The best practices and technologies are these:
1. Language: PHP - Almost everyone is using PHP, if not Ruby.

2. Content Management Systems including Drupal, Joomla and Wordpress.

A lot of my clients use content management systems which give non-technical people easy ways of managing their website.

MVC Frameworks (model-view-controller)
MVC frameworks like CakePHP, CodeIgniter, and Symphony and very popular since web designers can design and programmers can develop without overwriting each other.

I hope this answers at least part of your question.

I would be glad to take you through some of these technologies on a call if you'd like.

Bruce