Comments on: Don’t Force New Windows On Your Visitors http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/ Helping you build search engine friendly websites Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:29:40 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Steven Bradley http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-135886 Steven Bradley Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:11:06 +0000 http://www.vanseodesign.com/blog/uncategorized/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/#comment-135886 As far as I know it shouldn't make any difference. As far as I know it shouldn’t make any difference.

]]> By: Brij Sharma http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-135559 Brij Sharma Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:39:38 +0000 http://www.vanseodesign.com/blog/uncategorized/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/#comment-135559 I was wondering if opening a link on new tab/window has any consequences on SEO. Personally I believe it doesn't have any. Is there any reason that I might be wrong? I was wondering if opening a link on new tab/window has any consequences on SEO.
Personally I believe it doesn’t have any.
Is there any reason that I might be wrong?

]]> By: Steven Bradley http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-3661 Steven Bradley Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:08:42 +0000 http://www.vanseodesign.com/blog/uncategorized/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/#comment-3661 You can tell they aren't my favorite either. I don't mind in some cases if the site gives me some warning that a new window will open. What gets to me the most is how people think it keeps you on their site when it does no such thing. I don't think the new window does anything to keep visitors and since modern browsers allow us to open a new window or tab whenever we want I don't see the need to force the new window. But like you if clients want it that's what they'll get along with reasons why they might not want to. You can tell they aren’t my favorite either. I don’t mind in some cases if the site gives me some warning that a new window will open.

What gets to me the most is how people think it keeps you on their site when it does no such thing. I don’t think the new window does anything to keep visitors and since modern browsers allow us to open a new window or tab whenever we want I don’t see the need to force the new window.

But like you if clients want it that’s what they’ll get along with reasons why they might not want to.

]]> By: dabigo http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-3526 dabigo Sat, 31 May 2008 18:11:18 +0000 http://www.vanseodesign.com/blog/uncategorized/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/#comment-3526 New windows are rude, end of story. If I want a new window or tab it is easily enogh accomplished. I get in discussions on this topic with my partner regularly. I have talked to customers about it as well, though they are paying the bill so if they want a new window they get it. New windows are rude, end of story. If I want a new window or tab it is easily enogh accomplished. I get in discussions on this topic with my partner regularly. I have talked to customers about it as well, though they are paying the bill so if they want a new window they get it.

]]> By: » Links Opening In New Windows http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-869 » Links Opening In New Windows Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:56:22 +0000 http://www.vanseodesign.com/blog/uncategorized/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/#comment-869 [...] I also came upon a post “Don’t Force New Windows On Your Visitors” by Steven Bradley at this site, YellowHouseHosting that shares a different opinion. [...] [...] I also came upon a post “Don’t Force New Windows On Your Visitors” by Steven Bradley at this site, YellowHouseHosting that shares a different opinion. [...]

]]> By: Steven Bradley http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-868 Steven Bradley Wed, 11 Jul 2007 02:56:45 +0000 http://www.vanseodesign.com/blog/uncategorized/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/#comment-868 Apparently a lot of people like the new tab or window opening. I'm still not one of them. I do realize I'm savvy enough to know how to open links in a new tab and that's how I surf too. But I don't like the choice being taken away from me. I also fail to see how using a back button is difficult of confusing. It's one of the first buttons people learn to use in a browser and it's very self explanatory. I accept Adam's (Forrest SEFL is Adam if you didn't realize) explanation that the big 'X' for close is a carry over from desktop applications and may be sightly less confusing. By the way since you're among the savvy, alt+ Apparently a lot of people like the new tab or window opening. I’m still not one of them. I do realize I’m savvy enough to know how to open links in a new tab and that’s how I surf too. But I don’t like the choice being taken away from me. I also fail to see how using a back button is difficult of confusing. It’s one of the first buttons people learn to use in a browser and it’s very self explanatory. I accept Adam’s (Forrest SEFL is Adam if you didn’t realize) explanation that the big ‘X’ for close is a carry over from desktop applications and may be sightly less confusing.

By the way since you’re among the savvy, alt+

]]> By: Forrest http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-867 Forrest Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:57:02 +0000 http://www.vanseodesign.com/blog/uncategorized/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/#comment-867 I have to agree with SELF. ( ;-) ) The back button is unreliable. Between AJAX, redirects, frames, and all kinds of other fun, I really don't trust it. Personally, I use the drop-down menu right next to the back button, that displays the last ten or so URLs you've navigated to, and jump to the one I want. Or start typing into the address bar until it suggests the right one. Or navigate forward around the circle until I'm back where I started. When I'm reading something that's important or interesting enough, I'll follow some of the more promising links. But I'll always do that in a new tab; I don't want to loose my place. I find it a little annoying that I can't count on the links to open in new tabs, and have to follow them through a context menu, but such is life. The "target='_blank'" links in Yahoo's SERPs are the one feature I wish Google would copy from them. I don't think necessarily I've lost someone who's clicked one of my links. The person could be checking something quickly and planning to return - no reason to make that more difficult. Or someone is multi-tasking. You could say my web site is personal and non-commercial, or you could say it's commercial, but created for "intangible" benefits. It grew out of the same general process as the software I've written on my own time; I'm my own preference and acceptability tester. I can't please everyone, but I can please myself. I have to agree with SELF. ( ;-) ) The back button is unreliable. Between AJAX, redirects, frames, and all kinds of other fun, I really don’t trust it. Personally, I use the drop-down menu right next to the back button, that displays the last ten or so URLs you’ve navigated to, and jump to the one I want. Or start typing into the address bar until it suggests the right one. Or navigate forward around the circle until I’m back where I started.

When I’m reading something that’s important or interesting enough, I’ll follow some of the more promising links. But I’ll always do that in a new tab; I don’t want to loose my place. I find it a little annoying that I can’t count on the links to open in new tabs, and have to follow them through a context menu, but such is life. The “target=’_blank’” links in Yahoo’s SERPs are the one feature I wish Google would copy from them.

I don’t think necessarily I’ve lost someone who’s clicked one of my links. The person could be checking something quickly and planning to return – no reason to make that more difficult. Or someone is multi-tasking. You could say my web site is personal and non-commercial, or you could say it’s commercial, but created for “intangible” benefits. It grew out of the same general process as the software I’ve written on my own time; I’m my own preference and acceptability tester. I can’t please everyone, but I can please myself.

]]> By: SEFL http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-865 SEFL Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:13:11 +0000 http://www.vanseodesign.com/blog/uncategorized/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/#comment-865 You're missing one subtle but key element in all of this, which most people do when they present the "back button vs. close" argument: the "close window X" is a feature of all Windows programs (Windows being the OS that generally appeals to the tech-savvy), whereas a back button is unique to web browsers and a select few other applications (and of those other applications, none resemble the back button on a browser.) I deal with a large number of techno-children, and every one that has been approached with this question has answered it the same way; they prefer external links to open in a new window. Much of it also depends on context, too. If you're referring to a list of links, then yeah, there may be a case where they should open in the same window because someone is leaving the site at that point. But in the case of say a blog post with relevant external links, opening external links in a new window to provide reference points without forcing the user to hit the back button (they can close a window, or hit ) makes sense. Seriously, dude, you're about the only person I've ever seen who gets upset by this. Darren's poll aside, I think you're making a big deal out of nothing on this issue. You’re missing one subtle but key element in all of this, which most people do when they present the “back button vs. close” argument: the “close window X” is a feature of all Windows programs (Windows being the OS that generally appeals to the tech-savvy), whereas a back button is unique to web browsers and a select few other applications (and of those other applications, none resemble the back button on a browser.)

I deal with a large number of techno-children, and every one that has been approached with this question has answered it the same way; they prefer external links to open in a new window.

Much of it also depends on context, too. If you’re referring to a list of links, then yeah, there may be a case where they should open in the same window because someone is leaving the site at that point. But in the case of say a blog post with relevant external links, opening external links in a new window to provide reference points without forcing the user to hit the back button (they can close a window, or hit ) makes sense.

Seriously, dude, you’re about the only person I’ve ever seen who gets upset by this. Darren’s poll aside, I think you’re making a big deal out of nothing on this issue.

]]> By: Steven Bradley http://www.vanseodesign.com/web-design/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-866 Steven Bradley Tue, 10 Jul 2007 05:39:17 +0000 http://www.vanseodesign.com/blog/uncategorized/dont-force-new-windows-on-your-visitors/#comment-866 My main argument has nothing to do with the back button though. My argument is the new window takes away my choices. Opening links in the same window doesn't take away any choice for anyone. You can still open the link in a new window or tab if you want. I don't appreciate when someone else is dictating to me how I can do something that's my business not theirs. I take it that's one vote for me being a raving lunatic. My main argument has nothing to do with the back button though. My argument is the new window takes away my choices. Opening links in the same window doesn’t take away any choice for anyone. You can still open the link in a new window or tab if you want. I don’t appreciate when someone else is dictating to me how I can do something that’s my business not theirs.

I take it that’s one vote for me being a raving lunatic.

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