Peadig

rel=”external” is now the XHTML valid version that informs search engine spiders that the link is external. However, using this does not open the link in a new window. target=”_blank” and target=”_new” does this, but is not XHTML valid.
This very simple plugin adds a small JS file to your header to let this happen!
<ul>
<li><a href="http://pleer.co.uk/wordpress/plugins/rel-external/" rel="nofollow ugc">rel=”external”</a> plugin homepage.</li>
<li>More <a href="http://pleer.co.uk/wordpress/plugins/" rel="nofollow ugc">WordPress Plugins</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://pleer.co.uk/wordpress/plugins/facebook-comments/" rel="nofollow ugc">Facebook Comments</a> Plugin</li>
<li><a href="http://pleer.co.uk/wordpress/plugins/wp-twitter-feed/" rel="nofollow ugc">Twitter Feed</a> Plugin</li>
<li><a href="http://twitter.com/alexmossSEO" rel="nofollow ugc">Follow @alexmossSEO on Twitter</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://alex-moss.co.uk/" rel="nofollow ugc">Alex Moss</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://pleer.co.uk/" rel="nofollow ugc">Pleer SEO</a>.</li>
</ul>

rel=”external” in a New Window

Opens a new window with rel="external" instead of having to use target="_blank" or target="_new"

Crucial Innovations

Comment Links New Tab will allow you to have your comment author name links open in a new tab or window. In other words, instead of leaving your site completely when clicked, they will open in a new tab.
This will increase the likelihood that visitors will continue browsing your website.
Simple, fast, and effective!
<h4>Some of the features include:</h4>
<ul>
<li>Whitelist your domain</li>
<li>Select a css class, id, or custom value</li>
<li>Enter a css value</li>
<li>Open comment links in a new tab or the same tab</li>
<li>Select keep original, external nofollow, nofollow, or dofollow rel (relationship) link attribute</li>
<li>Use an optional title</li>
<li>Option to Compress/Minify Js (javascript file)</li>
<li>Works with http:// and https:// links</li>
</ul>

Comment Links New Tab

Stop sending visitors away - open comment author links in a new tab or window with: Comment Links New Tab.

rel=”external” in a New Window vs Comment Links New Tab