reprint - 10:26 pm on Aug 17, 2007 (gmt 0)

Ok, its hard to talk about in generic terms but let me try. Linking back to the original source gives the article more credibility and for those who are academically minded, they like to see sources. So in effect it seems to build up trust and authority.

Primary literature hadn't linked back to me and i don't expect it to but you never know. I haven't seen any .edu sites link to me yet but thats a possibility too.

The interesting links have not been from the same topic but from related topic sites. Those that are experts in their own area but wish to point their customers/clients to related easy to read quality information.

As an example, one can take government census data and build an article around it. A fairly recent example of this was done by the NY times if i remember correctly where they wrote an article saying that the latest data showed more women were single than married. If you watch what professional reporters do, then you will get ideas.

Hope that helps