Should Internal Links Open in a New Tab or the Same Tab?

We’ve all been there—juggling a mess of open tabs while trying to remember what we were doing. It’s a frustrating experience that can disrupt our focus. This raises a key question for website owners: should internal links open in a new tab or the same one? Keep reading to find out how a simple choice in link behavior can make a big difference.

Why Internal Links Should Open in the Same Tab

It’s not a major issue if you opt to have internal links open in a new tab, but it’s typically better to have them open in the same one. You’ll see that it has more overall benefits and potential to improve the user experience. After all, the average time spent on a page is only about 54 seconds, so it’s important to do what you can to keep visitors engaged and focused on your content.

1. It’s Less Confusing

External links can be a bit messy, especially if you already have multiple tabs open. It’s easy to lose track of the webpage you were initially reading while navigating through them all, and sometimes, you might not even realize a new tab has opened amidst the clutter. Keeping everything in the same place will help your website visitors stay oriented and focused.

2. It Helps Navigational Flow

Sometimes, when you open a link, you want to quickly return to the previous page. Whether it was an unintended click or you simply want to get back to where you started, having links open in the same tab streamlines this process, as you can typically just hit the back arrow.

3. It Simplifies the Mobile Experience

On mobile devices, managing multiple tabs can be even more cumbersome and exacerbate the problems above. Unlike on desktops, where tabs are lined up at the top of the screen, mobile browsers may require users to navigate through menus or navigate to a new screen to see all of their open tabs. Keeping links in the same tab helps avoid these complications.

When Is it Okay to Open Links in a New Tab?

While it’s better for internal links to open in the same tab a majority of the time, there are some instances where linking to a new tab may work better:

• Interactive elements: For links leading to downloadable files like PDFs or fillable elements like forms, opening in a new tab ensures users can access these resources without losing their place on your site.
• Reference materials: If users need to reference a checklist, guide, or instructions while completing a task on another page, opening the link in a new tab allows them to switch back and forth without losing progress. This can also be useful for blog posts referencing specific data points or details.
• Special actions: Links that perform specific actions, such as logging out or initiating a checkout process, are often better suited for a new tab to preserve the user’s session on the current page.
• External links: When linking to another website, opening the link in a new tab allows users to easily return to your site, helping to keep them engaged with your content for longer.

Internal Linking Best Practices

Deciding whether or not to open your website links in the same tab is just one part of the equation. To optimize your internal linking strategy, consider these best practices:

• Use anchor text that’s descriptive, contextual, and keyword-rich.
• Only link to internal pages that are relevant to the current page’s content.
• Don’t overwhelm users by placing an excessive amount of links.
• Prioritize linking to your website’s most important pages first.
• Regularly audit your internal links.

Whether determining link behavior or implementing these other internal linking best practices, maintaining a consistent approach across your site is crucial for creating a user and SEO-friendly experience. Need help refining your strategy? Look no further than Front Porch Solutions! We have a team of SEO experts ready to optimize your website in a way that’s best for both users and search engines. Don’t hesitate to get in touch!