How can the use of links affect -- positively or negatively -- the credibiity of a web author?
When an author uses links (as well as any other tools), he or she must be aware that the reputation is always at stake. This is a critical factor because if the author losses the reputation, it is hard to get back.
I have seen a number of site, with a wide spectrum of ways, in which links are used. Links can positively augment the author's credibility/image if the link help the reader to better understand the topic at hand. On the other hand, a negative image upon the site/author can be conveyed if many links are used
How much background about a link should your provide on the site where that link is? Are there situations where you may be trying to keep people on YOUR site, and thus have reason to not include links?
Background information on a link is a great idea due to the fact that it informs the reader. It give the reader a preview of the information on the other page/site. The preview that the author gives should be short and to the point. Some authors believe that links are "escape hatches" for readers to get out of their site. If this is the author's feeling, my advice is to write an abstacts about the information given in the link in order to retain the reader inside the author's page. Send any comments to moralp@rpi.edu