how to create my own site
Build a fast, SEO-ready website and grow traffic with proven marketing steps — no developer required.
This guide walks you from idea to launch and beyond: choosing domain and hosting, platform setup, essential on-page SEO, content planning, analytics and growth tactics that actually deliver customers.
Step 1 — Set clear goals before you build
Before you choose a platform or buy a domain, define what success looks like. Your site should have a primary goal — choose one and design around it:
- Generate leads: phone calls, contact forms or booking requests.
- Sell online: e-commerce with a simple product flow.
- Showcase work: portfolio to build credibility.
- Educate / build trust: blog or resources to attract organic traffic.
Action: write a one-sentence goal and a measurable KPI (e.g., 10 leads/month from site).
Step 2 — Domain name & hosting: the technical basics
Choosing a domain
- Prefer short, memorable, and easy-to-spell names
- Use .com or your country TLD (.com.au) for local trust
- Avoid hyphens and unnecessary numbers
Tip: If your exact match is taken, add a local modifier (city, trade).
Hosting & maintenance
- Choose managed hosting with daily backups
- Ensure SSL (HTTPS) is included
- Fast CDN and caching for performance
If you use a subscription service (like Congero), hosting, SSL and domains are bundled for predictable cost.
Step 3 — Pick the right platform
The best platform depends on your goals and skills:
- Subscription-managed (best for most small businesses): fast setup, professional design, unlimited updates, built-in SEO and hosting. Low upfront cost, predictable monthly fee.
- WordPress (self-hosted): flexible for blogs and custom features, but requires maintenance and some technical skill.
- Wix / Squarespace: simple drag-and-drop for DIYers. Good for quick brochure sites but less scalable for advanced SEO or complex functionality.
- Shopify: best for e-commerce stores with inventory and payments out-of-the-box.
Action: Match platform strengths to your goal. If you want results fast and fewer headaches, choose a managed subscription solution.
Step 4 — Design, structure & essential pages
Site structure
- Home — clear value proposition + CTA
- Services / Products — each service gets its own page
- About — credibility, team, certifications
- Contact — phone, email, simple contact form
- Blog / Resources — for ongoing SEO and authority
Design tips that convert
- Hero area: one-line benefit, short supporting sentence, primary CTA
- Trust elements: testimonials, logos, before/after photos
- Mobile-first: big tap targets and easily readable text
- Speed: compress images, lazy-load, use SVG for logos
Step 5 — SEO essentials: get found on Google
On-page basics
- Title tags: unique, descriptive, include main keyword near the start (50–60 characters).
- Meta descriptions: compelling summary that encourages clicks (120–155 characters).
- Headings: H1 for the page title, H2/H3 for sections — include keywords naturally.
- URL structure: short, readable slugs (example.com/service-name).
- Images: compressed (WebP/JPEG), descriptive alt text, meaningful filenames.
Technical & local SEO
- Mobile-first indexing: Ensure mobile pages load quickly and display correctly.
- Sitemap.xml & robots.txt: submit sitemap to Google Search Console.
- Schema markup: add LocalBusiness schema, product schema or FAQ schema where relevant.
- Google Business Profile: create/update your profile and keep NAP (name, address, phone) consistent.
Content & keywords
Keyword research is about intent. Use tools (Google Autocomplete, People Also Ask, free keyword planners) to find high-intent phrases your customers use. For local businesses add city+service (e.g., 'plumber Melbourne').
- Unique title & meta for each page
- H1 present and descriptive
- Images optimized + alt text
- Sitemap submitted
- Analytics & Search Console connected
- Schema for business & FAQ
Step 6 — Content strategy that attracts and converts
Core pages content
- Home: benefit-first headline, 2–3 service highlights, social proof, CTA.
- Service pages: explain the process, pricing ranges, outcomes and FAQ for each service.
- About: tell your story, team, credentials and reasons to trust you.
- Contact: clickable phone, short form (or booking), map if applicable.
Blog & content calendar
Use a content calendar to publish topics that answer customer questions. Consistent content builds authority and organic traffic.
- Start with 12 topic ideas (how-to, local guides, price explainers)
- Publish short, helpful posts (600–1,200 words) optimized for a single keyword
- Internally link from blog posts to relevant service pages
- Use benefit-led headlines, not feature lists
- Answer “what’s in it for me?” on every major section
- Use clear CTAs: Call now, Book a quote, Get my free estimate
Step 7 — Speed, mobile & technical optimisation
Site speed and mobile usability are ranking and conversion factors. Run tests and follow these steps:
- Use PageSpeed Insights: aim for 80+ on mobile, 90+ on desktop.
- Compress images: serve WebP where possible and resize to display dimensions.
- Reduce third-party scripts: only load necessary widgets and use async/defer.
- Enable caching & CDN: ensure repeat visitors get cached assets and regionally served content.
- Minimise CSS/JS: avoid heavy frameworks if not needed.
Action: Run a baseline speed report and fix the top 3 issues first — usually images, caching and render-blocking scripts.
Step 8 — Install analytics, conversion tracking & Search Console
Measure everything from day one. Connect these accounts:
- Google Analytics (GA4): track sessions, events and conversions.
- Google Search Console: monitor indexing, queries and coverage issues.
- Conversion tracking: track form submissions, phone clicks, bookings or transactions.
- Heatmaps & recordings (optional): tools like Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity show user behavior.
Action: Define 3 core conversion events and confirm they're tracked in GA4 within 24 hours of launch.
Pre-launch & launch checklist
- Proofread content and test every link
- Submit sitemap.xml to Google Search Console
- Verify mobile usability and speed targets
- Confirm forms and phone links work on mobile
- Publish 1–2 blog posts to avoid an empty blog page
- Announce launch via email and social channels
Remember: launching is the start, not the finish. Track metrics for the first 30–90 days and iterate.
Marketing strategies to grow your site
Organic SEO
Focus on local keywords, publish helpful content and get links from reputable local sources (partners, suppliers, local press).
Paid Ads
Use Google Search Ads for high-intent keywords and Facebook/Instagram for brand awareness. Start small, measure CPA, and scale what's profitable.
Email & Retention
Capture emails with a simple signup and nurture leads with a short welcome sequence offering value and clear next steps.
Low-cost growth plan (first 90 days)
- Week 1: Launch + submit sitemap + announce to customers
- Weeks 2–4: Run a small Google Ads test for 3–5 keywords
- Months 2–3: Publish 6 blog posts targeting long-tail queries
- Month 3: Review analytics and double down on top-performing traffic sources
Frequently asked questions
How long will it take to build my site?
Do I need to know SEO to rank?
What if I don't have time to manage the site?
How do I measure if the site is working?
Ready to build your website with confidence?
Follow the steps above and focus on SEO and conversion-focused content. If you'd rather start fast with expert help, try a demo and get a live preview in under 60 seconds.
