To turn unlinked mentions into backlinks, find pages that already write your site or brand name but do not link to it, then ask the author politely to add the link. These people already know you and chose to mention you, so the request is small. That makes it the easiest kind of link to earn.

An unlinked mention is any page that names your site, product or you as the author without a clickable link back.

  1. Search for your name. Type "YourBrand" -site:yoursite.com into Google. Try your domain name, your brand with and without spaces, and your author name.
  2. Open each result and check for a link. Press Ctrl+F and look for your name. Hover over it. If it is plain text, note the page.
  3. Skip the weak ones. Ignore spam pages, scraped copies and forum profiles. Keep real articles and resource pages.
  4. Find a contact. Look for an author box, a Contact page or the site's social profile.
  5. Send one short email. Thank them, point to the exact sentence, and suggest the URL that best helps their readers. One follow-up after a week is fine.

Copy-paste email

Subject: Thanks for mentioning {YourBrand}

Hi {Name},

Thanks for mentioning {YourBrand} in "{article title}". I really appreciate it.

If it helps your readers, the page you describe is here: {exact URL}.
A link on "{the words that mention us}" would let them find it in one click.

Either way, thanks again.
{Your name}

What to expect

Some site owners add the link within days, many never reply. A handful of yes answers from real pages is worth more than dozens of links you place yourself.

Don't

Don't offer money or a link swap for the link. Google's spam policies count paid links and excessive link exchanges as link spam.

Why it works

Most link requests go to strangers who owe you nothing. Here the writer already chose to talk about you, so adding a link is a tiny, helpful change for their readers. It is the opposite of the old shortcuts I used years ago, like copying competitors' backlinks with checkers, which mostly did not work.

Set aside 15 minutes a month to turn unlinked mentions into backlinks, and it becomes a steady, safe source of real links. Want more link ideas that follow the rules? Read how to get backlinks for your website, or start with the free directory list.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find unlinked mentions for free?

Use a Google search for your brand while excluding your own site, and set up a free Google Alert for your brand name to catch new mentions.

No. Asking politely is fine. What breaks the rules is paying for the link or trading links mainly to manipulate rankings.

Say thanks. A nofollow link still sends readers to you and is a natural part of any link profile.