pinging and trackbacks

This info will be especially helpful for Blogspot bloggers.

When you are on Blogspot, especially when first starting out, you wonder what the fuss is all about when it comes to trackbacks. Mostly because you have to sign up and install code from another program because Blogger doesn't offer a cohesive program within their own software at this time. You hear others mention pinging and you think it has something to do with a big green table and little white balls. Well, there's so much more to it and here's the skinny, Blogspot bloggers:

Pinging: Think of it in terms of sound. You need to send a message to a particular place, so you send out a ping. Essentially, it's an electronic message sent to a post with which you have referenced.

Trackbacks: The URL addresses to which you send this electronic message. This will attach your information to the post you referenced. This lets the author of the post, in addition to other people who read that author that you have continued the topic to whatever degree on your own blog.

Kevin at Wizbang has made it nearly effortless to ping MT and WordPress blogs. The information on the newest release of the Wizbang Standalone Trackback Pinger, is available HERE.

So, let's say you wanted to link to my post which included that funny little Kerry and Bush video called, This Land. (and, if you saw it here first, I'd certainly appreciate that) At Kevin's pinger, you would enter in the following information (I'll use my blog info for this example):

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Trackback Ping URL: http://blog.mu.nu/cgi/mt-tb.cgi/35965
[just open the popup (synapses) for the trackback url]

Your Permanent URL: http://auterrific.mu.nu

Your Blog Name: Auterrific

Title: Great Blog with a Funny Video

Excerpt: Linda of Auterrific is damn funny and you should go visit her right now to check out that video and let her know how much you appreciate her passing it along. :) Stay there for a while to look at some of her other posts as well. She blogs about more serious stuff too.

Submit the trackback and you should show up like those wonderful people at the end of that post right now.
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If you still have questions about pinging, I can try to answer them. If you have questions specific to Kevin's pinger, you might have to ask him. I really wanted to make it possible for the folks out there who want to contribute in the way they see so many others contributing. Please make sure to give Kevin a big nod if it's working out for you.