Comments on: Why You Don’t Need that Link to Get the SEO Benefit from an Online Name Drop: The Power of Linkless Mentions

By: Brian Kindsvater

Brian Kindsvater — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 22:14:54 +0000

“linkless mentions aren’t more important than links or anything. Just know they’re one signal of many that the search engines are taking into account.”

Virginia, no has suggested a mention is more important, as important, or anywhere close to as important as an actual link.

My question is: what evidence is there that a mention is a ranking signal? Please point me to any study showing the ranking of any site improved due to a linkless mention.

It’s a bold statement to state something is a ranking signal. I’m looking for something to back it up.

Bottom line: I visit this site instead of others because of perceived credibility. The E-A-T that is mentioned. But this article caught my attention due to the ranking signal claim. I’m wondering if part of it should be withdrawn? There are plenty of benefits mentioned in the article I agree with, but I’d like to see more about the basis for stating not just Google, but “many” of the search engines are using mentions as part of their algorithms. Thanks.

By: Jeff Moyer

Jeff Moyer — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 20:41:06 +0000

I am also finding that linkless mentions are having a positive impact on some of my clients websites. They won’t have the same power as backlinks obviously but they will be yet another search factor Google takes into account. Great article!

By: Virginia Nussey

Virginia Nussey — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 16:40:49 +0000

In reply to Daniel Law. Daniel, I couldn't agree with you more. This article has been understood by some as claiming that linkless mentions are on par with links, and they're not. But Duane's making the novel point here that mentions have value themselves, too. Priorities are critical, of course.

By: Virginia Nussey

Virginia Nussey — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 16:33:36 +0000

In reply to Tanya Dlabaj. Glad it was eye-opening, Tanya!

By: Tanya Dlabaj

Tanya Dlabaj — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 13:16:10 +0000

Mentions without links make perfect sense. I will be incorporating this in my strategy moving forward. Thank you for this valuable information.

By: Daniel Law

Daniel Law — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 10:18:26 +0000

In the long-term, linkless mentions will likely increase in providing more value from a ranking perspective. However, at the moment, while it’s important to secure linkless mentions via online PR, establishing quality links should always be one of the top priorities for any online brand.

By: Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 16:51:57 +0000

I wonder how accurately the search engines can discern which entity is being referred to when there are two or more companies/brands existing with a similar name but in different markets/industries? Take my company for example, selling printer cartridges under the trademarked brand ‘Ink Factory’, but if you Google the term ‘ink factory’ you will see a number of other sites in different markets.

Now Google the term ‘inkfactory.com’ and you’ll see Google is still wondering if you might have meant one of those others.

Granted, we’re not a big brand name, but we’ve been online since 1999, first as theinkfactory.co.uk and later switching to inkfactory.com in 2003 (when we had the chance to secure that domain). If Google can be this unsure about whether people really mean inkfactory.com even when they literally type that in the search box, I don’t have much confidence that they will attribute any relevant mention of ‘Ink Factory’ to us.

I should add that for the most part we have our trademark as our username on Twitter, Facebook and even Google+, so there should be no confusion – but there clearly is.

Would be interested in other opinions on this?

By: Don Peterson

Don Peterson — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 14:47:05 +0000

I never thought of linkless mentions as having SEO value. A well-reasoned post on the subject!

By: Hussain Omar

Hussain Omar — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 13:37:46 +0000

Hey Duane,

Informative post!
It has been noticed that these sites that has brand searches, gain more authority. So, it seems reasonable. Thanks for spotting the light on this underestimated signal!

By: Christian

Christian — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 21:10:57 +0000

I new that mentions of a business was relevant in more less gorilla marketing, word of mouth more less but never realized that it had value in the serps for adding authority to a site. Great post!