Forcing links to open in new window bad for SEO?

johnlagoudakis · 09-03-2009, 04:30 AM

I like to set the external links on my blog to open in a new window (using the "_blank" feature in the html code).

The reasoning behind it being that I want my site to be around after the visitor clicks on the link.

My questions is, is this bad for SEO? Do Google and other search engines look down upon this?

I did a search on the forum but couldn't find anything on this issue.

Solidsnake · 09-03-2009, 04:31 AM

I don't think so.. I've been using the same strategy ever since without any problem..

CliveG · 09-03-2009, 06:16 AM

I don't think that it makes any difference to SEO, but I hate it when sites do that. I like to choose whether or not I should open a link in a new page or tab. I understand why you want to do it though.

UnseenRevolution · 07-27-2011, 09:56 PM

You really can make the change with JavaScript unobtrusively and it will not show up in the HTML that spiders will be crawling.

I like jQuery. You can find the link in my sig

JustaWizard · 07-27-2011, 11:52 PM

I can tell you for sure that setting hyperlinks to open in a new window will have zero effect positive or negative on your SEO efforts.

Hope that helps!

David

09-03-2009, 04:30 AM	#1
johnlagoudakis JohnLagoudakis.com War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 354 Blog Entries: 8 Thanks: 33 Thanked 48 Times in 36 Posts Social Networking	Forcing links to open in new window bad for SEO? I like to set the external links on my blog to open in a new window (using the "_blank" feature in the html code). The reasoning behind it being that I want my site to be around after the visitor clicks on the link. My questions is, is this bad for SEO? Do Google and other search engines look down upon this? I did a search on the forum but couldn't find anything on this issue.
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09-03-2009, 04:31 AM	#2
Solidsnake Banned Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 999 Thanks: 38 Thanked 75 Times in 56 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Forcing links to open in new window bad for SEO? I don't think so.. I've been using the same strategy ever since without any problem..

09-03-2009, 06:16 AM	#3
CliveG Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cornwall, United Kingdom Posts: 656 Thanks: 14 Thanked 47 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Forcing links to open in new window bad for SEO? I don't think that it makes any difference to SEO, but I hate it when sites do that. I like to choose whether or not I should open a link in a new page or tab. I understand why you want to do it though.

07-27-2011, 09:56 PM	#4
UnseenRevolution Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 8 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Social Networking	Re: Forcing links to open in new window bad for SEO? You really can make the change with JavaScript unobtrusively and it will not show up in the HTML that spiders will be crawling. I like jQuery. You can find the link in my sig
	jQuery External Links New Window

07-27-2011, 11:52 PM	#5
JustaWizard SEO Expert & Author War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, WA USA Posts: 486 Thanks: 201 Thanked 57 Times in 31 Posts Social Networking	Re: Forcing links to open in new window bad for SEO? I can tell you for sure that setting hyperlinks to open in a new window will have zero effect positive or negative on your SEO efforts. Hope that helps! David
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