Trackbacks (often referred to as “pingbacks”) are a method that most major blogging platforms use to notify other blogs when they have been linked to from another site.  In simplest terms trackbacks enable content creators to notify other sites when they have linked to them – a way of kind of cross-referencing blogs and sites.

How do trackbacks work?

If you are using WordPress or another popular blogging platform like Movable Type, trackbacks are built-in and automatically notify other sites and blog when you link to them.  If the site or blog that you link to has trackbacks enabled, you will then see a link on their site (often with some surrounding text displayed to give context).  You don’t need to do anything other than link to the article, page, or post, and WordPress or your blog program should handle the rest.

Here’s an illustration of how trackbacks work:

Why use trackbacks?

Trackbacks are excellent to notify other people that you have linked to their content.  In addition to acknowledging your linking to others – trackbacks are an excellent way to help cross-reference different sites and blogs.

How to enable trackbacks in WordPress

In order to automatically enable trackbacks when you link to someone (or be notified when someone links to you) simply:

1. Under the “Settings” section in WordPress select “Discussion”
2. Make sure the first two options are selected:
   • Attempt to notify any blogs linked to from the article (slows down posting.) Make sure it has a check mark in the box
   • Allow link notifications from other blogs (pingbacks and trackbacks.) Make sure it has a check mark in the box
3. You’re finished – pretty simple