Use blinking text rarely, if at all. It is a novelty for those who like it, but a source of distraction and irritation for those who don't. When presenting a series of data, use a list instead of text. HTML lends itself to list-oriented layouts. Do not use an imagemap when a list will do.
Lists are quicker to load, easier to read, and easier to understand.
Use images with prejudice. They take a long time to load and can make your page look very busy. If your home page relies heavily on images, turn off your image capabilities and review it to make sure that it makes sense without them. Go easy on the crazy background designs and loudly-colored lettering. If your title is embedded in an image, be sure to create enough contrast between the lettering and the background to allow it to be read.