If you're a business owner or just need a space online to let your voice be heard, you most likely have dipped your toes into the world of web design. But while most businesses make it sound so simple — just buy a domain name and start designing — web design is actually a highly intricate world that requires the developer to think about many different issues while they're developing the website. Below are a few things you need to keep in mind, whether you're trying to design yourself or you're wanting to outsource your web design to a professional developer.

Keep the User in Mind

User experience is vitally important, not only in the world of search engines but also to whether or not your visitor bounces off your site or stays on it to peruse it just a little while longer. A site with a poor user experience is one that doesn't have any call to action, has colors that contrast with each other, is overloaded with information (or in some cases, lacks information), or most importantly, doesn't tell anything about what the function of the website is. As you design your website, keep your ideal customer in mind.

Keep the Speed in Mind

Websites are built for speed, and people these days expect not only a fully functioning website that delivers excellent information but also one that loads very quickly. Websites should load in seconds, and the way that the website is constructed, as well as the hosting that you choose, can play a huge role in this. You may think that people will love your website no matter what, but that's not a theory that you want to test, especially if you value your potential customer base at all.

Keep the Content in Mind

There are few things that hurt a website more than generic content that doesn't say anything about who you are or what you're trying to accomplish. In a world that sees thousands of websites uploaded daily, yours has to have a unique voice, and that extends not only to your about page but also to your blog, contact page, and even the web design itself. Make sure that your blog articles are hyper relevant to a variety of discussions that your user needs to be aware of, and make your about page unique enough that you stand apart, while also staying customer oriented. Consider also what type of pictures you have on your website. While stock pictures may work great for a while, you'll ultimately want people that actually work at your company to be front and center.