Their value has risen sharply with AI answers. A model assembling a recommendation draws on how a brand is described across many independent sources, and consistency of description matters as much as frequency. Ten sources calling you "a Lyon-based technical SEO agency" build a clearer entity than ten sources describing you ten different ways.
For classic search, unlinked mentions still contribute to the corroboration that underpins trust signals, and they are frequently the by-product of the same work that earns links. When a campaign produces coverage without a link, it is worth asking for one — but it is not a wasted result.