Pingbacks And Trackbacks: Using Them Successfully
Written by Nile | Posted in SEO | Posted on 
10-02-2012 | 
31 Comments
Tags: blog tools, seo, technology
A lot of times when I go to my WordPress administrator panel, I look at the trackbacks. Sometimes it may be someone referenced a post in twitter, or another person’s blog.
According to Wikipedia,
A trackback is one of three types of linkbacks, methods for Web authors to request notification when somebody links to one of their documents.
Same can be said of pingbacks. Pingbacks are more of a request to alert sites that you linked to them. It is different at the trackback is not what you send like a pingback, but what you received- an acknowledgement of sorts. In pingbacks there is no content sent, but only an alert. For a better understanding, you can read about it in the Managing Comments section at the WordPress Codex.
This can be great SEO for you and other bloggers who bounce ideas back and forth over similar topics. While you could definitely use the person’s comment system, in blogging about the conversation and sharing your point while including a reference to the original source will allow your visitors to not just respond to you, but also possibly respond to another.
I find that a lot of times when I have written articles filled with opinion based on another’s article, that I often receive feedback. It is in no way an underhanded tactic. As said, it is a way to share the conversation with other people and encourage more interaction on a topic. This is one way to use trackbacks successfully.
However, it can also backfire and seem like an underhanded and obvious search engine optimization tactic if I were to just blab out a bunch of related subject links without tying them together with valuable thoughts. I would just have to make my site some type of robot that published random stories within a certain niche.
Although posting frequently can create more possible pingbacks, it could prove tiresome and also look to be a desperate SEO tactic. The point is to try to entice quality trackbacks. Those will be sites that have people who are looking to give more feedback on a particular subject if the original article only says so much.
Above all, make sure to give appropriate anchor links when credit original sources. Sometimes listing the article’s full name or specific keywords will do, but if those keywords are quite vague. For example, when I blog about Google webmaster tools, I put ‘Google’ in front, instead of just ‘webmaster tools’. Webmaster tools can be quite vague as there are plenty of sites – in fact millons listed in Google when searching for webmaster tools. Although the link it listed at the top, with ‘webmaster tools’ only the first 2 listings on the first page list what I am exactly looking for while the other lists more relevant links.
Do you like to use pingbacks and trackbacks? How do you use this linking method successfully? Got any pointers?
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Twitter: cricket_cc
says:
Trackbacks and Pingbacks’ good use and successful use leads to the good SEO! Liked the post!!
Twitter: opportplanet
says:
Hi Nile,
I am afraid that trackbacks are misused these days since many people use software to spam other sites and send tones of trackbacks without actually link to these sites. Every day I get tens of that kind of trackbacks on my blog and they are really annoying. Anyway there are some real trackbacks but sometimes I might trash even them because of the big number of spam ones…
Kostas recently posted..10 Tips for Small Business SEO
Twitter: JupiterJimFLA
says:
Nile,
Thanks for helping to clarify the difference between trackback and pingback! And for sharing the link at WordPress.org Unfortunately, there is a software program out there, Digi Auto Links, or something like that that spams legitimate sites like yours and mine with trackbacks and I have to go in to my dashboard > comments everyday and click the “spam” button to delete them. Very annoying.
Thanks for the post.
– Jupiter Jim
Jupiter Jim recently posted..Thesis Tutorial: Add Facebook Social Plugin for “Comments” to your WordPress Thesis Theme Site
Twitter: alifeoflight
says:
Thanks Nile, I get these two things mixed up often. I think when they are used the way they were intended to be, that they work well for sharing ideas and for SEO. I guess like most good WH SEO stuff, when the idea is to share valuable content and ideas and make it easy for readers to find more related content, these are simple ways to get good results.
Used by spammers, I dislike the time I spend each day getting rid of the fake trackbacks. But I don’t dwell on it, and when I reference other people’s writing in a way that makes sense and is valuable, I feel good about doing that.
Michael recently posted..The Yellow House
Twitter: Yourinda
says:
Thank you so much, Nile, for explaining track backs and ping backs and I appreciate the link for more information.
You are making very good points with suggesting to accompany links with quality information and to be specific.
When I write a post I sometimes just like adding a link, so people can explore the subject further, as well as giving credit to an article I have used in my post.
It is so good to understand this more thanks to your valuable post!
Twitter: joyce_edwards
says:
Thanks for the explanation of pingbacks and trackback. I was getting quite a few trackbacks from very strange and unrelated site from mine. I get the concept but it seems like automation has taken control. You want people not robots linking back to you.
Joyce Edwards recently posted..What Happened to Lard?
Twitter: Revoices
says:
You are making very good points with suggesting to accompany links with quality information and to be specific.
Twitter: completechsite
says:
Till date i have never really seen thought to even read about Trackbacks and pingbacks , i suddenly read your article and well it makes me feel like making me a complete turn around to use this way for better SEO management , Thanks again much appreciated !
Mj recently posted..How to Check Booking Status of Aakash 2 / Ubislate 7+ in India .
Twitter: gsaieva
says:
Great post thanks. I find the Akismet wordpress plugin does keep out all the spam in my comment in-box so I can delete them all very quickly.
Giuseppe Saieva recently posted..Search Engine Optimisation. What is it All About?
Thanks, i was not aware about it.
Finally I can understand the difference between pingbacks and trackback! Thanks so much for explaining this Nile.
There is so much to do, this was on my to do learning list, but never got to it. Here it is and now I have a better understanding of it. Thank you so much for the wonderful explanation even I can understand!
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Why is Self-discipline important to your Business?
I guess I’m at the back of the class here, Nile.
I’m not sure where in WP dashboard / admin I go to search for trackbacks or pingbacks. I get lots of spam, for sure, but don’t know where to locate the TB and PB.
This post has certainly clarified the difference (and value) between the two, though. Thanks for the assistance, here.
David Merrill recently posted..Twitter Strategy To Drive Traffic
Twitter: SrinivasYReddy
says:
Thanks for this enlightening post, Nile. This topic is too techie for many bloggers and I think you’ve a good job of explaining the difference between trackbacks and pingbacks and the benefits and pitfalls of using this amazing feature built into wordpress blogs.
I have used them sparingly in the past, but have shied away from them because many of us were pure spam. I intend to open myself to pingbacks and trackbacks again. Soon enough.
Srinivas Reddy | Ask Sage recently posted..I Could Eat A Horse
Nice post..
i don’t know the clear view about these two things,but here clearly you have stated the difference between trackbacks and pingbacks..this post helps me to understand the uses of these two…
Thanks for sharing…
Trackback and pingbacks are a great resource. I have found that a majority that I get (for right now) are from other sites that I am using for backlinking purposes. What I do with them is not approve them on my blog. Then take those and mash them into an RSS feed to ensure that the site where my backlink is on gets indexed by Google.
Thanks to give me detailed description about pingbacks and trackback.
Twitter: WillenaRose
says:
Thanks for the clarification, Nile.
I get a LOT of trackbacks that come from totally unrelated sites. I’ve gone into my dashboard and checked the box that says don’t allow trackbacks, but they just keep coming. They don’t go through my spam filter–I have to delete them manually.
Hopefully the link you’ve given will have the info I need to get rid of the unwanted trackbacks.
Willena Flewelling
Willena Flewelling recently posted..Even the Smallest Details
Twitter: steveborgman
says:
Nile, can you clarify for me the following: is it wrong to use track backs if you are not using a particular site in your article, even if that site might want to know about your article, since it is closely related to their niche?
Steve Borgman recently posted..A Simple Formula: Find Your Mission Through Your Passion
hey Nile …
Thanks for the post
track backs and ping backs are new topics to me and learnt from here….
Thanks for the good explaination of trackbacks and pingbacks. I’ve pretty much shut these down on my site due to all the spam and junk that was coming in. But I’ll need to take a closer look at them and how I might leverage the legit ones to make sure the link gets indexed.
Dave recently posted..Biggest Loser Workout Tips to Supercharge Your Weight Loss Workout Program
Twitter: LindaCampb80
says:
Time and time again I have tried to use these methods to no avail. Maybe because of the “sensitive nature” of the Niche I personally write in that makes my links look “spammy” to some bloggers but it never worked for me.
So for now I simply avoid this strategy all together…
Linda Campbell recently posted..A Review of Medication for a Yeast Infection
Twitter: BlueBendPhoto
says:
I’ve been curious about trackbacks and pingbacks. This helps a lot. Thanks!
Nick | Asheville Wedding Photographer recently posted..Kauai Hawaii with Brook and Joe!
Twitter: tech_ticks
says:
You really explained very well about trackback an ping backs, as i didn’t have any idea about them. Thanks to share.
Sonia recently posted..A Review On Sony PlayStation Vita 3G Also Known As PS Vita
Thanks for the explanation of pingbacks and trackback. I was getting quite a few trackbacks from very strange and unrelated site from mine. Thanks for sharing.
Twitter: seobrent
says:
Hi Nile,
Pingbacks are highly discounted links now due to people being able to spoof them. So just make sure that you check each pingback manually to see if your link is actually there.
-Brent
Brent recently posted..Computer Science Degree Program
You are making very good points with suggesting to accompany links with quality information and to be specific.Thank you for sharing this contain…
Twitter: blogger_navin
says:
Trackbacks and Pingbacks’ are great way to link the original content. it inform the original author. anyway nice post.
Navin kunwar recently posted..7 Pinterest Like WordPress Themes for Inspiration
thanks for sharing such a usefull information about trackbacks and pingbacks.
ishan recently posted..Top WordPress Plugins | 10 must have wordpress plugins for your blog/website
Thank you so much Nile for explaining the difference between trackback and pingback. These two terms often confused me so much but now it’s clear to me very well. You really explained it well.