I can guarantee that my Top 10 list is going to look a lot different than your Top 10 list on any given topic. Try to get consensus from your office coworkers on a favourite lunch spot and you'll get the picture.

When you start telling people that you're considering redeveloping your website, be prepared to get lots of advice, provided absolutely free of charge whether you want it or not. Everyone's got an opinion on best practices for web development. And everybody has a Top 10 list of Do's and Don'ts.

Some will tell you that you must absolutely integrate a hosted content management system. Others will tell you that only an Open Source CMS will do. Still others will caution you with grim tales of website development projects gone of the rails; of mad programmers shutting down sites; of security nightmares that threatened their very sanity. Take it all with a grain of salt. Relax. How bad can it be? It's only my website, right?

When you begin to plan your site's redevelopment, start by writing your own wish list. What functionality must you absolutely have? What is the purpose of your website? Who is going to use it? What are you willing to pay for it? If you can start to ask and answer these kinds of questions then you are well on your way to avoiding the Top 10 pitfalls of website design and development.