There are hot debates ripping through the internet about whether outbound links on a blog should open in a new window or the same window. It’s a decision that every blogger has to make and then stick to. It’s only a minor detail, but it can be enough to annoy loyal readers and dissuade them from returning to your blog.

Darren from Pro Blogger said that he keeps his links opening in the same window.

My personal preference as a web surfer is that if I want to see a link in a new window (or tab – I’m a big tabbed browser fan) I’ll open it in one (and I do – regularly). I find it incredibly annoying when a new window opens up without me asking for it to. I have enough windows open on my desktop at any one time without needing more!

Initially I decided that I would have all external links open in a new window because it keeps people on your site, but from reading the dozens of comments on Pro Blogger, there are lots of people who find this annoying. In the end, 54% of people said links should open in a new window, and 46% said they should open in the same window.

I personally prefer all external links to open in a new tab, but there is a strong argument that readers of a blog should be given the opportunity to choose. Desi had this to say about the matter:

As you probably figured out by now, I’m not for opening new windows. By doing so it’s disrespectful to the user. If the user wants to open a new window then he or she will, but for the most part open external links to the same window.

I’ve now decided to let my readers choose and all external links will be made to open in the same window. I hope it doesn’t drive too many people away from this blog before it gets up and running.

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