how can i start a website
A clear, actionable roadmap to launch your first small business website, get found on Google, and start earning customers online.
No jargon. No long waits. Follow this step-by-step playbook to pick a domain, choose hosting or a subscription, design for mobile, set up basic SEO, and promote your site so it brings real enquiries.
Step-by-step: How to start a website (for beginners)
Follow these practical steps and you'll have a live, optimised website that starts bringing customers in weeks, not months.
Plan (Goals, Audience, Offer)
Decide what the website must do: generate calls, collect leads, showcase work, or sell online. Pick 1 primary goal — everything on the site should support it.
- Define your target customer (e.g., homeowners, local businesses)
- List 3 core services/products you want to promote
- Decide on a simple conversion: phone call, contact form, booking
Choose Domain & Hosting
Simple rules: pick a short, memorable domain and use a provider that includes SSL, fast hosting, and backups.
- - Prefer .com.au (or .com) for local trust
- - Keep under 20 characters
- - Avoid hyphens & numbers if possible
- - Subscription service (Congero): all-in-one, managed, fast launch
- - Shared hosting: cheap but requires maintenance
- - Managed WordPress: good for scale, needs updates
Design for Mobile & Trust
Mobile-first design is essential—most visitors will be on phones. Use clear headings, prominent phone buttons, and customer photos to build trust.
- Large click-to-call button at the top
- Show real photos, team, and testimonials
- Keep load time under 3s—compress images and use lazy loading
Write SEO-friendly Pages
Each core service should have its own page with a clear title, short intro, benefits, FAQs, and a call-to-action. Use keywords naturally.
- Title tag: Service name | Your Suburb | Business
- Meta description: 120–155 characters that describe the offer and CTA
- Headings: use H1 once, H2 for sections; include keywords in at least one H2
- Local signals: include suburb, service areas, and service-related schema
Set Up Local SEO & Listings
Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile. Consistent business name, address, phone (NAP) across directories helps ranking in "near me" searches.
- Add photos, business hours, and services to your GBP
- Ask happy customers for 5-star reviews and respond to them
- Embed a Google map on your Contact page
Add Analytics & Convert
Install Google Analytics / GA4 and set up call tracking or form event tracking. Measure what's working and double down.
- Create goals: phone clicks, form submissions, bookings
- Connect Google Search Console to monitor keyword performance
Promote: Paid & Organic
Start with Local SEO and a small Google Ads or Meta campaign targeting service + suburb queries. Track cost per lead and optimise.
- £/AUD 200-500 test budget for 4 weeks
- Target keywords like "plumber near me", "emergency electrician [suburb]"
- Use call-only or click-to-call ads for higher ROI
Domain, Hosting & Technical Setup
For beginners, the simplest path is a managed subscription that bundles domain, hosting, SSL and maintenance. If you prefer self-managed, follow the checklist below.
Managed subscription (recommended)
- Included domain registration or transfer
- Fast, secure hosting + automatic SSL
- Unlimited updates and support
Self-managed hosting checklist
- Choose a reputable provider (backups, SSD, CDN)
- Install HTTPS (Let's Encrypt)
- Set up automatic daily backups
- Enable a CDN and image optimisation
Design: Convert Visitors into Customers
Good design isn’t decoration—it's persuasion. Make decisions that reduce friction and drive action.
Above the fold
Headline that quickly states your service + locality, a one-line value proposition, and a prominent CTA (call button or booking link).
Social proof
Include 3–5 short testimonials, star ratings, and photos of jobs. Real content beats stock text.
Speed & accessibility
Compress images, use readable fonts, and ensure buttons are big enough for thumbs. Accessibility helps both users and SEO.
Quick design checklist
- Clear H1 on each page (one per page)
- CTA visible without scrolling on mobile
- Readable contrast and legible font sizes
- Contact details in header & footer
SEO Essentials — Get Found in 2025
Focus on fundamentals that move the needle quickly: on-page SEO, local signals, and content that matches search intent.
On-page checklist
- Unique title tag (50–60 chars) with target keyword and location
- Meta description (120–155 chars) with a call-to-action
- Use headings (H1/H2/H3) — include keywords naturally
- Image alt text describing the photo and context
- Internal links between related pages
Local & technical SEO
- Google Business Profile: fully filled out with services & photos
- XML sitemap submitted to Search Console
- HTTPS + fast mobile load times
- Add structured data (LocalBusiness, Service)
Keyword quick-start
Pick 3 priority keywords for your business: a primary service + location (e.g. "emergency plumber sydney"), a secondary service, and a service-related question for blog content.
Content Plan: Pages & Blog Ideas
Structure your site for both customers and search engines.
Must-have pages
- - Home (clear offer + CTA)
- - Services (individual page per service)
- - About (team, credentials, insurance)
- - Contact (phone, map, form)
- - Reviews / Testimonials
Blog & content topics
- - How-to guides for common problems
- - Seasonal checklists (e.g., "prepare your garden for summer")
- - Case studies with before/after photos
- - Pricing or what to expect pages (reduces call friction)
Content writing tips
- Write for humans first — answer common customer questions
- Use keywords naturally, avoid stuffing
- Include clear CTAs in every page
Marketing: Drive Customers to Your Site
Combine organic and paid channels to start a steady stream of leads.
Paid Search
Start small with targeted ads (service + suburb). Track calls & form leads to measure CPA (cost per acquisition).
Local & Social
Post before/after photos to Facebook/Instagram. Use community groups for local traction. Keep GBP updated daily or weekly.
Email & Retargeting
Capture emails with a simple newsletter or coupon. Use retargeting ads to convert visitors who didn't call the first time.
7-day marketing starter
- Day 1: Launch site & claim Google Business Profile
- Day 2: Post 3 before/after photos on social
- Day 3: Start a small Google Ads test campaign
- Day 4: Ask 5 customers for reviews
- Day 5: Add 2 blog posts answering common questions
- Day 6: Set up call tracking & analytics goals
- Day 7: Review results and optimise ads & pages
Analytics & Measuring ROI
You must measure to improve. Focus on a few key metrics:
Simple tracking setup
- Install Google Analytics (GA4) and link Search Console
- Enable conversion events: phone click, form submit
- Use UTM tags on ads and social links to identify sources
Launch Checklist: What to test before you announce
- All links work and phone numbers click-to-call
- Contact forms send to the right email and reply address
- Site loads under 3 seconds on mobile (use PageSpeed)
- Title tags & meta descriptions set
- Google Business Profile claimed & accurate
- Analytics goals are tracking conversions
Ready to launch faster?
Congero can create a professional, mobile-optimised website for trades and service businesses in under 60 seconds via WhatsApp and fully launch in 24 hours — domain, hosting, SSL, SEO and unlimited updates included for $49/month. No lock-in contracts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start a basic site?
Do I need to know SEO to start?
Can I update the site myself?
How long until I see enquiries?
Ready to start your website today?
If you want a professional, mobile-first website with local SEO and unlimited updates — launched quickly — try Congero's demo. Get a site via WhatsApp in 60 seconds and a fully launched site in 24 hours.
No lock-in contracts — cancel anytime. All sites include domain, hosting, SSL, and monthly analytics for $49/month.
