When I work with clients as a web designer, I often have conversations like this.
Me: The first thing a visitor sees when they come to your window cleaning website is a picture of a kitten. How does that fit in with your message?
Client: It doesn't, but it's such a cute picture!
Me: Don't you think visitors will get confused? It's important that they know they're in the right place when they arrive.
Client (Here's the kicker): I've shown this site to lots of people and they all say "Wow, cute kitten!" so we can't get rid of it!
I can't seem to get through to clients that being pretty/cute/slick is less important than communicating their message. It is especially hard when they have shown something to their friends and all their friends have exclaimed at how pretty/cute/slick it is.