Small Business | Forum « Do YOU Right Click?

Do YOU Right Click? (7 posts)

Topic tags: menu options, open page in new tab, right click

E N Brown said
4 months, 2 weeks ago:
Morn’n Folks.
I have always been a right click person – I right click links and open them in a new page (tab) almost always. Not every one does this, in fact, the majority of people do not do this.
Some websites automatically open external links in a new tab, and others don’t. I’ve always had the mindset that all external links should open in a new tab.
Someone I know just launched a new website and anchor links don’t open in a new tab. I wondered about this as this person is a really savvy marketer.
So, what is your opinion on this? Yes, anyone can right click and open those links in a new tab but research shows that most folks don’t do that extra clicking on the right click menu. ALSO, some browsers don’t automatically have that option on the right click menu.
OH!pinions please.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Jules Webb said
4 months, 2 weeks ago:
Good Morning Eileen
There is a long standing argument about “to target_blank or not”
Many purists say that you should let the visitor decide how he/she want to open links. They believe it’s harmful for usability; for example, it stops the back button from functioning correctly, and takes some control out of the users hands. Additionally, TARGET=”_BLANK” won’t validate under HTML 4.01. Target=”_blank” assumes a windowed environment and XHTML didn’t want to make any assumptions. Now that we have HTML5 and it’s not as fussy as XHTML this is not that big of an issue.
The flip-side of this is that many, or even most, internet users do not know how to open a link in a new tab or window. From a marketing standpoint having links that leave your site open in the same window isn’t very smart.
Below are some basic rules I follow:
———————————————————
Open in a new window
- If opening a pdf, doc or some other document type
- If the link leaves the site
Open in same window
- links that open pages within the same website
I’m sure there may be some exceptions, but that about covers it. If you’d like to read more you can ck out
When (Not) To Use Target=”_Blank” Link Attribute
XHTML Valid Syntax for target=”_blank”
@juleswebb | # | Top
Kristy C. Cartier said
4 months, 2 weeks ago:
@supereb I agree with @juleswebb on the protocol. I stay “internal” if there is navigation within our site. I go “external” for PDF’s and outside articles. If I want a visitor to stay within our site for something, I will create a new page for it.
@kc_kreative | # | Top
Rich Brooks said
4 months, 2 weeks ago:
@supereb
As a lefty, I left-click, but I understand where you’re coming from.
I remember years ago a few people complained when I had external links open in a new window (this was before tabs were common place. Yes. I’m old.)
However, times change, and I like and try to employ @juleswebb‘s approach as often as I remember to.
@rich-brooks | # | Top
E N Brown said
4 months, 2 weeks ago:
HI @juleswebb — Yes, the details on this I knew. But it’s nice to have it spelled out for everyone. Thanks.
HI @kc_kreative — this is also exactly what I do too.
Hi @rich-brooks — I’m old too (sheesh) and remember that I had the same scenario(s) ‘back when’ from clients and friends alike, it was confusing to them.
But now, with most all browsers utilizing tabs, it seems it’s easier to remember that many people don’t have a clue about right click in the first place. Plus, with touch pads more people get that the right click menu is different depending on what item you may have highlighted. With the mouse (I still use one) it is not as evident that the right click button actually has a purpose.
Eileen
@supereb | # | Top
Claudia Poeckl said
4 months, 2 weeks ago:
I never right-click and am with the others – external links or docs should open in a new tab, internal links in the same tab. I think people get used to having more and more tabs open. I currently have 6 tabs open and sometimes I get up to 15 or even more. That requires some cleaning from time to time though
@claudiapoeckl | # | Top
Amy Hall, Virtual Assistant for WordPress and MailChimp Help said
4 months, 2 weeks ago:
@supereb I always right click. But I surf for work and want to be able to retrace my path. Internal links open in same tab. External links and pdfs open in new tab.
@amyhallbiz | # | Top