How And Why To Use Trackbacks
Filed in Building Traffic (Blogging 201)
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Recently, Donna B. asked:
I was wondering it you could write on the value or non-value of trackbacks and how to do them in Wordpress.
You bet I can. In fact, I consider trackbacks one of the most underused forms of publicity available to bloggers, second only to leaving insightful comments at other blogs within their own niche.
So, let’s focus for a minute on what trackbacks are and how they can help bring you more traffic, and then I’ll show you in six simple steps how to make sure you send from your WordPress blog when linking someone else’s entry.
What is a trackback?
A trackback is a way to let another blogger know you’ve commented, at your own site, on something they’ve written. Sure, you could leave a comment on their blog, but there are times when it’s more appropriate to write your own entry.
Why use them?
Much like a party guest who monopolizes conversation, a lengthy comment at someone else’s blog can be inappropriate. So can leaving a comment that says “I already blogged about this at my site. Click here to read what I said.” Likewise, if you’re going to call a blog’s author a fool it’s much more appropriate to do it on your blog and not theirs.
So what do you do? You write an entry of your own and link back to the other blogger’s entry, then send a trackback to let that author know you’ve continued the discussion at your site. Note: you do not quote their whole entry, or even a significant portion of it. That’s bad form and will earn you ill will faster than just about anything else in the blogosphere.
Not only will the other blogger appreciate the incoming link and the notice that you’ve responded to their entry, but their readers may very well be interested in reading what you have to say, too. Likewise, your own readers will appreciate the opportunity to follow your link to its original source, possibly discovering another new blog to enjoy in the process.
In other words: trackbacks can help you network and get traffic — all for spending a mere ten seconds of your time.
How do you do it?
You can send a trackback using WordPress to any blog with trackbacks enabled, whether they’re running WP, MovableType, TypePad or some other platform. It’s as easy as the following 6 steps:
1. Write your entry. Some bloggers do make a point of checking incoming trackbacks to determine if there’s a valid link to their site and, if not, deleting those trackbacks. So be sure you include a link to the original source.
2. Look for the trackback bar. You’ll find it towards the bottom of your entry editing screen. Once you’ve found it, click on the + sign to open it.
3. Look for the trackback URI on the entry you’re linking. You’ll often find it at the bottom of the entry, either completely set out for you or in a link much like the one I use on this site:
4. Copy the trackback URI.
This is a matter of simply highlighting and copying if the blog sets out the exact trackback URI for you. For sites that convert the trackback into a link, like mine in the example above, you need to right-click on the trackback link and select “Copy Link Location”.
5. Paste the trackback URI in the trackback field.
6. Publish your entry.
Your trackback will be sent to the other blog when you publish your entry, although it may not show up immediately. Some bloggers moderate all incoming trackbacks, and some just don’t show them at all for whatever reason. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth the time sending them: the blogger whose entry you’ve linked may still find your trackback in their comments awaiting moderation and come visit your site.
See how simple it is?
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 at 5:12 pm and is filed under Building Traffic (Blogging 201). Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Tagged in: blogs | trackbacks | traffic | what is a trackback | wordpress blog
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Top Commenters
Love your posts…! Yes, still.
If it’s not out of your realm, could you blog about moving hosts; the importance of a good one and any tips? Thanks!
pam’s last blog post..Start the revolution without me!
Yep, I can do that. I’m always happy to take requests!
I’ve got two more in line, then I’ll get on it, Pam.
Thanks for clarifying trackbacks. You made is so much simpler than I thought it was going to be. I enjoyed your previous post about contests.
Karen’s last blog post..Will You Marry Me Contest
Thanks, Kate!
pam’s last blog post..Sammenhold
Kate, how is this different from simply linking to a post? Doesn’t the original blogger still see the incoming link, and the comments section still note the reference, even if you don’t use the trackback feature itself?
Janet’s last blog post..Pocket watch is link to family past
What you’re mentioning occurs when auto-trackbacks actually work, which doesn’t happen reliably at all.
Understand, thank you.
J.
Janet’s last blog post..Beautiful valentine flowers are extra-special
hmmm…don’t know if I got it. I do see the extra feature, “leave a trackback” under my post, but nothing about your web site. Only what I typed.
I guess I wasn’t quite clear. What you’d want to do is copy the trackback URI from one of my posts that you’re linking within an entry you’ve written. Then you’d insert that URI into the “send trackbacks to” field on your WordPress entry screen. When you save the entry it’ll send the trackback to my site.
Thank you Kate! From now on, I’ll use this feature, though I’m trying to write a lot of original stuff, which is getting easier. sorta.
Donna B.’s last blog post..Puppy Update
Original stuff is always the best. Just remember to link out regularly. That’s the way to build traffic, and traffic’s the way to get advertisers interested in paying you to blog for a living.