In a recent blog post, Disaboom member sandyfreytag asks, " I was just wondering if anyone knows what Pingback>>Blog Archive<< means? I seem to see it sometimes in the comments of the Blogs. I know I sound stupid but I would like to know what the meaning is and who sends it."
What a fantastic question!
Essentially, a pingback (sometimes called a trackback) is when another blogger writes a post and links to one of your posts โ this creates a pingback in your comments to let you know. Ideally, this is good because it means another blogger liked and found enough value in your post to mention it in a post on his or her blog. A pingback is considered a nod of approval.
On Disaboom blogs, pingbacks currently take one of two forms:
External pingbacks: when an outsider blogger links to a Disaboom blog post, the pingback in the comment section will take the format that Sandy mentions: Pingback>>Blog Archive<<. For example, an external pingback to Kara Swim's post "A Blog a Day Keeps the Doctor Away" looks like:
Screen shot of an external pingback
Clicking on View Profile takes you to the post that links back to Kara's.
Internal pingbacks: when one Disaboom member links to another member in member, such as the way I'm linking (the blue underlined text) to Sandy's and Kara's posts, creating two pingbacks. Internal pingbacks differ in format from external ones (for a reason I do not know at this time).
Internal pingbacks appear very similar to comments left by individuals. However, there are two subtle differences. First, unlike a regular comment, which offers the options to View Profile and to Send Private Message, an internal pingback only offers View Profile. Second, hovering your mouse over View Profile, the tool tip says Trackback rather than the member's name.
Screen shot of an internal pingback
Clicking on View Profile takes you to the post that creates the trackback or pingback.
You ask, "This is all interesting, but why do I want pingbacks?"
Imagine the blogosphere โ the sense of community and interconnectedness between blogs โ as a spider web:
(Photo credit: Andrew Beierle)
Each link from one blog to another (pingback) creates a finer woven web, a tighter knit community.
The benefits of being connected to a strong community? Closer relationships and friendships with other bloggers, an exchange of information and opinions, and, potentially, more individuals reading your blog.
Reach out to your fellow bloggers by pinging 'em!
Blog on!
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