create your own site free
A practical, no‑budget guide to launching a fast, SEO‑ready site and getting your first visitors
You don't need a dev team or thousands of dollars to get online. Follow this guide to build a free site, optimise it for search, and use low‑cost marketing tactics to grow traffic and enquiries.
Quick start: Get a free site live (under 1 hour)
If you want to be online fast, follow these steps. This gets a functional, mobile‑ready site that you can improve over time.
Step 1 — Pick a free platform
- WordPress.com (free): Easy blogging & pages. Limited themes & subdomain (yoursite.wordpress.com).
- Wix / Weebly (free plans): Drag & drop, fast to build, includes subdomain and ads on free plan.
- GitHub Pages / Netlify: Static sites from templates. No ads, requires basic Git/drag deploy but fully free for small sites.
- Google Sites: Super simple, great for simple pages and internal sites.
Step 2 — Create your pages
Minimum pages to start:
- Home: Clear headline, one sentence about what you do, hero image and key call to action.
- Services/Products: One page per main service (or grouped sections).
- About/Contact: Short bio, phone/email, and contact method (email or phone). Embed map if local.
- Blog/Updates (optional): For long-term SEO growth—start with 2–4 helpful posts.
Step 3 — Publish and test
- Publish the site (platform will guide you).
- Open on mobile: verify text is readable and buttons are tappable.
- Test contact link or email—send a test enquiry to confirm delivery.
- Note the site URL (you can use a free subdomain now and upgrade later).
Choosing a free platform — pros & cons
There's no one-size-fits-all. Pick based on skill, long-term goals, and whether you want to remove platform branding later.
WordPress.com (free)
- Best for blogging and content growth
- Custom domain requires paid plan
- Easy to migrate later
Wix / Weebly (free)
- Fast visual editor, good templates
- Free plan shows ads and uses subdomain
- Not ideal for advanced SEO on free plans
GitHub Pages / Netlify
- Zero cost, fast, no ads—best for static sites
- Requires basic tooling (templates like Jekyll, Hugo or a simple HTML starter)
- Great performance & SEO control
Free domain vs subdomain — what to know
A free subdomain (yoursite.platform.com) is fine for testing. For credibility and SEO you should plan to buy a custom domain (around $10–15/year) as soon as you can.
Content structure: organise for users and search engines
Good structure helps visitors find what they need quickly and makes SEO easier.
Home page — the essentials
- Headline: One sentence describing who you serve and the main benefit.
- Supporting copy: Short paragraph about services and specialties.
- Primary CTA: Call now / Send message / Book.
- Social proof: 2–3 testimonials or trust badges.
Service pages & URLs
- Make a separate URL for each core service: /plumbing, /electrical.
- Use descriptive URLs and keep them short.
- Include 300–600 words focused on the service, benefits, and local modifiers (city names).
About & Contact
- About: short story, qualifications, team photo, credibility elements.
- Contact: phone displayed prominently, email, opening hours, address (if local).
- Embed Google Map if you serve a local area.
Blog or Resources
Start with helpful posts that answer customers' questions — these attract long‑tail traffic. Example topics:
- How to choose a service in your city
- Common problems and quick fixes
- Case studies and before/after photos
Technical SEO checklist (free & essential)
These items are the base level you must have for Google to index and rank your site.
HTTPS (SSL)
Most free platforms provide HTTPS automatically. If you use custom hosting (GitHub Pages, Netlify) enable HTTPS via Let's Encrypt.
Sitemap & robots.txt
Ensure your sitemap.xml exists and robots.txt allows crawling. WordPress-like platforms generate these automatically. For static sites, add a sitemap and link it in robots.txt.
Mobile friendly
Use a responsive template. Test at Google Mobile‑Friendly Test.
Structured data (schema)
Add basic Organization, LocalBusiness, and FAQ schema where appropriate. Use Google's Rich Results Test to validate.
Canonical tags
Prevent duplicate content issues by adding canonical links. Many platforms add these for you; check the page source.
Indexing checks
Use Google Search Console (free) to submit your sitemap, check index status, and see search performance data.
On‑page SEO: pages that rank
Simple, repeatable on‑page rules you should apply to every page.
Title tags & meta descriptions
- Title: 50–60 characters, include primary keyword and city if local.
- Meta description: 120–155 characters that explain the page and include a call to action.
- Each page needs unique title and description.
Headings & content
- Use one H1 (page title), then H2/H3 for sections.
- Include target keyword naturally in the H1 and in a few H2s.
- Write for humans first—then optimise for search.
Images & alt text
Compress images before uploading (use free tools like TinyPNG). Add descriptive alt text that briefly describes the image and includes a keyword where appropriate.
Internal linking
Link related pages together. Example: service pages should link to related blog posts and contact page — this helps search engines and users.
Quick on‑page SEO template
- H1 — Include main keyword.
- Intro paragraph — 40–70 words, mention main keyword early.
- H2 — What this page covers (use keyword variations).
- 2–4 short sections (H3) answering user questions.
- CTA block — phone/email or link to contact page.
Speed optimisation (free tactics that matter)
Page speed impacts both SEO and conversions. Use these quick wins.
Compress images
Use TinyPNG or ImageOptim before uploading. Aim for under 200KB for hero images and <100KB for thumbnails where possible.
Use modern formats
WebP offers smaller files for similar quality. Many platforms convert automatically; otherwise upload WebP where supported.
Limit scripts & widgets
Remove unnecessary third‑party widgets (chat widgets, heavy trackers) on the free plan until you need them.
Testing
Check your scores at PageSpeed Insights. Aim for a mobile score ≥ 60 as a baseline; improve from there.
Free marketing tactics to get your first visitors
Combining search, local and social tactics gives the best ROI when you're starting with no budget.
Publish at least 2 useful articles
Answer customer questions (How, Why, Costs). Use long-tail keywords like "how much does [service] cost in [suburb]". Share the posts to local Facebook groups and LinkedIn.
Google Business Profile (free & powerful)
Create or claim your profile, add photos, services, and correct hours. Ask customers to leave reviews — reviews boost local visibility.
Share on local directories
Add consistent NAP (name, address, phone) to directories like Yellow Pages, TrueLocal, and industry-specific sites. Consistency helps local SEO.
Earn a few backlinks
Write a guest post for a local blog, ask suppliers for a link, or submit a local sponsorship listing. Quality beats quantity—start with 5 relevant links.
Email capture (free solutions)
Use MailerLite or Mailchimp free tiers to capture email leads (offer a simple discount or checklist in return). Send one monthly update or special.
Social: focused & local
Be on the platform your customers use. Post before/after photos, short tips, and link to your best pages. Use local hashtags and community groups.
Content promotion checklist
Local SEO: show up for nearby customers
If you serve a town or suburb, local SEO often provides the fastest ROI.
Actions to take (free)
- Claim and optimise Google Business Profile. Add services, photos, and posts.
- Ensure NAP is identical across your site and directories.
- Add local schema (LocalBusiness) to your contact page.
- Collect and respond to reviews—thank reviewers publicly to encourage more.
Analytics & measurement (free tools)
Track traffic and conversions with free tools so you can improve over time.
Google Analytics 4
Install GA4 to measure visitors, acquisition channels, and events (form submissions, phone clicks). Most platforms support GA4 in settings or via a tag manager.
Google Search Console
Shows what queries bring users, impressions, clicks and indexing issues. Submit your sitemap.xml here.
Bing Webmaster Tools
Free, sometimes overlooked—helps reach users who search on Bing and Yahoo.
Simple conversions
Track form submissions, phone clicks (tel: links), and button clicks—these are your main conversion metrics.
KPI basics for a new site
- Sessions per month (goal: grow 10–20% month over month)
- Top performing pages (which pages drive enquiries)
- Conversion rate (contact clicks / sessions)
30‑minute growth checklist (do this every week)
- Publish or update one helpful page or blog post (300–800 words).
- Share the page on social channels and local groups.
- Check Google Search Console for new impressions or errors.
- Ask one satisfied customer for a Google review.
- Compress and optimise any new images you uploaded.
- Check your primary CTA works on mobile.
If you prefer DIY but want help later, Congero builds, optimises and manages sites from $49/month — domain, hosting, SEO and unlimited updates included.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rank with a free subdomain?
Do I need to pay for SEO tools?
When should I upgrade from free?
What if I don't want to manage the site?
Final thoughts — start small, improve fast
A free site is perfect for testing ideas and getting initial traffic. Focus on useful content, local signals, and measurement. If you outgrow DIY, move to a managed solution to save time and boost results.
Pro tip: if you want a free site now but expert help later, document your content and keep backups—migrations are much easier with good organisation.
