We’ve all been there! You spot that one HARO query. The topic is perfect for you! You know a lot about it, so you write an answer that you’re sure will get featured. So you sit back and wait for that “Your answer was featured” email, but it never comes… Until one day, you see the article online, and your answer isn’t there.
You are disappointed, but you move on and let that pitch rot somewhere deep in your sent emails. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can still make the most of this situation by repurposing your answer.
In this article, we’ll be talking about some cool HARO pitch repurposing ideas.
Table of contents:
- Save it for the next occasion
- Write a blog post
- Use it as a learning opportunity
- Post it on Quora
- Repurpose it on social media
Let’s get right into it!
1. Save it for the next occasion
The first idea for HARO pitch repurposing is to save it for another occasion. By keeping a database of everything you sent, you can have a clear overview of your answers. If a similar query pops up at some point, you’ll have an answer ready, saving you time and effort.
You can use different tools to keep a database. Personally, I like using Basecamp Docs & Files for this, as it allows me to color code and move things into different buckets easily. Here’s what that looks like:
Alli Hill, the founder of Fleurish Freelance, likes to use an Excel sheet.
Just because your response didn’t get used doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable. Other publications may use those same insights. Copy and paste unused responses into an Excel sheet. Add keywords beside each one in a separate column so you can easily search for responses related to particular topics. When the opportunity arises, grab the response and edit it to fit the question and publication, then submit!
Alli Hill
When pitching another publication with the same answer:
- Don’t send answers that were already featured. Content creators are usually looking for unique takes on what they’re writing about.
- Don’t send unused answers one day after pitching the first publication. It takes some time to write the article and go through the editing process. Your pitch may still get featured even after 3 or 4 weeks. You can send the pitch if enough time has passed, or if you’ve seen that the article was published without your input.
- Tweak the answer to fit the new query better. Even though you may get a similar query, it’s highly unlikely that your old pitch will fit into it 100%. Don’t forget to refresh your answer and update it for this specific writer and publication.
2. Write a blog post
Some HARO topics and answers are so interesting that you can easily expand on the topic and create a unique blog post about it.
When you’re pitching other writers, you’re submitting a quote that will fit into their narrative. According to Julia Kelly, the Managing Partner of Rigits, the data, research, and quotes that you have can sometimes be even more meaningful and provide deeper insight than the original article.
This gives you more control over how readers perceive and interact with the information, which can help extend its impact beyond just press opportunities.
Julia Kelly
Tips for repurposing your HARO pitch into a blog post:
- Identify the article topic and keyword well. In many cases, the topic of the pitch you wrote won’t be the main topic of the article, but one of the sections. Try to think of the bigger picture at this stage and identify the topic and keyword that will bring the most impact to your website.
- Have a topic? Now look through the other answers you submitted. Are there any more pitches that fit into this story?
- Don’t forget to edit the query to fit the blog format. A common mistake that can happen at this stage is to just copy-paste a query into an article. Update the queries to fit the blog format, especially if you’re combining more answers into a single post.
3. Use it as a learning opportunity
There’s a reason why your pitch wasn’t featured. If you can get to the bottom of what that reason is, you’ll know how to improve the next time and increase your chances of future placements.
Learn from your unsuccessful pitch:
- Have a look at the published article and the quotes that the creator used. Can you spot the difference between those quotes and yours? Do they have stats, and yours doesn’t? Is their take more in-depth, and yours is generic? The more things you can identify, the better you’ll become at pitching.
- Read the original query a few more times, and then asses your answer. Did you answer all the questions that the writer was looking for? Is it written well?
- What about reaching out to the content writer directly and asking them to share a piece of feedback with you? If they choose to answer, you’ll get a tip right from the source.
It’s important for your message to be clear and meet the needs and interests of your target audience. You could try reaching out to the editor to ask for feedback directly, as this can provide valuable insights and help you refine your approach.
Brenton Thomas / CEO / Twibi Digital Marketing Agency
4. Post it on Quora
Quora is one of content marketers’ favorite content distribution channels. The links you get from Quora are UGC and no-follow, but they can still be a great source of referral traffic for your website.
Among other ideas I shared in this article, this one is probably the easiest way to repurpose your answer. That’s because it’s a Q&A website, and it’s likely that you’ll find a similar question to the one you’re repurposing.
Tips for Quora repurposing:
- Write a good bio with links to your website. A good bio will keep the readers engaged and send them to more of your resources.
- Don’t be too promotional and answer the question genuinely. When you’re answering a question on Quora (and this also goes to HARO and similar platforms), try to answer the question in a genuine way that is helpful to the reader/writer. They’re looking to find an answer to a question, and not to hear about your services.
- Don’t stuff links in every answer. If you don’t have a good resource on your website on the topic you’re currently writing about, it’s better to leave the link out. An irrelevant link will do you more harm than good.
5. Repurpose it for social media
Creating fresh content for multiple social media channels can be time-consuming. Repurposing your HARO pitch for social media can offload some of that work. Look at the answers that weren’t featured – which ones would make a great LinkedIn post or Twitter thread?
Here’s what you should keep in mind with social media repurposing:
- Tailor your pitch to each specific platform.
- Identify the main benefit of your HARO pitch, and use that as a catchy headline to grab readers’ attention.
- Did you already write an article based on a previous answer? You can still create some social media posts based on the pitch to promote it.
- You can use this strategy even if your answer was featured to help the content writer promote their piece. That will get you some points with them, and the next time they seek answers, they might be more likely to feature you again.
Keep on pitching and repurposing!
Hopefully, this article gave you some new ideas for HARO pitch repurposing. If your answers aren’t getting featured, don’t get discouraged. By continuing to pitch, learn from it, and repurpose your answers, you’ll naturally become better at it – and the links will eventually roll in!
Do you have some cool strategy for HARO pitch repurposing? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
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