BigDave - 10:46 pm on Dec 14, 2002 (gmt 0)

PageRank of a specific page is unaffected by outbound links. Where some people around here worry about PR leak, thinking that they can send that PR to some of their own internal pages, but in reality, most navigation schemes will still recycle most of your PR back to your own pages it only a little going to other pages.

There might be a benefit to having outgoing links in other parts of the algorithm though. I personally recommend it because it is the way that the web is supposed to be. Having good on topic outgoing links, even to your competitors, can improve your standing in the eyes of your customers.

In a bricks and mortar case, there is an industry where they sell widgets (that you sit in and paddle around on the ocean) where two of the most well respected companies in the area have talked me out of purchasing their products and suggest that another store has something that would serve me better. The other store was high pressure, I bought what I needed from them but the store that wanted to make sure I got the right item earned my loyalty, and more importantly my trust.

If you are a good resource, you will make it into peoples bookmarks, and you will get the repeat business.