Name the outcome accurately
If a review names your product without a link, you earned a mention. If it links to your documentation without naming the product in the surrounding copy, you have a link. A recommendation adds another judgment: the writer suggests you as a choice.
We would not convert all three into a single "authority" number. That hides what actually happened.
Evaluate the context
An accurate mention in a useful comparison may influence a buyer even when it sends no measurable referral visit. A link can make it easier to inspect the product details or continue a workflow.
Neither guarantees that an AI system will recommend the brand. Observing a page as an AI source only establishes what appeared for the question and date you checked.
When to ask for a link
Ask whether a destination helps the article's reader. Documentation supporting a technical statement, a pricing page supporting a comparison, or a product page identifying the tool can be sensible suggestions.
For example, a writer comparing calendar integrations might mention your product accurately but omit the integration documentation. Offering that documentation is a clearer request than asking for an exact-match anchor to improve your score.
Measure without inventing attribution
Keep mentions, links, recommendations, and referral visits separate. Customer surveys can add context, but people may discover a brand in one place and purchase through another route.
The Markdown idea that mentions matter "as much as" backlinks is too broad to accept as a universal rule. Their value depends on the audience, context, and action each makes possible. Choose coverage that helps a suitable buyer understand your business.