design a free website
Build a professional, search-ready site without spending a cent — plus simple SEO & marketing playbooks to grow traffic and leads.
This step-by-step guide shows how to plan, build and promote a free website that looks great on mobile, ranks in Google, and converts visitors into customers — even if you're not technical.
Why build a free website in 2025?
A free website lets you establish an online presence fast, test ideas, and start collecting leads without upfront investment. Used correctly, a free site can:
Launch fast
Have a working brochure site or landing page in hours, not weeks.
Test ideas
Validate offers, pricing and messaging with real visitor data before committing budget.
Start collecting leads
Even a simple contact form or click-to-call lets customers reach you immediately.
Best free platforms and when to use them
Pick a platform based on your goals: speed, ease, or flexibility. Here's a short guide to the most practical free options in 2025.
Carrd
Simple one-page sites and landing pages. Fast, mobile-first, very low learning curve.
Google Sites
Truly free and easy to use. Not the most flexible design, but great for basic business pages and internal hubs.
WordPress.com (Free plan)
Powerful blogging and page tools. Free plan has limits and WordPress branding but it's a solid growth path.
GitHub Pages
Free static sites with custom domain support. Requires some technical knowledge (Git/HTML).
Tilda / Notion (public pages)
Drag-and-drop (Tilda) or quick documentation-style pages (Notion) that you can publish publicly.
Free page builders with trials
Many builders let you publish for free with a subdomain; upgrade when you need a custom domain or advanced features.
Site planning: the 8-minute playbook
Spend 8 minutes planning before you click "create." Clear answers here save hours later.
1. Primary goal
Is the site for lead capture, booking, portfolio, or info? Write one clear goal (e.g., "Get 10 local calls/week").
2. Target customer
Describe your ideal customer in one sentence — their problem and how you solve it.
3. Top 3 pages
Home (with clear CTA), Services (or Offer), Contact/Book. Keep it short and focused.
4. One-sentence value props
For each service, write a 10–15 word benefit-focused sentence (what the customer gets).
5. Primary CTA
Phone call, booking link, or contact form — pick one and make it obvious on every page.
6. Local contact details
Address (if relevant), local phone number, business hours, and an email. Repeat on footer and contact page.
7. 5 hero assets
Logo (or text logo), hero photo (phone-friendly), 2 service images, and one testimonial quote.
8. SEO keywords (3)
Pick three keyword phrases to target (e.g., plumber near me, emergency plumber [suburb], drain cleaning). Use them naturally in headings and page copy.
Essential SEO for free websites (do these first)
Free sites often miss basic SEO. Fix these fast to make your site findable on Google.
1. Page titles & meta descriptions
Every page needs a unique title (50–60 chars) and meta description (120–155 chars) that includes your primary keyword and location when relevant.
- Home: Brand + main service + location (if local)
- Service pages: Service + benefit + location
- Blog posts: Topic + intent phrase
2. Heading structure & content hierarchy
Use one H1 per page, then H2s for sections and H3s for sub-sections. Put your target keyword in H1 or H2 naturally.
3. Local SEO basics
If you serve a local area, claim and optimise your Google Business Profile, add consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across your site, and include your suburb in content.
4. Fast loading & mobile-first
Compress images, defer heavy scripts, and choose a lightweight theme. Aim to load under 3s on mobile.
5. Structured data (optional but powerful)
Add Schema markup for local business, reviews and FAQs to improve rich result chances. Many free platforms support adding custom code snippets.
6. Sitemap & robots
Generate a sitemap.xml and submit to Google Search Console. Ensure robots.txt isn't blocking your site.
Content that converts — structure and copywriting tips
Good copy turns visitors into customers. Keep it clear, local, and action-oriented.
Hero section: clarity > cleverness
Headline should say what you do and who it's for in one line. Subheadline adds the main benefit and timeframe if possible.
Service pages: benefits + proof
List 3–5 benefits (not features). Add a short process explanation (how it works) and 2 short testimonials.
CTAs that work
Make the CTA visible, actionable and tailored: "Book Same-Day Visit", "Call Now for Quote", "Get Your Free Estimate". Use contrasting color and repeat it.
Trust signals
Add 3 trust elements: customer star rating, short testimonials, and a clear phone number. If licensed or insured, show badges.
Images & media
Use at least one real photo of your team/van. If unavailable, choose high-quality stock that feels authentic. Always add descriptive alt text for SEO.
Content length
For small-business service pages aim for 400–900 words focused on intent and benefits. Landing pages can be shorter if the CTA is strong.
Analytics, tracking and measuring success
Tracking performance is how you improve. Install these tools even on free sites.
Google Analytics / GA4
Track visitors, page paths, acquisition channels and conversions. Set up a simple conversion event (contact form submit or phone click).
Google Search Console
See which keywords bring traffic, index issues, and performance improvements. Submit your sitemap here.
Call tracking & UTM tags
Use simple UTMs for marketing links and consider a call-tracking number if phone leads matter.
Heatmaps & session recordings (optional)
Tools like Hotjar or simple free trials help you see how visitors interact and where they drop off.
Promote your free website without paid ads
Use low-cost or free channels to drive initial traffic and build traction.
Optimize Google Business Profile
Complete every field, add photos, list services, and collect reviews. Post weekly updates with offers.
Local directories & citations
Add consistent NAP to directories like Yellow Pages, True Local and industry-specific listings.
Social reposting & community
Share your site and service pages in local Facebook groups, Nextdoor, and LinkedIn. Use real before/after photos when possible.
Email to existing contacts
Send a short, helpful announcement to customers with a clear call to action and booking link.
Cold outreach (local)
Targeted emails or SMS to nearby businesses or property managers offering a quick introductory deal.
Content & FAQ pages
Write short how-to pages and FAQs that answer common customer questions — these can rank well and bring qualified traffic.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Publishing with empty meta titles and no H1.
- Using large, uncompressed images that slow down mobile loading.
- Hiding contact details or making the CTA hard to find.
- Relying only on social posts — diversify channels and track performance.
- Ignoring analytics — without data you’re guessing.
Free website launch checklist
- H1, page title & meta description filled for every page.
- Contact number & CTA visible in header and footer.
- Images compressed (WebP if possible) with alt text.
- Google Analytics & Search Console installed and verified.
- Google Business Profile claimed (if local).
- Submit sitemap.xml and request indexing in Search Console.
- Test forms & phone clicks yourself on mobile.
- Set up basic backups or export copies where possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can a free website compete with paid sites for SEO?
When should I upgrade to paid hosting or a professional build?
How do I migrate later without losing SEO?
What’s the one thing I must not skip?
Ready to get live — free or fast with help?
If you want to keep it free, follow the checklist above. If you'd prefer a fast, fully-managed site with unlimited updates, local SEO and domain included, Congero can build and launch your professional site from $49/month with no lock-in.
Prefer hands-off? Congero builds, hosts, optimises and updates your site — send a text to get started or try the demo above.
