What is a Trackback and a Pingback?

April 17th, 2008

What is a Trackback and a Pingback?

If your a user of WordPress or even someone who reads WordPress sites you have probably seen in the comments section these two words: “Trackback and Pingback”. What do they mean and what are there purposes?

Basically a Trackback and a Pingback is the same thing and is for when you link to another website or another similar article.

These are super useful as it encourages further reading for your website (It is good to link to other posts in your blog). It is also useful to link to other articles/ websites as it can encourage them and their readers to find and read your blog. It is also good for SEO purposes.

However the words Trackbacks and Pingbacks can be confusing to non-savvy people. So instead of using thse jargon words in your comments. I suggest to use something else like “Discussion elsewhere” this lets the reader know that the link includes further discussion.

I have used this for WotUThink and Kick2Kick as many of the users are non-savvy.

Popularity: 25% [?]

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Great advice, Jermayn.

For reasons unknown, the trackbacks and pingbacks haven’t been operational on davidairey.com for some time. Logo Design Love is a different story, and I’ll make a note to address this soon.

Have a great weekend!

Comment by David Airey — April 19th, 2008 @ 11:08 pm

That is weird David. Could it be because of the trouble you once had with your domain?

and thanks for your comment.

Comment by GermWorks — April 21st, 2008 @ 8:43 am

You’re welcome mate.

The lack of pingbacks were present before any domain issues, so that one’s ruled out. I’m sure it has something to do with my attempt at a custom template, but I’m too newb to know what.

Comment by David Airey — April 21st, 2008 @ 3:04 pm

If you have the code in the theme then the only other opton I could see is that in your options settings under “Discussion”, have you got the “Allow link notifications from other Weblogs (pingbacks and trackbacks.)” checked???

If not I would check the theme code….

Comment by GermWorks — April 21st, 2008 @ 3:10 pm

btw if you need me to look at the code, that is ok. Just email me the comments php file and i will have a look.

Comment by GermWorks — April 21st, 2008 @ 3:10 pm

I have just noticed that CSS Tricks has used the same solution…
http://www.css-tricks.com

Comment by GermWorks — April 23rd, 2008 @ 3:09 pm

I knew what they did, I just rarely ever see someone use them.

Comment by new zealand accommodation — May 4th, 2008 @ 4:34 am

Yes you do not see Trackbacks much any more.

I see plenty of pingbacks when blogs link to each other and like you say not many trackbacks. I think they personally should be rolled into one…
Thanks for your comment.

Comment by GermWorks — May 5th, 2008 @ 8:43 am

I love trackback and pings..They are so good at driving traffics to my site..

Comment by google — May 18th, 2008 @ 4:55 pm

Good post. New bloggers sometimes struggle with the concept of trackbacks and pingbacks.

You may also want to take a look at the Ultimate Trackback Help Guide.

Trackback Help’s last blog post..By: Trackboost Review |Jack Humphrey and Social Marketing | Make Money Online With Affiliate Marketing

Comment by Trackback Help — May 31st, 2008 @ 9:24 am

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What is a Trackback and a Pingback?