🛠️ Tool
Free
Beginner
Why we picked it When nobody has heard of you, a real quote in a journalist's story is one of the few ways to earn a genuine press link from a standing start. HARO sends out reporter queries looking for expert sources, and a sharp, specific answer from a founder can land a mention with a link back, no PR budget required. Founders building outside the big startup hubs can compete here purely on the quality of the response, since reporters care about the insight, not where you sit.
Help a Reporter Out (HARO)
From HARO (helpareporter.com) by Featured.com Ongoing (daily email queries you respond to)
- You reply to journalist queries with a tight, useful answer, and a good one can earn a real editorial backlink plus press credibility.
- It is free to sign up and respond as a source, which makes it a rare no-budget press channel for an unknown startup.
- Speed and specificity win: answer fast, answer the exact question, and skip the sales pitch.