creating a business website for free
Build a lean, search-optimised website with zero upfront cost — practical setup, SEO basics, and low-cost marketing tactics to start getting customers.
This guide is for busy small business owners (trades, local services, creatives) who want to launch a credible web presence today — without paying an agency. We'll cover free platforms, SEO that actually works, analytics, and simple marketing to drive growth.
Upfront cost (possible)
Launch time (typical)
Mobile-first traffic
Most customers find you locally
Quick start: Build a free site in 10–30 minutes
Follow these practical steps to get a functional, SEO-friendly website live today with no money down. We'll prioritise clarity: homepage, contact method, service pages, and local signals.
- Choose a free builder (see next section). For most trade and local services, start with a simple template that shows phone, services and a clear call to action.
- Pick a free subdomain (yourname.provider.com) or claim a free domain via promotions (rare). Use your business name in the URL if possible.
- Create these pages: Home, Services (or What We Do), About, Contact. Add a clear phone number and hours on every page.
- Add structured content (headings, short paragraphs). Put your main service and location in the H1 and first 100 words.
- Install free analytics (Google Analytics 4) and submit a sitemap via Google Search Console.
- Publish and test on mobile: call-to-action buttons should be tappable and the phone number should initiate a call.
Best free platforms (pros & cons)
Not all free website builders are equal. Choose based on your priorities: branding removal, SEO control, and scalability.
Wix (free plan)
Easy editor, lots of templates. SEO Wiz helps beginners.
- Pros: Fast setup, templates, built-in SEO tools.
- Cons: Wix ads on free sites, limited URL control, slower on mobile if heavy templates used.
- Best for: Quick brochure sites if you plan to upgrade later.
Google Sites
Simple, reliable, and ad-free. Limited styling and SEO control.
- Pros: Free, Google-backed, mobile-friendly, no ads.
- Cons: No custom meta control, poor SEO features.
- Best for: Informational pages and internal use.
Weebly
Drag-and-drop builder with decent SEO options on paid plans; free plan has branding.
- Pros: Simple editor, eCommerce option (limited).
- Cons: Weebly brand on free sites, limited storage.
- Best for: Small portfolios and contact-first sites.
Carrd
Ultra-light single-page sites with clean mobile-first templates. Free tier is excellent for one-page businesses.
- Pros: Fast, cheap to upgrade, great for landing pages.
- Cons: One page by default; limited SEO meta for free plan.
- Best for: Single-service freelancers and promotions.
SEO basics that actually move the needle
SEO can be simple and practical. Focus on intent, local signals, and making your pages authoritative for the services you provide.
1. Keyword intent: what customers search for
Think like a customer: "plumber near me", "oven repair Sydney", "best dog groomer in [suburb]". Use these phrases naturally in your H1, first paragraph and service headings.
2. Page titles & meta descriptions
Every page needs a unique title (50–60 chars) and meta description (120–160 chars). Put your primary service and location in both. Example: "Emergency Plumber Sydney | 24/7 Service — YourBusiness".
3. Heading structure
Use one H1 per page (clear and keyword-rich), H2s for main sections, and H3s for subitems. This helps Google understand content hierarchy.
4. Local signals & NAP
Display your Name, Address, Phone (NAP) on every page (preferably in footer). Use consistent formatting across directories and your Google Business Profile.
5. Images & alt text
Compress images, use descriptive file names (plumber-sydney-kitchen.jpg) and add concise alt text describing the photo and context.
6. Internal linking & CTAs
Link from the homepage to service pages and back. Include a clear CTA (call now, book online) on every page. Use descriptive anchor text (e.g., "Emergency plumbing services").
7. Sitemap & Search Console
Generate a sitemap (many builders do this automatically) and submit it via Google Search Console. This speeds up indexing and highlights crawl issues.
Content & page structure: the pages that convert
A simple structure focused on conversions will outperform a complex site with poor messaging. Build clarity, trust, and easy contact paths.
Homepage
- H1 with your main service + location
- Short intro (1–2 lines) that states who you help
- Primary CTA above the fold (call or book)
- Proof: logo bar, short testimonial, or trust badges
Services / What We Do
- One service per section with H2 and 2–4 benefit-focused bullets
- Include local keywords like suburbs served
- Include clear pricing cues (starting from) if possible
Contact page
- Phone as click-to-call, email, short contact form (or instructions to text)
- Business hours and service area map
- Privacy note if collecting data
About / Trust
- Short owner story, years in business, licences and insurances
- Customer testimonials, before/after photos
- Call to action linked to contact
Free images and essential tools
Free image sources
- Unsplash: high-quality photos — attribute if you want to be safe
- Pexels: great for lifestyle and service shots
- Pixabay: wide selection, sometimes overused
- Tip: edit images (crop + compress) with TinyPNG or Squoosh
Free tools to use
- Google Analytics 4: visitor tracking
- Google Search Console: indexing & search performance
- PageSpeed Insights: speed diagnostics
- Canva free: create simple banners and logos
- TinyPNG: image compression
Install analytics & measure what matters
Measure traffic, calls, and conversions — then repeat what works.
Quick setup
- Create a Google account (if you don't have one).
- Install Google Analytics 4 (paste the tracking code into your site's header via the builder settings).
- Verify your site in Google Search Console and submit the sitemap.
- Use "Events" to track phone clicks and contact form submissions (GA4 can track outbound link clicks).
Low-cost marketing tips to drive growth
Local search & directories
- Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile — add photos, services, hours, and encourage reviews.
- List on local directories (TrueLocal, Yellow Pages, Yelp) with consistent NAP.
- Ask satisfied customers for short reviews — they boost conversions and local rankings.
Social & content
- Share before/after photos and short videos on Facebook and Instagram.
- Repurpose testimonials into short posts or image cards.
- Use free tools (Canva, InShot) to make quick content — consistency beats perfection.
Email & follow-ups
- Collect emails at point-of-contact and send occasional updates or offers.
- Use free plans from Mailchimp or MailerLite to start a basic list.
- Automate a simple welcome email with contact info and 10% first-time discount.
Paid ads (budget-friendly)
- Start with local Google Ads or Facebook Ads with $5–10/day to test demand.
- Target specific suburbs and a single service to keep costs low.
- Measure calls and form submissions, then scale what converts.
Local SEO checklist (for small, service-area businesses)
- Claim Google Business Profile and verify address
- Use consistent NAP across website & directories
- Include service area and suburbs on the Services page
- Collect and reply to Google reviews (aim for 4+)
- Embed a Google Map on the contact page
- Use schema markup for LocalBusiness (many builders or plugins can add this)
Common mistakes when building a free website
A pretty site that hides your phone number loses leads. Make contact obvious.
Test on actual phones. Buttons must be large enough to tap and text must be readable.
SEO takes weeks. Focus on consistent content and local signals; measure and iterate.
Export your content or save copies of images and text. Free platforms can suspend accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rank on Google with a free website?
Should I use a free subdomain or buy a cheap domain?
What’s the biggest limitation of free sites?
When should I upgrade from a free site?
Start free — grow smarter
A free website is a powerful first step. Use this guide to launch, measure, and improve. When you’re ready to scale, Congero offers a managed, AI-driven alternative: professional design, unlimited updates via text, local SEO, hosting and domain for a flat monthly fee — without lock-in.
Pro tip: Start free, but track results. If your website delivers leads, reinvest a small monthly budget to upgrade domain, remove branding, and buy faster hosting.
