Opening Links: Same Window or New Window - Which Do YOU Prefer?
As you may have guessed, this article is in regards to linking and primarily which is the best *code* to use when doing so.
Should you have it open in the same window…effectively drawing people away from your site…or a new window…leaving the original one in tact for the reader to go back too.
This thought popped into my head while reading a post by Lynn Terry, entitled Stop Linking To Your Home Page!
This is all about internal or deep-linking as it’s called. The act of linking to pages within your blog from outside sources OR from within the blog itself, as I did here in the first sentence.
We will get a lot more into the workings of internal deep-linking in the days to come, as it is VERY important for SEO. For our purposes here though, we will stick to one specific aspect - Same window/New window, how do visitors prefer they open.
After reading Lynn’s article, the ensuing comments led me to ask if opening links in a new window had any effect on the backlink to follow. The answer was a resounding NO. Phew! Good to know.
She then went on to add, and I quote “I have actually stopped using that code myself, generally having all links open in the same window. I find it annoying to click links on a page and end up with multiple windows open - so I’m making it a point to stop doing that on my own sites too.”
To which I replied “I just know for myself that I tend to get “lost” on sites, especially when each linked page leads to another…..easily done with massive internal linking. I try as I can to make everything as user-friendly as possible; perhaps this one is backfiring?”
I’m still waiting for any further replies, but ya know what? I never really thought much of the “annoyance factor”. Maybe a little, but I honestly assumed (eek!) that most would feel the same as I did…hey you’re on this blog for a reason, why would you want to be taken away right in the middle of an article?
That just never made sense to me.
Up to this point, including this article, all links within my articles open in a new window (I think). Future links are in YOUR hands! Since most will have differing opinions on this, I want yours.
So which is it? Do you prefer internal links to open in the same window OR a new popup window for each? Please leave your answer below, and if you have a why to follow, I’d love to hear it 
Never stop pushing forward!
Dennis
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Tags: article, Article Marketing Tips, linking strategy, links, outgoing links, seo
Michael
Sire
June 1st, 2008 at 3:12 am
Hi Dennis,
Like I said earlier (in our conversation at my blog), it really makes me no difference. If I want to open a page in a new tab or window, I right click and choose that option. If I dont, I copy the link and paste it in the address bar. Its become second nature for me over the years, to avoid losing my place - or to avoid having multiple windows flying open.
I look forward to hearing what others have to say, though - should be an interesting discussion!
Lynn Terrys last blog post..Perceived Value & The Psychology of Pricing
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June 1st, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I prefer having windows open in the same window. It’s much better than having 651687 tabs open and if I want it in a different window, I middle click it.
Blogging Tips And Trickss last blog post..How To Effectively Comment On High PR DoFollow/CommentLuv Blogs For Backlinks
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June 1st, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Back in the good old days before tabbed browsers and gigs of ram it was an issue because opening multiple browser windows overtaxed resources. But now that is no longer problem for most users it really is a personal preference.
As for me I have all of my internal links open in the same window. I might occasionally have an external link open in a new tab, but again it’s personal decision.
The bottom line is there are no hard and fast rules like there once was.
By the way Dennis, would you like to be a guest writer @ Blog Bloke? Send me an email and let me know.
Blog Blokes last blog post..Facebook Investigated by Canada for Violation of Privacy Laws
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June 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 am
I agree with Lynn Terry, it has no difference if you open it on the same window or not. It’s still your option in you want to.
If you don’t want to view multiple windows on your browser, then you have to open one a time.
Andy the Air Conditioning Experts last blog post..1
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June 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 am
LOL@651687 tabs open. Oh so true sometimes.
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June 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 am
True on that Bloke…ahh the good ‘ole days eh? It was big Gates himself who said the now infamous words “64K should be enough memory for anyone”.
It’s those “personal preferences” that I’m looking for here; MY preference is irrelevant…it’s all for the readers after all.
Btw, I’m flattered at the guest offer! I’ll be in touch as soon as I can, the immediate future is pretty packed
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June 2nd, 2008 at 12:44 am
True enough Andy, but I’d say (only my opinion here) that the larger percentage of surfers/readers simply left click a link without thinking twice about it.
So, in my ever-vigilante effort for user-friendliness I like to ask…see what ensues
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June 2nd, 2008 at 7:26 am
Just another personal preference here but I like new tabs for external links. I usually do it manually (center-click) because you ever know what a particular website will do. For internal links I prefer same window.
So there’s another opinion for you, Dennis.
Rachels last blog post..Blogging Income in QuickBooks
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June 2nd, 2008 at 7:38 am
Hi Dennis,
Its a personal choice for me,but I prefer a new window to link me through.
I can get frustrated with it opening on the same window and I tend to not visit or forget about the window I exited if it opens on the same page.
karas last blog post..1
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June 2nd, 2008 at 7:42 am
Hey guys, just enable the middle mouse button to open links in a new window. That’s what I do and it’s become such a habit for me I do it automatically without even thinking about it. Which is a good thing when you get to my age.
By the way, that’s not the first time Gates said something stupid, and I suspect it won’t be the last either.
Blog Blokes last blog post..Facebook Investigated by Canada for Violation of Privacy Laws
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June 2nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Thanks guys!
Rachel - an angle I didn’t consider, and I think I like it
Bloke - good tip, thanks!
It may sound stupid now, but since he’s the one that broke his own word, I’ll let it slide lol.
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June 4th, 2008 at 9:41 am
to me it really depends on which links are opening (on site of off site) and in what type of article. if it is a really interesting article, linking to must read posts, i prefer they open up in new windows so i can continue reading the article and then easily go on to the rest of the links.
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June 4th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
An interesting outlook Mirjam…if the link *directly* relates in some way.
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June 29th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Generally I will open a new window on a link that is leaving my site.
On the other hand if I am linking to a page on my site or even to one of my other sites I will not open a new window.
I have thought about just letting every thing link within the same browser window but I know that I use my mouse wheel to open each link into a new Tab so I just figured others don’t like to always lose the last pages they are on.
I know I could use the back button but I would rather just Control W to close a tab.
James Manns last blog post..Build A Niche Store Has A New BANS Template Thanks To Mark Hansen
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June 29th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I’ve actually concluded, mostly due to polling this post, that all my links will new window.
It seems most agree that same window linking and leading away from the page they’re on is most annoying to them, and not good for the bloggers stats either.
In-fact, I would think same window linking while internally linking to yourself to be one of the worst.
If you do considerable internal linking (which of course you should), then a reader could be back-spacing ’till tomorrow, assuming they don’t just leave in frustration.
That would not amuse me as the reader or blogger losing readers.
Very interesting conversation though :-).
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April 1st, 2009 at 7:20 pm
[...] quickie post since it’s my 3rd today. I asked this once last year and got an ok response. However, since I am starting a whole bunch of exact this type of work, I’m figuring to get [...]
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Well, you know my thought on this one already, but I’ll repost it here just to clarify. I have links open in a new window when it’s not part of my own blog; at least the blog I happen to be writing in at the time. If it’s my own blog, with internal links, I don’t have them open in a new window.
Now, if I knew that everyone in the world was using Firefox and had their browser set to open a new window without taking people away from the page they were presently reading, I might set things up differently. For now, though, I’d rather they at least stay on my own site.
Mitch´s last blog post..April Income Statistics - Getting Better, Getting Worse
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Dennis Edell Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 3:54 pm
@Mitch, Opening internal links in new windows still keeps them on site…
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Mitch Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
@Dennis Edell, Oh, I know; it’s that bounce rate thing, plus it just feels, to me, more like I’m being taken elsewhere. Also, it changes up how Analytics sees someone’s time on a site, because it considers a new window as a new visit. Kind of like why it’s better to try to eliminate that “index.html” line from coming up all the time.
Now, if I’m doing it on my own (opening multiple windows), which I do often, then that’s something different.
Mitch´s last blog post..Six Things I’ve Learned About Affiliate Marketing
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Dennis Edell Reply:
May 4th, 2009 at 9:35 am
@Mitch, True, but again I (personally speaking) am much more interested in reader ease then my own stats.
If I see a new reader comment, then comment 4 more times that month and beyond, and/or my subscriber numbers climbing…there’s my good time stats.
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