Great websites link out and don’t try to hide the fact that the web is a series of connected entities. Making sure that we open external links in the same window instead of opening new windows and tabs actually encourages users to return to our site because they can click the back button and return more quickly. There has been extensive study about this.

On the web, the golden rule concept really pays off. Think of how you’d like things to work when you’re on a website, and make it work that way for your users. It’s annoying to see a website URL and not be able to click it. Users don’t have much patience for this kind of stuff and they pick up the fact that you’re trying to keep them on your site quite quickly.

There’s been a real trend in recent years to go the extra mile in providing useful links and information. Quite often blog writers will hyperlink terms in text that may be confusing off to dictionary.com or wikipedia. The concept is that if your site is useful and helpful users will return to keep reading.

The fact is, if people want to leave, they will. Instead of trying to find ways to trick them into staying, it’s better to build great content and useful links to augment your content that will keep them coming back.