Comments for Backtype Connect Plugs in to WordPress

Backtype Connect Plugs in to WordPress

2009-04-08T20:30:24Z

Backtype, known for its fast-growing comment-aggregation service, announced the availability of a new BackType Connect plugin for standalone WordPress blogs today. The plugin uses the newly-updated Connect API to integrate comments from a variety of different sources around the internet directly in to the WordPress comment system. Supported sources include Twitter, Digg, FriendFeed, Reddit, other blogs, and of course, Hacker News (since Backtype is a YCombinator startup). Installation is straightforward and comment import happens quickly.

]]> Backtype Connect is an offshoot project of the larger comment aggregation service that Backtype provides. While the primary service tracks all comments by comment author (optimally, no matter where they are posted), Connect focuses on tracking comments made around a specific URL on a number of different services. To further facilitate getting a true count of URL links in Twitter, they developed BackTweets as well, which we covered in more depth here. Thanks to Zee from TheNextWeb for the tip.

The way the Backtype Connect WordPress plugin works is fairly straightforward with no additional registration needed. After installation and activation on a WordPress standalone blog, the plugin queries the BackType Connect database with the article URLs and starts importing them in to the WordPress comment database, including a footnote with a source of the comment. Icons for all of the BT Connect services are also included so that the comments indicate clearly where they are coming from.

I took an hour this morning and installed BT Connect on my personal blog, Scribkin. Installation when smoothly, but I will warn you that if you are using a comment system that is a full replacement for the one built in to WordPress (like Intense Debate or Disqus) you won't see what Backtype Connect is doing since it is acting directly on the built-in comment database. The new comments will only start showing up after a sync. If, however, you are using other WordPress comment enhancement systems like SezWho and JS-Kit, there shouldn't be any problem.

Comment from Michael Montano on 2009-04-08

2009-04-08T20:53:50Z

Hi Phil,

Thanks for covering the update. Looking forward to seeing how people use the plugin. There was already a conversation on FriendFeed this morning (that is now on Zee's blog as well) where we took in a lot of great feedback.

By the way while comments won't show up with a third party commenting system, you'll actually still see the BackType Connect summaries above the section showing how many Tweets, FF comments, Digg comments, etc.

Comment from Phil Glockner on 2009-04-08

2009-04-08T21:19:41Z

Michael, thanks for the quick response. I must be doing something wrong with my blog theme on Scribkin because if I have Disqus enable, I don't see anything from the BT Connect plugin, not even the summary.

But, I do like how the comments come in after a sync.. it'll be tough waiting for Disqus' UberVU integration to get rolling everywhere when I know there's a great plugin I already have installed that does a very similar job.

Comment from Michael Montano on 2009-04-08

2009-04-08T21:36:00Z

Phil, do you have the "Summary" option enabled in the BackType Connect settings (I'm guessing you've done this). Otherwise, it could be a problem related to your template, or maybe your version of Disqus. I'll try to find out.

Comment from runescape powerleveling on 2009-04-17

2009-04-17T09:08:40Z

Thank you very much. I am wonderring if I can share your article in the bookmarks of society,Then more friends can talk about this problem.

Comment from charles palma on 2009-05-14

2009-05-14T17:06:18Z

Hmm.. The new plugin is only available for Wordpress users. I wish it will be available in blogging platforms such as Blogger and Drupal.

Comment from Sooran on 2009-09-15

2009-09-15T09:59:53Z

tancks.
Helped me
Good Time