What is HARO and How Does It Work for Backlinks?

Hi everyone, I recently come across the term HARO but I do not really understand what it is or how it works. Can someone explain it in simple terms? How do people use it for backlinks, and is it beginner friendly? Would appreciate any guidance or real experiences.

HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is basically a platform where journalists ask for expert quotes, and if your response gets picked, they mention you (often with a backlink) in their article. It’s simple in idea but takes effort—you sign up, get daily queries, reply with useful answers, and hope to get featured. It’s beginner-friendly, but success depends on writing quality responses and being consistent, not just sending random pitches.