{"id":191698,"date":"2025-10-03T07:55:28","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T12:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?p=191698"},"modified":"2025-12-14T09:01:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T14:01:21","slug":"audit-brand-mentions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Audit Brand Mentions for Modern SEO"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/p><div class=\"intro-txt\">Brand mentions are to AI search what backlinks are to traditional SEO. Links tell Google who to trust; mentions tell AI systems who you&nbsp;are.<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<p>Auditing your brand\u2019s mentions is how you uncover:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How the public sees your&nbsp;brand<\/li>\n<li>What misinformation might be feeding AI systems<\/li>\n<li>Which topics and entities are most strongly connected to&nbsp;you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Think of it as <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/backlink-audit\/\">backlink auditing<\/a> for the AI era. Instead of just analyzing links, you\u2019re digging into the narratives and contexts that shape how both search engines and AI models present your&nbsp;brand.<\/p>\n<h2><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\"> What are brand mentions for SEO? (And why they matter)&nbsp;<\/div><\/div><a id=\"post-191698-_rdgp2mssi97\"><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>A brand mention is any online reference to your company, product, or employees, whether or not it includes a clickable link. It could be your brand name in a news article, a product discussed in a Reddit thread, or an executive quoted in an industry roundup.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"404\" class=\"wp-image-191699\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle.png\" alt=\"Example of an unlinked brand mention for NerdWallet.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle.png 740w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle-680x371.png 680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\"><\/p>\n<p>Backlinks remain the backbone of SEO. But mentions are becoming just as important for both traditional and AI search.<\/p>\n<p>AI search systems don\u2019t just check for links. They analyze the context, frequency, and sentiment of brand mentions to decide how and when your brand should be mentioned in responses.<\/p>\n<p>That makes mentions a critical signal in modern SEO, shaping both search rankings and AI-generated responses. Auditing them reveals opportunities a backlink check alone would miss. Here\u2019s how to do&nbsp;that.<\/p>\n<h2><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\"> 1. Benchmark existing brand mentions and web visibility&nbsp;<\/div><\/div><\/h2>\n<p>The first step in a brand mention audit is setting a baseline. Before you can improve, you need to know how your brand (and its products, sub-brands, or key people) is currently being referenced online.<\/p>\n<p>Tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/brand-radar\">Brand Radar<\/a> make this straightforward. In the <strong>Overview<\/strong> &gt; <strong>Web Pages<\/strong> tab, search for your brand and record key metrics, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Number of unique pages mentioning you<\/li>\n<li>Estimated organic traffic to those&nbsp;pages<\/li>\n<li>How many referring domains link to those&nbsp;pages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1153\" height=\"882\" class=\"wp-image-191700\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-web-visibility-graph-in-brand-radar-indica.png\" alt=\"Ahrefs' Web visibility graph in Brand Radar indicating total web pages, organic traffic and referring domains.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-web-visibility-graph-in-brand-radar-indica.png 1153w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-web-visibility-graph-in-brand-radar-indica-556x425.png 556w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-web-visibility-graph-in-brand-radar-indica-768x587.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1153px) 100vw, 1153px\"><\/p>\n<p>From there, compare cumulative and month-by-month data.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1153\" height=\"882\" class=\"wp-image-191701\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/switching-between-monthly-and-cumulative-views-in.png\" alt=\"Switching between monthly and cumulative views in Ahrefs' Web visibility report in Brand Radar\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/switching-between-monthly-and-cumulative-views-in.png 1153w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/switching-between-monthly-and-cumulative-views-in-556x425.png 556w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/switching-between-monthly-and-cumulative-views-in-768x587.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1153px) 100vw, 1153px\"><\/p>\n<p>This lets&nbsp;you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Track your mention acquisition rate (similar to link velocity in backlink audits)<\/li>\n<li>Correlate spikes in mentions with marketing campaigns, product launches, or PR events<\/li>\n<li>Identify long-term growth or decline trends in visibility<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A strong benchmark gives you a baseline for measuring future progress and a clearer picture of how your brand is actually perceived online.<\/p>\n<h2><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\"> 2. Spot how your web mentions impact AI results&nbsp;<\/div><\/div><\/h2>\n<p>AI search is probabilistic, meaning that it reflects the dominant language patterns it finds across sources. The way your brand is described online directly influences how AI systems describe you in answers.<\/p>\n<p>In Brand Radar, you can check out the <strong>Web pages<\/strong> report to find all mentions of your brand online.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-192130\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/identifying-all-the-places-around-the-web-that-men.png\" alt=\"Identifying all the places around the web that mention your brand name in Ahrefs' Brand Radar, using the Web Pages report.\" width=\"1133\" height=\"702\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/identifying-all-the-places-around-the-web-that-men.png 1133w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/identifying-all-the-places-around-the-web-that-men-680x421.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/identifying-all-the-places-around-the-web-that-men-768x476.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1133px) 100vw, 1133px\"><\/p>\n<p>You can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/help.ahrefs.com\/en\/articles\/1159204-how-to-use-search-operators-within-the-search-query-of-content-explorer\">advanced search operators<\/a> to filter the data however you&nbsp;like.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1048\" height=\"1426\" class=\"wp-image-191703\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-advanced-search-operators.png\" alt=\"Ahrefs' advanced search operators\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-advanced-search-operators.png 1048w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-advanced-search-operators-312x425.png 312w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-advanced-search-operators-768x1045.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1048px) 100vw, 1048px\"><\/p>\n<p>I prefer to remove mentions on my website and filter only to show mentions that also discuss my core topics.<\/p>\n<p>When reviewing your brand mentions around the web, ask yourself questions like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>What is the predominant sentiment?<\/strong> Are most mentions positive, negative, or neutral?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Which brand elements show up most often?<\/strong> Do sub-brands, executives, or signature frameworks get more attention than the main&nbsp;brand?<\/li>\n<li><strong>What types of publications mention you?<\/strong> News sites, industry blogs, community forums, or social platforms?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Which formats generate stronger mentions?<\/strong> Case studies, product comparisons, thought-leadership articles, etc.?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Which topics are you most often paired with?<\/strong> What other entities or themes consistently appear alongside your&nbsp;brand?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do mentions align with performance lifts?<\/strong> For example, do spikes in mentions correlate with traffic, rankings, or AI response visibility?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By asking these questions, you\u2019ll see not just who is mentioning you, but how those mentions shape the narratives AI search platforms are most likely to surface and include in their responses.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"post-191698-_uk3k7y73qnvd\"><\/a><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\"> 3. Discover lost mentions that may drop your search visibility&nbsp;<\/div><\/div><\/h2>\n<p>Much like backlinks, mentions aren\u2019t permanent. They can disappear when publishers update content, redesign pages, or prune old posts. Sometimes, your brand is even replaced by a competitor.<\/p>\n<p>Because both search engines and AI systems rely on a steady stream of references, losing valuable mentions can weaken your visibility over&nbsp;time.<\/p>\n<p>To monitor and recover lost mentions, check them on a frequent schedule.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, you can run exports quarterly using the <strong>Publication date<\/strong> filter:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"552\" height=\"670\" class=\"wp-image-191704\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/publication-date-filter-in-ahrefs-web-pages-repor.png\" alt=\"Publication date filter in Ahrefs' Web pages report in Brand Radar\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/publication-date-filter-in-ahrefs-web-pages-repor.png 552w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/publication-date-filter-in-ahrefs-web-pages-repor-350x425.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 552px) 100vw, 552px\"><\/p>\n<p>Every time you make an export, add it to a simple spreadsheet or pivot table to help you keep track. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1O8NZ2MwLjz3g9nTV0gXsAxOCUFaMcT1GFhWoJ_t6uMk\/copy\">make a copy of this template<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Add your exported data to columns B\u2013H, ensuring they are aligned correctly. Then manually fill in the date in column A.<\/p>\n<p>Every quarter, repeat this process and paste the latest data at the end. After a few entries, the pivot table will look something like&nbsp;this:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"873\" height=\"449\" class=\"wp-image-191705\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/brand-mentions-tracker-for-spotting-lost-mentions.png\" alt=\"Brand mentions tracker for spotting lost mentions over time.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/brand-mentions-tracker-for-spotting-lost-mentions.png 873w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/brand-mentions-tracker-for-spotting-lost-mentions-680x350.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/brand-mentions-tracker-for-spotting-lost-mentions-768x395.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 873px) 100vw, 873px\"><\/p>\n<p>I like to highlight the empty cells so I can more easily see when mentions drop off over time. Then, verify what changed.<\/p>\n<p>You can use tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/\">Wayback Machine<\/a> or Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/academy\/how-to-use-ahrefs\/site-explorer\/page-inspect\">Page Inspect <\/a>to compare pages with lost mentions and assess what changed.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1055\" class=\"wp-image-191706\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-page-inspect-tool-showing-changes-in-web-c.jpg\" alt=\"Ahrefs' Page Inspect tool showing changes in web content.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-page-inspect-tool-showing-changes-in-web-c.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-page-inspect-tool-showing-changes-in-web-c-680x350.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-page-inspect-tool-showing-changes-in-web-c-768x396.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ahrefs-page-inspect-tool-showing-changes-in-web-c-1536x791.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/p>\n<p>Then, prioritize the mentions you can likely recover or that are on high-traffic, authoritative pages.<\/p>\n<p>Reach out to the publisher and see if you can reclaim the lost mention.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"post-191698-_gh5qo5havw4a\"><\/a><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\"> 4. Identify opportunities to improve existing mentions and&nbsp;links&nbsp;<\/div><\/div><\/h2>\n<p>Not all mentions work equally hard for your brand. Some are too shallow, generic, or poorly framed to strengthen your brand\u2019s authority. Examples of weak mentions include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Generic anchor text (e.g., \u201cclick here\u201d) instead of branded terms<\/li>\n<li>Links to your site without your brand mentioned nearby<\/li>\n<li>References buried low on the page or outside the main content<\/li>\n<li>Mentions with negative or neutral sentiment<\/li>\n<li>Very short, passing mentions that don\u2019t establish a strong context<\/li>\n<li>Mentions on pages with little or no real traffic (these still count, but a healthy profile should include mentions on visible, authoritative sources too)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For every weak mention, decide if there\u2019s an opportunity to improve it.<\/p>\n<p>You can use our <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/link-prospecting\/\">link prospecting process<\/a> for this. For every promising mention you think you can improve, add it to a prospect list (feel free to use <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1XjXJvVKqzdIs5lR9RKLEVk_ClpVSBaE2z9bBpmWTYk0\/copy\">this template<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1146\" height=\"253\" class=\"wp-image-191707\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-ahrefs-link-prospecting-template.png\" alt=\"Example of Ahrefs' link prospecting template\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-ahrefs-link-prospecting-template.png 1146w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-ahrefs-link-prospecting-template-680x150.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-ahrefs-link-prospecting-template-768x170.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1146px) 100vw, 1146px\"><\/p>\n<p>Then, reach out to the publisher.<\/p>\n<p>Tailor your outreach to the situation. For instance, suggest a branded anchor instead of generic text, or see if they\u2019ll be open to mentioning your brand alongside an existing link.<\/p>\n<h2><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\"> 5. Fix potential misinformation about your brand before it spreads&nbsp;<\/div><\/div><\/h2>\n<p>AI systems often rely on language patterns from across the web. That means if the data is wrong, the answers will be, too. Common issues include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-often-do-ai-assistants-hallucinate-links\/\">Hallucinated URLs<\/a> on your site that don\u2019t&nbsp;exist<\/li>\n<li>Inaccurate claims from UGC sites like Reddit, repeated as&nbsp;fact<\/li>\n<li>Mentions on low-quality sites that misrepresent your&nbsp;brand<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In isolation, these are not a big issue. Taken altogether, these can add up to a negative pattern over time, influencing responses about your&nbsp;brand.<\/p>\n<p>When misinformation takes hold, it not only risks confusing users but also trains AI systems to describe your brand inaccurately.<\/p>\n<p>To fix this, start with any assets you control or have access to, and update them immediately. For instance, if some old directory listings or business citations have outdated information, log in and update them.<\/p>\n<p>If some content on your website is unclear, edit it. For example, I noticed AI responses were frequently hallucinating about Ahrefs\u2019 Multilingual SEO Matrix. I wrote about it <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/llms-flatten-originality\/#:~:text=While%20writing%20a,it%20looks%C2%A0like%3A\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>After discovering this issue, I updated the post with clearer content, properly defining the matrix as a standalone concept. Now Google prioritizes our post in the AI response, citation, and organic position one.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1282\" height=\"1106\" class=\"wp-image-191708\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/google-results-for-ahrefs-multilingual-seo-matrix.png\" alt=\"Google results for Ahrefs' multilingual SEO matrix indicating multiple mentions and a citation in the AI Overview, as well as ranking in position one organically.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/google-results-for-ahrefs-multilingual-seo-matrix.png 1282w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/google-results-for-ahrefs-multilingual-seo-matrix-493x425.png 493w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/google-results-for-ahrefs-multilingual-seo-matrix-768x663.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1282px) 100vw, 1282px\"><\/p>\n<p>If the asset is external, try outreach to the publisher and request that they correct the misinformation in their content.<\/p>\n<p>In severe cases (such as deliberate misinformation or negative SEO campaigns), legal action may be necessary to protect your&nbsp;brand.<\/p>\n<h2><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\"> 6. Find gaps against competitors and emulate their best web mentions&nbsp;<\/div><\/div><\/h2>\n<p>Auditing your own mentions is only half the picture. To see where you\u2019re falling behind, you\u2019ll also need to compare your visibility to competitors.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re unsure who your top competitors are when it comes to AI search, you can try out the AI suggestion feature in Brand&nbsp;Radar:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"891\" height=\"130\" class=\"wp-image-191709\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/using-the-ai-suggest-feature-to-populate-competito.png\" alt=\"Using the AI suggest feature to populate competitors in Ahrefs' Brand Radar.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/using-the-ai-suggest-feature-to-populate-competito.png 891w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/using-the-ai-suggest-feature-to-populate-competito-680x99.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/using-the-ai-suggest-feature-to-populate-competito-768x112.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 891px) 100vw, 891px\"><\/p>\n<p>Then, benchmark your competitors\u2019 mentions using the same metrics you tracked for your brand in step one above (unique pages, traffic, referring domains, acquisition rate,&nbsp;etc.).<\/p>\n<p>To find gaps in web mentions, I like to search each competitor individually. In the <strong>Web pages<\/strong> report, I use the filters to remove mentions on their own websites and then export the results.<\/p>\n<p>Then I use a similar spreadsheet template as Step 3 (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1cJTZgE98QxBSgJo47Vct_bhUcaNx-ePct0Q1ZiLzK0w\/copy\">make a copy here<\/a>). The only difference is adding each brand\u2019s name in column A in the Raw Data&nbsp;tab.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what that will look like once you\u2019ve added data for some&nbsp;sites:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"607\" height=\"611\" class=\"wp-image-191710\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-to-find-webpages-that-mentions-competitors-but.png\" alt=\"How to find webpages that mentions competitors but not you.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-to-find-webpages-that-mentions-competitors-but.png 607w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-to-find-webpages-that-mentions-competitors-but-422x425.png 422w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-to-find-webpages-that-mentions-competitors-but-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 607px) 100vw, 607px\"><\/p>\n<p>The empty cells indicate gaps in web mentions. Start by looking for posts that mention multiple competitors but not you. These are likely to be your quick&nbsp;wins.<\/p>\n<p>Then, dig into how competitors secured their strongest mentions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Content formats<\/strong>: Are their mentions tied to blog posts, case studies, or original research that you could replicate in your own&nbsp;niche?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Publications<\/strong>: Do certain sites or authors reference them repeatedly? Building relationships with the same outlets could open doors for&nbsp;you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Campaigns<\/strong>: Did a product launch, viral idea, or signature framework drive a wave of mentions? Understanding these triggers can inform your own marketing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Outreach channels<\/strong>: Guest posts, partnerships, or collaborative content may be fueling their visibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By reverse engineering competitor mentions, you go beyond closing gaps. You also discover which strategies are most effective in your industry and how to adapt them for your own&nbsp;brand.<\/p>\n<h2><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\"> 7. Leverage untapped opportunities to get an edge against competitors&nbsp;<\/div><\/div><\/h2>\n<p>Competitors can show you what\u2019s already working, but the biggest gains often come from finding opportunities they haven\u2019t tapped into&nbsp;yet.<\/p>\n<p>In Brand Radar, you can start by running a topic search.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"925\" height=\"124\" class=\"wp-image-191711\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/using-ahrefs-brand-radar-to-search-for-a-specific.png\" alt=\"Using Ahrefs' Brand Radar to search for a specific topic.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/using-ahrefs-brand-radar-to-search-for-a-specific.png 925w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/using-ahrefs-brand-radar-to-search-for-a-specific-680x91.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/using-ahrefs-brand-radar-to-search-for-a-specific-768x103.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 925px) 100vw, 925px\"><\/p>\n<p>Then, in the <strong>Web pages<\/strong> report, use the search operators to remove pages that mention your brand and any competitors already. For example, you can try combinations of&nbsp;these:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Remove mentions on a specific site<\/strong>: -site:specificsite.com<\/li>\n<li><strong>Remove brand mentions<\/strong>: -\u201dbrand\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Filter pages strongly linked to the topic: <\/strong>inurl:topic-name or title:topic name<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You\u2019ll be left with a list of neutral pages that may be worth reaching out to and securing links and mentions within. Go through each one and assess whether the website is authoritative and if there\u2019s a natural place you can insert a brand mention.<\/p>\n<p>Each good candidate goes into your <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1XjXJvVKqzdIs5lR9RKLEVk_ClpVSBaE2z9bBpmWTYk0\/copy\">outreach prospecting list<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Even a small number of these neutral, high-visibility mentions can tilt AI responses and search results in your favor, especially if competitors haven\u2019t discovered them&nbsp;yet.<\/p>\n<h2><div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\"> 8. Monitor new mentions over time and report to stakeholders&nbsp;<\/div><\/div><\/h2>\n<p>Brand mentions on the web fluctuate as campaigns launch, websites evolve, and competitors gain traction. To keep your strategy current, set up a system for ongoing monitoring and reporting.<\/p>\n<p>Every month:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Use alerts<\/strong>: For example, set up Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/alerts\">Mentions Alerts<\/a> to catch new references to your&nbsp;brand.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Review each mention<\/strong>: Decide if action is needed, like outreach to add a link, correcting misinformation, or strengthening weak mentions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Track mention velocity<\/strong>: Are web mentions increasing, stable, or declining? Are newer mentions stronger, more positive, and reaching better audiences?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Every quarter:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Benchmark against competitors<\/strong>: Spot new tactics they\u2019re using or uncover rising players gaining buzz.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Identify new opportunities<\/strong>: Discover emerging publications or partnerships with writers and influencers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Summarize insights<\/strong>: Report key insights to stakeholders, and log action items into a project management tool like&nbsp;Asana.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This steady cadence ensures you\u2019re not just reacting to mentions, but actively shaping the narrative around your brand and keeping leadership informed of both progress and opportunities.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"post-191698-_45hqoky45vy2\"><\/a>Final thoughts<\/h2>\n<p>Backlink audits helped define SEO\u2019s past, but brand mentions are shaping its future.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to AI search, every reference to your brand (whether linked or not) contributes to how algorithms perceive authority and relevance. By auditing mentions with the same rigor you once reserved for backlinks, you gain visibility into the narratives, contexts, and signals that influence both rankings and AI-generated responses.<\/p>\n<p>Treat mentions as an essential layer of SEO, and you\u2019ll stay ahead of competitors that are still optimizing for yesterday\u2019s search landscape.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Auditing your brand\u2019s mentions is how you uncover: How the public sees your&nbsp;brand What misinformation might be feeding AI systems Which topics and entities are most strongly connected to&nbsp;you Think of it as backlink auditing for the AI era. Instead<span class=\"ellipsis\">\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more \u203a<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":195,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[469,335,76],"tags":[],"coauthors":[458],"class_list":["post-191698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ai-search","category-general-seo","category-link-building","odd"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Audit Brand Mentions for Modern SEO<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how to audit brand mentions across the web to correct misinformation, reclaim lost links and find outreach opportunities.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Audit Brand Mentions for Modern SEO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover how to audit brand mentions across the web to correct misinformation, reclaim lost links and find outreach opportunities.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SEO Blog by Ahrefs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Ahrefs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-03T12:55:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-14T14:01:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"740\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"404\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Despina Gavoyannis\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ahrefs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ahrefs\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Despina Gavoyannis\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/143d08bacfea1ed0736d76ad138ce704\"},\"headline\":\"How to Audit Brand Mentions for Modern SEO\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-03T12:55:28+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-14T14:01:21+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/\"},\"wordCount\":2157,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-to-audit-brand-mentions-for-by-despina-gavoyannis-ai-search.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"AI Search\",\"General SEO\",\"Link Building\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/\",\"name\":\"How to Audit Brand Mentions for Modern SEO\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-03T12:55:28+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-14T14:01:21+00:00\",\"description\":\"Discover how to audit brand mentions across the web to correct misinformation, reclaim lost links and find outreach opportunities.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle.png\",\"width\":740,\"height\":404,\"caption\":\"Example of an unlinked brand mention for NerdWallet.\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"SEO Blog by Ahrefs\",\"description\":\"Link Building Strategies &amp; SEO Tips\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Ahrefs\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ahrefs-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ahrefs-logo.png\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":768,\"caption\":\"Ahrefs\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Ahrefs\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/ahrefs\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/ahrefs\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/ahrefscom\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/143d08bacfea1ed0736d76ad138ce704\",\"name\":\"Despina Gavoyannis\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Despina-Gavoyannis-scaled.jpg18160744e97f916a45416ab6ccdfe2c0\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Despina-Gavoyannis-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Despina-Gavoyannis-scaled.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Despina Gavoyannis\"},\"description\":\"Despina Gavoyannis is a Senior SEO Specialist at Ahrefs, a leading marketing platform for search, AI, and beyond. She has worked in SEO for over 10 years, specializing in revenue-driven strategies and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including UX designers, developers, and marketers.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/despina-gavoyannis\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/author\/despina-gavoyannis\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Audit Brand Mentions for Modern SEO","description":"Discover how to audit brand mentions across the web to correct misinformation, reclaim lost links and find outreach opportunities.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Audit Brand Mentions for Modern SEO","og_description":"Discover how to audit brand mentions across the web to correct misinformation, reclaim lost links and find outreach opportunities.","og_url":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/","og_site_name":"SEO Blog by Ahrefs","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Ahrefs\/","article_published_time":"2025-10-03T12:55:28+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-12-14T14:01:21+00:00","og_image":[{"width":740,"height":404,"url":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Despina Gavoyannis","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ahrefs","twitter_site":"@ahrefs","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/"},"author":{"name":"Despina Gavoyannis","@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/143d08bacfea1ed0736d76ad138ce704"},"headline":"How to Audit Brand Mentions for Modern SEO","datePublished":"2025-10-03T12:55:28+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-14T14:01:21+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/"},"wordCount":2157,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-to-audit-brand-mentions-for-by-despina-gavoyannis-ai-search.jpg","articleSection":["AI Search","General SEO","Link Building"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/","url":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/","name":"How to Audit Brand Mentions for Modern SEO","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle.png","datePublished":"2025-10-03T12:55:28+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-14T14:01:21+00:00","description":"Discover how to audit brand mentions across the web to correct misinformation, reclaim lost links and find outreach opportunities.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/audit-brand-mentions\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/example-of-an-unlinked-brand-mention-for-nerdwalle.png","width":740,"height":404,"caption":"Example of an unlinked brand mention for NerdWallet."},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/","name":"SEO Blog by Ahrefs","description":"Link Building Strategies &amp; SEO Tips","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Ahrefs","url":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ahrefs-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ahrefs-logo.png","width":2048,"height":768,"caption":"Ahrefs"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Ahrefs\/","https:\/\/x.com\/ahrefs","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/ahrefs\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/ahrefscom"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/143d08bacfea1ed0736d76ad138ce704","name":"Despina Gavoyannis","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Despina-Gavoyannis-scaled.jpg18160744e97f916a45416ab6ccdfe2c0","url":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Despina-Gavoyannis-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Despina-Gavoyannis-scaled.jpg","caption":"Despina Gavoyannis"},"description":"Despina Gavoyannis is a Senior SEO Specialist at Ahrefs, a leading marketing platform for search, AI, and beyond. She has worked in SEO for over 10 years, specializing in revenue-driven strategies and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including UX designers, developers, and marketers.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/despina-gavoyannis\/"],"url":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/author\/despina-gavoyannis\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191698","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=191698"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/191698\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=191698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=191698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=191698"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=191698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}