How To Create Links That Open A New Window
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I enjoy to read Hubs and blogs. Often the author will go to the trouble of providing me with a link to a site containing supporting subject matter, or to a related photo. That’s very considerate; however, all too often that link whisks me away from the article I’m reading and I’m forced to hit my back browser button to return to the original article. It’s really frustrating and I’m sure many of you have had this experience. You could open a new browser window and navigate back to the original article, but that’s too much work and your already pissed off.
Change is Inevitable
Recently, HubPages made the decision to do away with the Advanced Editing feature that allows Hubbers to easily create "Target" links that open new windows. This user-friendly feature was one that set HubPages apart from HTML intensive blogger platforms such as Squidoo. Although the HP change is unfortunate and irritating, one can get around it; - you just have to use the HTML editing feature. You'll find that once you get the hang of it, it's not difficult to create links that open a new window and it is certainly worth the effort if you plan on keeping your readers on the page long enough purchase your Amazon selections or to Vote your Hub "Up" and "Useful".
You Can Do It! Here Are Step By Step Instructions:
I have HTML phobia and fingernails that generate typos more often than I care to mention but even I managed to learn how to use a simple HTML code that works wonders.
First create your link in the Text Edit Box, using the linking tool and Save. Then, Edit the paragraph again but this time click on the HTML tab in the capsule's action bar.
This opens the HTML source page for the entire capsule.
Scan the HTML and locate the link to the website you just created. It will start with the code <a href= followed by your link-to website, in quotation marks.
You then add the following code right after the last quotation mark:
target="_blank"
Here's An Example
I chose not to trash up my Topless Swimsuit Hub with a naughty photo of women’s breasts, so I provided a link to the photo. I don't lose my readers because my link opens in a different window. Once my readers have enough of the model’s perky mammaries, they can easily return to my article.
The illustration below shows what the HTML code looked like before I inserted the code to open it in a new window.
I clicked on the HTML button in the action bar, then I searched for the URL of the website I linked to. I have it highlighted in green. If you have trouble finding your link, do a Find Search for the word href. The link is right after it.
Since my link in quotes is “http://nohway.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/2-moffitt.jpg”
I will place the code
target=”_blank”
after the last quotation mark as shown in the illustration below..
Remember to carefully place your curser right after the closing quotation mark. Don't insert a space. Here is a photo of how the same HTML paragraph looks with the code inserted correctly.
Now Test the Link!
Save it and test the link. If you've done it correctly, your highlighted word will open the new site in a new window. I keep the target="_blank" code handy so I can just copy and paste it into my Hubs.
One Final Note:
As you may know, HubPages does not allow for HTML modification within the Link Capsule. Although that Capsule enhances the overall style of your Hub, clicking on any of the links within the capsule will cause your readers to navigate away from your Hub. If you do choose to use it, make sure you place it near the end of your hub, preferably after the Comments Capsule :)
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© Copyright Green Lotus, 2011. All rights reserved.
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You're welcome jill. Hope it helps.
Thanks so much for the tip. This will really come in handy.
This is great information. html drives me crazy but I am up for trying it! Good hub!
hi alek and smireles. Thanks. I'm sure you'll have no trouble.
I am trying to study this so I will know it to. And I think you so very much for sharing this knowledge with me, Green Lotus you are super.
You can't go wrong using the Hubpage method or just pasting the URL. Thanks for your kind works mjt1!
Great article!!
So happy to assist MS! Thanks for commenting.
Excellent hub. I definitely will do better on my linking. Thank you.
So nice to meet you and thanks for commenting! Glad to help
Very good tips.
I'll be sure to use them from now on.
You are so welcome Karen and thanks for stopping by for the read!
Wonderful stuff.... Many thanks for this :-)
You are so welcome De Greek and thanks for stopping by to comment!
this is definitely must have info. i just hope that i can get it done without falling on my face, trail and error here i come.......thx 4 share
Please don't fall on that face loveofnight, it's too cute. If you're creating Hubs, it's a snap, but I little cut and paste, trial and error will get you up and running with new windows on your other blogs. Good luck and thanks so much for commenting!
hi, i'm new here and i appreciate your wonderful tip.
Welcome and thank you 1_roy
Hahaha - don't p-off your readers. LOL
This is such a simple little how-to but so cute! I need to go fix my links.
hi audrevea! I had forgotten just how base I can be! LOL! Thanks for the comment and happy linking :)
I just found this. Thanks very much for the tutorial as I had no idea how to get a link to open in a new window until now :)
Izzy - You are most welcome. Glad to be of help!
Great article!
I always love such tricks to learn, and it gives me the feeling of being intelligent after knowing one. It is very helpful article as well, as we want our visitors not to leave our page/hub, even after clicking the embedded links.
Thank you Green Lotus!
ringa - Glad you found this helpful. Hubpages makes it easy but if you blog elsewhere, it's good to know a bit of easy html. Thanks!
nice hub, it will help the newbies greatly.
saleheensblog - Thank you for recommending my hub and for such kind words.
This was great. Helped me tremendously! Thanks so much for the post.
Phoenix - you are so welcome! Glad to be of help.
I didn't realize one could get at the html of one's hubs to edit directly. Good to know, since lately the 'advanced' options for the link tool don't seem to be available.
jponiato - HP is not as html intensive as some other sites like Squidoo, but it always helps to know the "link to new window" code. Thanks for the visit.
Green Lotus, you made my day! HubPages removed the advanced linking tool (which I always used to be sure that links opened in a new window and kept my readers on my page). I went to the forums to ask for help and Website Examiner sent me your link!!! :) I am a very happy girl! Voted WAY up and useful.
Sinea - Thank YOU for calling my attention to the fact that the "advanced" linking feature is no longer active. I changed the instructions to read "select from the drop-down menu called 'Target'. Select 'Open Link in a New Window'. Now click the Insert button and test your link." Good luck!
Green Lotus...it's as if they've been reading our mail (or comments). Last night I tested it out, again, and there was a new place to add the open in new window feature. Nonetheless, I am so glad to have the information you provided. ALL hubbers should set their links to open in a new window to not lose their readers too soon!
You are brilliant! I just added a link to a hub and had to use html (the tool did not offer open in new window, again). I did have to put one space before target for it to work though. THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this valuable information.
I have always made my links open in a new window. Since the latest HP changes, they removed the advanced option to do that. So the only way to do it now is with HTML as you explained in this hub. The target=”_blank” needs to be separated by a space however. You can also include rel="nofollow" in the link (after a space) so you don't lose seo ranking if you link to another domain. But that's an seo issue. I voted up and useful. Good work.
Wow, Glenn Stok thanks for the tip on rel="nofollow" ... I assume it is immediately inserted after the blank and then target="_blank" ? HTML is very new to me. In fact, I did not realize that linking to another domain could lose SEO ranking! Learning more every day.
Sinea Pies, to answer your question, yes. But the order doesn't really matter. Just as long as they are separated with a blank. As for SEO, there is a lot of controversy over that. Based on Google blogs, if you link to a low ranking site you will lower your ranking unless you use nofollow. I read somewhere that if you link to a high ranking site you might actually increase your rank.
I read that about high-ranking sites, too.
Glenn - thanks for the great tip on "no follow" and the advice not to link to too many low ranking sites. I didn't know that!
I just updated this Hub, so hopefully you all will have an easier time of it :)
Great hub and very helpful. Thanks, Green Lotus!
I will bookmark this one!
easylearningweb- You are most welcome! Since HP took away the "open in new window link" I've gotten more proficient in entering the target="_blank" code in the right spot! Good luck and thanks for commenting.
Thank you Hillary, this was helpful. I noticed Sinea has a new hub where she uses Glenn's advice to put a blank before the html for opening the window. Is he correct and if so, you might want to edit your instructions above that say "don't insert a space."
You're the best! =:)
Winsome - I have never worried about the blank space since my links have always opened in new windows. It could be that HP corrects the matter :). I will do some experimenting and I'll try the nofollow as well. Thanks for the visit!
jill of alltrades Level 3 Commenter 2 years ago
This is something I have to learn to do. Thank you very much for sharing!