Help A Reporter Out (HARO) Purchased for Undisclosed Amount

Last week Vocus acquired HARO for an undisclosed amount.  Vocus offers public relations management software to PR professionals.  Specifically, the company provides news monitoring, social media monitoring, media databases, and news distribution services.  HARO or Help A Reporter Out, provides a daily newsletter three times a day soliciting news stories or pitches from a wide range of journalists, bloggers, and media outlets.

HARO revolutionized how journalists received information about news stories. Peter Shankman, the founder of HARO, created a service that effectively uses social media to receive reliable news sources.  The great thing about HARO is that it is free to both journalists and news sources.  Vocus apparently recognized the value in HARO and believes this acquisition will expand its social media/public relations services.  VOCUS stated the traditional “PR model is changing” and HARO eliminates the need to hire a traditional PR firm.  HARO is particularly valuable to small business owners and start-ups that may not have the cash to hire an outside PR firm.  Plus with HARO’s database of 100,000 plus users,  Vocus clearly saw the demand and success of the service.

The acquisition will not affect HARO’s consumers.  Vocus has assured HARO users the service will not change.  It will remain free and users will still receive the daily newsletter.  HARO’s revenue model will remain the same also.  HARO generated revenue through direct placement advertising.  In addition, the acquisition is good for the HARO brand because now HARO will have access to Vocus’ massive database.  Specifically, VOCUS has a media database of 1.4 million journalists, bloggers and media outlets; and over 51,000 sources.

I remember when HARO started two years ago.  I have actually used the service to respond to requests concerning intellectual property issues.  It has been a valuable public relations tool for me and thousands of other professionals and small business owners who have a product or service to share.  Peter Shankman created a service that was innovative and free while still turning a profit. Genius!  Congratulations to Peter Shankman and the HARO team.

About the Author
Latoicha Givens is the founder and a member of the firm Phillips Givens, LLC. Ms. Givens practice includes represention of start-ups, small, and mid-sized businesses in intellectual property matters, specficially, trademarks, copyrights, and licensing issues. She is the author of IPLAW101.com, a blog covering Intellectual Property issues specifically trademark law - trademark registration and infringement; Domain Name Disputes: Cybersquatting; Licensing and Intellectual Property issues in New Media.
See all posts by Latoicha Givens.