Using target=”_blank” to Retain Readers (Updated)

This post is dedicated to Ron, our IT Guy, who has been trying to get me to use target=”_blank” in our outbound links for over a year. Sorry, Ron…you know…the ADD thing…

Now, where was I? Oh, yes! You know what’s really maddening as a blogger? When you research and post a great blogpost, with some great links, and when you check your “IP’s” and “actions” later on your stats, you realize, readers found your article, then promptly clicked out of our blog to your link, never to return. How can this be avoided?

Code your hyperlink to open in a new window (this makes it easier for your readers to get back to your article), by adding (minus the brackets): [target="_blank"] to your hyperlink, so it would look like this:

For more information about using hyperlinks, see “Adding Hyperlinks,” or the WWF Wiki.

Chad, of the Grizzly Groundswell, reminds us that if you are using the visual editor in Wordpress, one of the drop-down options available in the “link” box is the option to have the link open in a new window. Using this, you will not have to enter the code manually.

Also see:

• The FHK Hyperlinks Archive
• HTML Code Tutorial