Unlinked mention
A place where another site names your brand, product, or content in text but does not hyperlink it, representing an easy link-reclamation opportunity.
Unlinked mentions happen all the time: a journalist references your company, a blogger quotes your study, or a forum names your product without linking. The author has already endorsed you editorially, so the only thing missing is the href. That makes them one of the highest-conversion link prospects available.
You find them by monitoring brand searches and alerts (tools like Ahrefs Content Explorer or Google Alerts surface new mentions), then sending a short, friendly note thanking the author and asking if they would add a link for readers' convenience. Keep the ask soft and helpful rather than demanding.
Not every mention is worth pursuing. Prioritize relevant, reputable pages, and recognize that some sites have a policy against adding links or simply won't respond. Converting even a fraction of mentions into links is a low-risk, fully editorial way to grow your profile.