Your brand could be making waves online right now—and you wouldn’t even know it.
Journalists, bloggers, and influencers might be dropping your name, but without a link, those mentions don’t drive traffic or boost your PR efforts. Unlinked mentions are everywhere, but unless you act on them, you're leaving valuable media exposure on the table.
Below you can find a short description of unlinked brand mentions and how to find unlinked mentions of your brand across the web. And how to use them to boost audience awareness and maximize backlink opportunities.
You can start monitoring mentions in Prowly right away (it’s free for 7 days!) or keep reading to learn more first.
Why unlinked mentions matter more than you think
There are probably many articles, posts, or threads on social media without direct links to your profile or website. All of these are chances you miss to bring people to your brand.
Unlinked mentions are like shout-outs that don't quite reach their destination. It's great that people are mentioning your brand on other websites, but they might not be bringing as much value as they could. And all of your online mentions are crucial in building your brand awareness, bringing in traffic, and boosting your SEO position.
Nevertheless, any time you find brand mentions of your brand, it is proof that people are talking about you and may advocate for your company. Track your brand mentions and analyze the sentiment around them. Learn what people are saying about you and what type of feeling it arouses.
Tracking unlinked mentions: getting started
To boost the benefits you get from any mentions of your brand, you should do your best to convert unlinked mentions. But how to do so?
Preparation
The first step to turning unlinked mentions into an asset is tracking them.
You can use free tools like Google Alerts, but these often don’t give enough detail. That’s where tools like Prowly come in, helping identify when a brand is mentioned across multiple channels, from articles and blogs to social media and beyond.
Tracking unlinked mentions: the traditional SEO approach
Step 1: Recognition
Identify brand mentions by using media monitoring tools (Prowly, Semrush, Brand24) by tracking mentions across the Internet. For those preferring a more hands-on approach, advanced Google search operators can often find mentions manually.
💡 Pro Tip: With Prowly you can track mentions both in online and offline media. And it is easier to find unlinked brand mentions if you are notified about new ones as they come in.
Step 2: Proper search
Focus on domain authority to find and prioritize valuable mentions.
Step 3: Analysis
Consider context. And remember that a well-placed mention in an industry-specific blog can be just as impactful, even without a link. Evaluate placing and its potential benefits.
Step 4: Contact
Reach out for backlinks. Claiming unlinked brand mentions should be direct but not too pushy. Avoid sending generic DMs like “Can you add a link to our website?”
Craft personalized, compelling emails explaining why a link will add value to their content.
Build relationships with journalists and publishers. Any type of contact with the media is an opportunity for successful press releases in the future or perhaps some behind-the-scenes insights.
How to find unlinked brand mentions with Prowly?
Use the Media Monitoring tool to set up specific search queries. Here's how:
1️⃣ Set up a search query. Create a query focused on your brand, keywords, a specific person, or even backlinks.
2️⃣ Define sources. Choose the sources you want to monitor, such as news, blogs, and discussions. For social media monitoring, Prowly lets you track mentions on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
3️⃣ Filter mentions. With Prowly you can segment results by sentiment, location, and post engagement.
4️⃣ Select keywords. Use the "Keywords" filter to narrow down mentions to specific terms, like your brand name or industry terms. You can also monitor misspellings of your brand name and other variations. For example, instead of Coca-Cola people often type Cocacola, coca cola, and etc.
5️⃣ Exclude irrelevant sites. Add links to social media profiles you want to exclude to refine your search and remove unwanted results.
💡 Extra Tip: Don't overlook traditional media when conducting your regular research! Be sure to check mentions in print magazines, radio programs, and television.
You can do this manually if you work for a small client, but to ensure you capture mentions nationally and internationally, consider using a tool that automates the process. That way, you'll never miss a mention—whether it's online or offline.
Combine online media monitoring with print and broadcast monitoring in Prowly to have mentions from both digital and traditional news sources at your fingertips—all in one place.
Common Mistakes to avoid when tracking unlinked mentions
1️⃣ Focusing on quantity over quality.
It's not like every new mention should be tracked down.
It is essential to prioritize the quality of the mentions over the volume. Keep in mind that not all mentions are equally valuable. For example, even unlinked mention by Forbes may mean much more than a linked one by too niche of a blog.So always assess the DA (preferably the DR as well) and relevance of the site or blog to determine which mentions are worth pursuing.
2️⃣ Falling into the trap of merely tracking mentions without taking any meaningful action.
So why bother?
It's essential to engage with journalists and bloggers instead of just observing. Use these mentions as opportunities to connect. Create relationships and transform them into valuable backlinks for your website. Don’t miss out on the chance to turn new unlinked mentions into long-lasting and powerful partnerships!
3️⃣ Generic, one-size-fits-all requests for a backlink are less likely to succeed.
Nobody wants to feel like everybody.
So, take your time to draft and send a personalized and thoughtful message that clearly explains how the content may benefit from linking. Tailoring your approach shows you that your goal is to deliver value, not just a to request a simple favor.
💡 Prowly's AI Assistant can help you craft email pitches that sound more personal and polished—no more writer’s block, no more generic copy. That means higher chances of securing a prime media spot (or a valuable backlink) for your client's brand (or yours!).
Why unlinked mentions are still valuable
Many say that backlinks are the most important piece of SEO.
But even without a link, being mentioned by a reputable source can work wonders for your brand. It helps establish your authority and raises awareness about your business. People may start searching for your brand, which can give your search rankings a nice little boost over time.
So don’t underestimate the power of these mentions—they can play a significant role in your overall online presence!
- Unlinked mentions may not include a direct link, but they are still valuable for SEO. When your brand is featured on trusted websites, it boosts visibility, drives search traffic, and lays the foundation for long-term SEO success.
- Beyond SEO, being mentioned by credible outlets helps build trust with your audience. Mentions on popular and respected platforms signal that your brand is relevant, authoritative, and well-regarded within your industry—making them a powerful asset for both visibility and reputation.
Turning unlinked mentions into PR Opportunities
Unlinked mentions are more than just SEO oversights. They're PR opportunities at your fingertips.
When a top-tier article mentions you without a link, reach out to the source. It's a chance to engage and potentially make a valuable connection.
Find unlinked mentions and maximize their PR potential
Here’s how to maximize unlinked mentions for PR:
- Engage directly and contact the writer. Start by thanking them for the mention and offer additional value. These could be new insights or extra materials. Show goodwill and create a bond to make future mentions or backlinks real.
- Show that you are proud of being mentioned. Share unlinked mentions on your social media to present the value of the mention. This will expand your brand’s reach as well. Even with unlinked brand mentions, you’re gaining visibility.
Unlinked mentions: how to stay ahead
Keeping track of unlinked mentions isn’t just about boosting your brand’s visibility.
It’s also a fantastic way to gain insights into your competition. Check where your competitors are mentioned and if they are linked. This way you can discover new places to promote your brand.
Moreover, once you find unlinked brand mentions, you can identify new media opportunities. If competitors are getting unlinked mentions by specific influencers, what about you? These could be valuable connections to explore.
Hence you are analyzing your competitors' brand mentions, you can spot their gaps and even benefit from them. Give yourself the chance to jump into and use these media/ profiles/ publications in your favor.
Converting unlinked mentions into backlinks
Once you’ve tracked unlinked mentions and assessed their value, it's time to convert them into backlinks. What is a top-secret approach once you detect unlinked brand mentions? Avoid sending generic messages. So what should you do? Craft personalized, thoughtful outreach that highlights the mutual benefits of adding a link. Show that you care.
What to do:
1️⃣ Make your outreach personal and provide context.
Explain exactly where and how your brand was mentioned and highlight how adding a link would improve the article or post for their readers. Do not assume that everyone is aware of unlinked mentions of your brand.
2️⃣ Go the extra mile!
Offer additional resources like research, insights, or expert commentary, that can enhance the content. This makes it more likely for the author to add your link because you're making their article even better.
3️⃣ Peace is always a good strategy. So take your time.
Building genuine relationships with media and bloggers takes time. Hence, focus on creating connections rather than just getting a link.
When is it better not to convert unlinked mentions of your brand?
While unlinked brand mentions can sometimes be valuable opportunities, there are moments when it’s best not to contact the authors.
These situations include:
- Negative mentions of your brand
- A site owner asking you to pay for linking your brand online.
- Private blog network (PBN).
- You find unlinked mentions on a site that is a part of a link farm.
Regarding point No. 2, you’d need to consider all the factors:
1️⃣ First, the domain authority (DA).
If it is high, it might be worth paying for the link. Just think about the cost. Can you afford it and will these unlinked brand mentions be a good investment for your company?
2️⃣ The context of the article that your link would appear.
Is it relevant to your niche? If the answer is no, keep the money in your pocket.
Unlinked brand mentions: all you need to know
Think of unlinked brand mentions as hidden ways to boost your brand. Do not let them slip by. Find unlinked mentions and use them in your favor.
Why bother finding unlinked brand mentions?
Because with them you can:
- improve your SEO by getting a link from a website that made unlinked mentions of your brand.
- drive your brand's visibility – even unlinked brand mentions are a way to find you.
- boost more traffic –all brand mentions have the power to catch user's interest.
How to turn unlinked brand mentions into backlinks
- reach out personally – remember that whenever you want unlinked mentions to become linked ones, be direct and chat with sources personally.
- add value – share extra resources, data, or expert insights to improve your content.
- think long-term – building connections with writers and bloggers pays off in the future, so be patient and focus on quality. It not only about tracking these unlinked mentions, it's about bonding.
So, start actively searching for those unlinked mentions. When you find unlinked brand mentions, see it as a chance to build authority, boost traffic, and turn simple mentions into valuable brand assets!
