Importance of links

Are they important enough to get there own discussion

[agerhart]

(Sorry if this isn't the most exciting discussion, but it's got to be asked.)

I know that the bots and spiders like links, and they will follow them, so in that perspective they are good and they are beneficial to a site.

But:
Are there any other benefits to links?
How necessary are they overall? (large #s of them)
How much weight do the SE's put on the # of links to a page or site?

Thanks for the help. (my boss says thanks too)

-A Gerhart

[agerhart]

Also, when using a theme based structure for a site, is it important to have horizontal links?

[paynt]

My vote is yes, agerhart. With a themed site I have both horizontal and vertical linking, internally and externally. Each link is considered for its weight and purpose. Gone are the days when all links were good links. The link itself can make a powerful statement, so use it wisely. First get your internal linking together. If you have a clean, well themed and linked site with pertinent content throughout you will not only have a product attractive to spiders and human editors but to associates, clients or customers and linking partners.