Step by Step: How to Use Trackbacks

Since I was new to the use of trackbacks & pingbacks, it took me a few weeks to really understand the concept and how to best implement it. Seems like every tutorial that I read was confusing so I came up with my own version to educate my forum members. Just 4 steps that even newbies should be able to understand.

Here's how it works:


1) Find an Interesting Blog Post
I come across a blog that's got an interesting post. It's a post about Chase Utley on this blog:
http://rmjvol.wordpress.com/

I click the article title to goto the page for just that post, not the main blog homepage. That would be this page:
http://rmjvol.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/utley-hitting-streak/

2a) Find the Permalink for that Blog Post
On that page, I look for something like "Permalink" or "Permanent URL" but don't see one so I just use the web page's address that shows in my browser's address bar:
http://rmjvol.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/utley-hitting-streak/

What's a Permalink?
A permalink (the terminology we use here at GoTeamsGo) is simply the permanent web page address where you can always find that blog post. On most blogs, new posts start out on the homepage but fall off as newer posts push it down. Thus the need for a "permanent link" or permalink.

2b) Find the Trackback URL for the Blog Post
The trackback url is usually different than what shows in your address bar or is listed as the permalink. Look for something that says "Trackback" "Trackback URL" or something like that. On that blog, it just says "trackback" just above the comment area. The trackback url is this:
http://rmjvol.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/utley-hitting-streak/trackback/

3) Create a Thread at GoTeamsGo
I create a Chase Utley Hitting Streak thread over in the Philadelphia Phillies Forum. I start a new thread and before I click the "Submit New Thread" button, I add the trackback url for that blog post.

4) Copy the Trackback URL into the New Thread Page at GoTeamsGo
I copy and pasted that trackback url into the GoTeamsGo post before I submit the new thread. There's a field on the page where you're creating the new thread that says: "Trackback: Send Trackbacks to (Separate multiple URIs with spaces):" so I paste the trackback url there.

As soon as I submit the new thread, some stuff happens automatically.

Our forum's software contacts the blogger's blog software and lets them know we sent a trackback (or a "trackback ping"). The blog software then either shows the GoTeamsGo thread as a comment on the blog post or it alerts the blogger that we've sent a trackback. The blogger can decide if the trackback shows up as a comment or not.

Go here to see it:
http://rmjvol.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/utley-hitting-streak/
or here's a screenshot of what it'll look like:


Why This Helps
The blog world has exploded in popularity over the past few years and it's in big part to bloggers using trackbacks between different blogs. Trackbacks let other sites know that you're talking about them or talking about a topic that is related to something they posted.

We want to let these bloggers know when we've found something interesting on their blogs & this is an easy way to do it. It helps to spread the word about GoTeamsGo to bloggers and their readers. It also helps us by adding a link on the blogger's website to us. That makes it easy for the blogger and their readers to find us. Hopefully, they'll like what they see here and they'll join our community.

You can read more about the trackback feature in this thread:
New Forum Feature: Trackback, Pingback, Permalink


Trackback Follow Up
I've had good success with getting some links and new members via the use of trackbacks. These instructions have been useful to help some of my members understand trackbacks & to get them to try it.

If you want to use this on your forum, feel free to do so. A link to my site is appreciated but not required.

Good luck,
Ross