Addressing the Web Developers' Forum of IIW 2000 on Friday, Mr Gulati outlined collection and analysis of user interaction data and consequently making intelligent decisions about what the user wants as a good way of making Websites a success.

Figuring out what the user wants, before he asks for it, was the biggest challenge faced by a Website. And don't forget the importance of personalisation of content, by profiling user actions on the site, and doing click-stream analysis. Mr Gulati also emphasised the need to know and interact with the customer as also analyse and personalise content for them in order to make them come back to the site. He outlined "allowable tortures" such as expanding/collapsing menus and mouseovers that a user would be willing to use in order to easily get to the desired information.

Things like a consistent and easy to use user-interface, prioritised product content, visually obvious hierarchy and minimisation of server round trips using client-side scripting and XML along with things like implementing good customer relationship management were the other must dos.

Mr Gulati also mentioned issues like relevant and high quality content, effective promotion and the ability of a site to evoke emotion as key selling points. Knowing about technological advances and designing for new features in browsers, or new navigation devices like tablet PCs and WAP enabled mobile phones is another not to be missed opportunity.