When Help A Reporter Out (HARO) shut down in January 2025, thousands of PR professionals lost their primary tool for landing media quotes. The platform had dominated journalist outreach for two decades. But here’s what most people missed: HARO’s decline actually created opportunity. The query platform landscape fractured into five distinct players, each with different strengths, fee structures, and response rates. If you know how to work them, your chances of landing quotes have actually improved.

This guide walks you through the five platforms that replaced HARO, when to use each one, and the strategy that converts queries into published quotes.

Why HARO Died (And Why It Matters)

HARO became a victim of its own scale. By 2024, the service was sending 30,000+ queries daily to 500,000 subscribers. Response volume reached such chaos that journalists received thousands of garbage pitches for every useful one. The signal-to-noise ratio collapsed. Journalists stopped checking. PR professionals got frustrated. The platform became a time sink that rarely converted.

Connectively (the new platform HARO’s founder built as a replacement) learned from this mistake by limiting subscribers and charging money upfront. That simple change fixed the quality problem overnight. But it also created openings for competitors targeting different niches and budgets.

The fragmentation is actually good news for you. Five platforms means five different audiences of journalists. Five different response rates. Five different pricing models. You don’t need to pick one. You work them all.

Five Platforms That Actually Work

1. Connectively: The HARO Successor (Best for Broad Coverage)

Connectively is HARO’s direct successor, built by the original HARO founder. It works almost identically to the old platform: journalists post queries, you respond, they pick quotes. The difference is quality control. Connectively limits subscriber counts, charges for access ($49-149/month), and actively moderates responses.

What works: High-quality query volume (around 300-400 per day vs. HARO’s 30,000), strong journalist adoption, familiar interface, and direct relationships with journalists who remember HARO. The paid model means you’re competing against serious PR professionals, not amateurs. That raises response bar but lowers noise.

What doesn’t work: The pay-to-play model filters out small businesses. If you’re just starting, the cost might not justify early results. Also, Connectively’s smaller subscriber base means fewer eyes on your pitches compared to HARO’s peak.

Best for: Established PR professionals, in-house communications teams, and agencies that need consistent journalist access.

2. Qwoted: For Fintech, Tech, and B2B (Best Specialization)

Qwoted focuses on fintech, technology, and B2B industries. It’s not a general journalist query service. It’s a curated marketplace where journalists post specific quote requests and experts (that’s you) bid to fill them.

What works: Deep industry expertise gets valued. Journalists on Qwoted are often writing detailed technical stories and want real knowledge. The bidding system incentivizes preparation. You write genuine, thoughtful responses instead of spinning generic quotes. Response rates are surprisingly high because everyone takes it seriously.

What doesn’t work: If you’re selling general business services, Qwoted may be too narrow. The platform is populated by CTOs, fintech founders, and deep technical experts. If you can’t speak credibly to their specific queries, skip it.

Best for: Tech founders, fintech professionals, B2B software experts, data scientists.

3. Help a B2B Writer: For Agency and Business Expertise (Best Volume)

Help a B2B Writer (yes, that’s the real name) is explicitly designed for B2B writers seeking expert interviews. It’s less glamorous than the others but consistently sends 200+ queries per day across business categories.

What works: High query volume. The platform has strong adoption among business writers, especially those covering startups, SaaS, HR tech, and operations. Response rates are solid because the writer base is professional and selective. You get fast feedback on whether your quotes made publication.

What doesn’t work: It’s not for consumer PR or lifestyle brands. The journalist base is almost entirely business publication writers. If you’re a yoga instructor or boutique founder, you’ll waste time here.

Best for: SaaS founders, B2B service providers, HR tech experts, operations and productivity consultants.

4. Terkel: For Deeper Researcher Questions (Best for Authority Building)

Terkel is fundamentally different. Instead of journalists, Terkel has researchers posting questions for academic papers, reports, and thought leadership. They’re not looking for quick quotes. They want substantive research input.

What works: Building authority. Terkel quotes often end up in whitepapers, industry reports, and research studies that get cited widely. A single Terkel mention can drive significant credibility. The platform is growing fast among B2B research professionals.

What doesn’t work: No immediate media coverage. Terkel isn’t about landing news articles. It’s about long-form research and authority building. If you need press coverage this month, Terkel won’t deliver it.

Best for: Industry experts, consultants, founders building thought leadership, academics, and professional researchers.

Featured specializes in health, wellness, finance, and lifestyle. The platform partners directly with major publishers and agencies. Queries tend to come from established publications and professional writers.

What works: Quality journalist relationships. Featured’s publisher partnerships mean you’re responding to requests from legitimate, major outlets. Response rates are high when you match the specific niche.

What doesn’t work: Featured is highly specialized. If your expertise doesn’t fall into health, wellness, finance, or lifestyle, you won’t get many queries. Also, entry requirements are stricter than other platforms.

Best for: Doctors, therapists, financial advisors, nutritionists, wellness coaches, fitness professionals.

The Strategy That Actually Works

Landing quotes isn’t random. Here’s the five-step system that converts queries into published articles.

Step 1: Aggregate All Platforms

Don’t pick one. Subscribe to all five (or the three that match your expertise). Use email forwarding to consolidate queries into a single inbox with labels for each platform. You want to see all incoming queries in one place so you can prioritize by opportunity size.

Set up filters: flag queries from top-tier publications, star urgent deadline queries, and organize by topic area. You’ll get 400-600 queries per week across all five platforms. That sounds overwhelming. It’s manageable with a system.

Step 2: Pre-Write Your Expertise Angles

Before queries arrive, write 3-5 “signature angles” that you can speak to credibly. If you’re a marketing consultant, your angles might be: “growth marketing in competitive categories,” “CAC reduction strategies,” “content-driven customer acquisition.”

For each angle, write 200-word explanations of your POV, your approach, and why it works. Store these. When a query arrives that matches an angle, you’re not starting from scratch. You’re personalizing something you’ve already written.

Step 3: Match and Respond Fast

Most query responses arrive within the first 2-4 hours. Later responses have dramatically lower acceptance rates. Set up notifications so you see queries in real time. Respond within 90 minutes of the query posting for maximum impact.

Don’t generic-pitch yourself. Read the exact publication and article angle. Show that you understand the writer’s specific angle, then position your quote to fit that angle directly. One personalized sentence makes the difference.

Step 4: Write Quotable Responses

The journalist is looking for language they can use directly. Avoid consultant-speak. Write in clear, concise language that a publication can drop into an article without editing.

Good quote: “Most brands over-rely on organic social. The real ROI is in paid channels where you control the audience and message.”

Bad quote: “One could potentially argue that an optimal digital marketing strategy would necessarily involve a more robust integration of compensated media placements in order to maximize customer acquisition efficiency.”

Short, specific, actionable. That’s quotable.

Step 5: Follow Up and Build Relationships

If a journalist publishes your quote, email them personally to say thanks and let them know you’re available for future stories. Journalists who publish you once will reach back to you repeatedly. Building a small network of “go-to” journalists in your space compounds over time.

Real Timeline: What to Expect

This timeline assumes you’re responding to queries across all five platforms and personalizing each response. If you’re only on one platform or responding generically, expect to double or triple the timeline.

Common Mistakes That Kill Your Quote Rate

Mistake 1: Responding late. If you respond 12 hours after a query posts, you’ve already lost. Set up real-time notifications and respond within the first 2 hours.

Mistake 2: Generic positioning. “I’m an expert in marketing” doesn’t help a journalist. “I help SaaS companies reduce CAC by 30% through strategic content placement” is what they need.

Mistake 3: Over-explaining. Your quote should be 1-2 sentences. If it’s longer than three sentences, it’s too long for a journalist to use.

Mistake 4: Ignoring non-tier-1 publications. Yes, landing TechCrunch or Wall Street Journal is the goal. But tier-2 and trade publications are where you actually build momentum. Land 10 trade publication quotes, and journalists from bigger outlets will notice. Start with wins, build the portfolio.

Mistake 5: Not following up. When a journalist publishes you, email them. Make it personal. “Your piece on customer retention was excellent. I thought of you when I came across [recent news story]. Happy to help with future pieces.”

Platform Selection Guide: Which Ones to Use

If you’re in tech or fintech: Use Connectively + Qwoted + Help a B2B Writer. Skip Terkel unless you want long-term authority plays.

If you’re in health, wellness, or finance: Use Featured + Connectively. Add Terkel for thought leadership building.

If you’re in B2B services: Use Help a B2B Writer + Connectively. Add Terkel for research quotes.

If you have limited budget: Start with Help a B2B Writer (most affordable) or use free tier of Connectively if available.

If you want maximum authority building: Use Terkel + Featured, then layer Connectively for news coverage.

The Bigger Picture: Building Credibility Through Quotes

Published quotes compound. One quote leads to another. Journalists read other publications and see your name. Your credibility increases. Customers notice. Prospective clients trust you more.

The platforms have changed, but the core dynamic hasn’t: journalists need expert voices, and you provide them. The advantage now is that the market is less saturated than HARO’s final years. Fewer professionals are actively using these platforms. That means less competition for the same journalist queries.

Start with the platforms that fit your expertise. Respond to queries consistently. Build the journalist relationships. Within 8 weeks, you’ll have published quotes. Within 6 months, you’ll be established. Within a year, journalists will be reaching out to you directly.

The HARO era ended, but the opportunity for PR professionals actually expanded.

FAQ

Q: How much do these platforms cost? A: Connectively ($49-149/month), Qwoted (free to bid, premium features available), Help a B2B Writer ($39-99/month), Terkel (free), Featured ($50-200/month based on tier). Total investment: $150-500/month for all five.

Q: Can I use these platforms if I’m not an expert? A: No. These platforms work because journalists trust the experts responding. If you’re not credible in your stated area, you’ll waste time and damage your reputation.

Q: How many queries will I get? A: Across all five platforms combined, you’ll get 400-600 queries per week. The exact number depends on your expertise area, your profile completeness, and how actively each platform promotes your profile.

Q: What if I don’t get quoted? A: If you’re not getting quoted after 100+ query responses, either your positioning is unclear or your quotes need work. Record which queries you respond to and track which ones convert. You’ll see patterns.

Q: Which platform has the highest response rate? A: Qwoted and Featured tend to have the highest acceptance rates because they’re smaller and more selective. Connectively has high rates due to quality control. Help a B2B Writer has solid rates due to the specialist writer base.