Publisher’s Hot Tip | Open Links in New Tabs for a Smoother User Experience
Do You Manage or Design a Website or Blog?
Optimize User Experience by Ensuring Links Open in a New Tab
By making it easy for visitors to explore new content without losing their place, you can keep them engaged on your site longer and create a smoother browsing experience.
Watch the video to see how this user-centric approach will show visitors you value their time. Don’t let them get lost in a sea of tabs!
More Hot Tips from UP's Publisher
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When Goodreads launched in 2007, it gave readers who also liked computers a fun social catalog for books. It’s a free website and app where you can track what you’re reading, rate and review books, join groups, and peek into other people’s shelves. It’s pretty cool, in theory. I can’t remember exactly when I joined Goodreads, but my profile photo dates back to 2016—and I’m pretty sure I signed up before Amazon bought it in […]
Publisher’s Hot Tip | Use Page Breaks, Not the Enter Key
Are You an Author or Creator Sharing Documents? When formatting your manuscript or other document, avoid the rookie mistake of pressing Enter repeatedly to start a new page. Instead, use the Page Break function, which is cleaner and more professional and ensures your formatting stays intact across devices. Here’s why Page Breaks are essential Consistency: Chapters or sections will always begin on a fresh page. Professionalism: Clean formatting makes a great first impression on publishers, […]
Publisher’s Hot Tip | Fact-Check Using ChatGPT in Seconds
In a world where misinformation spreads quickly, especially on social media, fact-checking is more important than ever. According to the Pew Research Center, one in five Americans receive their daily news from social media platforms. In the same survey, 64% of adults said that “fake news” caused confusion about basic facts, and 23% admitted to sharing misinformation—sometimes unknowingly. So, what can you do when you come across something questionable while scrolling? The answer is simple: […]
UP’s Publisher’s Hot Tips
Welcome to UP’s Publisher’s Hot Tips, where I share quick, actionable insights on writing, publishing, and some of the things that come up along the way. These tips are practical and easy to apply—though not every tip will be for everyone. I hope you’ll find something that clicks. Got a question or a tip of your own to share? Email me or drop a comment on this post. stephanie@unencumberedpress.com
October 25, 2024 @ 8:40 pm
I remember this being a hotly debated topic in my 400-level UX class, and like you, I always landed on the side of a new window/tab. In my design practice, I try to balance the client’s desires with the end-user’s behaviors. In other words, what do your typical users prefer? Do you have any recommendations on survey design best practices or tools for polling users on UX/UI preference?
October 26, 2024 @ 4:58 pm
Balancing client goals with user preferences is definitely a tightrope. I lean toward opening links in a new tab since most users are comfortable with tabs and often prefer not having to navigate back to the original site. That said, I haven’t gathered formal user feedback on this, so I’m open to debate! Embedding surveys or polls directly within the main content or using a lightbox can be great alternatives to keep users on the page without redirecting them. I also recommend keeping surveys brief and focused for the best response rates.