How to Answer a HARO Journalist Query

PETER SHANKMAN

POSTED ON April 16th, 2010

48 COMMENTS

Please link to this, post this around, dump it onto Twitter, etc. The more people who watch the better HARO works for everyone. Blue skies!

How to Answer a HARO Journalist Query from Peter Shankman on Vimeo.

http://www.witzpr.com Carrie

Dude… you could fly with all that arm flapping! You should also be hired to do voiceovers for the legal disclaimer at the end of radio commercials; they’d save a lot of airtime…!

Seriously, all good tips. As someone who has gotten my clients placed many times through HARO, the timeliness of replies is critical, since the journalists get inundated by replies.
-Carrie
Thanks for all you do to keep the peace among the media and PR types.
-Carrie
Dan Greenberg

I thought you were going to BASE jump at the end of the video. I’m disappointed.

Seriously, though, good tips!

:-Dan
http://www.sagefrog.com Mark Schmukler

Peter,

Spot on. To the point. I like your style. Have you written a book? I want to read it. There are too many people running around claiming that they are experts. When it comes to PR, you are the ‘real deal’.

Mark Schmukler
Sagefrog Marketing Group, LLC
http://www.sagefrog.com
http://www.fatpacking.com Steve Silberberg

Good points! Your tips remind me of the book “How to Get Your Point Across in 30 Seconds or Less”, which is ironically, 128 pages long.
Tressa Kirby

Very nice tips–I hope you will do more in the future. Thanks for a great start to the week!
http://pitchwagon.wordpress.com/pr-tips/ Victor Cruz

Facts, figures, references and most of all, good end users willing to speak to the press. Love your energy, Peter.
http://jallanstudios.com/ Mandy Minor

Thanks for the help. I will share it – am doing a speech on DIY PR next week and will incorporate this to help all the reporters out there getting pitches. ;-)

Is that a bullet proof vest?
http://jmghouston.com Judi Martin

I’m Italian and have been told I can’t talk without using my hands. Peter’s got me beat but about a thousand hand movements!
Thanks for the tips.
http://www.MarketingPlanGuide.com John Hunt

Great advice. I would also recommend putting [HARO] in the subject line. It helps frame where you got their name. Plus [HARO] has incredible brand value!
http://www.smackmedia.com Elisette Carlson

Great tips and the Monday morning energy is LIVELY! Your book is also terrific! Thank you and keep ‘em coming.
http://www.yellowdaffodilpress.com Margot Desannoy

Hi Peter, I worked in PR for many years and I totally agree with your tip of the morning. Short, short, short and cover all the bases. Thanks!
http://www.estudioray.com Joe Ray

Hand efficiency and good tips, all rolled into one quick, easy to follow and easy to digest video. Life moves fast, be there to greet it. Thanks for the tips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZTnjwy7U14 LJ Fullerton

I love HARO. Thanks for coming up with it. Cool video and great advice. Thanks for all you do – be well!
Elusiverick

10/10 for Gestures !
My rate of comprehension & your rate of delivery are not synchronizing
You should consider free diving as you did that without taking a single breath.
ENERGY, Facts, Wonderful, loved it !
http://twitter.com/lallos Andrew Lallos

Been a PR pro for 2 months now, and I just used this advice this morning (not for a HARO query sorry…) after watching the video and it worked like a charm! So, thank you Peter!
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http://yournaturalchoicehhc@aol.com Rochelle Blank-Zimmer

great early morning tips. Short short short. Get your point across fast, just like when you are telling someone what you do. Thank you.
Rochelle Blank Zimmer
YourNaturalChoiceBlog.com
CentralJerseyHolisticHealth
http://getsponsors.8k.com Fran Briggs

Mr. Shankman:

This is an A-1 tutorial. No one is teaching this. These are media pitching tips that should implemented right away. By the way, I LOVE your energy! My hope is that your readers will continue to play this forward.

Fran Briggs
http://getsponsors.8k.com
http://www.centuryhouse.com Century House Nantucket

Very good advice!
http://www.alliebaer.com Allie Baer

I tell people that “I speak in soundbytes” when they ask what I do….soundbytes that pack a punch is probably more accurate, but not as concise. Thanks for your friendly reminder!
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http://www.vocus.com/ Frank Strong

I’m with Dan Greenberg – completely expected you to go over the side of the building at the end. Great tips, Peter, thanks for the post.
http://www.jophotoonline.com JoPhoto-Kathleen

Great video! I’ve used HARO many times with success for my wedding photography company, and these tips will help me get even better results! I was also waiting for you to base jump at the end of the video!
http://www.c4i.org William Knowles

I totally agreed with Dan Greenberg, I was expecting a little BASE jumping action but know the building isn’t that high off the ground, but I wouldn’t rule out Australian rappelling! But thanks for the HARO advice!
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http://www.reyburnphotography.co.uk Karen

Wow! Top speeds!! I’m off to respond to some HARO queries as the email has just arrived!!
http://issamar.com Rabbi Issamar Ginzberg

excellent post, Peter.

especially since I’ve been wearing white shirts every single day for the last 18 years…. :)
http://www.keymergroup.com Simon Keymer

Dude, what are you wearing? Some kind of flotation device? Kidding – great tips. Looking forward to going running again next time you’re in North Florida…
http://livingwithcrohnsandcolitisbook.wordpress.com/ Dede Cummings

Peter, hysterical, love Megan, too! Seriously great advice! Thanks. Oh, and I was late responding to a doctor-empathy query and Totally missed it :( so speed is a priority–speed, and brevity (the well-written kind!). Thanks for all you do, but don’t fall off a roof doing it;)
http://www.sgw.com Adam W.

Peter –

Great Tips – If you could bottle all that energy, you could sell it on TV on your own infomercial!

What I do is I BCC myself and keep that response in a folder in my e-mail called HARO Responses.. Then, when 6 months down the road when a SIMILAR Query comes in, you simply tweak it to answer the topic of the NEW query – read through it one more time and hit SEND!

Simple Simple Simple…
http://www.ajoyfulcelebration.net Rev. Sherry

Thanks for tips, Peter.
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http://www.magician-4-hire.co.uk Mike Stoner

Awesome stuff – although I thought you were going to end the video by base-jumping off the building. (Next time maybe!)
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http://www.facebook.com/maryann.ray.14 Maryann Ray

Hi Peter. I just responded and was turned back on a response to your
HARO query “Bed & Breakfasts in the U.S.” I’m in Alaska, so it is a
bit tougher for us to hit some of the earlier time zones, but I do
think my in is right up your alley. Would you let me send a direct copy
of the email to you? You can communicate with me at
Maryann@pearsonspond.com.

I guess the plus side of all this is that I can now follow you on Twitter and Facebook.

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