Getting featured on TechCrunch feels out of reach for many founders and marketers. Most assume you need a PR agency, media contacts, or a big funding story to get mentioned. In reality, many articles include expert quotes from people who simply shared useful insights when reporters asked for input through platforms like HARO.
Journalists work on tight timelines. They look for answers that are clear, practical, and easy to use in their article. If your reply is relevant and written in plain language, you can get picked even if your brand is not widely known.
We’ll show you the exact steps you can follow to get featured.
#1. Understand What TechCrunch Covers Before You Pitch
Before replying to any HARO query, get clear on what TechCrunch usually publishes. They focus on startups, funding rounds, product launches, AI, SaaS, venture capital, and tech policy. They don’t look for generic business advice or broad marketing tips.
Read a few recent articles and notice the angle — most stories are data-driven and forward-looking. When you understand their coverage style, you can quickly tell which journalist requests are actually relevant. This saves time and prevents weak, off-topic replies that never get used.
#2. Set Up HARO Monitoring With Tight Filters
Don’t reply to every HARO query you see. Set filters for tech, startups, software, AI, venture, and product categories. Check requests daily and scan for topics where you have real experience. Use keyword filters in your inbox so good opportunities don’t get buried.
Speed matters because reporters often choose sources quickly. At the same time, avoid rushed replies to weak-fit queries. A small number of highly relevant responses beats sending many random pitches that don’t match the topic.
#3. Prepare a Short, Credible Expert Bio in Advance
Have a ready-to-use bio before you start pitching. Keep it short and specific. Mention your role, years of experience, company, and one or two proof points like user numbers, funding stage, or notable projects. Reporters need to trust the source quickly.
If they can’t understand who you are in a few lines, they may skip your quote. Don’t write a long profile — just enough to show you’re qualified to comment on the topic. This also helps you reply faster when a good query appears.
#4. Match Queries Only to Your Real Expertise
One common mistake is replying to every tech-related query just to chase a big publication mention. That usually backfires. Reporters can tell when someone is stretching their expertise. Only respond when the topic directly connects to your real work and experience.
If you run a SaaS product, comment on product, growth, or infra topics — not crypto regulation or hardware trends. Specific experience leads to stronger answers, and stronger answers get quoted. Also, use examples from your own work — small case details, real numbers, or lessons learned. That kind of grounded input is more useful to journalists than textbook explanations. Tight relevance increases trust and improves your selection chances.
#5. Write Answers That Are Ready to Publish
Reporters prefer quotes they can paste directly into the article with little editing. Write in full sentences, clear language, and short paragraphs. Start with your main insight, then add one supporting point or example. Avoid buzzwords, marketing lines, and brand promotion.
Don’t talk about how great your company is unless the question asks for it. Think of your reply as a usable quote, not a pitch. If your answer needs heavy rewriting, it will likely be skipped. Clean structure, plain wording, and a direct takeaway make your response easier to use and more likely to be selected.
#6. Lead With Insight
Many people open their HARO replies by introducing themselves and their company. That wastes the most important space. Journalists first look for insight, not your background. Start with your strongest point — a clear opinion, a useful observation, or a short data-backed statement.
After that, you can add your name and role in a short attribution line. This approach respects the reporter’s time and shows confidence in your expertise. When the first lines deliver value right away, your reply stands out in a crowded inbox and is easier to shortlist for inclusion.
#7. Add Proof, Data, or Real Examples
Strong answers include something concrete — a number, a short case example, or a real observation from your work. Reporters trust inputs that are backed by evidence more than general opinions. You don’t need to share private data, but even simple metrics or patterns help.
For example, mention usage trends, test results, or what you’ve seen across clients or users. This makes your quote more credible and more useful in a story. Vague advice gets ignored. Specific insight gets picked. Always ask yourself — is there one real detail I can add to make this stronger?
Wrapping Up
Getting featured on TechCrunch is being useful at the right moment. Reporters are not hunting for brands. They are hunting for clear, expert input they can trust and use quickly. If you focus on relevance, write clean answers, share real insight, and follow instructions, you already put yourself ahead of most people who reply.
Don’t treat HARO like a link grab. Treat it like helping a journalist finish a good story. The more practical and grounded your answers are, the easier it is for them to include you. Some replies won’t get picked — that’s normal. What matters is consistency and quality over time.
If you build a simple system — monitor the right queries, answer only where you have real experience, and give quote-ready insights — media features become repeatable, not random. That’s how smaller brands get into big publications.
FAQs
1. How long does it usually take to get featured through HARO?
There’s no fixed timeline. Some people get quoted within a few weeks, others take a few months. It depends on how often you reply, how relevant your expertise is, and how strong your answers are. Consistent, high-quality responses improve your odds more than sending many weak replies.
2. Do journalists always give a backlink when they use a HARO quote?
Not always. Many publications include a link, but some only mention your name and company. It depends on the outlet’s editorial policy. Even without a link, a brand mention in a major publication still builds credibility and trust signals.
3. Can small or new companies get featured in big tech publications?
Yes. Journalists care more about the usefulness of the insight than company size. If your answer adds value and shows real experience, it can be selected. Clear examples, practical data, and direct opinions help smaller brands compete with bigger names.
4. Should I promote my product in my HARO response?
No. Keep your response focused on the question. Promotional language reduces your chances of being picked. Give a clean expert answer first. Your role and company can appear in your short bio line — that’s enough for attribution.
5. How many HARO queries should I answer each day?
There’s no perfect number, but quality matters more than volume. It’s better to send 1–2 strong, highly relevant replies than 10 generic ones. Choose only the queries that match your real expertise and where you can give a clear, useful quote.
