Comments on: External Links – To Open New Window or Not?

By: Lillie Ammann

Lillie Ammann — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 16:36:55 +0000

I agree with you, Calvin. I open external links within a post in a new window. That’s the way I prefer, and I guess we all tend to think everyone else is like us. :-)

There was a big discussion on this over at Problogger recently, and the opinions seemed to be about evenly divided on what bloggers preferred and did. It seems that tech blogs may do best without opening in a new window because technie users seem to prefer links opening in the same window. However, those who are less technically inclined, especially less-experienced Internet users, prefer new windows. I’m no techie, but I consider myself fairly Internet savvy … but I prefer new windows. And my observations are just what it looks like to me from the comments I’ve read on Problogger and Yvonne’s post, nothing more than my opinion.

By: Calvin Warr

Calvin Warr — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 00:50:08 +0000

Yes, Lorelle, its true that many people know how to use their browser, but with the Internet becoming more and more ubiquitous there also are many who use the browsers in the most basic of ways. Well, I guess everyone has their own style. But its true,the more sophisticated users know. For me, I alway right-click, open new tab. For those who disable right click, I leave. They must have something to hide! :evil grin:

Yay, Laura! :D

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:50:16 +0000

I use multiple windows as I surf as well.

By: Lorelle

Lorelle — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:44:38 +0000

Actually, the issue of forcing links to open in new windows has nothing to do with Web 2.0, whatever that is. I’m still waiting for a clean definition. It has to do with meeting web standards for accessibility, set by the W3.org.

And, research has shown that people read an article enough to determine if there is enough worthwhile to read before they click any links in the article and leave the page. And people not only know how to ue their back button, with tabs, they have learned how to use the center button of their mouse or the CTRL+click to open any link in a new tab, possibly leaving your page open in their browser for hours or days while they look at what you have to offer.

The incredible thing about the blogosphere is that it is a place where, by recommending someone leave your blog, if they find worthwhile content from your recommendations, they come back, often telling and bringing their friends with them. Link blogs are HUGE and popular, and all they do is tell people to leave their blog.

There are a lot of presumptions made on the web, but when you really look at how people use things, these are the myths that are perpetuated, not truths.

Forced links take control away from the reader. You want to put control back in their hands and you will have a loving audience.