Tracking down unlinked brand mentions is a quick and effective way to gain new backlinks, without the legwork of a new digital PR campaign. But, it isn’t always straightforward. In this blog, our experts share some of their favourite tips, tricks, and clever tools to make the process easier and more effective. So, let’s jump right in, how do you find unlinked brand mentions on the web?
There are a few ways to find unlinked brand mentions on the web. The most effective way is to utilise tools like Semrush and Ahrefs, which have built-in media monitoring features. For a low-cost alternative, you could also set up a Google Alert for your brand or campaign name – which will email you every time a mention appears.
Read on to learn more about media monitoring tools, a bonus section on how to find brand mentions in print, and why tracking down unlinked brand mentions is a great use of your marketing budget.
What Are Unlinked Brand Mentions?
Unlinked brand mentions are instances where your brand or company name is mentioned in online content, such as articles, blogs, or social media posts, without including a hyperlink to your website. Whilst it’s great to have your brand name featured in reputable publications or on popular platforms, the lack of a direct link means you miss out on significant SEO benefits.
Why are They Important?
Gaining media coverage or mentions can be one hell of challenging task in digital PR! It takes time and effort to build relationships with journalists, create a media list, pitch ideas, and ultimately secure visibility for your brand. However, the true value of a mention lies in its potential to drive traffic and improve your search engine rankings.
When your brand is mentioned without a link, its impact on your SEO is minimal, and it may also decrease your return on investment:
- Limited Actionability: Readers who see your brand name cannot easily navigate to your website, reducing the chances of generating traffic or conversions through your campaign.
- Missed Backlink Opportunities: Backlinks are crucial for SEO. Search engines like Google consider backlinks as endorsements of your content’s quality and authority (AKA, green flags), which can improve your rankings. Without a link, you’re missing out on this valuable ranking signal.
Learn more about the impact of backlinks on your SEO rankings in our recent blog: What Are Backlinks and Why Are They Important?
So, How Do You Find Brand Mentions Without a Link?
Every unlinked brand mention is a chance to strengthen your digital presence – so don’t let it go to waste. Here’s how you can keep track of brand mentions that don’t currently offer a backlink to your site:
Manual Search
Sometimes the simplest methods can work wonders! Start by conducting a Google search for your brand name, including variations, product names, or even key people associated with your company. Use search operators like:
- [Your Brand Name] -site:yourwebsite.com – This filters out results from your own website, helping you focus on external mentions.
Don’t forget to check the ‘News’ tab on Google for checking more timely stories – as they may not have had time to rank yet.
Pro Tip: Set aside time regularly for these searches so you can catch new mentions as they arise. I do this for some of my key clients just after checking my emails each morning!
SEO Tools (Semrush, Ahrefs, etc)
If budget allows, or if you have a subscription already, SEO tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs are your best friends for tracking mentions. Many of these platforms have dedicated “Brand Mentions” or “Mentions” tools that:
- Alert you whenever your brand is mentioned online
- Highlight whether the mention includes a backlink
- Allows you to quickly analyse the DA (Domain Authority) of the website mentioning you – so you can decide if its worth targeting or not
You can set up automated alerts, saving you time manually searching on each platform.
Google Alerts
Google Alerts is a free and easy way to monitor brand mentions. Simply create an alert for your brand name or other relevant keywords, and you’ll get notified via email whenever it’s mentioned online. To set up an alert:
- Go to Google Alerts
- Enter your brand name in the search bar (I would also add any key team members, or campaign/survey titles)
- Adjust settings for frequency and sources
- Receive mentions straight to your inbox
While Google Alerts is helpful, it’s not foolproof. In my experience, it sometimes misses mentions from smaller or less prominent sites, so ensure you use this in combination with one of the other methods outlined above.
BONUS – How To Find Brand Mentions in Print
Searching for your own brand name online is fairly easy with the right methods and tools, but how do you find where you’ve been mentioned in print publications without sifting through hundreds of magazines at your local newsagents? We’ve got you! Here are a few ways you can find where you’ve been mentioned in magazines or newspapers:
Press Clippings Services
Sometimes called a media monitoring tool, a clippings service is sort of like a Google alert but for all print publications. You simply pop in your brand or campaign name, and the clippings service will notify you if you get featured. Popular clippings services include:
Be aware – clippings services are quite expensive, especially for small businesses. You’re likely to end up paying over £5k a year.
Want To Share the Coverage?
You may also have to pay an annual license fee to NLA Media Access and one to the CLA (Copyright Licencing Agency) for the right to share the coverage, to avoid any copyright infringement.
Press Reader
Press Reader is a much cheaper alternative to traditional print media monitoring tools. It is a handy website that allows you to subscribe to thousands of popular magazines and newspapers – but all under one subscription. Plus, if you haven’t used it before, you can get a 7-day free trial.
But, a subscription doesn’t mean you have to search through every page of every paper you’ve been featured in! Press Reader has a handy search tool, which you can pop your brand or campaign name into to see if anything comes up.
Use a Library Card
If you’re lucky enough to know specifically which magazine or paper, and which issue you’ve been featured in, you can either purchase it outright from a local supermarket or newsagents, or, use an old-fashioned library card to access the magazine collection at your local library. This will allow you to grab a quick picture of the coverage to share with your client or team, without spending very much at all.
Strengthen Your Backlink Profile With Wildcat Digital
Tracking down unlinked brand mentions – whether online or in print – can unlock new opportunities for boosting your SEO. By turning those mentions into backlinks, you enhance your website’s authority, improve visibility, and drive more traffic.
At Wildcat Digital, we specialise in finding and converting unlinked brand mentions into high-quality backlinks that improve your rankings and drive results. Get in touch with our team of experts to start your journey today.
Jasmine Savery
SEO Account Manager
