Quick Practical Guide

creat a free website

A clear, step-by-step guide to launch a free website in 2025 — plus SEO basics and simple upgrade paths.

Want a working website today without paying upfront? This guide walks you through the easiest free platforms, exact steps to set up, essential on-page SEO, and how Congero can quickly upgrade your free site into a professional, high-converting online presence.

0$
Start cost (free platforms)
60 min
Typical time to get a basic site live
1 page
Landing page needed to accept enquiries
100%
Mobile-ready with modern templates

Why start with a free website?

A free site is a low-risk way to get online, validate an idea, capture leads, and show customers basic information while you plan a long-term strategy.

Fast validation

Put a simple landing page up today and see if customers contact you. If it works, invest in upgrades. If not, you saved time and money.

Zero upfront cost

Free plans let you publish without paying for hosting or design. Great for new businesses, side projects, and quick campaigns.

Mobile-ready templates

Most free platforms offer modern responsive templates so your site looks good on phones out of the box.

Easy to upgrade later

Start free, then move to a paid plan (or migrate to a professional service) when you need custom domain, more pages, or better SEO.

Best free platforms (and when to choose them)

Wix (Free plan)

Simple drag-and-drop, many templates.

  • Great for visual portfolios and cafés
  • Displays Wix branding and a platform subdomain
  • Upgrade later for custom domain

Google Sites

Simplest, completely free for Google users.

  • Fast to set up, ideal for small info pages
  • Limited design control
  • No plug-ins; best for basic presence

GitHub Pages / Netlify

Free hosting for static sites (requires basic dev skills).

  • Best for small developers or tech-savvy users
  • Fast, free, and supports custom domains
  • More setup steps but no platform branding

Which should you pick?

If you need speed and no technical work: Wix or Google Sites. If you know Git or can follow a guide: GitHub Pages or Netlify gives the most control and a clean domain later. If you expect to grow fast and want SEO and lead capture, plan an upgrade path early.

Fast 6-step setup: Get a free site live in under 60 minutes

Follow these exact steps to launch today.

  1. Pick your platform

    Choose one of the free platforms above. For absolute beginners, Wix or Google Sites are easiest; for control and no branding later, use GitHub Pages/Netlify.

  2. Create an account and choose a template

    Sign up, then pick a template closest to your business. Focus on templates with clear calls-to-action and mobile-first layouts.

  3. Add essential content

    Create 3 core sections: 1) What you do (services), 2) Trust signals (testimonials or experience), 3) Contact (phone, email, short form or link to WhatsApp). Keep copy short and benefit-focused.

  4. Set up contact & visibility

    Make your phone number and contact method prominent (top and bottom). If the platform allows, enable search engine visibility in settings.

  5. Basic SEO tweaks (quick wins)

    Add a clear page title (include your service + location), write a concise meta description, and add alt text to images. See the SEO basics section for exact examples.

  6. Preview, test, and publish

    Preview on mobile and desktop, test your contact link, and publish. Share the link with a friend and ask them to call or message to confirm everything works.

Quick checklist (copy & paste)

✔ chosen platform
✔ template selected
✔ hero headline + 1-2 sentences about your service
✔ phone, email, or WhatsApp visible
✔ one clear call-to-action (Call now / Message)
✔ published & tested on mobile

SEO basics that actually help you rank

You don't need advanced SEO to be found. Start with these high-impact tasks.

1. Keyword-focused page title

Use a short title that includes your main service and location: e.g., "Plumber Melbourne — Emergency Plumbing Services". Keep it under 60 characters.

2. Meta description that converts

Write a 120–155 character description explaining who you are, what you do, and a call to action: "Trusted Melbourne plumbers. Same-day service. Call now for a free quote."

3. Headings & structure

Use one H1 (the page headline), H2s for sections (services, testimonials, contact), and short paragraphs. Clear headings help Google and users.

4. Images & alt text

Compress images for speed and add descriptive alt text: "electrician fixing switch in Sydney home". Alt text helps accessibility and SEO.

5. Local SEO basics

Create or claim your Google Business Profile, add consistent NAP (name, address, phone) on the site, and include your service suburbs. These are the fastest ways to appear in local searches.

6. Fast loading & mobile

Aim for under 3 seconds on mobile. Remove large images, enable compression, and choose lightweight templates. Speed equals better rankings and more leads.

Simple on-page SEO example

<title>Plumber Melbourne — Emergency Plumbing Services</title>
<meta name="description" content="Trusted Melbourne plumbers. Same-day service. Call now for a free quote." />

H1: Emergency Plumber Melbourne
H2: Our Plumbing Services
H2: Why Choose Us
H2: Get a Free Quote

Content & image tips that boost conversions

Good content convinces visitors to contact you. Keep it simple and benefit-driven.

Write a clear hero message

Your homepage headline should answer: who you help, what you do, and the primary call-to-action. Example: "Reliable Carpet Cleaning — Book Today, Same-Day Visits".

Use real photos

Real photos of your team, vehicle, or completed jobs build trust. If you don't have photos, use high-quality stock images that match your brand.

Show social proof

Add 2–5 short testimonials, star ratings, or a client logo strip. Small trust signals raise conversion rates dramatically.

Clear call-to-action

Use a prominent CTA button (Call, Message, Book) and repeat it in the header and footer so visitors always see how to contact you.

Upgrade path: From free to professional (without headaches)

Most free sites are ideal for validation. When you want consistent leads and better SEO, consider these upgrades.

1. Custom domain

Move from a platform subdomain (yourname.platform.com) to yourname.com. It improves trust and SEO.

2. Faster hosting & SSL

Paid plans include SSL and faster hosting. If your free platform limits speed or adds branding, upgrade for performance.

3. Better SEO & tracking

Paid plans let you add Google Analytics, set meta tags, and access advanced SEO settings.

When to move off a free plan

  • You need a custom domain
  • Your site shows platform ads or branding
  • You want reliable local SEO and analytics
  • You need unlimited updates without doing it yourself

How Congero helps you move from free to a lead-generating site

If your free site validates demand, Congero can take over the technical work and optimise for local search — quickly and affordably.

Live in 60 seconds

Start with a free demo — no setup fee. Our AI-driven process can produce a professional, mobile-first website in under a minute from a simple WhatsApp message.

Unlimited updates by text

Rather than wrestling with editors, text us what to change and we update your site—no hourly fees. Perfect for busy trades and service businesses.

Built-in local SEO

We configure meta tags, schema, and on-page signals so you show up in local searches — the highest intent traffic for small businesses.

Domain, hosting & maintenance included

Congero's all-inclusive plan covers domain registration, secure hosting, SSL, and ongoing monitoring for a predictable monthly fee — and there are no lock-in contracts.

Actionable analytics

Monthly dashboards show who visits, which pages convert, and where enquiries come from — so you can grow what works.

Designed for trades & services

We specialise in trades — plumbers, electricians, cleaners and more — so we know which pages and CTAs generate real leads.

Typical migration process

  1. Send us your free site link or a quick WhatsApp brief
  2. We create a professional version (design + copy + SEO)
  3. Approve and we publish on a custom domain with hosting and SSL
  4. Request unlimited edits via text — changes go live in minutes

Start with a free demo — no credit card required. If you prefer to stay on your free plan, we’ll still give SEO tips so your site performs better.

Frequently asked questions

Can I really start for free and still get leads?
Yes — a simple, well-optimised free landing page with a clear CTA can generate enquiries. The key is clarity: clear headline, visible contact, and trust signals.
Will a free platform hurt my SEO?
Free platforms can rank if configured correctly, but platform branding, slow speed, and limited SEO settings can be a handicap. Upgrading to a custom domain and faster hosting improves SEO.
How do I add a custom domain later?
Most platforms allow custom domains on paid plans. Alternatively, Congero can register and configure the domain for you and migrate content to a professional site.
How much does Congero cost to upgrade?
Congero offers an all-inclusive managed website for a flat monthly fee (see site for current pricing). The plan includes domain, hosting, SSL, local SEO basics, unlimited updates, and analytics — no lock-in contracts.
I’m not tech-savvy. Can I still use GitHub Pages?
GitHub Pages is best for those comfortable with a few developer steps. For non-technical users, platforms like Wix or Google Sites are much easier and faster.

Ready to go beyond free?

Start with a free site to test demand. When you're ready to convert more visitors into real customers, Congero will take your site to the next level — fast, affordable, and managed for you.

Congero: professional, mobile-responsive websites in under 60 seconds. Unlimited updates, local SEO, hosting and domain options — all for a predictable monthly fee. Cancel anytime.

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