{"id":16264,"date":"2026-08-19T12:46:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T12:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T12:46:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T12:46:16","slug":"brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/","title":{"rendered":"Brand Mentions in 2026: How to Earn and Track Them Across the Web"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You can have an impressive website, great content, and a seamless user experience.<\/p>\n<p>But you might still be invisible to search engines and AI tools.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s because Google and ChatGPT don\u2019t just look at your website. They also look at what other credible sources say about your brand to understand who you are and whether they should rank or recommend you.<\/p>\n<p>Every time a trusted publication, community, or expert mentions your brand, it builds credibility for your business.<\/p>\n<p>In this guide, I\u2019ll cover why brand mentions matter in more detail, and I\u2019ll give you four ways to earn more high-value mentions to boost your visibility.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll also show how to track these mentions and report ROI to leadership.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#What_Are_Brand_Mentions\" >What Are Brand Mentions?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#Web_vs_LLM_Brand_Mentions\" >Web vs. LLM Brand Mentions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#Why_Brand_Mentions_Matter_Now_More_Than_Ever\" >Why Brand Mentions Matter Now More Than Ever<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#They_Signal_Authority_to_Search_Engines\" >They Signal Authority to Search Engines<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#They_Expand_Your_Visibility_to_New_Audiences\" >They Expand Your Visibility to New Audiences<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#They_Help_LLMs_Understand_and_Feature_Your_Brand\" >They Help LLMs Understand and Feature Your Brand<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#What_Makes_a_Good_Brand_Mention\" >What Makes a Good Brand Mention?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#Authority\" >Authority<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#Relevance\" >Relevance<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#4_Tactics_to_Earn_Valuable_Brand_Mentions\" >4 Tactics to Earn Valuable Brand Mentions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#1_Create_Data-Driven_Citable_Content\" >1. Create Data-Driven, Citable Content<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#How_to_Do_This_for_Your_Brand\" >How to Do This for Your Brand<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#2_Partner_With_Complementary_Brands_on_Co-Created_Assets\" >2. Partner With Complementary Brands on Co-Created Assets<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#How_to_Do_This_for_Your_Brand-2\" >How to Do This for Your Brand<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#3_Feature_Other_Brands_and_Experts_in_Your_Content\" >3. Feature Other Brands and Experts in Your Content<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#How_to_Do_This_for_Your_Brand-3\" >How to Do This for Your Brand<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#4_Contribute_Subject_Matter_Expertise_Through_Digital_PR\" >4. Contribute Subject Matter Expertise Through Digital PR<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#How_to_Do_This_for_Your_Brand-4\" >How to Do This for Your Brand<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#How_to_Track_and_Report_on_Brand_Mentions\" >How to Track and Report on Brand Mentions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#Google_Alerts_and_Manual_Searches\" >Google Alerts and Manual Searches<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#How_to_Report_This\" >How to Report This<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#Social_Listening_Tools\" >Social Listening Tools<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#How_to_Report_This-2\" >How to Report This<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#Backlink_and_Mention_Monitoring_Tools\" >Backlink and Mention Monitoring Tools<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#How_to_Report_This-3\" >How to Report This<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/19\/brand-mentions-in-2026-how-to-earn-and-track-them-across-the-web\/#Make_Your_Brand_Impossible_to_Ignore_with_Strategic_Mentions\" >Make Your Brand Impossible to Ignore with Strategic Mentions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_Brand_Mentions\"><\/span>What Are Brand Mentions?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A brand mention is any reference to your brand by a third party. It could be in an article, a community thread, a YouTube video, a podcast, or anywhere else online.<\/p>\n<p>You can build two main kinds of brand mentions: linked and unlinked mentions.<\/p>\n<p>Linked mentions include a clickable link to your website along with your brand name. For example, this article mentions Fitbit <strong>and<\/strong> links out to the brand\u2019s product page.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"NY Times \u2013 Best fitness trackers\" alt=\"NY Times \u2013 Best fitness trackers\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.88615384615385\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/nytimes-best-fitness-trackers.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Unlinked mentions refer to your brand without any links. For example, this Reddit user mentions Fitbit but doesn\u2019t add any links to the brand\u2019s website.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Reddit \u2013 Fitbit unlinked mention\" alt=\"Reddit \u2013 Fitbit unlinked mention\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.25714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/reddit-fitbit-unlinked-mention.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p><strong>The key difference:<\/strong> Linked mentions can pass authority and referral traffic to your domain. Unlinked mentions help establish brand context for search engines and AI systems, without the direct traffic benefit. Both are useful.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Web_vs_LLM_Brand_Mentions\"><\/span>Web vs. LLM Brand Mentions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Brand mentions on the web aren\u2019t the same as getting brand mentions in AI search. Like when ChatGPT mentions your brand in its response to a user\u2019s question.<\/p>\n<p>For starters, LLM mentions vary for individual users based on their personal context, browsing history, and other factors. And they don\u2019t exist outside of those conversations \u2014 nobody else sees those specific mentions.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, a web mention is static and shows up the same way to potentially thousands of users.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Web vs LLM brand mentions\" alt=\"Web vs LLM brand mentions\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.78285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/web-vs-llm-brand-mentions.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Getting mentions in AI responses is more like the goal, while getting brand mentions across the web is one of the ways you can reach that goal. Since the more consistently you appear in trusted, relevant sources, the more likely you are to show up in <a title=\"How to Rank in AI Search (New Strategy &amp; Framework)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/ai-search-strategy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI search<\/a> results.<\/p>\n<p>So in this guide, we\u2019re focusing on web brand mentions. For more on getting mentions in LLMs specifically, check out <a title=\"AI Mentions: How to Get LLMs to Mention Your Brand\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/blog\/ai-mentions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this article on building AI mentions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Brand_Mentions_Matter_Now_More_Than_Ever\"><\/span>Why Brand Mentions Matter Now More Than Ever<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Brand mentions have always played a part in gaining online visibility. But here\u2019s why they matter even more right now:<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"They_Signal_Authority_to_Search_Engines\"><\/span>They Signal Authority to Search Engines<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a title=\"How Do Search Engines Work? (Quick Guide for Beginners)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/how-search-engines-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Search engines<\/a> evaluate your brand in part based on what the wider web says about you.<\/p>\n<p>They consider who mentions you, in what context, and whether those mentions are consistent.<\/p>\n<p>For example, Google recognizes brands as distinct entities in its <a title=\"Google Knowledge Graph: What it is &amp; why it matters\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/blog\/knowledge-graph\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Knowledge Graph<\/a>, a database that maps relationships between people, companies, topics, and concepts.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Knowledge graph\" alt=\"Knowledge graph\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.73\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/knowledge-graph.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Brand mentions are one of the primary ways Google builds and refines that entity-level understanding of your brand.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"They_Expand_Your_Visibility_to_New_Audiences\"><\/span>They Expand Your Visibility to New Audiences<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>When a website, podcast, or community thread references your brand, you become visible to a whole new audience.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s how brand mentions can help you reach people who aren\u2019t actively looking for you.<\/p>\n<p>Take this video by The Budget Dermatologist as an example.<\/p>\n<p>The video recommends better-value alternatives to a well-known skincare product. It mentions a brand called Timeless and explains why it\u2019s a good alternative.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"YouTube \u2013 The budget dermatologist video\" alt=\"YouTube \u2013 The budget dermatologist video\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.47\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/youtube-the-budget-dermatologist-video.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>In the comments, people share how they purchased Timeless after discovering the brand through this video.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"The budget dermatologist \u2013 Video comments\" alt=\"The budget dermatologist \u2013 Video comments\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.0657142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/the-budget-dermatologist-video-comments.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>In this example, the brand mentions in the video can provide useful signals for search engines and LLMs, while also influencing purchases from an audience the brand might not be directly targeting.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"They_Help_LLMs_Understand_and_Feature_Your_Brand\"><\/span>They Help LLMs Understand and Feature Your Brand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>When LLMs recommend your brand, they\u2019re largely drawing on language from trusted sources where your brand is mentioned across the web.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s proof of this in action:<\/p>\n<p>An article on the Six Minute Mile website describes the Adidas Adizero Evo SL with wording like \u201celite-level performance in a lightweight, no-frills package\u201d and saying they\u2019re ideal for \u201cworkouts and long runs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When Claude talks about the same shoe, the LLMs describe it in almost identical terms.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Claude describing running shoes\" alt=\"Claude describing running shoes\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.76\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/claude-describing-running-shoes.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>So, brand mentions on websites can be repeated almost word for word by AI tools in their responses to users.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Makes_a_Good_Brand_Mention\"><\/span>What Makes a Good Brand Mention?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Three factors determine the quality of a brand mention: authority, relevance, and specificity.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"What makes a good brand mention\" alt=\"What makes a good brand mention\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.66714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/what-makes-a-good-brand-mention.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Authority\"><\/span>Authority<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Authority<\/strong> refers to the credibility of the source where you\u2019re mentioned.<\/p>\n<p>Being mentioned in highly credible sources matters because:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It shows up in places your customers are likely to be looking<\/li>\n<li>AI systems and search engines may put more weight on mentions from these sources<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A feature in a trusted industry publication sends a stronger signal than a vague reference on a low-traffic blog with no topical relevance.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at two good examples of high-authority mentions for SteelSeries, a gaming accessories brand.<\/p>\n<p>This brand was mentioned in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wirecutter article:<\/strong> Highly credible website with in-depth reviews<\/li>\n<li><strong>IGN\u2019s YouTube video:<\/strong> Popular channel with high topical relevance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Brand mentions for authority\" alt=\"Brand mentions for authority\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.62428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/brand-mentions-for-authority.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Relevance\"><\/span>Relevance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Relevance<\/strong> for brand mentions works on two levels:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Context:<\/strong> Are you mentioned in the relevant topical context?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Source:<\/strong> Is the source that\u2019s mentioning you also connected to your industry?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019re mentioned in an article covering a theme you want to be known for, it strengthens your topical authority.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also important that the source where you\u2019re mentioned is also relevant to your industry.<\/p>\n<p>Reformation, a fashion brand, represents a great example of this.<\/p>\n<p>The brand is mentioned in articles on outfit ideas and sustainable fashion \u2014 themes that align with its positioning. Both these mentions also come from fashion-centric publications.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Brand mentions for relevance\" alt=\"Brand mentions for relevance\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.67714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/brand-mentions-for-relevance.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Specificity<\/p>\n<p><strong>Specificity<\/strong> is the third critical aspect for the quality of brand mentions.<\/p>\n<p>A genuinely helpful mention shares specific insights like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Who you are<\/li>\n<li>What you do best<\/li>\n<li>Why customers should choose you over others<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That\u2019s exactly what this Reddit post does for Descript, a video editing tool:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Reddit \u2013 Descript post\" alt=\"Reddit \u2013 Descript post\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.56428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/reddit-descript-post.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>The post discusses the tool\u2019s standout features and specific use cases.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, search engines and AI systems get clear, usable signals about what Descript does and what it\u2019s best for. These kinds of brand mentions help them understand when and where to rank or recommend Descript to users.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Tactics_to_Earn_Valuable_Brand_Mentions\"><\/span>4 Tactics to Earn Valuable Brand Mentions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Now that we know how brand mentions can benefit your business, let\u2019s turn to the bigger question: How do you earn brand mentions consistently to reap all these rewards?<\/p>\n<p>Here are four tactics for building brand mentions regardless of where you\u2019re starting from.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Create_Data-Driven_Citable_Content\"><\/span>1. Create Data-Driven, Citable Content<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Original research is one of the most reliable ways to earn brand mentions. And it keeps working long after you hit publish.<\/p>\n<p>When you present original research around a question your industry is actively debating, mentioning your brand becomes the only way to cite that data.<\/p>\n<p>SparkToro research, in partnership with Datos, presents a great case study here.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"New Research: Search Happens Everywhere; an Analysis of 41 Websites with Significant Search Activity - SparkToro\" href=\"https:\/\/sparktoro.com\/blog\/new-research-search-happens-everywhere-an-analysis-of-41-websites-with-significant-search-activity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The research<\/a> answered a question that is hotly debated in the SEO community right now: what share of searches happens on Google compared to other platforms?<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"SparkToro \u2013 Search happens everywhere\" alt=\"SparkToro \u2013 Search happens everywhere\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.77\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/sparktoro-search-happens-everywhere.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>The key finding was that Google still accounts for just under 74% of searches, while ChatGPT has less than 3% share. This counterintuitive finding gave SEOs and marketers evidence to anchor their arguments.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, practitioners cited this study and mentioned Sparktoro across multiple platforms, including news articles and Reddit threads.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"SparkToro research mentions\" alt=\"SparkToro research mentions\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.6157142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/sparktoro-research-mentions.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>(A bonus of this method is that you also often pick up <a title=\"7 Strategies to Get High Quality Backlinks\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/high-quality-backlinks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">quality backlinks<\/a>, too.)<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Do_This_for_Your_Brand\"><\/span>How to Do This for Your Brand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>First, go where your audience actively discusses their concerns and queries. This could be Reddit threads, industry Slack groups, and even your own sales calls.<\/p>\n<p>Look for the questions that keep coming up in these conversations, but for which there\u2019s no evidence-backed answer. This is the question you\u2019re going to answer with your research.<\/p>\n<p>You can conduct research in a few different ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Run a survey:<\/strong> Works best when you have an existing audience or customer base to poll<\/li>\n<li><strong>Build an index:<\/strong> Works best when you have proprietary platform or product data that others can\u2019t access<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conduct a controlled experiment:<\/strong> Works best when you can isolate a single variable and document it repeatably<\/li>\n<li><strong>Synthesize third-party datasets:<\/strong> Works best when public data exists but hasn\u2019t been combined or reframed in a useful way<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before you hit publish, work backward and think about what would make your research asset easy for anyone to reference.<\/p>\n<p>Asana\u2019s State of AI at Work report is a great example of packaging original research well for citations.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s break down why it\u2019s so easy to cite:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Standalone headline:<\/strong> Find one specific insight or data point that summarizes your research. Asana leads with a striking one: <em>Organizations aren\u2019t fixing broken work; they are automating the chaos<\/em>.<br \/>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot mt-1 backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Asana \u2013 State of AI work \u2013 Headline\" alt=\"Asana \u2013 State of AI work \u2013 Headline\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.62857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/asana-state-of-ai-work-headline.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Section-level findings:<\/strong> Each chapter or section should have its own quotable claims. Asana\u2019s report has five chapters, each focused on one theme with key insights around it.<br \/>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot mt-1 backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Asana \u2013 State of AI work \u2013 Sections\" alt=\"Asana \u2013 State of AI work \u2013 Sections\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.37\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/asana-state-of-ai-work-sections.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clear methodology:<\/strong> Your approach and sample size tell people how to attribute your research, like, \u201caccording to a survey of 300 B2B marketers.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thanks to this structure, Asana\u2019s research data is easy to reference.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, it has earned brand mentions from news outlets, industry publications, and LinkedIn users.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Asana \u2013 Brand mentions\" alt=\"Asana \u2013 Brand mentions\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.8985714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/asana-brand-mentions.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>The report also gained 87 linked mentions from domains ranging from trade press to high-authority industry blogs.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"State of AI work \u2013 Backlinks\" alt=\"State of AI work \u2013 Backlinks\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.95428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/state-of-ai-work-backlinks.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Make your visuals easy to share. If your data is easy to screenshot, people can organically share the research and mention your brand.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Partner_With_Complementary_Brands_on_Co-Created_Assets\"><\/span>2. Partner With Complementary Brands on Co-Created Assets<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When two or more brands build a campaign together, every conversation about it mentions the brands involved in the same context.<\/p>\n<p>AEO Conf 2026, co-hosted by Graphite, AirOps, and Webflow, shows how this plays out in practice.<\/p>\n<p>This campaign brought together three complementary brands in the AI and web publishing space. Each brand serves a different slice of the same target audience.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"AEO Conference\" alt=\"AEO Conference\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.76285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/aeo-conference.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Before the event, promotional posts from speakers and brand profiles generated mentions and visibility among each other\u2019s audiences.<\/p>\n<p>That meant that people who followed only one of these brands discovered the other two.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"AEO Conference \u2013 Promotion\" alt=\"AEO Conference \u2013 Promotion\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.6661538461538\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/aeo-conference-promotion.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>After the event, attendees posted recaps sharing their key takeaways from the conference. And each of these posts mentioned Graphite, AirOps, and Webflow together.<\/p>\n<p>When the same brands are repeatedly mentioned together across independent sources, like in this case, LLMs start to associate them with the same topic.<\/p>\n<p>This is called co-occurrence, and it\u2019s one of the ways web mentions translate into LLM visibility.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Do_This_for_Your_Brand-2\"><\/span>How to Do This for Your Brand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Aside from hosting in-person events, you can also create co-branded giveaway campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>They generate a high volume of brand mentions quickly in two ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Audience participation<\/li>\n<li>Press coverage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Plus, a strategic PR push can generate more authoritative brand mentions beyond social media.<\/p>\n<p>Poppi\u2019s partnership with PopUp Bagels shows how this is done. The two brands co-created a limited-edition cream cheese flavor.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Instagram \u2013 PopUp Bagels\" alt=\"Instagram \u2013 PopUp Bagels\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.76142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/instagram-popupbagels.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Creators and customers then posted about it on social media, tagging both brands.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Google SERP \u2013 Poppi &amp; PopUp Bagles short videos\" alt=\"Google SERP \u2013 Poppi &amp; PopUp Bagles short videos\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.1557142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/google-serp-poppi-popupbagles-short-videos.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>The brands also ran PR around the launch. News outlets covered this campaign directly, creating high-quality mentions for each brand.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Yahoo \u2013 PopUp Bagles article\" alt=\"Yahoo \u2013 PopUp Bagles article\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.96461538461538\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/yahoo-popupbagles-article.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Feature_Other_Brands_and_Experts_in_Your_Content\"><\/span>3. Feature Other Brands and Experts in Your Content<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When you feature an expert or a brand in your content, they have a reason to share it with their audience. That earns you a brand mention and visibility in a community you didn\u2019t originally show up in.<\/p>\n<p>Slate, a platform designed for social media managers, nailed this through multiple interviews with Zaria Parvez, a leading voice in this space.<\/p>\n<p>The brand first posted about a webinar highlighting Zaria\u2019s insights.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to their long-term relationship, Zaria also shared a snippet of another interview she did with Slate. This post went out to her audience of 150,000+ LinkedIn followers, creating a high-value mention for the brand.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"LinkedIn \u2013 Zaria Parvez &amp; Slate collaboration\" alt=\"LinkedIn \u2013 Zaria Parvez &amp; Slate collaboration\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.0542857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/linkedin-zaria-parvez-slate-collaboration.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Do_This_for_Your_Brand-3\"><\/span>How to Do This for Your Brand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>You can feature experts and brands in your content in a few different ways.<\/p>\n<p>For starters, <strong>expert roundups<\/strong> are great for curating firsthand expertise from multiple contributors.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to pick a theme where your audience really needs expert insights, like our guide on <a title=\"How to Choose a Digital Marketing Agency That Actually Delivers\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/choose-a-marketing-agency\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">choosing a digital marketing agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This piece features insights and advice from experienced marketing leaders for one specific question: how to choose a good marketing agency.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Backlinko \u2013 Choose a marketing agency \u2013 Expert quote\" alt=\"Backlinko \u2013 Choose a marketing agency \u2013 Expert quote\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.94571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/backlinko-choose-a-marketing-agency-expert-quote.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Benchmark reports<\/strong> are another good format for featuring experts.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of just presenting data, invite experts to add their commentary and contextualize why the findings matter.<\/p>\n<p>That context makes the report more useful. And it gives each contributor a reason to share it because their perspective is part of the story.<\/p>\n<p>I found a great example of this in G2\u2019s State of AI Sales Intelligence in Prospecting.<\/p>\n<p>The report features experts from nine companies, including ZoomInfo, Cognism, and 6sense.<\/p>\n<p>Each contributor shares practitioner-level insight to explain G2\u2019s findings.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"G2 \u2013 AI sales intelligence in prospecting\" alt=\"G2 \u2013 AI sales intelligence in prospecting\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.1171428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/g2-ai-sales-intelligence-in-prospecting.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Interview series and podcasts<\/strong> work well because the format gives guests more room to demonstrate their expertise.<\/p>\n<p>And when your content reflects someone\u2019s expertise, they\u2019re more likely to share it with their audience.<\/p>\n<p>Klue, a competitive intelligence platform, takes this approach with their podcast \u201cCoffee and Compete.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Every episode is titled after the guest\u2019s expertise.<\/p>\n<p>For example, \u201cStarting Your Win-Loss Program w\/ Dylan D\u2019Urso\u201d is framed as an episode about Dylan\u2019s expertise.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"The Compete Network \u2013 Coffee &amp; Compete podcast\" alt=\"The Compete Network \u2013 Coffee &amp; Compete podcast\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.32142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/thecompetenetwork-coffee-compete-podcast.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>As a result, Dylan shares the premise of his episode and mentions Klue organically.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"LinkedIn \u2013 Dylan D\u2019Urso post\" alt=\"LinkedIn \u2013 Dylan D&apos;Urso post\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.49846153846154\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/linkedin-dylan-durso-post.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>What matters across all these formats is how you feature each contributor.<\/p>\n<p>A one-line quote buried in a list gives someone little reason to share your content. But a feature that genuinely puts the expert\u2019s insight at the center of your piece makes it easier for them to want to share it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Make it easy for contributors to share your content. Send them a ready-made asset, such as a pull-quote graphic or a short clip, that they can post directly on their socials.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Contribute_Subject_Matter_Expertise_Through_Digital_PR\"><\/span>4. Contribute Subject Matter Expertise Through Digital PR<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Contributing your expertise to someone else\u2019s platform is another great way to earn high-value brand mentions.<\/p>\n<p>When a credible journalist quotes you or a creator interviews you and talks about your brand, your brand mention benefits from that outlet\u2019s credibility.<\/p>\n<p>An example of this comes from Kailey Bradt, CEO of Sonsie Skin, appearing on the Shopify Masters podcast.<\/p>\n<p>Her brand was mentioned in the YouTube video description, chapter markers, show notes, and the Shopify blog. These are all useful potential sources for search engines and AI tools to pull from to understand what your brand does.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Kailey Bradt \u2013 Shopify interview\" alt=\"Kailey Bradt \u2013 Shopify interview\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.6728571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/kailey-bradt-shopify-interview.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Do_This_for_Your_Brand-4\"><\/span>How to Do This for Your Brand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>When pitching your expertise to any outlet, offer something genuinely useful to their audience, like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A counterintuitive finding<\/li>\n<li>A practitioner\u2019s take on an emerging trend<\/li>\n<li>A specific framework that challenges the status quo<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For example, Ryan Anderson, CEO of Filevine, shared a specific practitioner playbook on the SaaStr podcast.<\/p>\n<p>This brand mention comes from sharing what SaaStr\u2019s audience wants to learn rather than what Filevine sells.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Spotify \u2013 SaaStr podcast\" alt=\"Spotify \u2013 SaaStr podcast\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.77142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/spotify-saastr-podcast.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Remember that the outlet you pitch matters as much as your angle.<\/p>\n<p>Chasing the biggest publications in your industry might not always be the right move.<\/p>\n<p>A smaller, highly relevant outlet that your audience actively engages with can be just as effective (and sometimes more so).<\/p>\n<p>Before pitching, map where your audience actually goes for information: whether that\u2019s podcasts, publications, YouTube channels, or other similar channels.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Dive deeper:<\/strong> <a title=\"Audience Research: Stop Guessing What Your Buyers Care About\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/audience-research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Audience Research: Stop Guessing What Your Buyers Care About<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Natalie Marcotullio, Head of Growth and Product Marketing at Navattic, provides a good example here.<\/p>\n<p>She consistently shows up on specific channels that her audience (B2B SaaS marketers and PMMs) relies on, like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In-person conferences like Above the Fold<\/li>\n<li>YouTube channels like Product Marketing Adventures<\/li>\n<li>Webinars and content assets with Navattic\u2019s complementary brands<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Each placement reached the same audience through a different context. And each one generated a high-value brand mention for Navattic.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"LinkedIn events \u2013 Navattic\" alt=\"LinkedIn events \u2013 Navattic\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.82285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/linkedin-events-navattic.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Track_and_Report_on_Brand_Mentions\"><\/span>How to Track and Report on Brand Mentions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To build a repeatable strategy for brand mentions that actually improve your online visibility, you need to know:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Which tactics are paying off<\/li>\n<li>Where you\u2019re losing ground against competitors<\/li>\n<li>How your brand mentions lead to business outcomes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at three methods for tracking brand mentions across the web and in AI search.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll also show you how to report on each one to present meaningful findings to your leadership team.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Google_Alerts_and_Manual_Searches\"><\/span>Google Alerts and Manual Searches<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Google Alerts is the simplest place to start \u2014 and it\u2019s free.<\/p>\n<p>Go to <a title=\"Google Alerts - Monitor the Web for interesting new content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/alerts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Alerts<\/a> and set up alerts for your brand name, including common misspellings, your product names, executive names, and your top competitors.<\/p>\n<p>Set the frequency to \u201cAt most once a day\u201d so you get a single daily digest instead of a constant stream of emails.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Google Alerts \u2013 Semrush \u2013 Create alert\" alt=\"Google Alerts \u2013 Semrush \u2013 Create alert\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.94428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/google-alerts-semrush-create-alert.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>An important note: Google Alerts can miss many mentions.<\/p>\n<p>The tool may not reliably pick up community forums, subreddits, or niche industry publications.<\/p>\n<p>So, supplement these daily reports with a weekly manual pass. Search your brand name across Google News, relevant subreddits, and YouTube to catch what slips through.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Report_This\"><\/span>How to Report This<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Use Google Alerts data to track how many mentions you\u2019re picking up each week or month, and note which sources and contexts are driving them.<\/p>\n<p>Keep a separate list of your highest-authority placements.<\/p>\n<p>A simple monthly summary might read: \u201cThis month we earned [X] brand mentions across [channels]. The highest-authority placement was [source], which reaches an estimated [audience size] monthly readers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That gives stakeholders a consistent number to track over time.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, it creates a story about where your brand is showing up rather than how often.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Social_Listening_Tools\"><\/span>Social Listening Tools<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you want to understand where and how your brand is mentioned, you need a social media monitoring tool.<\/p>\n<p>Tools like <a title=\"Semrush \u2013 Brand Monitoring\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/apps\/brand-monitoring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Semrush Brand Monitoring<\/a>, Brandwatch, or Mention track conversations across social networks, forums, blogs, news sites, and review platforms.<\/p>\n<p>They give you context like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What people are saying about you<\/li>\n<li>Whether the tone is positive or negative<\/li>\n<li>How your presence compares to competitors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With the Semrush Brand Monitoring app, you can filter brand mentions by keywords, sentiments, source (blog, social media, etc.), language, and other criteria.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Brand Monitoring \u2013 Sandals Resorts\" alt=\"Brand Monitoring \u2013 Sandals Resorts\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.85\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/brand-monitoring-sandals-resorts.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Report_This-2\"><\/span>How to Report This<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Use social listening data to build a monthly summary of core metrics such as mention volume, sentiment, and source breakdown.<\/p>\n<p>Your report could present insights like: \u201cThis month we earned [X] brand mentions across [channels]. [Y%] of mentions carried positive sentiment, with the highest concentration coming from [blogs\/forums\/social].\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you ran a campaign during the reporting period, flag whether mention volume spiked and whether sentiment shifted alongside it to show how your work contributed to those results.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Dive deeper:<\/strong> See how your brand\u2019s mention volume compares with competitors over time by <a title=\"How to Calculate Share of Voice (+ Why it Matters for SEO)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/share-of-voice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tracking your share of voice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Backlink_and_Mention_Monitoring_Tools\"><\/span>Backlink and Mention Monitoring Tools<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Use a tool like Semrush to track when new pages link to your brand.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Backlink Tool: Check Backlinks for Any Website | Semrush\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/analytics\/backlinks\/backlinks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Semrush\u2019s Backlinks tool<\/a> shows which pages link to your site. But not all of these are brand mentions, since some links might use non-branded anchor text.<\/p>\n<p>To find backlinks that are also brand mentions, filter the results by anchor text.<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201c<strong>Add filter<\/strong>,\u201d select \u201c<strong>Anchor<\/strong>,\u201d and enter your brand name.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Backlink Analytics \u2013 Petlibro \u2013 Anchor filter\" alt=\"Backlink Analytics \u2013 Petlibro \u2013 Anchor filter\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.39857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/backlink-analytics-petlibro-anchor-filter.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>This will show you only the backlinks where your brand name is in the anchor text.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Backlink Analytics \u2013 Petlibro \u2013 Backlinks\" alt=\"Backlink Analytics \u2013 Petlibro \u2013 Backlinks\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.97\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/backlink-analytics-petlibro-backlinks.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Report_This-3\"><\/span>How to Report This<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Focus on two things when reporting this data:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The authority of the sites mentioning you<\/li>\n<li>The diversity of your mention sources<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A mention from a single high-authority publication is valuable. But a pattern of mentions across many credible sites can have a stronger impact on your AI search visibility.<\/p>\n<p>A useful way to frame this in reporting is something like: \u201cThis quarter, we earned [X] new mentions across [Y] unique domains, including [list two or three notable ones].\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Make_Your_Brand_Impossible_to_Ignore_with_Strategic_Mentions\"><\/span>Make Your Brand Impossible to Ignore with Strategic Mentions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Brand mentions have always been a signal of trust.<\/p>\n<p>When you show up consistently in trusted publications, expert roundups, and community conversations, search engines and AI tools learn to recognize and recommend you in the right context.<\/p>\n<p>But the optimization process doesn\u2019t stop there. Our <a title=\"AI Optimization: How to Rank in AI Search (+ Checklist)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/ai-optimization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI optimization guide<\/a> shares more tactical advice on how to show up consistently in AI search.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/brand-mentions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brand Mentions in 2026: How to Earn and Track Them Across the Web<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backlinko<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You can have an impressive website, great content, and a seamless user experience. But you might still be invisible to search engines and AI tools. That\u2019s because Google and ChatGPT don\u2019t just look at your website. They also look at what other credible sources say about your brand to understand who you are and whether they should rank or recommend you. Every time a trusted publication, community, or expert mentions your brand, it builds credibility for your business. In this guide, I\u2019ll cover why brand mentions [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backlinko"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/nytimes-best-fitness-trackers-ECw2Dp-600x400.png","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/nytimes-best-fitness-trackers-ECw2Dp-600x600.png","author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/craig\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16264\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}