free website maker online
How to use free website makers effectively — SEO, design, and simple steps that actually get local customers
Free website makers (Wix, Weebly, free plans of Squarespace-like builders and newer AI builders) are great for getting started — but only if you use them the right way. This guide gives clear, actionable steps to improve SEO, speed, and design so your site brings real enquiries.
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Why use a free website maker online?
Free website makers let you get online fast with no cash outlay. For many small businesses a simple, well-optimised free site is enough to start getting local enquiries — especially if you focus on the right pages and basic SEO.
Fast & low risk
Launch a site in hours, test messaging, and validate whether customers find you before spending on a paid build.
Built-in tools
Most free makers include templates, mobile-responsive layouts, and basic SEO fields (title, meta description, alt text).
Zero upfront cost
Perfect for testing offers, showcasing a portfolio, or getting contact details while you grow.
Learnable
You’ll learn fundamentals of page structure, SEO and content that pay off later if you move to a paid plan or professional build.
How to choose the right free website maker
Not all free plans are equal. Pick one that gives the essentials you need without locking away critical features.
Must-haves
- Custom page titles & meta descriptions
- Mobile-responsive templates
- Ability to add alt text for images
- Simple analytics / Google Analytics support
Nice-to-have
- Remove provider branding (paid)
- Custom domain support
- Fast hosting & CDN
Avoid if...
- Cannot edit page titles
- Blocks Google Analytics or custom scripts
- Slow load times or forced third-party ads
SEO basics for free website maker online users
SEO for free sites focuses on local intent, clarity, and speed. Follow the tactics below in this exact order for best results.
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1. Keyword-focused pages (one topic per page)
Create one dedicated page per service/location. Example: "Plumber in Richmond" not "Services". Use the main keyword in URL, H1, and first paragraph.
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2. Page title & meta description — write for clicks
Title: 50–60 characters with your main keyword and location. Meta: 120–155 characters summarising benefit (e.g., fast same-day service).
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3. Heading structure & content length
Use H1 once (page title), H2s for sections, and aim for 400–800 words on service pages. Answer common customer questions and include a clear call-to-action.
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4. Images & alt text
Compress images (under 200 KB ideal), name files with keywords (plumber-richmond-van.jpg), and always add descriptive alt text. This helps accessibility and image search.
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5. Local signals
Add your NAP (name, address, phone) in text (not only in images), embed a Google Map, and claim your Google Business Profile. Use the same address formatting everywhere.
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6. Speed & mobile experience
Choose lightweight templates, remove unnecessary widgets, and test on mobile. Aim for under 3 seconds load time on mobile; use PageSpeed Insights and address top issues (images, render-blocking scripts).
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7. Analytics & tracking
Install Google Analytics and set up Goals (contact form submissions, phone clicks). Even free builders allow analytics via a tracking code—use it.
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8. Submit sitemap & monitor
If the builder provides a sitemap.xml, submit it in Google Search Console. Monitor coverage and fix indexing issues promptly.
Design principles that convert — simple, tested, and mobile-first
Design isn't about fancy effects — it's about trust and clarity. Use these rules to make any free template convert better.
Above-the-fold clarity
Your headline must state what you do + where you do it. Add a clear contact method (phone or booking button) visible on mobile without scrolling.
Use one strong CTA per page
Multiple buttons confuse users. Primary CTA (call or enquiry) and one secondary (learn more) is enough.
Readable typography
Use large font sizes for headings on mobile, 16px+ for body. Stick to 1–2 fonts and ensure high contrast (dark text on light background or vice versa).
Trust elements
Add 3–5 customer testimonials, a short gallery of real work, and clear service guarantees (e.g., licensed, insured, on-time warranty).
Template tweaks that matter (actionable)
- Replace stock images with one or two real photos of your van, team or job sites.
- Shorten the hero text to one sentence and add a phone number as a clickable tel: link.
- Limit navigation to 4–5 items — more links dilute conversions.
A step-by-step plan to build a high-performing free website
Pick the page template and set your brand
Choose a simple business/landing template. Set logo, primary colour, and upload a hero image that shows your work.
Create 3 essential pages
Home, Service page for your main offering, Contact page with map and phone. Each service must be its own page for SEO.
Write clear, localised content
Include location name 2–3 times naturally on each page, customer pain points, and one clear CTA per page.
Set titles, meta descriptions & URLs
Use keyword + location in title and URL (e.g., /electrician-melbourne). Meta description should promise value and include a CTA.
Optimize images & alt text
Compress, add keyword-focused filenames and alt text that describes the image and service.
Install analytics & Search Console
Add Google Analytics and verify the site in Google Search Console to monitor indexing and performance.
Add trust & contact triggers
Add testimonials, licences, and a click-to-call button. Place the phone number in plain text at the top and bottom of the page.
Test and launch
Test on multiple phones, submit contact forms, and fix any broken links. Submit your sitemap and ask 3 customers to test the contact form.
Quick SEO checklist (do this in the first 24 hours)
- Set unique page title & meta description for each page
- Add H1 on every page and use H2s for subtopics
- Use a clear URL structure: /service-location/
- Compress images and add alt text
- Embed Google Map and add NAP in plain text
- Install Google Analytics and verify in Search Console
- Submit sitemap (if available) or request indexing for key pages
Common mistakes people make on free website makers
1. Treating the homepage like a brochure
Homepage should be conversion-focused: headline, 1 benefit, phone, and trust. Avoid long, generic paragraphs on the homepage.
2. Keyword stuffing and vague content
Write for humans first, Google second. Answer real customer questions and include location naturally.
3. Ignoring mobile testing
A button that works on desktop might be buried on mobile. Check every CTA on a real phone.
4. Leaving analytics uninstalled
If you don't track, you can't improve. Add analytics and define one conversion event.
When to upgrade from a free website maker
Free plans are great for starting, but consider upgrading when your site needs any of the following:
- Remove provider ads or branding — credibility matters for conversions.
- Custom domain support (yourbusiness.com looks more professional than yourbusiness.provider.com).
- Faster hosting or CDN to improve mobile speed and rankings.
- Unlimited updates & support if you don't want to spend your own time maintaining the site.
If you want instant professional results
Companies like Congero provide a managed subscription that includes domain, hosting, local SEO, unlimited updates, and a professional custom design — launched in 24–48 hours. It's ideal when your time is better spent running your business than managing a website.
Tools & resources to speed you up
Free builders to try
- Wix (easy editor)
- Weebly (simple ecommerce options)
- Squarespace trial (great templates)
- New AI builders — fast demo prototypes
Free tools to use
- Google PageSpeed Insights — speed diagnostics
- Google Search Console — indexing & search data
- Canva or Photopea — quick image edits
- TinyPNG — image compression
Frequently asked questions
Is a free website maker good enough for local SEO?
How long until my free site starts getting traffic?
Should I pay to remove the builder's branding?
What’s the single best improvement to make right now?
Ready to get a better website — fast?
Use free website makers to experiment and learn — then when you want a professional, fully-managed option that includes local SEO, domain, hosting and unlimited updates, Congero can launch a custom site in 24–48 hours.
Congero offers all-inclusive managed websites from $49/month with domain, hosting, local SEO and unlimited updates — cancel anytime.
