These 10 “things” are in no particular order and it’s basically my opinion so take from it what you will and what you need.
Now have fun reading my first big article.
If at any point I’m totally wrong feel free to correct me + if you liked the article follow me on twitter!
10 Things a Web Designer Should Be Able To Do.
1. Xhtml and Css W3C Compliant Code.
Compliant W3C code is a must these days web designers must be able to code xhtml/css compliant code, I’m not saying you need to do it first time but it shouldn’t take you all day, if your only one doing a small 1-3 paged website.
Now if you look at Sindustries xhtml/css you will notice both aren’t valid but learning by DOING will make me a better coder. 
Css – Sindustries w3c Css Results
Xhtml - Sindustries w3c Html Results
2. Basic S.e.o.
Basic S.E.O I would say consisted of the following: -
- Html site-map
- Google Site-map
- Title tags on links
- Alt & title tags on images
- Meta tags and good use of Google Keyword Tool
SEO these days is pretty much as deep as the ocean but the steps above are what I do to help my site get found but ill go in depth in another article as even at a basic level it is still pretty long.
Html Site-map – I use a html Site-map if Google Site-map isn’t available but I often use both (I like to have best of both worlds) and if god forbid should anything happen I’d have my html site-map.
Now on to Google site-map’s with Google Webmaster tools:
Google Site-Map -Now Google says that site-maps are supposed to help with the indexing of large and small websites now there is speculation that having a Google site-map is bad and there is evidence to suggest that having a Google site map hinders pages being indexed but again that’s something for you to look into. 
Title tags on links – Give Google a little help with a keyword (oh how we just love them keywords hehe) with the title=”keyword phrase” in your anchor tags and will give Google a little more info for what the link is about.
Alt & title tags on images – Ok now you may think that you only need alt=”” tags on your images well think again!
Alt tags are for describing images in text based browsers and providing and an ALTernitive way for a user to “see” the picture and is also the text displayed if the image is broken huzza!
There is indeed a “but” here and that is the title tag now the alt=”” tag provides an alternative the users needs the title=”” tag to see the image tool-tip when the image is hovered over and provides a description!
Now don’t pack these with keywords but do put keywords in the tags.
Meta tags and good use of Google Keyword Tool – Now-a-days Google doesn’t really require Meta tags as it can grab meta information from the actual page itself.
I use Lee Johnson Google Serp Tool and the Google Keyword Tool now I cant tell you whats best way to write meta tags but just look at how other big companies have done it and take things from there.
3.Make site’s Render Correctly in IE 6 and today’s most used browsers.
I personally think its important that you have your website render correctly in today’s modern browsers, I go for IE7, Firefox 3, Safari and Opera.
I often find IE6 to be my downfall but your site should render correctly in all modern browsers and render at least 90% of how it should look in IE 6.
Use Browser shots to see screen grabs of your site in different browsers!
4.Make sure image’s have a naming convention.
Having a naming convention or even naming you images correctly helps your site in Google image search so instead of
rtjrtjtjotjtojtjojpg.jpg becomes Paisley-Daily-Express.jpg
This helps your site’s images in google image search.
5.Make sure all flash is accessible and searchable.
With all these fancy pants flash websites with their fancy effects…no good if you want a good position in Google and if your wanting people using text browsers and such to browse your site.
1. Window > Accessibility (Path to accessibility panel) – Just fill the boxes in with the information such as a title and a description then publish and bobs your uncle .
2. Google sitemap / xml Site map – Google saves the Day with googles sitemap or any xml site map the robots will still be able to find your content huzza!
3. If your doing advertising and the like always publish a Gif as well just means that people that view your ad even with flash disabled.
6.Make sure a site is user friendly (usability).
If you’re a business and offer product’s or a service you wish to sell you must be concerned about usability.
I personally follow Jakob Nielsen’s Newsletter best source for up-to-date usability tips and you could even read his books.
7.Use Social Media.
Social Media is an ever growing piece of kit web designers.
I personally use: -
I launched this website its already had over 400 page views in few days.
Marketing yourself and your services is a big thing and should not be ignored.
8.Design things for the web and print.
Web designers and Print designers, two totally different rolls you say? I again believe this boundary is getting cross with web designers mucking around in print and print designers typing out there first line’s of css.
These days you got to be versatile and be able to grow in different directions and areas, build up you web and print portfolio and be strong in both areas.
9.Knowledge of CMS architectures.
Personally I think this is very important building Xhtml/Css website’s is fine and dandy but having knowledge or actually using a CMS says to an employer or client that you can handle eCommerce projects or projects that require the dynamic edge to them.
Recently I have also been experimenting with other CMS’s such as Joomla and Movable-type.
10.Be able to work with clients and work in a team.
Working with other people is a skill that many people underestimate. I began my design days on Deviantart and I done collaborations my biggest being one with Alexiuss.
This mostly applies to web designers/graphic designers trying to break into the industry work with anyone and everyone; friends, family, charities, small clients, one time only clients and any one else, this all adds up ands builds your portfolio.
re. Sitemaps : Google sitemaps are useful for getting your new site initially indexed (as are the Webmaster tools) but once it’s indexed, it can block new pages, sections and updates.
As such, my policy is to have a SiteMap for the first three months, but then delete it. Once Google knows the site exists, you don’t need the sitemap.