What exactly are brand mentions?
How brand mentions impact AI search
Here’s the thing: generative engines (Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, Perplexity) lean on entity understanding. If your brand shows up often in credible contexts, the models build a stronger “entity profile” for you. That can mean better inclusion in summaries and source carousels.
Links still help rankings and authority in traditional search, but broad, consistent mentions strengthen your entity footprint. In short: mentions feed AI; links feed SEO. And you want both.
The unlinked mentions worth chasing
- Direct brand or domain references: “MeUp.com,” “MeUp,” or “meup com” in text.
- Named people: founders, execs, or subject-matter experts quoted without a link.
- Product names and feature callouts: product comparisons, listicles, roundups.
- Stolen or reused images: charts, original photos, graphics used without credit.
- Domain misspellings and variants: me-up.com, meaup.com, meupp.com – typos happen.
The benefits of turning mentions into links
- Easy win: the writer already referenced you; a link is a small ask
- Better rankings: relevant, contextual links from pages that already talk about you
- Sharper brand recognition across audiences and boosted SEO authority
- More referral visits from trusted sites
- Bullet-proofing your reputation from content theft or misattributions
Where and how to find unlinked brand mentions
Before you start pitching for links, you need a clean map of where your brand already shows up. The good news? You can surface most unlinked mentions with a few smart searches and filters.
Think of this like a quick scavenger hunt. We’re not guessing – we’re using Google’s own signals to spot where your brand is referenced but not linked.
You don’t need fancy software to get started. A short Google query, a couple of variations, and a time filter can reveal a surprising number of quick wins.
Find them with Google search
- Step 1: In Google, search: intext:”meup” (obviously, replace “meup” with your brand). Add -site: filters for platforms you want to exclude (e.g. -site:meup.com -site:linkedin.com -site:facebook.com -site:x.com -site:youtube.com)
- Step 2: Try variations: “meup.com“, “me up”, founder names, product names.
- Step 3: Use Tools > Time to filter by past month/quarter for fresh opportunities.
- Step 4: Check cached versions or View Source if the link is hidden via scripts.
Use Ahrefs’ Content Explorer
- Step 1: Search your brand, domain, and key people in Content Explorer.
- Step 2: Filter: Exclude your domain; set a DR/traffic threshold to avoid spam.
- Step 3: Export results; use the “Highlight unlinked domains” feature if available.
- Step 4: Prioritize pages with organic traffic and topical relevance.
- Quick tip: Set Alerts in Ahrefs for ongoing monitoring.
Catch domain misspellings
- Build a list of possible typos and variants using tools like DomainTypos, Namechk, or a quick spreadsheet brainstorm.
- Plug each variant into Google with intext: and -site filters.
Find stolen images with reverse image search
- Use Google Images: click the camera icon, upload your original, or paste its URL.
- For scale, use a watermark pattern or embed unique EXIF data in future assets.
- Outreach angle here is easy: request source credit with a link to the original page.
Tactics to turn mentions into links
- Digital PR: If the site is a news outlet or industry blog, reply with context. Offer a quick stat, a relevant quote, or a downloadable asset in exchange for proper attribution.
- HARO/Qwoted/Featured: Jump into conversations where journalists seek expert insights. It’s a natural way to get mentioned – and yes, linked!
- Reddit and forums: Engage genuinely where your brand or industry buzzes. If someone mentions your brand on a subreddit, don’t force a link. Join the conversation, add value, then politely share the resource.
- Relationship nudge: Build genuine connections with publishers, editors, and other link builders. If it’s a blogger you admire, suggest a content collab, or a resource update.
- Image credit play: “Happy you used our chart – could you add credit with a link to the original? It helps readers find the full context.”
Tiny note on prioritization
- Pages with organic traffic
- High topical relevance
- Reasonable authority (DR doesn’t rule everything, but it guides)
- Freshness (recent posts respond faster)
Final words
Unlinked mentions are like open tabs in the web’s memory – their job is half-finished. Close the loop with a polite request, a useful resource, and steady monitoring. You’ll earn links that make sense for humans and algorithms – and you’ll show up more often in the places that matter, including AI-generated summaries.
Your link building solution awaits!
MeUp gives you everything you need to scale your rankings efficiently – DIY or fully managed.