Why You Should Use Trackbacks

Reasons You Should Use Trackbacks - Trackbacks for Cross-Referencing

Many bloggers are using trackbacks to monitor traffic around their blogs and increase the activity between their websites and other sites. But exactly what are trackbacks? And why do you even need to use them?

Trackbacks are basically a way for a person on one site to let another person know they have posted something about them on their blog, or they have posted a link from that person’s blog. It’s a communication loop to keep bloggers updated when someone else references them or their blog content. They are primarily used between blog sites or websites and are sometimes referred to as “pings” or “cross-referencing.”

It’s like giving credit for the origin of an article or information. It allows visitors to follow links around the community where a given topic is being discussed. It is a good way to interconnect people searching for or promoting your niche products/services. And it adds diversity and credibility to your site when you select high quality, informative, and interesting trackbacks.

Trackbacking is a simple process to initiate. You simply go into your blog settings and find options (may be labeled slightly different for various blog site hosts) and activate the trackbacking feature. WordPress has an excellent tutorial for how to install and utilize trackbacking features (link for WordPress included in resources at the end of this report).

Example of Trackbacking

An example of how trackbacking works will help clarify the process:

You write an article about photo restoration. I comment on my blog about your article on photo restoration, and I recommend that others in my community (visitors to my site), read your article by posting your URL on my site. I send a backtrack to you notifying you that I have posted a link to your article on photo restoration and commented on it in my blog. You receive the trackback and you know I have referenced your blog and article. We’re now interconnected!

A valuable component of the trackback is to include some concise wording about the post rather than sending a blind trackback. This lets the other blogger know which article you referenced and is more useful to the blogger since they know which article you found most interesting.

Since flattery is one of the greatest ways to create a positive relationship, you have begun to establish a relationship with other bloggers. Reciprocal trackbacking can lead to many more links to other sites for you and the sites to which you link. This, in turn, may lead to potential new customers and business relationships.

Why Do You Need to Use Trackbacks?

Trackbacks are a way to exchange comments about articles and posts regarding another person’s blog or website. They are nice for “online etiquette” and can be used to strengthen relationships between bloggers. They are also a way to increase your exposure on the Internet and in your particular niche market.

You want people to know that you have recognized their blog, articles, or other information as a courtesy. But you also want them to click through that link to read what you have to say and draw more traffic into your own site.

Primary advantages include:

- You are able to use your own blog to make comments about articles or posts from other sites, creating a connection between the two sites - this increases the traffic between sites

- It’s easy to do and it increases the value of content on your site by adding new perspectives, fresh information, and new ideas

- It makes your site more interesting and interactive with other sites

- Since you are connecting to other websites, it allows you to talk with other people without using email, forums, or other large discussion groups

- it’s quick and easy. You’ll connect with more people which can lead to more potential customers and increased business

Some Do’s and Don’ts:

Trackbacking can add credibility to your site. Be sure to trackback to sites which have high quality, relevant,
accurate, and interesting content. You’ll want to have trackbacking to sites which have content that is relevant to your blog or your niche product.

Don’t make the mistake of including trackbacks to a variety of sites on multiple topics and dilute the content and value of your own site. The sites you link to should add value to your site.

Don’t be afraid to trackback to other sites. Some people make the mistake of believing that if they link to other sites, they are driving traffic to another blogger’s site and losing business. However, trackbacking gains more exposure for you and your site. With more exposure, you gain publicity and potential links from other sites.

Trackbacking to other sites increases the diversity of your own website or blog. This creates interests around your site and around your niche market. It can help to position you as an open-minded authority in your community and the niche market.

What is the Downside with Trackbacks?

Unfortunately, the increased use of spam on the Internet makes everything more difficult. Spammers will try to increase their number of inbound links by creating illegitimate trackback pings. It’s sometimes difficult to recognize a real trackback from a spammer seeking to beef up his own website. But don’t let that deter you.

Trackbacking advantages outweigh the potential downside. They are one of several ways to increase the number of links to and from your site, and they are a great way to increase traffic between sites. Trackbacking enables you to reference complementary websites which add value and credibility to your website or blog.

Using backtracks will help you see what other sites are posting from your site and what they are saying about your niche products. Although they aren’t likely to be your primary online marketing tool, they can provide good information about how others perceive your niche products or services. And as they gain in popularity, you’ll already be ahead of the game and the competition!

Resources

Tutorial on trackbacking on WordPress
http://faq.wordpress.com/2006/05/11/how-do-i-send-a-trackback/

Additional information on trackbacking:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrackBack
http://www.answers.com/topic/trackback?cat=technology
http://kalsey.com/admin/mt/docs/mtmanual_trackback.html

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JP Schoeffel

Trackbacks and Pingbacks

To learn more about Wordpress pingbacks, you can check out the Wordpress Pingback and Trackback Tutorial written by OptiNiche.

Teli Adlam says ‘When used properly, trackbacks and pingbacks are an excellent way to build links and traffic to your blog, as well as building relationships with other bloggers.’ To read the rest of this tutorial go to: OptiNiche