I mostly use firefox these days when I’m working on my sites or visiting websites on the internet. I have the popup blocker turned on and I only allow a few sites to give me popups simply because the only way to get the sites to work is to allow popups.
However, lately I’ve found a number of sites that are some how able to bypass the browsers popup blocker controls. Several sites I visited yesterday ended up automatically giving me popup ads.
I hate that!
Seriously, if you’re site works in such a way that you occasionally need to send a visitor to another page while they are doing something on one page – for example registering for the site or for a contest and the reader is supposed to agree to the terms of service or contest rules – don’t make it a popup. Let the link take the visitor to another tab or window or at least give them a choice of whether the link should popup or take them to a new tab.
As for popup ads? Get rid of them! If you want ads for your site tastefully place them in your sidebar or fit them in your post. Honestly. I never ever click on popup ads and I will not ever click on a popup ad. Ever!