It seems logical to open external links in new browser windows to keep visitors from leaving your blog/site, so that they return later on. However, this is a web design mistake that should be avoided. While others still don’t realize that this is a mistake, many bloggers who made this mistake when they first started out, have changed.
Why is this a mistake?
This method of getting visitors to return to your site defeats its own purpose, because most web users are accustomed to utilizing the back button to return to a site instead of closing a window. Most importantly, it ruins the user experience by opening several windows and polluting their screens. By not setting external links to open in new browser windows, the visitor has the choice of opening links in any way he/she may want. It’s a privilege that should be not taken away from the visitor.
Why haven’t I noticed this mistake earlier?
A reason is that I don’t navigate my own blog like visitors usually do, but the main reason is that I set my browser to open new pages in new tabs instead of new windows. So, external links would open in new tabs, which is not that bad. By the way, these are not excuses, I apologize for making this mistake.
For the bloggers , have you ever made a web design mistake before?
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Don’t Make the Same Web Design Mistake I Did
What web design mistake?
It seems logical to open external links in new browser windows to keep visitors from leaving your blog/site, so that they return later on. However, this is a web design mistake that should be avoided. While others still don’t realize that this is a mistake, many bloggers who made this mistake when they first started out, have changed.
Why is this a mistake?
This method of getting visitors to return to your site defeats its own purpose, because most web users are accustomed to utilizing the back button to return to a site instead of closing a window. Most importantly, it ruins the user experience by opening several windows and polluting their screens. By not setting external links to open in new browser windows, the visitor has the choice of opening links in any way he/she may want. It’s a privilege that should be not taken away from the visitor.
Why haven’t I noticed this mistake earlier?
A reason is that I don’t navigate my own blog like visitors usually do, but the main reason is that I set my browser to open new pages in new tabs instead of new windows. So, external links would open in new tabs, which is not that bad. By the way, these are not excuses, I apologize for making this mistake.
For the bloggers , have you ever made a web design mistake before?