Update for 2025: The Return of HARO
Wait, hold on. Before we get into the tearful goodbye of December 2024, I have a massive update for you. HARO is officially back from the dead. After Cision pulled the plug, Featured.com swooped in and revived the iconic brand in April 2025.
If you paused your outreach strategy last year, it is time to dust off those pitch templates. The platform we relied on for over a decade is fully functional again. But to understand where we are now, we have to look back at why it left us in the first place.
The Original Goodbye (What Happened in 2024)
It was a bittersweet moment for those of us who had been faithful users of Help a Reporter Out (HARO). On December 9, 2024, this essential service—then known as Connectively—was officially discontinued. If you relied on HARO over the years, that news hit hard.
I remember the days when HARO was my go-to for snapping up golden opportunities. It was the best way to get brand mentions and high-quality backlinks. It had been a game-changer for so many of us, and it felt like time to say goodbye.
A Brief Look Back at HARO’s History
HARO was launched back in 2008 by Peter Shankman as a straightforward way to match journalists with expert sources. What started as a simple Facebook group turned into a mailing list that exploded in popularity. By the time it was acquired by Vocus, Inc. in 2010, HARO had become a lifeline for brands and marketers.
In 2014, when Vocus merged with Cision Inc., HARO came under Cision’s umbrella. There were whispers about whether HARO backlinks might impact Google rankings. But I still found it hard to pass up the opportunity to secure media coverage that mattered.
HARO’s Role in Elevating Brands and Visibility
For anyone who ever waited for those daily HARO emails, you know the excitement. Finding that perfect query that matched your expertise felt like striking gold. Respond quickly enough, and you’d get a badge of credibility that Google tends to notice.
This strategy wasn’t just about backlinks; it was about building trust and authority. Journalists loved HARO too. I was a journalist for more than 6 years, and I experienced the power of HARO firsthand. It was beneficial for me not just in my journalism career but also as an SEO professional.
As a journalist, HARO provided a quick and reliable way to access expert information. As an SEO, it became a valuable tool for acquiring mentions and backlinks. This dual advantage made HARO an indispensable part of my professional toolkit till 2019.
Integration and API Power
HARO wasn’t just a manual process for many of us. Through its API capabilities, HARO became part of automated workflows. It fed directly into CRMs, email marketing systems, and other SEO tools like Search Atlas.
The integration meant that we could get alerts, draft replies, and engage with journalists easily. It was a massive time-saver in a fast-paced industry.
Why Did HARO (Connectively) Shut Down?
So, why did this service come to an end in 2024? According to the official announcement from Cision, the decision was strategic. By retiring Connectively, Cision aimed to focus on CisionOne, their flagship platform.
The idea was to direct resources into enhancing CisionOne with innovative tools. This meant HARO bowed out, making way for a broader set of tools under Cision’s core offering. It was a logical move for Cision, but it felt like the end of an era.
The Rebirth: HARO is Back
Just when we thought we had to rely entirely on alternatives, the landscape shifted again. Featured.com acquired the HARO brand and brought back the classic features we missed. The simple, thrice-daily email digests are finally back in our inboxes.
Even better, the new platform has returned to a free, ad-supported model. They also stepped up their game with better source verification to keep AI spam out. This means journalists get real experts, and we get a fair shot at securing placements.
Why This Matters for SEO Right Now
Over the last 15 years, I have seen link-building tactics evolve drastically. Right now, Google’s focus on EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) is stronger than ever. A mention in a top-tier publication proves your real-world expertise in a way AI content cannot.
For example, if we run a campaign for a finance client, a quote in Forbes is priceless. It builds the exact kind of trust signals that Google values most. At Stan Ventures, we always prioritize these high-authority editorial links for long-term growth.
A New Chapter for HARO
We previously bid farewell to HARO, but now we get to welcome it back. The lessons we learned during its absence still hold true: be proactive, showcase your expertise, and adapt. The strategies it helped us build are now ready to be put back into action.
HARO is back, and the race to the inbox is on once again.
Dileep Thekkethil
AuthorDileep Thekkethil is the Director of Marketing at Stan Ventures, where he applies over 15 years of SEO and digital marketing expertise to drive growth and authority. A former journalist with six years of experience, he combines strategic storytelling with technical know-how to help brands navigate the shift toward AI-driven search and generative engines. Dileep is a strong advocate for Google’s EEAT standards, regularly sharing real-world use cases and scenarios to demystify complex marketing trends. He is an avid gardener of tropical fruits, a motor enthusiast, and a dedicated caretaker of his pair of cockatiels.