web-based dashboard for managing queries and responses, improving organization over email-only management.

Journalist Verification

Ensures that queries originate from legitimate media professionals, enhancing trust and reducing spam.

Keyword Alerts

Notifies users of queries containing specific keywords (in paid tiers), allowing for highly targeted outreach.

Who is HARO / Connectively For?

Integrations

Use Cases

Securing High-Authority Backlinks

A SaaS startup uses Connectively to respond to a journalist writing about "future of AI in marketing," securing a mention and a valuable backlink from a major tech publication.

Boosting Brand Visibility & PR

An e-commerce brand specializing in sustainable products consistently responds to queries about eco-friendly living, gaining features in lifestyle magazines and increasing brand awareness.

Establishing Subject Matter Expertise

A financial advisor provides expert commentary on economic trends, leading to quotes in reputable financial news outlets and solidifying their reputation as a thought leader.

Content Ideation and Strategy

By observing recurring query themes, a content marketer identifies emerging trends and popular topics, informing their own content calendar and editorial strategy.

Pricing

Standard

Free

N/A

  • Daily Queries
  • Category Selection
  • Basic Support

Best for: Individuals and small businesses starting out with media outreach.

Standard Plus

$19/mo

billed monthly

  • Standard Features
  • Keyword Alerts (5)
  • Faster Email Delivery

Best for: Small businesses and consultants seeking more targeted opportunities.

Advanced

$49/mo

billed monthly

  • Standard Plus Features
  • Keyword Alerts (10)
  • Priority Email Delivery
  • Dedicated Support

Best for: Growing businesses and agencies needing more robust query management.

Premium

$149/mo

billed monthly

  • Advanced Features
  • Unlimited Keyword Alerts
  • Multiple Accounts
  • Advanced Analytics

Best for: Large agencies and enterprises with extensive PR needs.

Pricing may have changed. Verify current plans on HARO / Connectively's website.

Pros

Direct access to journalists and high-tier media outlets.
Opportunity to secure high-authority, editorial backlinks for SEO.
Cost-effective, with a robust free tier for basic access.
Significant potential for increasing brand visibility and thought leadership.
Diverse range of media opportunities across various industries.
Helps build relationships with media professionals over time.

Cons

Extremely high competition for desirable queries, requiring fast and compelling pitches.
Significant time investment in monitoring emails, crafting responses, and follow-ups.
No guarantee of placement, even with a strong pitch.
Query relevance can be inconsistent, leading to sifting through many irrelevant requests.
Limited built-in analytics or CRM features for tracking outreach effectiveness.
The transition to Connectively has introduced some user interface changes and potential learning curves.

HARO / Connectively vs Fonzy: Feature Comparison

FeatureHARO / ConnectivelyFonzyTogether
Link AcquisitionHARO/Connectively provides direct opportunities to earn editorial backlinks from high-authority sites by supplying expert quotes.Fonzy helps identify link-building opportunities by analyzing competitor backlink profiles and suggesting relevant outreach targets.Together, they create a comprehensive link-building strategy: HARO/Connectively secures earned media links, while Fonzy identifies additional tactical link prospects.
Brand Authority & ExpertiseHARO/Connectively establishes you as an expert by getting you quoted in reputable publications, boosting your public profile.Fonzy builds your website's topical authority through comprehensive, high-quality content, signaling expertise to search engines and visitors.This combination ensures both external (media mentions) and internal (on-site content) signals confirm your brand's deep expertise, making you a more attractive source for journalists.
Content StrategyHARO/Connectively exposes you to trending topics journalists are covering, offering insights into current media narratives.Fonzy identifies content gaps, analyzes search intent, and suggests clusters of content to cover topics exhaustively for SEO.Use HARO/Connectively to spot media trends and Fonzy to build out supporting content on your site, positioning you perfectly for future media opportunities.
Outreach EfficiencyHARO/Connectively streamlines finding journalists actively seeking sources, reducing cold outreach efforts.While not an outreach tool, Fonzy's content insights can inform and strengthen pitches made through HARO/Connectively.Combine Connectively's direct access to journalists with Fonzy's data-driven content insights to craft highly persuasive and relevant pitches that stand out.
HARO / Connectively logo+
Fonzy

Better Together

HARO / Connectively + Fonzy

HARO/Connectively gets you quoted in publications — Fonzy builds your site's topical authority so journalists see you as the expert to quote.

Link Acquisition

Together, they create a comprehensive link-building strategy: HARO/Connectively secures earned media links, while Fonzy identifies additional tactical link prospects.

Brand Authority & Expertise

This combination ensures both external (media mentions) and internal (on-site content) signals confirm your brand's deep expertise, making you a more attractive source for journalists.

Content Strategy

Use HARO/Connectively to spot media trends and Fonzy to build out supporting content on your site, positioning you perfectly for future media opportunities.

Outreach Efficiency

Combine Connectively's direct access to journalists with Fonzy's data-driven content insights to craft highly persuasive and relevant pitches that stand out.

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3-day free trial. No credit card required.

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