Web master tips - New Window Pop Up NO No
7-1-2009
As you probably know, there are many tips and tricks to creating a totally "Google friendly" website. One tip I can give that I see many webmasters ignoring is the "blank target" designation when linking, also known as "open in new window feature". DO NOT OPEN IN NEW WINDOW UNLESS TOTALLY NECESSARY!
The reason webmasters do this is usually selfish in nature. They want you to see the new site they are linking to but not leave theirs and eventually forget about it. But people hate when their computer locks, even if it is just for a few seconds, while their browser opens a new window. Google has realized this and has assigned merits and demerits for this feature. If you have a site loaded with new pop up windows, you will be punished, bottom line. Google themselves do not follow their own advice though, because when navigating within their webmasters section you will run into a few of these. This is a bit hypocritical, but hey, it's Google, they do what they want.
Google wants the surfer to be able to rip through content and not have to suffer through 50 new window opens. I have to tell you I think it is a good idea because I hate when I have many windows open at once. The only time you should have this feature enacted is if the new pop up goes along directly with info on your page that is still needed to correlate with the info in the new window.
- Brad Taylor
