Content requires marketing and writing skills.
	Appearance requires design skills.
	Functionality requires web technical skills.

The reason there are so many poorly done sites is someone with none, or only one of these skills is creating the entire site.
All too often a technical person acts as the designer without enough design sense to know good from bad.
Or a designer makes weak attempts at marketing.
Like an ad, brochure, or salesman, your site represents your business. If it looks bad, confused, or amateurish, you will look the same.
A website is simply one form of marketing. Marketing done well will pay for itself and more. Done poorly, it is ultimately very costly.
The solution is easy, as with most other areas of your life look for evidence of ability; experience, samples, references, training, awards, etc.

sunvalleyopera.com	mobius.us
miaedsall.com	rockjackbooks.com
fabioinconcert.com	bbarb.com
robstruthers.com	kachphotos.com