free site
Starting with a free site is OK. But a professional website turns visitors into customers — through SEO, trust and measurable growth.
Free platforms let you exist online. A professional website gives you advantage: better Google rankings, stronger credibility, faster pages and measurable leads. For small businesses that want reliable customer growth, the upgrade is usually worth its weight in new enquiries.
Why upgrade beyond a free site?
Free sites are a great place to begin: they get your name online quickly and cheaply. But most free plans trade control and performance for price. If you want predictable customer growth, you need features that free sites often limit: search optimisation, fast hosting, professional design, analytics and the ability to change content quickly without downtime or hidden fees.
Be found on Google
Free sites often block advanced SEO controls (titles, meta descriptions, sitemaps). A professional site gives you the on-page signals Google needs to rank for local searches.
Build credibility instantly
Customers judge businesses by their website. A polished, mobile-first design increases trust and the likelihood they’ll call or book.
Measure & improve
Professional sites include analytics and conversion tracking so you can see what’s working, and invest where it drives the most enquiries.
SEO: The difference that pays for itself
Search engine optimisation is the single most effective channel for small businesses to attract ready-to-buy customers. Free platforms may let you publish content, but they often limit or hide the technical controls (structured data, XML sitemaps, clean URLs, canonical tags, page speed optimisations) that search engines use to rank websites.
A well-optimised professional website increases the chances your business appears for "near me" searches — the queries with the highest intent.
Practical SEO benefits
- Custom page titles & meta descriptions for every service
- Schema markup for services, reviews and contact info
- Fast hosting and image optimisation for better page speed
- Local SEO signals (NAP consistency, Google Business integration)
Credibility: first impressions matter
Consumers judge you in seconds. A free site with inconsistent design, ads, or outdated templates can make a small business appear untrustworthy or amateur. Professional design, clear service pages, photos of real work, and genuine testimonials turn visitors into leads.
- Consistent branding builds recognition
- Clear calls to action make it easy to call or book
- Service-specific pages outrank generic content
Convert visitors into paying customers
Having traffic isn't enough. The right layout, persuasive copy, trust signals and fast load times lift conversion rates. Professional websites are built with conversion in mind: prominent phone numbers, clear service pages, and easy next steps for customers.
Speed
Faster pages keep users engaged and improve SEO.
Clear CTAs
Buttons for 'call now', 'get quote' or 'book' remove friction.
Trust signals
Reviews, licences, guarantees and before-after galleries increase conversions.
Real-world result
Small businesses that move from a basic free site to a focused, conversion-optimised website typically see measurable increases in leads within weeks—often 2x or more, thanks to better SEO and clearer user journeys.
Ownership, portability and long-term control
Free platforms sometimes lock important features behind paywalls and can limit domain control. With a professional approach you can:
- Own your domain name and brand
- Move hosting if needed without losing SEO value
- Access backups and full site files for peace of mind
How to upgrade from a free site — practical steps
1. Keep what works
Identify your best-performing pages and copy those messages into your new professional site.
2. Get your domain under control
Buy or transfer a domain you control. This preserves SEO and sends a trust signal to customers.
3. Prioritise SEO basics
Set page titles, meta descriptions and submit a sitemap to Google Search Console.
4. Mobile-first design
Ensure the new site is optimised for phones — most customers will visit from mobile.
5. Add analytics & tracking
Install Google Analytics and set up conversion goals for calls, forms or bookings.
6. Plan updates
Choose a workflow for quick updates — ideally unlimited changes via your provider so prices don't slow you down.
Start from a free site and upgrade when you’re ready — professional sites can be live in 24–60 hours with the right service.
Upgrade checklist: What your professional site should include
- Custom page titles & meta descriptions
- Fast hosting and image optimisation
- Mobile-responsive layout
- Clear contact buttons and booking links
- Google Analytics + conversion tracking
- SSL certificate and backups
- Domain you control (no subdomains)
- Easy update process (ideally unlimited)
Pro tip: Ask any provider for a sample analytics dashboard and examples of sites they launched from free platforms — that shows they can migrate and improve results.
Frequently asked questions
Is a free site ever a good starting point?
Will upgrading improve my Google rankings?
How quickly can I migrate from a free site?
Do I need to pay expensive upfront fees?
Take the next step — keep the free site, upgrade the results
Start with what you have. When you're ready, move to a professional website that drives consistent leads, improves search visibility and builds trust — all without unexpected fees.
Get Started NowNo obligation — evaluate options, keep your domain, and upgrade on your terms.
