External links

[CaterTrade]

How important are forward links on a site? I know well placed back links on good ranking sites are important but how much value do SEs put into external links on your site? Would a linkless site be considered a 'black hole'?

Reason I ask is my company site has one external link which is to my now defunct web design company website. This site used to have various links to other client sites. Now the site is gone and just displays a holding page. Should I be worried of a black hole affect? How many external links (if any) should a business site have and to where?

[fisicx]

It should have as many as it needs. There is no hard and fast rule but if the link is relevant and of use to the visitor then put it in.

There may not be any SEO value but it may well help build trust with G.

[OldWelshGuy]

outbound links help to positon and theme your site within a cluster.

Google doesn't always like islands.

[CaterTrade]

Ok, I'll find a couple of relevant links then. Thanks