How to Track HARO Backlinks and Measure ROI
You've sent 47 HARO pitches over three months. But you can't prove it's working. Your boss asks for ROI. You have no answer. Here's the complete tracking system travel brands actually use.
The Problem: You know HARO works in theory. But you can't tell which backlinks came from HARO versus other efforts. You don't know if domain authority improved. You can't prove to stakeholders that 5 hours weekly on HARO generates real business value.
The Solution: A simple tracking system that shows exactly which placements you earned, how they impacted SEO metrics, and what ROI you're getting per hour invested. Takes 10 minutes weekly to maintain.
Here's the complete HARO tracking framework.
The Three Metrics That Actually Matter
Most people track the wrong things. Number of pitches sent doesn't matter. Email open rates don't matter. These three metrics show real HARO success:
Backlinks Earned
How many actual dofollow backlinks from credible publications?
Target: 5-10 monthly
Domain Authority Growth
Did DA increase from backlinks? Track monthly changes.
Target: +5-10 points quarterly
Organic Traffic Increase
Did backlinks boost rankings and drive more visitors?
Target: 2-3x within 90 days
Everything else—pitches sent, response rates, journalist relationships—supports these three outcomes. If these aren't improving, HARO isn't working.
The Simple Spreadsheet Tracking System
You don't need expensive tools. A Google Sheet with these columns works perfectly:
| Column | What to Track | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Date Pitched | When you sent the response | 15 Jan 2025 |
| Query Topic | What the journalist asked about | Sustainable tourism trends |
| Publication | Where it might appear (if you know) | Forbes Travel |
| Status | Pending / Featured / Rejected | Featured |
| Article URL | Link to published article | forbes.com/... |
| Backlink? | Did they link to your site? | Yes / No |
| Publication DA | Domain authority of linking site | 91 |
| Time Invested | Minutes to write pitch | 15 mins |
Weekly Tracking Routine (10 Minutes)
- 1. Update Status: Mark any pitches that got featured
- 2. Add Article URLs: Google your name weekly to catch mentions
- 3. Check Backlinks: Visit article, confirm your site is linked
- 4. Log New Pitches: Add any responses sent this week
- 5. Calculate Success Rate: Featured pitches ÷ total pitches
How to Find Your HARO Mentions
Journalists don't always notify you when they use your quote. Here's how to catch every mention:
Method 1: Google Alerts (Free)
Set up alerts for your name, company name, and website URL. Google emails you whenever these appear on new pages.
Setup Steps:
- 1. Go to google.com/alerts
- 2. Create alert for "Your Name" + "travel" (catches quotes)
- 3. Create alert for "YourCompanyName.com"
- 4. Set frequency to "As it happens"
Method 2: Manual Google Search (Weekly)
Search:
"Your Name" travel site:forbes.com
Replace forbes.com with travelandleisure.com, cntraveler.com, etc. Catches mentions Google Alerts might miss.
Method 3: Ahrefs/SEMrush (Paid)
These tools automatically track new backlinks to your site. See every HARO placement within 24-48 hours.
Cost: £99-199/month. Worth it if you're doing serious link building, overkill for casual HARO.
Calculating Real HARO ROI
Here's the formula that actually matters to stakeholders:
The ROI Formula
Time Investment:
5 hours weekly × 4 weeks = 20 hours monthly
At £50/hour rate = £1,000 monthly cost
Results Achieved:
7 backlinks monthly
Domain authority +3 points
Organic traffic +120%
Market Value:
7 backlinks at £300 each = £2,100 value
Or: Traffic worth £X in customer acquisition
ROI Calculation:
(£2,100 - £1,000) / £1,000 = 110% ROI
If your ROI is negative after 3 months, something's wrong. Either your pitch quality needs work, you're targeting wrong queries, or you're making common mistakes.
When Tracking Reveals HARO Isn't Worth Your Time
Sometimes tracking shows HARO doesn't make financial sense for your situation. Here's when to stop or outsource:
Scenario 1: Under 10% Success Rate After 3 Months
You've sent 60 targeted pitches. Got 4 placements. That's 6.7% success rate. You're wasting 5 hours weekly for minimal results.
Solution: Either take our HARO course to improve technique or outsource to experts who hit 25-30% rates.
Scenario 2: Your Time is Worth £100+/Hour
You're a founder or senior executive. 5 hours weekly on HARO costs £2,000+ monthly in opportunity cost. Even great results don't justify this.
Solution: Hire an agency to handle HARO for £800-1,200 monthly. Better ROI when your time is expensive.
Scenario 3: No Domain Authority Improvement in 90 Days
You're earning backlinks but DA stays flat. Either the links are low-quality or you need more volume to move the needle.
Solution: Focus on higher-DA publications or supplement HARO with other SEO strategies.
Need Help With HARO Tracking and Strategy?
Our link building service includes complete HARO management with monthly reports showing backlinks earned, DA growth, and traffic improvements. We handle pitching, tracking, and proving ROI.
HARO Tracking Questions
Start Tracking HARO Results Today
You can't improve what you don't measure. A simple spreadsheet tracking pitches, placements, and backlinks shows whether HARO delivers value or wastes time.
Track the three metrics that matter: backlinks earned, domain authority growth, and organic traffic increases. Calculate ROI every quarter. If it's not working, either improve your technique or outsource to experts.
Download our free tracking template or explore our link building service where we handle tracking and reporting for you.
Stop guessing whether HARO works. Start tracking results and making data-driven decisions about your link building strategy.