Practical, no-fluff

best free website creation

A simple, step-by-step guide to build a free website, get found on Google, and grow your audience in 2025.

This guide walks you through the easiest way to create a free website today, covers the basic SEO you must do, and outlines low-cost ways to get more visitors and enquiries.

Free to Start

No upfront cost required

Mobile Friendly

Works on phones and tablets

SEO Ready

Simple steps for Google visibility

Quick 6-step setup: Build your free website now

Follow these simple steps. You can have a basic site live in under an hour using free services.

1. Choose a free builder

Pick a platform that offers a free plan (Wix, WordPress.com, Google Sites). For easiest start, choose one you find simple to use.

Tip: If you plan to scale, pick a platform that lets you connect a custom domain later.
2. Pick a simple layout

Start with a single-page or a small multi-page template (Home, Services, About, Contact). Templates save time and look professional.

Keep navigation short — clear menus help visitors and Google.
3. Add your essential pages

Minimum pages: Home, About/Who we are, Services/What we do, Contact. Each page should answer one main question the visitor has.

4. Use clear contact info

Put your phone number and email on every page, ideally in the header and footer. Add a simple contact form if the platform allows.

5. Choose real images

Use a couple of good photos of your team, tools, or store. Real photos build trust more than generic stock images.

No camera? Use free stock images but pick ones that feel honest and local.
6. Publish and check on mobile

Publish your site and open it on a phone. Make sure text is readable and buttons are easy to tap.

SEO basics: Make your free site findable

You don't need to be an expert to get meaningful search traffic. Do these simple SEO steps.

1. Pick one clear keyword per page

Example: If you’re a local plumber in Brisbane, a Home page keyword could be "Brisbane plumber". Use that phrase naturally in the title, H1, first paragraph, and meta description.

2. Title tags & meta descriptions

Each page needs a unique title (under 60 characters) and a meta description (about 120–160 characters). These show up in search results and influence clicks.

3. Use headings (H1, H2)

Make one H1 per page that matches the page topic. Use H2s to break content into readable sections for visitors and search engines.

4. Speed matters

Compress images, avoid heavy widgets, and choose fast hosting. Aim for under 3 seconds load on mobile. Free builders often handle hosting, but check speed before promoting the site.

5. Local SEO basics

Create or claim your Google Business Profile, add consistent business name, address, and phone (NAP) on your site footer, and list your business in local directories.

Fast checklist: Title tag ✅, meta description ✅, H1 ✅, 300+ words on main page ✅, mobile friendly ✅, Google Business Profile ✅.

Content and images that convert

Good content tells visitors what you do, who you help, and what to do next. Keep wording simple and action-focused.

Write for people first

Use short paragraphs, bullet lists, and clear headings. Lead with the benefit: "We fix blocked drains quickly".

Avoid jargon and long blocks of text.

Use 3-5 good photos

Show your team, van, tools, or before/after shots. If you don't have photos, use honest-looking stock photos targeted to your industry.

Always add descriptive alt text for images to help SEO and accessibility.

Simple page structure (example)

  1. H1: Who you are (Primary keyword)
  2. Short intro: 2–3 sentences (what you do + location)
  3. Services: brief bullets with links to each service section
  4. Social proof: 2–3 testimonials or logos
  5. Contact CTA: phone and contact link prominent

Free tools to build, test and grow

Builders

  • Wix (free) — drag & drop, easy templates
  • WordPress.com (free) — flexible, many themes
  • Google Sites (free) — fastest for simple pages

SEO & testing

  • Google Search Console — monitor search presence
  • Google Analytics / GA4 — measure traffic and behaviour
  • PageSpeed Insights — speed checks and improvement tips

Images

  • Unsplash / Pexels — free photos
  • tinyjpg.com — compress images
  • Canva (free) — simple image edits & banners

Local & reviews

  • Google Business Profile — essential for local searches
  • Facebook Pages — another free listing and review source

Grow your online presence (free and low-cost)

Once your site is live, focus on three things: being visible, building trust, and driving action.

Local listings

Claim Google Business Profile, add photos, hours, and reply to reviews. Consistent NAP (name, address, phone) across listings helps local rankings.

Free, high impact.

Collect reviews

Ask happy customers for a short Google review. Reviews increase trust and click-through rates in search results.

Make it easy: send a direct link to the review form.

Social sharing

Share your page links on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn depending on where your customers are. Repost before/after photos and short tips.

Organic social is low-cost and builds familiarity.

Email & offers

Collect a few emails and send simple offers or updates. Tools like MailerLite have free tiers for small lists.

Local ads (small budget)

If you can spare $5–10/day, try a local Facebook or Google Local Services ad for clear ROI tracking.

Start small, measure, and scale what works.

Measure & improve

Use Google Analytics / GA4 to see which pages bring traffic and which drive enquiries. Improve the pages that are visited most.

Pre-launch checklist

  • Title and meta description set for each page
  • H1 on each page and readable headings
  • Contact info visible (header/footer)
  • Site looks good on mobile
  • Google Business Profile claimed
  • Google Analytics / Search Console connected

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

1. Too little content — A very thin site rarely ranks. Add at least 300 words to pages that matter.
2. Missing contact info — If visitors can't find your phone or email quickly, they leave.
3. Ignoring mobile — Check your site on several phones before sharing it.
4. Expecting instant SEO results — SEO takes weeks to months. Keep improving and promoting.

Frequently asked questions

Can I really make a free website that looks professional?
Yes. Free plans from builders can be very good for small sites. Paid plans remove branding and allow a custom domain, but free is a great starting point.
How long until I see search traffic?
It depends. Local, low-competition searches can pick up in weeks. Broader keywords take months. Keep improving content and building local citations.
Should I use a free domain (example.myplatform.com)?
Free subdomains are fine to start, but buying a simple custom domain (example.com) looks more professional and helps SEO. Domains are inexpensive and worth it when you can.

Ready to try a free site?

Start with a free builder to learn what you need. If you want someone to handle it for you—fast and without surprise fees—see how Congero builds sites quickly and affordably.

Congero helps small businesses move from a free starter site to a fully managed, SEO-ready site quickly—if you prefer a done-for-you option that includes unlimited updates, local SEO, domain, hosting and analytics for a simple monthly fee.

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