Comments on: Finding Expert Sources

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By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:58:18 +0000

My problem with HARO was that they wouldn't approve my requests. Why? they were for articles that would run on a subscription website.

The HARO person cited some policy against providing leads for pay-only websites.

I never understood how or why they feel subscription websites differ from subscription magazines or newspapers, but hey. It's a rule. (Never mind that the site the articles are for often grants free access upon request.)

Those career planning articles are usually the only ones I ever use ProfNet for, so I just gave up on HARO.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 19:25:17 +0000

Gabriella, I'm not sure what I'm doing differently. I send out a query (honestly can't remember how I did it), and only one query netted one source who didn't quite fit.

I'm not sure how to use HARO effectively, to be honest. It's not as user-friendly as ProfNet (to me, anyway).

By: Gabriella

Gabriella — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 19:09:55 +0000

Hi all.

Interesting that you're not having success with HARO. It's pretty much my first line for sources. I sometimes have to supplement that with my own Internet research, but I usually get at least some sources there.

How do I make it work? I don't know that I'm doing anything you aren't/wouldn't be doing. I mostly look for real estate and legal sources, so I hit both the "business and finance" and then "general" categories. Maybe my categories are more widely used than for the topics you're searching?

I also include a paragraph telling what I need an expert on. "Need real estate company owners to discuss the steps they're taking to track their social media efforts." I can't imagine that's much different than what you're doing/would do?

Anyway, I get a bunch of dreck. No question. But I usually get a good baseline of sources.

What are you all doing differently?

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 12:10:30 +0000

Colleges are good, Jenn and Paula. I've had a few really key interviews that came from college staff.

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 10:47:12 +0000

Great ideas here Lori. I was going to suggest colleges, but Paula beat me to it. I've had a lot of success finding expert sources from faculties.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 18:02:24 +0000

Anne, I would love to know how it works for others, as well. My limited experience says otherwise, but too many people love it as a resource to discount it.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 18:01:46 +0000

Good call, Paula. I don't promise unless I know I can deliver. The words "such as" come into play a lot in my queries because it's saying "These are the types of sources I'm considering using."

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:41:58 +0000

I haven't had any luck with HARO, either, Lori.

I use all of the other methods you mentioned, plus colleges and universities. They can be a great source for experts and current research data.

Even with superstar type interviews, if the intended market is a top publication within their industry and if they have something to promote, you probably don't need to confirm their willingness to be interviewed (unless they're notorious for avoiding interviews). If I pitch a piece involving a specific producer or actor who's career is on fire at the moment, I'll usually add a qualifier like, "if possible" or "if their schedule allows..." Otherwise I'll say, "Sources would include a major director, such as so-and-so and at least one cast member, perhaps ActorX, ActorY or ActorZ."