How to Find Unlinked Brand Mentions and Boost Rankings

Have you seen your content plastered all over the internet, but you aren’t getting the credit?

Ready for a simple trick to turn those unlinked brand mentions into link-building gems?

 “Imagine seeing your brand name mentioned everywhere online, but without the recognition or the SEO benefits. Frustrating, right?

In this post we will show you how to turn casual name-drops into powerful backlinks. And since backlinks are a major Google ranking factor, every mention will help.

Get comfy because you‘re about to learn how to turn unlinked brand mentions into links, quickly, fast, and in a hurry.

Let’s get started

What is an Unlinked Brand Mention: And Are Unlinked Brand Mentions Important

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of finding unlinked brand mentions, let’s get white water clear on what they are.

Think of unlinked mentions as digital whispers. Those talking about your brand, products, or even key employees.  The downside is no one is telling you so those unlinked mentions live on without a backlink to your website. It’s like being the talk of the town and everyone knows it except you.

Now, you might wonder: “If Google already acknowledges brand mentions, why bother with links?” Great question! While it’s true that Google recognizes mentions, a backlink gives you link equity or link juice.

They serve as a primary off-page ranking signal, acting as votes of confidence for your website’s authority and credibility.

For instance, a study by Ahrefs found that the number of referring domains (unique websites linking to you) has a strong ranking correlation. So, every unlinked mention you convert into a backlink is like adding another cheerleader to your SEO squad!

The Benefits of Converting Unlinked Mentions

Now that you know what unlinked mentions are, here’s why you should convert them.

Imagine being at a digital event, there’s a buzz about your brand but you’re missing out on converting the buzz into benefits.

Converting these mentions into backlinks can:

1. More mention equals more referrals and traffic to your website: Links give readers a direct path to learn more about your brand.

2. Mentions add to your authority and credibility: Each backlink is a digital thumbs-up.

3. We all know that Google loves backlinks. Relevant, high-quality backlinks can help your search engine results pages (SERPs).

Unlinked Mentions Tools and How to Use Them

Now that step #1 is out of the way, now on to: “How to find these elusive mentions?” No worries, we got you.

Here’s your digital brand mentions detective kit:

1. Google Alerts: This old faithful has been around for decades and is still worth its weight in gold. Google will scour the internet listening for your brand. All you need to do is set up alerts to include your product, brand, and whatever mentions you prefer.

Google Alerts, Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Go to Google Alerts: Go to https://www.google.com/alerts
2. Set up Your Alerts: In the search box at the top, enter the desired mentions you want to track.
3. Customize and Save: Click the “Show Options” dropdown to refine your alert (frequency, sources, language, region, etc.). Once you’re satisfied, click “Create Alert.” You ‘must sign in to your Google account to save your alerts.

Repeat this process for each term. Google will now send you email notifications whenever it finds new mentions of your specified terms across the web.

1. SEMrush and BuzzSumo: These powerhouse tools help you discover mentions across social media and web platforms. They’re like having x-ray vision for your online presence.
2. Moz’s Fresh Web Explorer: This tool tracks mentions of your brand and can find new opportunities. It’s like the metal detector your brand mentions.

For more advanced SEO strategies and tools, check out our guide on high-page rank backlinks. It’s packed with insights to take your link-building game to the next level.

Maximize Every Mention Opportunity Leave No Stone Unturned

You never want to miss any mentions opportunities, you would hate to miss that digital marketer with  5 million followers… OUH!! 

Follow these 3 tips to expand your search:

1. Use brand name variations: For example, if your brand is “PyTalkBiz,” also search “Py Talk Biz” or “Py Talk Business” as well.
2. Include products, services, and key personnel: Always include your flagship products or charismatic CEO – they might be getting mentioned too!
3. People make errors. check for misspellings or alternative spellings.

Prioritizing Mentions for Outreach: Quality Over Quantity

 To make the most of your time and effort, use these three ways to prioritize:

1. Website authority: Use metrics like Domain Authority (DA) from Moz or Domain Rating (DR) from Ahrefs to gauge a site’s overall SEO strength. The higher the score the greater the value.
2. Relevance: Focus on relevant industry and audience. Industry-related content is more valuable than one from unrelated sources.
3. Recency: Newer mentions are easier to convert because they are fresh in the author’s mind

“While we often focus on the number of links, quality also plays a vital role. It’s like basketball – you don’t need to be 7 feet tall to be a star. Moocy Bowls proves that.”

To get more insights on optimizing your digital marketing, check out our guide on performance marketing optimization.

Simple Outreach Strategies: The Art of the Ask

What to do next?  –  Time to turn mentions into valuable backlinks. Don’t feel like a beggar you’re offering a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Four steps to craft an outreach strategy that gets results:

1. Find the Contact Person:  A good place to look is on social media networks. LinkedIn or site-specific searches can be goldmines for email addresses.
2. Craft Your Email: Your outreach email should be polite, concise, and highlight the mutual benefit. Provide context on why linking to your site adds value to their readers.
3. Personalize: Show that you’ve read their content. Mention something specific you enjoyed or found insightful.
4. Offer Value: Can you provide more information, an expert quote, or even offer to update any outdated information in their article?

Key, you’re building relationships, not just asking for links. You want to approach each outreach prospect as the beginning of a potentially long-term relationship.

Related Reading: 5 ways to improve business efficiency.

Example Outreach Template: Your Blueprint for Success

Here’s a template to get you started, but remember to personalize it for each outreach:

Subject: Quick Update Request for [Article Title]

Hi [Name],

I hope I am catching you at a good time. I’m [Deborah Pretty] from [PYTalkBiz], and I recently came across your fantastic article “[5 Benefits to Building Brands]”.

I was excited to see you mention our article [How to Find Unlinked Brand Mentions and Boost Rankings] – thank you for the shout-out!

I particularly enjoyed your insights on [ When using unlinked mentions to build links you’re looking for etc]. It resonated with us.

Can you do me a huge favor? Would you add a link to our website where you mentioned us? It will give your readers easy access to more information and resources related to [topic].

Here’s the link for your reference: [Link Building for Small Businesses: [10 Proven Strategies]

As a token of our appreciation, we’d be happy to [offer something of value – e.g., provide an exclusive quote, share the article on our social media, etc.].

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Remember, the key is to make it personal, provide value, and make it easy for them to add the link.

For more advanced AI-powered market research tools that can help you identify potential outreach targets, check out our guide on [high page rank backlinks]

Tracking and Following Up: The Fortune is in the Follow-Up

Your outreach efforts don’t end when you hit “send.” Tracking and follow-up are crucial steps in the process:

1. Know When to Fold: After 2-3 follow-ups and no response, it’s time to move on.

2. Track Your Emails: Use tools like Mailtrack or Yesware to check if your emails are opened and links are clicked. This insight can help you refine your approach.

3. The Magic Follow-Up: Waiting for feedback is like watching paint dry. But wait about 7 days. After that, do a gentle nudge.  Send a polite follow-up email. Sometimes, a reminder is all it takes.

Be Patient but Persistent: Remember, people are busy. It might take a couple of attempts to get their attention.

Metrics and Measuring: The Proof is in the Pudding

If it’s worth making it’s worth measuring. OK, I made that one up 🤣but you know what I’m saying.

Measure your efforts, here’s what you’re looking for:

1. The Acquired Number of Backlinks:  How many unlinked mentions did you successfully convert into backlinks?
2. SEO Improved Rankings: Check keywords or phrases. Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs.
3. Increased Referral Traffic: View Google Analytics for any traffic spikes from the sites where you’ve acquired new links.
4. DA Increase: With consistent link building, you should see your DA improve over time.

Easier said than done but try not to get discouraged. Changes are you won’t see immediate results. But consistency is key!

For more insights on automating your business processes, including SEO tracking, check out our guide on, small business automation tips.

FAQ

1. When using unlinked mentions to build links; what are you looking for?

You’re looking for brand mentions of your brand name without a hyperlink back to your website.

2. How to find brand mentions without links?

The easiest way to find brand mentions without links is to use tools like Google Alerts, social media monitoring platforms, and specialized SEO tools. They work differently but are designed to be your digital eyes and ears. They scour the web for your brand name.

3. How do I turn unlinked brand mentions into links?

Turning unlinked brand mentions into links is all about outreach. You have to contact site owners to ask for a link back.  This can be completed via well-crafted emails.

Conclusion:

Now you have the tools and knowledge to turn those unlinked brand mentions into powerful backlinks. The main key is about building business alliances or relationships.  

Each outreach is an opportunity to connect with someone in your industry and provide value.

Key pointers to keep in mind:

• Be consistent: Make finding and converting unlinked mentions a regular part of your SEO strategy.
• Stay organized: Keep track of your efforts and results to refine your approach over time.
• Provide value: Always focus on how adding a link helps the other website and its readers.
• Remain patient but persistent: Building a backlink profile takes time but it’s worth the effort.

So go forth and claim those unlinked mentions. Your improved search rankings await!

For more advanced AI-powered tools that can help streamline your SEO efforts, including finding and converting unlinked mentions, check out our guides on the best AI productivity tools and AI in content marketing.

Keep learning, experimenting, and growing. Your unlinked mentions are out there, your job is to find and transform them into valuable backlinks.

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