The quality of the relationship between a client and his or her web developer has a lot of bearing on how good the finished site will be. Too often the horse is put before the cart or as you will see below, the racing car before the racing driver. Let me explain. The client looks to the web dev person to do the work. Thats fine. But whose driving whom?
The web client
Drives the developer. If the client can drive fast the developer can go fast. If the driver has no idea about web, the site will lack a strategic direction and probably be unsuccessful. The world's best racing car is not very impressive without a decent driver.
The web developer
Driven by the web client. When pointed in the right direction and driven with purpose and meaning can do amazing things. Can idle for ages with absent driver.