PETER SHANKMAN
| POSTED ON March 19th, 2009 | 128 COMMENTS | + ADD YOUR COMMENT |
I’m writing this today from a hotel room in Park City, Utah. One year ago, I wrote this blog post from a hotel room in Los Angeles, California. It talked about how my little Facebook group, called “If I Can Help A Reporter Out, I Will,” blew through 1,200 members, and I had to move it to a web site of its own. With the help of Adam Boettiger, www.helpareporter.com launched with it’s first query from the Chicago Tribune on March 20th, 2008. I think I said something like “hey guys, a Chicago Tribune reporter needs some help.”
If I’d known what that one post was going to do, I probably would have wrote something a little more profound as my opening sentence.
Here we are, one year later. We’ve posted close to 25,000 queries, to almost 70,000 sources, from over 10,000 journalists around the world. HARO has been mentioned in over 500 blog posts or articles in newspapers, and magazines. We’ve been featured on Good Morning America. And most importantly by far, we’ve connected thousands and thousands of sources to journalists that otherwise would not have gotten the media attention they deserve, while making thousands of journalists’ lives easier.
It’s been a pretty insane year… A year ago, I was running a PR firm with clients all over the world, as I’d been doing for ten years. I’d just sold AirTroductions, and was working hard, but not too hard. I enjoyed the work, and HARO was a thought that popped up one day when I was trying to figure out how to help a reporter who called me on deadline. That’s how these things happen, you know. I never, ever imagined it would be this big. Ever. Ever.
A year later… 75% of my time is spent traveling, for speaking engagements, teaching companies about social media, and attending conferences. I’m consistently amazed to find myself mentioned alongside names like Chris Brogan, Guy Kawasaki, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Pete Cashmore, who I met in the first photo below. Hey, when you’re both on a calendar it’s good to meet.
The people I’ve met and things I’ve been fortunate enough to do over the past year have all been so amazingly cool – Hearing people’s stories about how they use HARO, listening to them tell me how to improve it, racing with them, eating with them, and generally being goofy with them has been truly, truly amazing.
This past July, I realized I was in over my head, and I found Meagan. She proceeded to put my life in some sort of order, and things are much more logical now. Then in November, I brought Michael on board, to help edit the HARO. Meagan and Mike are the two best decisions I ever made for HARO.
It’s been an amazing ride. If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be where I am, or HARO would be where it is, today, I’d have thought you were crazy. That I’d be a “social media innovator?” That I’d be topping lists of lead sources in PR?” Come on! I was just a guy in NYC with two overweight cats!
Now I’m being invited to Park City, Utah, to the Olympic Stadium, to ride a Bobsled and experience 5.5 G’s? (Thanks, @olyparks!)
And being taken to NASA (who’s now a client) and interviewing astronauts in the Space Shuttle Mock-up?
And being given enough free Hardee’s coupons to guarantee I never have to be burgerless again.
But that’s how these things happen, I guess. And for what it’s worth, it hasn’t all been perfect. There have been problems, both personal and professional that have crept up along the way. But that’s what happens. You figure out how to fix them. Some require more fixing than others, some are unfixable. And you find that the best way to deal is to work the problem, find the solution, and learn something from the experience. If you can do that, then the problem or failure was worth it. I’ve said it before: Failure is great, because it forces you to examine what you’re doing.
In the end, I took a risk on something, and I’m thankful every day that I did. I’m very, very fortunate. But I think Abraham Lincoln said it best: “I believe in luck. And I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
Keep in mind, HARO wouldn’t be at ALL what it is today without the help and loyalty of each and every HARO Advertiser. As of next week, there’ll be a massive HARO Advertiser List, so you can find exactly what HARO Advertiser you were thinking of! Cool, huh? Thank you each and every HARO Advertiser.
And of course, in the end, it comes down to you. Every day, you let me into your inboxes – three times a day, in fact! The trust that you place on me with that allowance is immeasurable – and for that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
So let’s look onward to the future! I’m bringing on brilliant people – I’m growing HARO. If where we are now vs. one year ago is any indication, where we’ll be one year from now isn’t even imaginable. Multiple lists? Geographic targeting? “Finished story banks?” To quote a random Navy Seal in “The Rock,” “This motha’s gonna blow big.” I’d add, even bigger than it has already.
So thanks for being here. And stick around.
-Peter Shankman
March 20th, 2009
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I speak for many when I say thank you for making my job easier. I am honored that you shared your anniversary with me in Park City. “You’re pretty.” |
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Hi Peter As I said in my personal email to you earlier this week and now I”ll share it here with you and all members of members here I want to be one of the first to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HARO !!!!!! Although I have only been a HARO family member for just a short time (since the end of January) I have found it to be an incredible resource in my PR business. I have had numerous interview requests for clients that I would NEVER have found out about if it weren’t for you. I am amazed by your dedication, tireless hard work and overwhelming enthusiasm that you put into HARO and am extremely grateful for it. You should be proud of what you’ve done here !!!!! Thank You for everything you do and THANK YOU for creating HARO!! You have no idea how much I appreciate it. And as per your suggestion yesterday, I have changed all my social networking profiles on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to: Get Sourced. Get Quoted. Get Famous. http://www.helpareporter.com Let’s rock this thing “TOO INFINITY AND BEYOND!!! Once again…HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HARO!! and many more ! Nelson Hudes |
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I cannot even count at this point how many opportunites with really significant pubs have come my way through you. Thanks, Happy Birthday and I am really looking forward to what is to come. |
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“In the end, I took a risk on something, and I’m thankful every day that I did.” And we are grateful you did as well. Happy birthday HARO. |
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This network rocks… kudos and fair warning. 1) Kudos: I also have used it myself… I responded to a call about folks who lost jobs (mine was hosting NPR’s “News and Notes,” now cancelled) and redirected their lives. I got quoted in Alexandra Levitt’s inaugural “Reinvention” column for the WSJ…quoted with Stephen Covey. Seeing myself in that context helped me catalyze thoughts I had for a new business. So now I’m launching that business… within the month. HARO has an anti-wound-licking, get-off-your-ass effect. BUT Thanks Peter! Peace, |
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Bravo! Bravo! So thrilled for you, for HARO, and for the mark you’ve made on the industry. Well done. ;-) –Tanya |
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Peter, Congrats on the anniversary! My agency is truly thankful for all of the opportunities that HARO has provided for us. Thanks for all that you’ve done! Brandon |
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Happy Birthday to HARO & hugs to you for this “free” ride! Smiles – Stacey |
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Congratulations, Peter! Its been fun watching you over the year+ on your wild ride! |
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Congrats Peter – you’ve started a valuable service for the entire industry (and then some). Thanks much for taking that risk, and for sharing your insights, wit and overall brilliance with all of us. |
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Best Wishes on HARO’s first anniversary. Thank you for providing a incredible service to people who want to be heard and seen. |
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Congratulations Peter, and your wonderful team. Woot Woot! I started using HARO when it was still on Facebook and it is truly an amazing tool. You rock! Here’s to many more years to come! Inga |
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HARO…. Happy Birthday. The “family” grew a bit this year! Wonder what next year will bring? Wanna have us all start placing bets? You are gonna skyrocket. I started Twittering about you last night around midnight from the comfort of my Colorado home! Get Sourced. Get Quoted. Get Famous. http://www.helpareporter.com It is time to get your name out there even more. Hope you get tons of new people to join you! Congrats to all three of you, Congrats to those who have gotten “sourced, quoted and famous”. Here is one spanking… and one more to grow on! |
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Hi Peter, Congratulations on HARO’s 1 year anniversary. You have done such a great job with this. Hope you get to enjoy your weekend. Thanks again. Kelly |
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Happy Birthday HARO! Thanks to Peter I have been able to “help a reporter out” a few times with topics I am passionate and knowledgeable about. |
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LOVE this resource! I’ve only been here a short while, but what a wealth of opportunity for start-ups like me. I’m constantly referring your site to others who can also benefit from the great opportunities you give us. I’ll bet your site will be a huge boost in helping my little PortaPocket line get embraced by the collective…hopefully just as much as Sara Blakely’s SPANX has…hey, one can always AIM BIG, right?! (…& people thought SHE was crazy, too…)! p.s. keep your goodies where they’re good (especially if you’re about to head to one of those Snuggie pub crawls)! |
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Happy anniversary to HARO and congrats Peter, on all of your success! I’m looking forward to seeing where HARO will go over the next year and beyond! |
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When am I going to get one of these fabulous ideas?! Happy Birthday HARO! Peter-Thanks for all you do! |
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LOVE your resource — though I’ve only been a member a short while, what a huge boost to start-ups like me. I tell people about your site all the time…I’ll bet it’ll be a big help in getting my new little PortaPocket line accepted & understood that much faster across the country (hopefully as much as Sara Blakely’s SPANX did…hey, think big, right!?) SO today, a HUGE thank you HAPPY BIRTHDAY on an amazing concept, Peter. You ROCK! p.s. tried sending msg once before, not sure if you rec’d? or perhpas it’s my brick of a computer…! |
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Happy, Happy! The best ideas are the simple ones. Thanks to you, Meagan, Michael and the rest of the HARO family. Proud to be a member in good standing. |
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Happy Birthday HARO! Peter- Thank you for taking the risk and starting HARO. It’s an invaluable resource and I tell every PR person I run into about it. Thanks again! |
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Happy birthday, HARO! Here’s to an even more amazing second year (and third, and fourth, and so on…) |
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Happy Birthday, HARO! And Mazel Tov, Peter! What a great concept! So useful. So successful!!!! Here’s to many more wonderful years!!! |
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You should assign people membership numbers as they sign up. Not to keep track of them or anything, but so that people can say with pride, “I’m HARO number 132″ or whatever. |
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What a cool concept/website. Just ordered your book – I love this kind of thing! |
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Congratulations on HARO’s 1 year anniversary! Your e-mails make me smile and remind me to be a better communicator every day. I appreciate all you do. |
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Happy Birthday HARO! Peter: What a great story, from an idea to an empire! |
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Peter, Happy Birthday to HARO! What a great idea! And what a need you are filling! That’s what makes a great company. As I mentioned in my email to you a couple of months ago, the responses I received from my query to interview entrepreneurs with interesting start up stories was overwhelming! Thank you for the service you are providing! Dino |
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Peter, We not only allow you into our in-boxes, we actually look forward to getting HARO! Congratulations on your 1st birthday! Diana Scimone |
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Happy Birthday Peter! I just joined a couple of months ago but have already participated many times and have made some great connections. Thanks for all you do – clearly this is a labor of love but hopefully you know how much it means to all of us! Have a great day! |
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Happy Birthday, HARO! You make my job easier, my profession more intereresting and my mornings a little more entertaining. Thanks, Peter! |
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Happy First Birthday HARO, and Peter, you’re living proof that anyone can attain their dreams! Thank you for inspiring us every day! |
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Thanks for making me smile three times a day . . . and for all the great connections. Cheers! |
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Thanks for everything that you do! You are an inspiration, and I’ve learned so much just being on the email list. Happy Birthday! |
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Happy Birthday HARO. Peter, you may have “stumbled” into the HARO phenomenon, but after reading your book, reading HARO entries for the last year etc., I know this wasn’t a lucky accident. You’re a talented guy who seized an opportunity and went with it. HARO came along just when we needed it. I would estimate that 60-75% of the coverage we’ve gotten for “Celebrate Green,” “Green Halloween,” and Corey and I as green celebrations “gurus,” has come via HARO. We not only have gotten great media exposure, but have formed meaningful relationships that we would never have had the opportunity for without HARO. I just Twittered: Get Sourced. Get Quoted. Get Famous. http://www.helpareporter.com and will do it throughout the day. Thanks for HARO. |
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Happy, Happy Birthday HARO! And Congratulations on finding and filling this huge need, Peter. Here’s to many more years! |
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Happy Birthday Haro! Thank you Peter, Megan and Michael. You make it possible for small businesses and solopreneurs to have access to some amazing opportunities. |
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Happy birthday HARO! Peter, you must be so proud. I am inspired by your success. It gives small biz entrepreneurs like me hope for great things! |
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HARO is definitely in the category of I wish I thought of it first. Well done. Keep up the good work and thanks. |
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My new cats and I say thanks for all the fun and good client opportunities – couldn’t have done it without you! |
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Happy Birthday HARO and Congratulations Peter! You deserve all the the good that comes your way! C’ |
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Hi Peter, |
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Happy Birthday Haro!!!Well done. I wish all the best. Thanks for helping us grow |
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You’ve been doing an awesome job. I can’t wait to see what is in the future for you and HARO! :D |
PETER TO SPEAK
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