I'm sure some reading this aren't really sure what a trackback is.  It's a really neat thing and while I've known about trackbacks for a while, it wasn't until recently that I figured out why my trackbacks weren't automatically “registering” on some blogs.  So, in my quest to rectify the problem I found this cool little tool called the Wizbang Standalone Trackback Pinger.

You simply fill out the form, click “submit trackback” and voila!  I've discovered that I have to space my pings out several hours or it won't work (probably to deter spammers).  I thought I could go back and submit all of my trackbacks one right after the other, but it  looks like it will take me a few days to get them all updated.

Now, back to you folks who are going “huh?”.  Don't worry, you are not alone.  I'd wager that most of the world hasn't a clue what it is.  Click Here for the techie definition.  Understandably, that may not have helped you out much so I'll tell you how I use trackbacks.  I view a trackback as a way of giving someone due credit.  If I'm going to talk about something I read on someone else's blog, I like to reference that blog and provide a link to the post that inspired me.  Personally I see it as common courtesy, although I know some bloggers couldn't care less lol.  Anyway, ideally, when I post that link on my blog a ping is automatically sent to the other blog saying “hello, someone has linked to you” and registers a “trackback” on their blog.  This “ties” these two posts together.  Unfortunately, my blogging tool (.Text) and “Moveable Type” (Don't know what that is? It's ok, not important.) aren't compatible.  So, for trackbacking to Moveable Type users, I'm now using Wizbang's Standalone until a permanent fix can be made.