create website free
A practical, step-by-step guide to building a free website, optimising for SEO, and growing traffic without a budget.
Learn exactly which free platforms to use, how to structure content for search engines, and simple marketing tactics that generate visitors and enquiries — all without paying a cent to start.
Best Free Platforms (Quick Comparison)
Not all "free" platforms are equal. Choose one that matches your goals below.
GitHub Pages / Netlify
Best for technical users comfortable with Git. Totally free, fast, and supports custom domains. Excellent for SEO and performance.
- Very fast, modern hosting
- Perfect control of meta tags and sitemap
- Requires developer knowledge
WordPress.com (Free)
Great for blogs and content-driven sites. Free tier includes WordPress subdomain and basics of SEO.
- Flexible content editor
- Ads & limited plugins on the free plan
- Good for organic search if you optimise content
Wix / Weebly (Free tier)
Drag-and-drop editors, fast to launch. Free plan includes platform branding and subdomain.
- Beginner friendly
- Limited SEO control vs custom hosts
- Great for quick microsites
Google Sites & Carrd
Simplest tools — ideal for one-page sites, portfolios, and landing pages.
- Fast to build, low learning curve
- Limited SEO features (no meta-control on some)
- Perfect for proof-of-concept or simple offers
Choose based on: time, technical skills, and long-term goals. If you plan to scale and control SEO fully, GitHub Pages/Netlify or a WordPress site with your own hosting is the best free-to-start path. If you need to be live fast with no code, use Wix, Carrd, or Google Sites.
Step-by-step: Build a Simple Free Website (Under 2 hours)
Follow these practical steps to publish a working site quickly.
1. Pick a platform and subdomain
Choose one from the list above. If you have zero tech skills, select Carrd or Wix free. If you can follow docs, pick Netlify/GitHub Pages for performance.
2. Choose a clear domain name (even a free subdomain)
Use your business name or service + suburb if local (example: joesplumbing-melbourne). Short, memorable, and descriptive helps SEO.
3. Prepare your content
- Business name, one-line pitch (hero headline)
- 3–5 key services (short bullets)
- Contact method(s): phone, email, or booking link
- 1–3 good photos or logos
4. Build your pages
At minimum create: Home, Services (or single-page sections), About, Contact. Use clear headings (H1 for page title, H2 for sections).
5. Add basic SEO metadata
Set page title and meta description for each page. Example title format: Plumber in Suburb — Joe's Plumbing | Fast, 24/7. Keep title < 60 characters and meta description ~ 120–155 characters.
6. Publish and test
Publish, then open on phone and desktop. Test forms, phone links (tel:), and page speed with Google PageSpeed Insights.
On-page SEO: What You Must Do (Free)
These are the highest-impact, no-cost SEO actions you can take today.
1. Title tags & meta descriptions
Each page needs a unique title (<60 chars) and meta description (~120–155 chars) that includes your main keyword (e.g., "plumber melbourne").
2. Heading structure (H1, H2)
Use one H1 (page title), H2s for sections. Headings tell Google what each section is about — include keywords naturally.
3. Descriptive URLs
Keep URLs short and readable: /plumbing-services not /?p=123. URLs are a ranking signal.
4. Optimise images
Compress images (under 200KB where possible) and add alt text describing the image and the keyword (e.g., "emergency plumber van in melbourne").
5. Internal linking
Link related pages (Services → Contact, Blog post → Service page). Use descriptive anchor text to help search engines understand relationships.
6. Schema & rich snippets
Add basic schema where possible (LocalBusiness, Service) to improve visibility in search results. Many static hosts allow adding JSON-LD in the page head.
Priority checklist (do these first)
- Unique title + meta for homepage
- H1 on every page
- Alt text on all images
- Sitemap.xml & robots.txt deployed
- Configure Google Search Console
Technical SEO Essentials (Free & Important)
Technical fixes can unlock ranking improvements quickly.
HTTPS / SSL
Use HTTPS. Most free hosts (Netlify, GitHub Pages, Google Sites) provide SSL automatically. HTTPS is required for trust and SEO.
Mobile-first & responsive
Google indexes mobile versions first. Use responsive templates and test on multiple devices.
Sitemaps & Search Console
Generate a sitemap.xml and submit it to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools — both free.
Page speed optimisation
Compress images, defer non-critical scripts, use modern image formats (WebP), and enable caching where possible. Test with PageSpeed Insights and follow the top recommendations.
Canonical tags
Prevent duplicate content issues by adding canonical URLs to similar pages. Most static hosts let you insert a canonical link in the head.
Content Strategy: Write for People, Optimise for Search
Good content is the main driver of organic traffic. Focus your effort where it moves the needle.
Target low-competition local keywords
Start with location-based long-tail keywords: "emergency plumber [suburb]" or "oven cleaning near me". These convert well for local businesses.
Create service pages
Each core service should have its own page with 300–800 words describing the service, benefits, process, pricing (if possible), and a clear CTA.
Write how-to and FAQ posts
Short how-to posts answer customer questions (e.g., "How to stop a leaking tap"). These attract searchers and establish authority.
Use consistent NAP information
Name, Address, Phone should be consistent across your site and directory listings — crucial for local SEO.
Content frequency
You don't need daily posts. One strong, helpful piece per month is better than many thin posts. Focus on quality and keyword intent.
Local SEO: Free Tactics That Work
If you serve customers in a specific area, local SEO will drive the highest-quality leads.
Google Business Profile (free)
Claim and fully fill out your profile: categories, opening hours, photos, services, and posts. Request reviews and respond to them.
Local citations
List your business on free directories (Yellow Pages, TrueLocal, Hotfrog, Yelp). Make sure NAP matches exactly.
Local landing pages
Create pages or sections for each suburb you service, targeting relevant local keywords and describing why you serve that area.
Simple, Low-Cost Marketing to Grow Traffic
Marketing doesn't need a big budget. Start with these tactics.
Email & CRM
Collect emails with a simple signup (Mailchimp free) and send monthly updates or special offers.
Social micro-content
Turn a blog post into 5 social posts (before/after photos, short tips). Share locally-focused content to attract nearby followers.
Local partnerships
Partner with complementary local businesses (electricians, realtors) to exchange referrals and links.
Short video content
Quick how-to or before/after videos on TikTok/Instagram drive interest and show expertise.
Earn links naturally
Create useful resources local blogs want to link to (checklists, price guides). Outreach is free — send polite emails with value.
Small paid experiments
If you have $50–100, run a hyper-local ad (Meta or Google Local Services) to test conversion rates before scaling.
Analytics & Tracking (Free Tools)
Measure what matters. Use free tools to understand visitors and tweak your approach.
Google Analytics 4
Install GA4 to track pageviews, conversions, and user behaviour. Set up a simple conversion (call clicks or contact form submissions).
Google Search Console
Monitor search queries, impressions, and coverage. Use it to submit sitemaps and fix crawling issues.
Heatmaps & session recordings (optional)
Free tools like Hotjar offer limited free tiers — useful to see where users click and where they drop off.
Free Website Launch Checklist
- Homepage: clear headline + one CTA
- Services page(s): unique content and H2s
- Contact page: phone link and email
- Title & meta for every page
- Images compressed + alt text
- Sitemap submitted to Search Console
- Google Business Profile claimed (if local)
- Analytics installed (GA4)
- Test on mobile and desktop
When to Move From Free to Paid / Professional
Free is great to start. Consider upgrading if any of the following apply:
- You need a custom domain with professional email
- You want more control over SEO or advanced features
- You'd rather spend your time running the business than maintaining the site
Option: Congero builds professional, mobile-optimised websites and handles unlimited updates, local SEO and analytics for a flat monthly fee — a good next step if you want to scale without the hassle of DIY. Try the demo via our demo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really rank with a free website?
Do I need to pay for a domain?
How long until I see results?
What’s the easiest platform to start with?
Build for Free — Then Scale with Confidence
Start with a free site to validate your offering and audience. When you're ready, move to a professional solution that handles updates, SEO and analytics for you.
Pro tip: If you prefer zero-maintenance and professional SEO from day one, Congero can build, host and optimise your site for a predictable monthly fee with no lock-in.
Quick Getting Started (5-minute plan)
- Pick a platform: Carrd for one-page, WordPress.com for content, Netlify for performance.
- Write a short headline, 3 service bullets, contact method, and upload 1 photo.
- Publish and add titles/meta for homepage and service page.
- Claim your Google Business Profile if you're local.
- Install Google Analytics and submit sitemap to Search Console.
