Helping a friend

Vincent Flanders asked at Web Pages That Suck what you would do if your spouse had a website that sucked? I think this applies to any family or friend who knows your are involved in web sites. Here are my thoughts: I'd do two things...

1. Give him/her a copy of Web-Usability by Jakob Neilsen. It's more subtle than Vincent's book.

2. I'd ask him/her to show you their best competitor's website, then ask them what makes it the best. Maybe compare it one-for-one with their site.

Then make a list of things that they should/can add to their site to make it more like that competitor. That will help them focus and be ready to dump certain techniques.