When you earn a HARO link, it is easy to focus only on the website name. You check the publication, the domain authority, and whether your link is live. But one thing many people ignore is the actual position of their quote inside the article.
A link placed near the top of an article can carry a different kind of value than one added near the end. The page may be the same, but the placement is not.
In this article, we’ll look at why top-of-article HARO placements are better and what you can do to earn them more often.
#1. More Readers Actually See Your Brand
Think about how you read articles online. Most of the time, you start at the top, scroll through a few sections, and leave once you've found what you need. You probably don't read every word from start to finish, and neither do most other readers.
When your HARO quote appears near the beginning of an article, you put your name in front of people while they are still paying attention. If your quote is buried halfway down the page or sitting near the end, a large portion of readers may never reach it.
The publication may be the same, but the number of people who actually see your name can be very different depending on where your quote is placed.
#2. Journalists Usually Put Stronger Sources First
Writers do not place quotes randomly. When they are putting an article together, they often lead with the sources they believe add the most value to the topic. Those opening sections help set the direction of the article, so journalists tend to be more selective about what appears there.
That doesn't mean every top placement comes from the best expert. But in many cases, being featured near the beginning is a sign that your response stood out from the dozens of other pitches they received.
If a journalist chooses your insight early in the article, it usually means your answer was clear, useful, and easy to include. That's a good sign that your pitch did exactly what it was supposed to do.
#3. Better Brand Recall
People often remember the first names they see more than the names that come later. You have probably experienced this yourself. When several experts are quoted in the same article, a few stand out while the rest blend together.
If your name appears near the top, readers are introduced to you early. By the time they continue reading, they have already seen your company name, job title, and opinion on the topic.
When your quote is sitting near the bottom, readers may only glance at it before leaving the page. A top placement gives your name a better chance of sticking in someone's mind, especially if they see you featured again on other websites later on.
#4. Higher Chances of Getting Clicks
Most people are more engaged at the beginning of an article than they are at the end. They are actively looking for information, paying attention to the details, and deciding which sources they trust.
If your name, company, or website is mentioned early, readers are more likely to notice it while they are still interested in the topic. Some may click through to learn more about you, check out your business, or see what else you have written.
A link at the bottom of an article can still send traffic, but it has fewer opportunities to do so because many readers never make it that far. The earlier your quote appears, the more chances you have to attract attention from people who are already interested in what you do.
#5. AI Systems Often Pick Up Early Mentions More Easily
Many AI tools pull information from articles, guides, interviews, and other content published across the web. When an article discusses a topic and introduces experts near the beginning, those names are often closely connected to the main subject of the piece.
For example, if an article is about link building and your quote appears in one of the opening sections, your name is being introduced alongside the article's core topic. That creates a stronger connection between you and that subject.
Nobody outside the AI companies knows exactly how every system processes content. However, if your goal is to become more visible in AI-generated answers, having your expertise featured prominently inside articles can only help. It gives both readers and machines a clearer signal about who you are and what you are known for.
How to Increase Your Chances of Getting Featured Near the Top of an Article
It’s true, you can’t control where a journalist places your quote. But you can make it easier for them to use your response early in the article. The way you write your HARO pitch often plays a big role in where your quote ends up.
- Answer the Question Immediately: Don't spend half your pitch introducing yourself. Start with your actual answer. Journalists are looking for useful information first. If your best insight appears in the opening lines, it has a better chance of being used in the article's opening sections.
- Lead With Your Strongest Point: Many people save their best insight for the end of the pitch. Do the opposite. Put your most useful, interesting, or unique point first. If a journalist only reads the first few lines, they should still get your best contribution.
- Keep Your Quote Easy to Copy: Journalists work under deadlines. If your answer is clear, concise, and ready to publish with little editing, it becomes much easier to place in key sections of the article. Complicated responses often get skipped or trimmed down.
- Share Something Specific: Generic advice rarely earns top placement. Share a real example, result, lesson, or observation from your experience. Specific insights help your response stand out from dozens of other experts saying similar things.
- Match the Angle of the Article: Try to understand what the journalist is actually writing about. When your quote directly supports the article's main point, it becomes easier to place near the beginning where the core ideas are being introduced.
Wrap Up
When most people look at a HARO placement, they focus on the website, the backlink, and the domain authority. Those things matter, but they are only part of the picture. The position of your quote inside the article matters too.
A link near the top gives your expertise a better chance to be seen, remembered, and associated with the topic being discussed. That's why it is worth paying attention to placement quality, not just link quantity.
The next time you earn a HARO link, don't stop at checking whether your quote was published. Take a closer look at where it was placed. Sometimes that small detail can make a bigger difference than the link itself.
FAQs
1. Does the position of a HARO link affect its value?
Yes, it can. While the backlink itself may pass similar SEO value regardless of placement, a quote near the top of an article is often seen by more readers. This can lead to better brand visibility, stronger recognition, and more referral traffic.
2. How can I improve my chances of getting featured higher in an article?
Start your response with your strongest insight, answer the journalist's question directly, and make your quote easy to publish. Journalists often prefer responses that are clear, specific, and require very little editing.
3. Do HARO links help with AI visibility?
They can. When your name or brand is mentioned across trusted publications, it creates more information about you on the web. This can help AI tools better understand who you are and what topics you are associated with.
4. Are all HARO backlinks equally valuable?
Not always. Two links from the same publication can produce different results depending on factors such as quote placement, article topic, audience relevance, and how prominently your expertise is featured within the content.
5. What makes a HARO pitch stand out to journalists?
The best HARO pitches are usually direct, useful, and specific. Journalists often prefer expert insights that answer the question immediately, include real experience, and are written in a way that can be easily added to the article.
