free website builder for small business
How to choose a free website builder, make it fast and SEO-friendly, and turn visitors into customers — step‑by‑step.
Using a free website builder is a smart way to start. But the difference between a site that sits idle and one that drives enquiries is execution. This guide gives practical checklists, performance hacks, SEO steps, and growth tactics you can implement today.
Starter plans cost $0
Expect platform branding/subdomain
Most builders are responsive
Upgrade when ready
How to Choose a Free Website Builder — 5 Practical Criteria
Not all free plans are equal. Use this simple checklist to choose a builder that gives you the best foundation for growth.
1. What you get for free
Look for: custom domain support, removal of platform ads, number of pages, storage and bandwidth limits, and whether contact forms work on the free tier.
2. Mobile responsiveness & templates
Preview templates on your phone. Choose a builder that creates clean mobile layouts and offers business-focused templates (service pages, contact, testimonials).
3. Performance & site speed
Free builders often use shared infrastructure — pick one with a reputation for fast load times. Check demo sites on Google PageSpeed Insights before committing.
4. SEO features available
Ensure the free plan allows editing title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and adding alt text to images. Sitemap and robots.txt control are a plus.
5. Upgrade path & export options
You'll likely outgrow a free plan. Check upgrade costs, whether you can connect a custom domain, and if you can export content or migrate to another platform later.
Popular Free Website Builders — Quick Comparison
The free tier is great for starting. Below are the trade-offs to be aware of in 2025.
| Builder | Free Plan Pros | Main Limitations | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wix (free) | Easy editor, many templates, built-in SEO Wiz | Wix ads, subdomain, limited storage on free plan | Local services testing an MVP |
| WordPress.com (free) | Content-first, blogging tools, large plugin ecosystem on paid plans | WordPress branding, limited plugins and SEO on free tier | Service businesses who will use blogging for SEO |
| Weebly (free) | Simple drag-and-drop, ecommerce options on paid plans | Weebly branding, limited advanced SEO features | Small catalog, brochure-style sites |
| Google Sites (free) | Fast, reliable, simple — integrates with Google Workspace | Very limited customization and SEO controls | Internal pages or tiny informational sites |
| Webflow (free plan) | Clean code, high performance, exportable on paid plan | Learning curve, Webflow branding on free sites | Design-focused owners who may upgrade later |
How to test a builder quickly
- Sign up and build a single "service" page and a contact page.
- Preview on mobile and desktop, then run the page through PageSpeed Insights.
- Try editing the page title, meta description, and image alt text.
- Check whether contact form submissions (or contact links) work on the free plan.
Speed & Performance Checklist (Make a Free Site Fast)
A fast site improves SEO and conversions. Apply these steps even on limited free plans.
1. Optimize images
- Resize to the display size (don't upload 4000px images).
- Use WebP where supported; compress with 60–80% quality.
- Lazy-load offscreen images (many builders include this).
2. Minimise third‑party scripts
- Remove unneeded widgets (chat widgets, heavy analytics) until necessary.
- Prefer built-in features from the builder — they’re often optimised.
3. Keep page count minimal
Start with 4–6 pages: Home, Services, About, Contact, and one or two key service pages. Every extra page adds maintenance and potential slowdowns.
Run a quick speed audit (10–20 minutes)
- Open the live page in PageSpeed Insights — note mobile and desktop scores.
- Fix the top three issues listed (usually images, unused CSS, or render-blocking scripts).
- Retest — aim to reduce Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) under 2.5s if possible.
Essential SEO Steps for Free Sites (Practical & Actionable)
SEO is not a mystery. Follow this checklist to make your free site visible to local customers.
On‑page SEO checklist
- Title tag: Include main keyword + location if you serve locally (e.g., "Plumber in Melbourne — Fast repairs").
- Meta description: 120–155 characters summarising benefit + call to action.
- H1/H2 structure: One H1 per page; use H2s for subtopics and services.
- Image alt text: Describe the image and include keywords where natural.
- Clean URLs: Use readable paths (site.com/service/blocked-drain).
Local SEO basics
- Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile (GMB).
- Ensure Name, Address, Phone (NAP) match exactly across your site and GMB.
- Add your service areas on a dedicated page.
- Get 5+ reviews — ask customers via SMS or receipts.
Link & content strategy
- Create 1–2 short service pages (500–800 words) focused on buyer intent keywords.
- Publish a monthly short article answering a common customer question (300–600 words).
- Get 3–5 local backlinks: suppliers, local directories, chamber of commerce.
Technical SEO & schema
- Submit sitemap.xml to Google Search Console (builders often auto-generate).
- Use Organisation/LocalBusiness schema on your contact page (many builders allow adding custom HTML).
- Ensure HTTPS is active — critical for trust and rankings.
Quick routine (20–30 minutes/week)
- Check Google Search Console for new keywords and fix any crawl errors.
- Post one short FAQ or project update and link it from your homepage.
- Ask one satisfied customer for a Google review.
Turn Visitors Into Customers — Practical Conversion Tactics
Small changes can have big impact. Focus on clarity, trust signals, and easy contact.
Clear headline & offer
On the homepage, clearly state who you serve, what you do, and a simple action (Call, Book, Enquire).
Prominent contact options
Display a phone number and clickable link (tel:) in the header, and repeat on every page. Add a short contact form or an email link.
Trust signals
Show 3-5 recent customer reviews, partner logos, and photos of real work. Add a short guarantee (e.g., "Satisfaction guaranteed").
Simple growth plan (first 90 days)
- Launch site with 4 pages and one strong service page.
- Submit your site to Google Search Console and add to local directories.
- Run one targeted Facebook/Google ad campaign to a single service page for 2 weeks to generate inquiries and test messaging.
- Collect reviews and add them to your homepage.
Measure What Matters — Analytics Checklist
Even free sites can and should be tracked. Data tells you what to improve.
- Install Google Analytics 4: Track sessions, source, and conversions (phone clicks, contact form submissions).
- Google Search Console: Monitor impressions, clicks, and search queries driving traffic.
- Call tracking: Use a simple UTM or a call-tracking number for ads to measure ROI.
- Heatmaps (optional): Tools like Hotjar help understand where visitors click; use after you have steady traffic.
When to Upgrade or Migrate (Practical Signals)
Free plans are great to validate ideas. Upgrade when the limitations cost you money.
Signs you should upgrade
- You're ranking for keywords and getting steady traffic.
- Contact volume is growing and you need better forms or CRM integration.
- Brand perception matters — remove platform ads and use a custom domain.
- You need faster performance, backups, or eCommerce features.
How to migrate smartly
- Export content where possible (text and images).
- Take screenshots of page layouts and note exact headlines/meta tags.
- Redirect old URLs to new URLs (301 redirects) to preserve SEO — important when changing domains or platform structure.
- Test the new site for analytics and forms before switching DNS.
Quick Start: Build & Launch in a Weekend (Checklist)
Follow these steps to get a simple, effective website live fast.
Before you start
- One-sentence business description and primary service.
- Phone number, email, and business address (if local).
- 3–6 high-quality photos of your work or team.
- 3 customer testimonials or short reviews (can be placeholders).
Launch steps (2–4 hours)
- Choose a free builder that meets the "5 criteria" above.
- Pick a clean template and add: Home, Services (individual pages for main services), About, Contact.
- Set title tags and meta descriptions for each page.
- Compress images and publish the site. Test contact link/form and phone click.
- Submit sitemap to Google Search Console and add site to Google Business Profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a free website builder good enough for my small business?
Will a free site rank in Google?
How do I handle bookings or payments on a free plan?
What’s the single biggest action that improves conversions?
Make Your Free Site Work Harder
Free website builders give you a low-cost start. Use the checklists in this guide to turn that free site into a lead‑generating asset — and know exactly when to upgrade for more growth.
Pro tip: If you want unlimited updates, local SEO built in, and a site launched by a team in under 24 hours, explore subscription services that handle the heavy lifting for you.
