As someone who works predominantly in the online field, Backtype might be the most useful social media application I’ve come across yet. Why such a bold claim for an application as new as Backtype?

Simple – like any business, I need to use all the social media tools I can to keep on top of both my market and what my competitors are up to. I also need to know what my clients are thinking, since it may not always be prudent of them too tell me directly – particularly if it’s a negative view or opinion!

Therefore, I was intrigued to receive a recommendation from my friend Keren Dagan to check out a new social media application. Keren runs an excellent blog called Webnomena (web phenomena), which is an invaluable source of information for all the latest and greatest innovations on the web. So, when Keren says I should check something out, it’s a fairly safe bet that it’s going to be highly useful.

The application Keren wanted me to check was Backtype, which he discusses in more detail on his blog. Taking Keren up on his recommendation, I headed over to Backtype to see what all the fuss was about. And I have to admit, it could be one of the most important new social media applications released yet for both casual and professional bloggers and beyond.

The way that Backtype works is simple – first you sign up for a free account and claim your blog or website URL’s. These are the ones that you would normally leave along with your comments. If you don’t have a blog to use a URL from, Backtype will helpfully provide one for you.

This then allows Backtype to recognize when you’re leaving a comment (think pingback or trackback). Now, anytime you visit a blog or website and leave a comment with a contact URL for your own blog or website, Backtype will attribute it to you.

The potential of Backtype is what’s most interesting and, as I mention in the headline, this is true for both casual bloggers and more professional ones. Even businesses can benefit from the features that Backtype offers.

Think about it – a casual blogger can see who else shares their views on every single blog they’ve ever commented on. This offers an extremely useful way to increase their blogging network – see someone you think shares similar interests and views and simply send off an email introducing yourself.

For professional bloggers and businesses, the potential is just as huge, if not more so. Professional bloggers can see what the “names” of blogging are saying and this can help them in their own growth. For businesses, knowing what’s being said about you allows you to amend promotional or marketing campaigns on the fly.

It also shows you exactly what people think of you, your company and/or brand. While it may not always make for pleasant reading, this can help you change people’s views of you. Even more useful, you could learn what’s being said about your competitors and that’s a very powerful weapon to have.

Of course, one of the biggest innovations that Backtype could bring to the whole blogging experience is improving the quality of comments being left (which again Keren delves into further in his blog post). One of the biggest problems with blogging is that too many bloggers comment on a post simply to receive a backlink to their own blog, or promote some half-baked get-rich-quick scheme.

Now, however, knowing that Backtype is monitoring the blogosphere might just encourage a more thoughtful and considered approach to leaving an opinion. For that alone, Backtype could be the blogger’s new BFF.

Comments

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 6th, 2008 at 12:37 pm and is filed under Blogging, Search. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

About the Author: Danny Brown is the owner of Press Release PR, a boutique PR agency specializing in search engine optimized press releases and promotional campaigns for Web 2.0. He is a vocal advocate of social media and its place in business in today's predominantly online business world. He is a guest author on Web Analytics World and his blog has been nominated for Best Business Blog in the Blogger's Choice Awards. You can read more of Danny's articles and opinions at the Press Release PR blog and his social media PR blog.