open in new window or not

not sure if this belongs to SEO, but it is related to web traffic, so...

I have always been using _blank to open new windows for links that point to other websites since I do not want my visitors to leave my website, esp when I have alot of outbound links.

however, target="_blank" is not compliant with xhtml 1.0 and I was thinking of removing it or using alternatives.

I read on another forum that opening new windows irritates users and I know that. so my qns is: should I remove the _blank attribute or keep it. I am not concern about xhtml validation but more on user friendly and keeping returning traffic

 

You're right, this doesn't belong in the SEO board. And yes, you should remove it. Give your users a choice - especially those who are just passing by via the search engines.

 

There is an option always we have "right click and open in new window". So if users want to open the available link in another window, he can. So you need to use _blank option. But it never minds

 

If I was u then I'll continue with _blank

 

yeah, but how many ppl bother to right click and open in new window. I know I don't. I just leave the webpage and nv come back 90% of the time, something I don't want my visitors to do.

and sry for posting in the wrong board. I wanted to post in HTML and Design, but wondered if the active posters there are familiar with web traffic.

 

Some of us are, especially deathshadow, soulscratch, Stomme poes and myself.

 

I think doesn't matter man

 

If all you care about are the search engines, then no, it won't. But then again, if all someone cares about are the search engines, then they have no excuse crying to me that their site doesn't perform well.