Article "open in new window": higher conversion or too spammy?

[Strider1973]

Hi - what do you think about opening intenral links (e.g. to poker articles and from one article to another) in new browser windows?

Do you think that this might lead to higher conversion rates or does this just too badly influence the user experience and looks too spammy?

[GregW]

Sounds like it would be really annoying to have internal links open in new windows. I can't think of why you would want to do that or how it could increase conversions?

[Randy Ray]

The only links I have open in new windows are external links, which seems to be a pretty standard practice these days.

[doovde]

If you have a resource list type page such as a list of poker strategy articles then I think it's OK to make them open in a new window to make sure your visitors don't lose the resource page.

Edit: not sure I explained that so well so if you take a look at my fruit machine tips section using that link you will see what I mean.

[Strider1973]

Thank you for your quick and good replies!

That's the way I will do it: I will have a strategy section with an overview of all articles. Each of the articles mentioned there will open in a new window. If I ever inter-link from one strategy article to another, I will not open a new window.

[GregW]

If you have a resource list type page such as a list of poker strategy articles then I think it's OK to make them open in a new window to make sure your visitors don't lose the resource page.

That's what the back button and good navigation structure is for.

I think it's great that you want to improve usability for your visitors but opening internal links in new tabs is the right way to do it. I would much prefer to not be made to open a new tab as I'm browsing around within 1 site.

Ask friends to browse around the site to see what they think about it.

[CasinoKev]

I think it's a bad idea to open internal links in a new window. Personally, if I'm on a resource-type page that I want to keep up, I'll just right-click and open in a new tab.

I've been on sites that open the internal links in a new tab/window and it annoys the crap out of me.

I do however, set my external links to open in a new window (esp. affiliate links).

[jdwanchalk]

I think it's a bad idea to open internal links in a new window. Personally, if I'm on a resource-type page that I want to keep up, I'll just right-click and open in a new tab.

I've been on sites that open the internal links in a new tab/window and it annoys the crap out of me.

I do however, set my external links to open in a new window (esp. affiliate links).

Right, this looks to be the perfect way to go about it. Keep your traffic on your site, so if they click an internal link they are still on your site, no need for a new page. External links drive them away, however, so you want them to remain on your site and the other one.

EDIT: Did not realize this was so old.

[NickM]

Opening internal links in new windows infuriates me. I will leave the site immediately no matter how good the content is. The two things I hate is opening internal links in a new tab/window and resizing my browser window. You do this, I am not one of your visitors any more.

[Randy Ray]

Opening internal links in new windows infuriates me. I will leave the site immediately no matter how good the content is. The two things I hate is opening internal links in a new tab/window and resizing my browser window. You do this, I am not one of your visitors any more.

Oh, man - I HATE it when a site resizes my browser window. Thanks for bringing that up.