What are Trackbacks and Pingbacks

In simple terms, Trackbacks and Pingbacks are a method of informing another website that you linked to them. In WordPress, you send the trackback manually while a pingback is sent automatically if it detects that you linked to another WordPress website.

To create a trackback go to edit one of your pages or posts. You should see a section like the one below.

Figure 1 (Click to View Larger Image)

If you can’t find this click on ‘Screen Options’, and check ‘Send Trackbacks’ which is at the top of the page/post editor screen.

Figure 2 (Click to View Larger Image)

As mentioned, Pingbacks are automatic. In Figure 3 (below), you will notice that WordPress already pinged another website when it found a link in my post.

Figure 3 (Click to View Larger Image)

What to do if you receive a trackback or pingback?

If you allow trackbacks and pingbacks on your pages and posts, you will receive a notification when a trackback or pingback is sent. It will appear in the comments area of your WordPress admin panel.

Figure 4 (Click to View Larger Image)

If you approve the pingbacks and trackbacks, it will appear on your page or post so that your web visitors can see. It depends on your website’s theme exactly how it will look. It may be as simple as that shown in figure 5.

Figure 5 (Click to View Larger Image)

Or it can take up more room like shown in figure 6:

Figure 6 (Click to View Larger Image)

If someone sends a trackback or a pingback to you, should you accept it?

Trackbacks and Pingbacks can be helpful to your readers if the website linking to you is closely ties in with the content of your web page. If your readers can get something from it, then I suggest that you approve the pingback or trackback.

However, in most cases, trackbacks are used as a link building strategy, so the only reason you were sent a trackback is so the other website can improve their own SEO. When you approved a trackback, you are giving a backlink to their website. Some website owners are abusive and send a lot of trackbacks to other websites that are not related to their topic, this is known as trackback spam.

How to moderate trackback and pingbacks?

If you want to screen trackbacks and pingbacks, you can approve and reject them individually the same way you do with comments.

Because the vast majority will be spam, you might choose to block them from a particular page or post. To disable trackback and pingbacks go to the bottom of your page or post as shown in figure 7 below.

Figure 7 (Click to View Larger Image)

To block them completely from every page and post go to your WordPress Admin Panel. Click ‘Settings’, then ‘Discussion’. Uncheck “Allow link notifications from other blogs (pingbacks and trackbacks)”.

Figure 8 (Click to View Larger Image)

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