create your own site for free
A step-by-step, no-cost plan to launch a working website and get real traffic using free tools and smart SEO.
You don't need to pay an agency or learn code to have a website that gets found. Follow this guide to build, optimise and promote a free site that converts.
Start-up cost
Launch time (fast option)
Covered in this guide
Responsive by default
Quick start: launch a free site in 30–60 minutes
Prefer the fastest path? Use one of these platforms and follow the checklist below. You'll have a working, mobile-friendly site without spending a cent.
Extremely simple, no ads for internal users, great for basic brochure sites.
Good for blogs and content. Free plan includes WordPress.com branding.
For simple static sites. Free hosting, requires basic Git usage.
30–minute launch checklist
- Pick a platform (Google Sites for speed, WordPress.com for content, GitHub Pages for custom static)
- Choose a site name — use your business + location if possible (e.g., "sydneyelectrician")
- Pick a template and replace demo text with your one-paragraph business description
- Add 3 key pages: Home, Services (or Products), Contact
- Upload 3-6 images and add descriptive alt text for each
- Set basic SEO: page title and meta description on each page (see SEO Basics section)
- Publish and test on mobile
Choose the right free platform
Your choice depends on how much control you want and how technical you are. Here are the trade-offs.
Google Sites
Quickest setup, perfect for simple informational sites. Limited SEO controls.
- Best for one‑page brochure sites
- No plugins, low maintenance
WordPress.com (Free)
Good content tools and blogging. Free plan shows WordPress branding and limited SEO.
- Easy publishing and categories
- Upgrade if you need plugins or custom domain
GitHub Pages / Netlify
For static sites. Slightly technical, but free and fast. Great for performance.
- Fast loading & free SSL
- Use a static site generator (Jekyll, Hugo) if comfortable
Which to pick?
- Choose Google Sites if you need a simple, no-friction presence.
- Choose WordPress.com if you plan to publish articles and grow organic traffic.
- Choose GitHub Pages or Netlify if performance and control matter and you don't mind a tiny learning curve.
SEO basics: make Google love your free site
SEO isn't magic. Do the fundamentals well and you'll outrank many paid sites that ignore the basics.
Keyword focus
Pick one primary keyword per page. Use free tools: Google Autocomplete, AnswerThePublic, and the free Keyword Planner inside Google Ads (no spend required to see ideas).
Title & meta description
Every page needs a unique title tag (under ~60 chars) and meta description (~155 chars). Include your primary keyword and a clear benefit.
Headings & content
Use H1 for the page title (only one). Use H2/H3 to structure content. Aim for useful content: 500–1,000 words on service pages, 800–2,000 on helpful guides.
Images & alt text
Compress images (TinyPNG) and set descriptive alt text including keywords when relevant (but avoid stuffing).
Technical: sitemaps, robots & analytics
- Generate and submit sitemap.xml to Google Search Console
- Ensure robots.txt allows crawling
- Install Google Analytics (or use Privacy-friendly Fathom)
- Use descriptive URLs (example.com/services/plumbing)
A simple content plan that actually works
You don't need endless posts. Publish targeted pages that match what people search for.
Starter page set
- Home — clear intro + primary call to action
- Services — one page per key service (with local keyword)
- About — short bio, trust signals, photo
- Contact — phone, email, and simple form or mailto link
Optional: one helpful guide
Write one strong guide related to your service. Example: "How to fix a blocked drain" — 800–1,500 words with headings and images.
Internal linking
Link service pages to relevant blog/guides and between services. Internal links help users and help Google understand your site structure.
Free tools to build and measure your site
Build
- - Google Sites
- - WordPress.com (free plan)
- - GitHub Pages, Netlify
SEO & Research
- - Google Search Console
- - Google Analytics
- - Google Trends, AnswerThePublic
Images & Speed
- - Unsplash / Pexels (free images)
- - TinyPNG (compress images)
- - PageSpeed Insights (performance)
Structured data (optional)
Use free Schema generator tools to add LocalBusiness schema or FAQ schema to help your snippets stand out in search results.
30-day plan to get your first visitors
Follow this week-by-week plan to start attracting traffic and enquiries without paid ads.
Week 1 — Publish & Submit
- Publish your core pages
- Set up Google Search Console & submit sitemap
- Create Google Business Profile (if local)
Week 2 — On-page SEO
- Polish titles and meta descriptions
- Improve page copy for clarity and keywords
- Compress images & improve load speed
Week 3 — Local & Social
- Publish at least one helpful guide
- Share pages in local groups and on social
- Ask 3 customers for reviews (Google / Facebook)
Week 4 — Backlinks & Monitoring
Reach out to 5 local partners (suppliers, directories, blogs) and ask for a link. Monitor clicks and impressions in Search Console and adjust pages that underperform.
Expectations
If you follow the plan, most small local sites see their first steady organic visits within 4–12 weeks. SEO compounds over time — keep publishing helpful content.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Ignoring mobile tests — always check on a phone
- Using stock content — personalise your copy
- Not submitting sitemap — Search Console speeds indexing
- Expecting instant traffic — SEO takes time
Free site final checklist
- Published Home, Services, Contact pages
- Unique title & meta for each page
- Images compressed + alt text
- Sitemap submitted to Google Search Console
- Google Business Profile created (for local)
- One helpful guide published and shared
Frequently asked questions
Is a free website good enough for business?
Do I need to learn SEO to rank?
How long before I see traffic?
Want a faster option?
If building and maintaining a free site sounds like too much, Congero can launch a professional, SEO-ready website in under 24 hours for a flat monthly fee — with unlimited updates and local SEO included.
Congero offers a free demo build via WhatsApp and full-managed websites for a predictable monthly price — perfect if you'd rather focus on customers, not code.
