What is a trackback?
A Trackback is like a remote comment.
It simply allows you to comment about another blog on your own blog and then the software lets the other blog know you’ve referenced it.
Why should you use trackbacks?
A trackback is good for both blogs. You want to use them and you want other people to use them.
The trackback allows you to continue a discussion from another blog on your own blog.
For instance, your friend might blog about her daughter’s favorite toy. You read her post and you decide to write a post on your own site about that same toy and how your daughter also likes it. You want to link to her post in your entry and then send a trackback to her post.
How do you use a trackback?
Using a trackback is actually pretty simple. After you’ve done it once, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
See my video How To Use Trackbacks Tutorial on Google Video!
How to trackback can vary slightly depending on which blogging software you are using, but the main steps are the same.
Unfortunately, some free blogging software, such as Blogger, does not support trackbacks. If your blog doesn’t offer trackback functionality, you may be able to use the free commenting service HaloScan to add trackback support to your blog. You can read what Emily Robbins has to say about HaloScan on her blog.
I’m going to step you through this. Don’t worry if it sounds a bit complicated as I try to explain the process. It’s a bit like tying your shoelaces – it can be hard to explain the steps, but once you know how to do it, it’ll be second nature.
Step 1
Write your new post as you normally would and mention the blog entry you’re going to send a trackback to.
It is good etiquette to include a link to the other blog in your post. To do that, you want to link to the permalink url.
To get the permalink url, click on the permalink hyperlink at the bottom of the post you want to reference.
Then copy the url from the address field of your browser and paste it into your new blog entry. Include that url in a link as you normally would.
For example, you might say something like…
Step 2
Get the trackback url from the blog you want to reference.
Look at the bottom of this post, and you’ll see a hyperlink called “Trackback url”.
Right-click on that hyperlink and select “Copy Shortcut”.
(If you’re using FireFox, right-click and select “Copy Link Location”.)
The link url should be something like
http://www.5minutesformom.com/47/using-trackback/trackback/
On other blog platforms the url may be written out under a heading called “Trackback URL for this post” as shown below. In that situation, just select the url and copy it to your clipboard.
Step 3
Paste the trackback url into the field where you are writing your new entry.
The field should be labeled something like “Send trackbacks to” as shown in the two examples below.
In WordPress, it looks like…
Step 4
Publish your post as you normally would.
Voila! You’re done. You have just used a trackback.
You can now go to the site to which you sent the trackback, and look to see if your trackback is showing. Different sites may show this differently. On WordPress blogs like this one, it will show in the comments section as a trackback. See the sample below.
Make sure your blog can accept trackbacks.
Most blogging platforms allow trackbacks and I think most should have the default set to allow trackback pings. (Ping is just the term used when one blog notifies the other blog about the trackback.)
The images below show two examples of trackback settings. The checkbox on the right that says “Allow Pings” shows how WordPress controls trackbacks. Other blogging software may say something like “Allow Trackbacks” as in the image on the left.
See my video How To Use Trackbacks Tutorial on Google Video!
Let’s Summarize
Trackbacks are great and you definitely want to start using them to help promote your blog.
To use a trackback, write a post on your blog and use a permalink to link to someone else’s blog entry. Then copy that other entry’s trackback url into your post’s trackback field and publish your post.
Now you can write a post on your blog about how you love to trackback and encourage your readers to start using trackbacks.
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{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks Susan! I feel like ya’ll did this one just for me. I’ll have to try it when I’ve got more time. I’m taking my oldest to art class this morning. I’ll check back later for a longer look.
Thanks Susan! Techie twin scores again!
I could never have explained it that well. Hope that helps you all to go out and start trackbacking. At the very least, make sure you have set your blog to accept trackbacks.
Since one of our main goals with this website is to highlight great blogs we find, we use trackbacks a lot. But often when I am out there in the blogosphere I find some blogs do not have them enabled. It is simple to make sure your blog can accept trackbacks – note Sue’s last point – and that will encourage people to link to your blog and bring you more exposure and traffic.
For those of you who didn’t know, Sue’s background is in software. (Boy did I score in the twin department.) As you can imagine, she is quite helpful to have around. If you have any questions or topics you would like her to discuss, let us know. She would be happy to help.
I must add…
Unfortunately, I believe some of the free blogging software “Blogger” and “Blogspot” do not support trackback at this time.
There is a post on Emily Robbin’s blog about an
Add on for Trackbacks.
If your blog does not support trackbacks, you may want to check that article out.
If you are just starting a blog, definitely choose a blogging platform that supports trackbacks.
Susan
I use HaloScan commenting, and JUST LAST NIGHT I was thinking, “What is this Trackback thing and why do I need it?” I’m going to sit down tomorrow and try it…thanks for the clear explanation!
Hi boomama,
That is so funny about the timing…
Please let us know how it goes with the HaloScan trackbacks. I have not used that service at all, so I’m curious to hear about it.
I’m looking forward to seeing your trackback soon! You can write a post on your blog about using HaloScan for trackbacks and then trackback to this post.
Talk soon,
Susan
THANK YOU so much for posting this in language I could understand. I tried figuring out how to do this a few days ago, just didn’t “get it”. I’m printing out your post for future reference now.
Thanks for explaining trackbacks, I use WordPress so it shouldn’t be a major issue setting things up. Here’s to happy tracking!
Thanks for writing this in an easy to understand way, now if only to get blogger to accept them with out doing 10 times the work
You know… this whole twin business can be down right confussing!
I’m thinking to my self…. “GiBee — look how smart Janice got! Didn’t she tell you just the other day that she didn’t understand computers too well???”
And, then, I see Peach and Janice thanking Susan, and then I thought to myself … “Wait a sec — didn’t I just come to Janice’s Blog? Who’s Susan?”
Now, I’m wondering… “Susan… are you the one commenting on my blog that doesn’t have a blog that I can link back to???”
I’m so confused.
GIRLS!!!
You are TOTALLY messing with my head!!!! I just read your (someone’s) Spring post, and love the child in the picture, but I’m not sure who exactly this child belongs to.
I guess if you’re identical twins, it doesn’t matter… identical DNA… except it would matter to the father, oh, dear…. Let’s hope you’re not identical twins so we can tell you two apart, ’cause right now, my head is swimming!
Gibee you make me laugh!
Ok – to clarify – Susan and I run this blog together. I do most of the fun posts and Sue does the tech stuff. She will post on other topics as well as we go on, but she is very busy running all the tech and SEO aspects of our business. Her training is in computers – she used to be a software developer. (We also have two online stores – http://www.pedalcarsandretro.com and http://a-rocking-horse-to-love.com that we own along with our mom Joan. Joan works full time on the stores and Sue does as well. I wanted something more creative – so we started the blog so I could have some fun!!)
Sue hasn’t commented on your blog yet so that wasn’t her- if she does she would leave this as her blog.
As for the DNA thing – we agree. We pretty much share our kids, since we only have one each. Jackson agrees to – you can read about that in my post about him and Julia – “Real or Not”
Again sorry for the confusion. We pretty much function as a unit in life – so it was just natural to blog together.
And we are identical – so if you were with us in person, we might have some fun confusing you even more!
Talk soon,
Janice
PS for pictures of us with our kids, go to the meet us page
I use permalink all the time and people get ‘pings’ from my posts
. At least I am doing something right 
.
I am going to try on my blog thanx very much
I was exactly looking for something like that. Now, listen to this very carefully: VPXL generic canada</a> That More anyway thanks for the post.
I typed ‘how to use trackbacks’ into Google & you came up number 1, so…
I should have done this eons ago especially since you were so explicit, and I’ve been bored to extinction from these long-winded videos that cost some bucks from some so-called experts. Being new to this it is so appreciated and I’ll be visiting again. Thanks.
Trackback is very confusing.
Susan,
Thanks for this great tutorial. I look at others but yours was the most straightforward and easiest to follow. I’m now going to try it. Thanks again!
Thanks for the tip on using trackbacks. I never really knew how to use them properly, and I’m now using them to drive more traffic to my blog. Thanks!
Good post and I am very appreciated for info that given. I never try to use Trackback yet to increase my traffic. Hope this method can help to increase my blog’s visitors.
Thanks for the post. So to my understanding you would use the trackback to be able to comment on someone’s blog while also adding more content to your blog right? How exactly does it send more traffic though? Would you just have to make sure your first couple lines are really interesting so people will want to click on your comment?
Thanks so much!
How can you tell if other websites use trackback links on their blog?
Thanks for trackbacks advices.
You are cute btw!
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Hi, Susan and Janice,
Loved your article on how to send trackback and what they are.
I was writing a blog on this same topic and wanted to link with you.
Sending Trackbacks are sure fire ways to generate few more visitors to your site. The concept was eluding me until I did this on my own blog posts. I hope to see more blog traffic. Thank you so much for sharing.
By the way, loved reading your blog.
Abishek recently posted..Small Communication Channels : Send Trackbacks To Generate Traffic
thanks, still new to blogging so I appreciate all the help i can get to understand it all!
I’m going to check out your google video too! thanks again!
So where is the trackback link for THIS post??
Cordially,
Patricia Nixon
Nixon Virtual Strategies
http://www.nixonvs.com
The Power of Delegation
recognized by Forbes
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I have a Joomla website where I sell brandable domain names and provide a resources blog to help new company’s choose the right name. I constantly reference different websites and blogs in my writing and would like to use this trackback feature. Does Joomla have something like this and where do I find it? Thanks for this article. First time learning about trackbacks.
sweet thanks, I get a new science here
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Thanks Susan!Your knowledge is very good
Thanks for the great info. I have my own blog where I talk about how to name a business and I’ve never tried this before. I’ve been using WordPress for a while and I’m going to test this out.