jQuery-based outbound link tracking with cases for new window as well as same window locations

Outbound Link Tracking - Google Analytics.js

/**
 * Outbound link tracking
 * 
 * This code largely based on examples from 
 * [Google Analytics Help](http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?answer=55527).
 */
jQuery(function($){
	$('a:not([href*="' + document.domain + '"])').click(function(event){
		// Just in case, be safe and don't do anything
		if (typeof _gat == 'undefined') {
			return;
		}
		
		// Stop our browser-based redirect, we'll do that in a minute
		event.preventDefault();
		
		var link = $(this);
		var href = link.attr('href');
		var noProtocol = href.replace(/http[s]?:\/\//, '');
		
		// Track the event
		_gat._getTrackerByName()._trackEvent('Outbound Links', noProtocol);

		// Opening in a new window?
		if (link.attr('target') == '_blank') {
			/* If we are opening a new window, go ahead and open it now
			instead of in a setTimeout callback, so that popup blockers
			don't block it. */
			window.open(href);
		}
		else {
			/* If we're opening in the same window, we need to delay 
			for a brief moment to ensure the _trackEvent has had time
			to fire */
			setTimeout('document.location = "' + href + '";', 100);
		}
	});
});

The problem with window.open is that the referrer will be lost. A better solution is to use onmousedown instead of onclick. Having done some tests, I know this work better that using window.open or using setTimeout. You got some false positive from people clicking the right mouse button and not choosing "Open in new tab" or "Open in new window", but onclick doesn't always fire for middle and right click on all browser. It's a choice between the lesser of two evils here.

jQuery(function($){
  $('a:not([href*="' + document.domain + '"])').mousedown(function(event){
    // Just in case, be safe and don't do anything
    if (typeof _gat == 'undefined') {
      return;
    }

    var link = $(this);
    var href = link.attr('href');
    var noProtocol = href.replace(/http[s]?:\/\//, '');

    // Track the event
    _gat._getTrackerByName()._trackEvent('Outbound Links', noProtocol);
   });
});

Hi,

onmousedown worked great for me

<a href="#" onmousedown="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Videos', 'Play', 'Baby\'s First Birthday']);">My Link</a>

Better the than the Google code: Outbound links https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/1136920?hl=en.

There is a bit of a setback in the last script. If the address is using relative domain it will be counted as externel. We can do a simpe check:

jQuery(function($){
  $('a:not([href*="' + document.domain + '"])').mousedown(function(event){
    // Just in case, be safe and don't do anything
    if (typeof _gat == 'undefined') {
      return;
    }

    var link = $(this);
    var href = link.attr('href');
    if (href.charAt(0) != '.' && href.charAt(0) != '#' && href.charAt(0) != '/) {
       var noProtocol = href.replace(/http[s]?:\/\//, '');

       // Track the event
       _gat._getTrackerByName()._trackEvent('Outbound Links', noProtocol);
    }
   });
});

This will check if the first char is a part of a relative domain name.

mousedown doesn't mean they clicked the link. You could get false data if they click on the element and drag away (not finishing the mouseup on the element).