Comments on: Should Links from Your Blog Open in a New Window? Reader Opinions

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:32:39 +0000

this may seem like a silly question but – HOW can I make the links on my site open in a new page?

By: Shafar

Shafar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:19:43 +0000

Links opening in new window can keep the users for long time in our site or blog.

By: PBodden

PBodden — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:03:54 +0000

One more bit…MAC OS users don’t have this right, middle and left clicks. We can CTRL-click but don’t often think of it.

By: PBodden

PBodden — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:01:09 +0000

I am newly putting up a site of my own, so my opinion is based on being a USER. As such, I like it when a new window opens so that I don’t lose my place with the original site. With enough browsing, it can be a real search to trace back, esp. if I was not real clear about the name or address of the original.

By: Work at home guide

Work at home guide — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 02:05:06 +0000

I agree with Keith.

Internal links – same window
External links – new window

By: Joe Audette

Joe Audette — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:14:21 +0000

My opinion is that we should educate users that browsers give them complete control to open links in a new window and never force links to open in a new window.
I think what the results show is that many users do expect links to open in a new window but they have come to expect this because this is what they have been conditioned to expect. What started out as a cheesy way to keep people on our sites has over time become a norm. We’ve simply hypnotized the users that they need us to open the page in a new window for them. Should we perpetuate a bad practice just because people have become used to it? I think not, lets move past it.

Its better for the web if users learn the simple fundamental navigation techniques common to modern web browsers. If we think we have users who are confused by the links not opening in a new window why not put a little tip there to educate the user (right click link and choose open in new window).
Its a fundamental tenet of usability that the user should be in control. Lets not perpetuate and standardize the bad practice of automatically opening links in new windows.

Just my 2 cents,

Joe

By: Todd

Todd — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:34:23 +0000

I agree with Keith above … if it’s a link to something else in my blog, I open it in the same window. If it’s a link that goes somewhere else, I use target=_blank. I’ll admit that part of the reason is that I want people to come back to read more of my blog. But, opening things in a new window is also the way that I surf … 90% of the time, I right click and open a link in a new window.

By: Delores

Delores — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:43:35 +0000

Thanks so much for the poll. I always give my links the target=”_blank” code because I hate losing my place from where I started when I don’t get a new window for external links. Plus, I don’t want anyone to veer away from my web page either. :-)
Too bad we don’t have a target=”_blanktab” code option now with Internet Explorer 7. That would make things so much easier and less bulky.
Thanks again!

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:18:22 +0000

Internal links – same window
External links – new window

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:17:37 +0000

I’m with the crowd saying they’d like to see links in a new window. I try to code all mine as target=”_blank”.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 20:48:15 +0000

Personally, I always setup links on my blog to open in new windows. That way if someone doesnt like reading what they clicked on, all they have to do is close it out and return to mine, instead of hitting the back button. I also agree with Redwall_hp, that when im looking around, I also middle-click, for the same reason that I mention.

By: redwall_hp

redwall_hp — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:13:04 +0000

Booo! I prefer them opening in one window.

Anyway, here’s what I do:

I just middle-click to open new tabs. In fact, I set Firefox to open new windows in new tabs instead. If someone puts a target=”_blank” on a link, it just opens in a new tab. :)

By: Bret

Bret — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:55:27 +0000

I’m split on this question. I see both sides but have decided that on my blog links open in the same window because if someone wants a link to open in a new window, most know how to “force” that to happen. On the other hand, if a visitor doesn’t want a link to open in a new window, there is no way to “force” it from not doing so. I think opening in the same window gives the visitor the most control over their experience at a blog which is what I try to give them.

BTW: Thanks for the taking the time to count up the responses and post the results.

By: AskaX

AskaX — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:39:55 +0000

I prefer open page in new window as I set my browser to open in new tab, I was so lazy to right click and open in new tab.. while reading interesting articles

By: Mike Panic

Mike Panic — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:09:49 +0000

I use open in new window for external links, open in same window for internal links.

That said, I have Firefox setup to open any “new window” link in a new tab, so for me as a user, it doesn’t really matter.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:53:32 +0000

After reading Darren’s original post on the topic and reading many replies, I changed all of my links to open in the same window.

I am generally annoyed with pop-ups and new windows as a reader and since I’m the only one reading my blog anyway, I figured I may has well just please myself.

Hmm, that might not have come out right.

By: pelf

pelf — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:44:59 +0000

I asked the same question on my blog not too long ago, and my handful of readers wanted links to open in new windows, just like I do! My own argument is that I do not want to be distracted as I am reading an article.

By: Russ

Russ — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:42:58 +0000

New windows are the most annoying thing a webmaster can do. If a visitor wants to open the link in another page they can do it with a simple right click. If they think your site is valuable then they will go back, if not then you have to improve your content.

By: Vijeesh

Vijeesh — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 06:45:41 +0000

The ‘Back’ button is one of the most used buttons in the browser. Keeping that in mind, opening an external link in the same window is preferable.
Readers may find ‘new links in new windows’ very annoying. And that is not what a writer would want to do.

By: Jermayn Parker

Jermayn Parker — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:27:11 +0000

Like I said in my previous comment and also my blog article about this situation. I am surprised but not surprised.

Most web designers know links should open in the same window but obviously the knowledge is not known to everyone and seeing since the rise of the web blog and myspace they probably do not know of certain web standards.