A question for you, Freshblog readers, re: the etiquette of the trackback.
Let's say blog A writes about christmas, & blog B does the same without either a reference or a link to blog A. Is it still OK for blog B to trackback ping blog A?
Is that legitimate traffic-driving? (same topic, after all)
Is it spam? (you're getting a link without giving one?)
I think I know what I think....
Filed in: trackback, blogging,
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No, not unless blog B refers to blog A in the post on blog B.
My question: Is trackback only about driving traffic, or are there deeper conversational issues there? I know I often enjoy following trackbacks, and in the case of the Forbes article following tb's on others' blogs has been quite informative, even when I didn't use the insights in my posts.
So here's the dilemma & back to the question. If you ping a blog you haven't referenced, but your post is about the same thing, are you simply taking part in the conversation or are you elbowing your way to the bar and leaving your fingerprints places they don't belong...
Now, that I'm only using Blogger comments, it seems even more obtuse.