how to design free website
Step-by-step, no-code options plus the must-do SEO and marketing moves that actually drive traffic and leads.
This guide shows busy owners and side-project creators how to build a usable, discoverable website for free — then grow it with simple SEO and marketing techniques that work in 2025.
Build it free, make it count
You don't need expensive design or hosting to start getting customers. Use free tools to launch quickly, then apply the SEO and marketing steps below to turn visitors into enquiries.
Pro tip: If you prefer a done-for-you path later, Congero builds professional sites in minutes with local SEO and unlimited updates — all-inclusive from $49/month. Start free, upgrade when you're ready.
1. Plan your free website (5-minute checklist)
Before you open a builder, decide the essentials. Planning saves time and makes your site effective from day one.
What is the site for?
- Lead generation (contact form/phone)
- Portfolio / gallery
- Local business listing (storefront/services)
Key pages to prepare
- Home — clear value proposition and CTA
- Services / Products — one page per main service
- About & Contact
- Testimonials or gallery (social proof)
Quick content checklist (copy this)
- Business name, address, phone (NAP) — exact formatting
- 1-line headline: what you do + where you do it
- 3 short service descriptions (30–50 words each)
- 2–6 photos (mobile-friendly, high quality)
- At least one testimonial or review
2. Choose a free platform — pick the right trade-off
Free options vary by ease, customisation, and branding. For most small businesses in 2025 choose one of the following:
Google Sites
Fast, simple, no ads, great for info pages. Limited templates.
GitHub Pages + Static Builder (Hugo/Eleventy)
Free hosting and full control — technical. Ideal if you know a little code.
Netlify / Vercel + Free CMS (Storyblok free tier)
Free hosting with modern performance. Slightly technical but powerful.
WordPress.com (free)
Easy to start, lots of plugins with paid plans. Free plan shows WP branding.
Wix / Weebly (free)
Drag-and-drop builders. Fast to launch but free plan includes ads and subdomain.
Social landing options (Linktree, Carrd)
Quick landing pages for social profiles and single-offer funnels.
3. Simple design principles that make your free site look premium
- One clear headline: 5–8 words explaining what you do and who you help.
- Fewer choices: 1 primary CTA (call / contact) above the fold.
- Mobile-first layout: Big buttons, readable fonts, single-column content on phones.
- Use real photos: Customers trust real images. If none, use tasteful stock (Unsplash, Pexels).
- Whitespace: Keep sections short; give breathing room around elements.
- Contrast & accessibility: Dark text on light backgrounds or vice versa; 4.5:1 contrast for body text.
4. Essential SEO setup — do these first (non-technical)
SEO is what turns visitors into steady traffic. These are the high-impact, low-effort steps you can complete in under an hour.
A. Page titles & meta descriptions
Each page needs a unique title (50–60 chars) and meta description (100–160 chars) that includes your primary keyword and location if local (e.g., "Plumber Sydney").
B. Headings & structure
Use one H1 per page (the main headline), then H2s for sections. Keep content scannable with short paragraphs and bullet lists.
C. URLs & slugs
Use short, readable URLs: example.com/emergency-plumber-sydney. Avoid long query strings for main pages.
D. Images & alt text
Compress images (WebP if supported). Add descriptive alt text with keywords naturally: "electrician fixing switch in Melbourne".
E. Mobile speed & performance
Use fast templates, avoid heavy sliders, and limit third-party scripts. Aim for under 3s mobile load time.
F. Analytics & Search Console
Install Google Analytics (GA4) and verify the site in Google Search Console. Submit a sitemap.xml (many free builders auto-generate it).
- Claim and verify your Google Business Profile (free)
- Use consistent NAP across site & directories
- Collect 5-star reviews and display them
5. Content & conversion — turn visitors into customers
Primary Conversion Goal
Decide the one action you want visitors to take (call, contact form, book). Make that action obvious on every page.
Above-the-fold checklist
- Clear headline + subheadline
- Primary CTA (phone or contact) in contrasting color
- Trust elements: review stars, association logos, years in business
Service pages that rank
Create a page for each core service. Each page should have:
- Unique H1 and meta description
- 3–5 short paragraphs explaining benefits
- One clear next step (CTA)
6. Free marketing tactics to get initial traffic
1. Google Business Profile
Optimise your listing with photos, service categories, and weekly posts. Request reviews from customers — reviews are traffic catalysts.
2. Local directories
List on TrueLocal, YellowPages, Yelp, and niche directories. Keep NAP consistent to boost local rankings.
3. Social posting & communities
Post before/after photos on Instagram/Facebook and join local community groups. Link to a landing page instead of your profile feed.
4. Content & FAQ posts
Create short helpful posts answering common customer questions — these can rank in search and drive calls.
5. Partnerships
Exchange links with complementary local businesses (e.g., a landscaper partners with a fence installer). Referral traffic is low-effort and high-trust.
6. Email & SMS
Collect emails with a simple signup and send offers. Even a small list (50 people) can produce repeat business.
7. Free tools & resources to speed things up
- Images: Unsplash, Pexels
- Icons: Font Awesome free
- Compression: Squoosh.app
- Analytics/Search: Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console
- Speed testing: Google PageSpeed Insights, WebPageTest
- Local listings: Google Business Profile, Bing Places
- Free website builders: Google Sites, WordPress.com free, Netlify/ GitHub Pages (static)
8. 90-day growth plan (doable, measurable)
Use this simple schedule to move from launch to meaningful traffic.
Week 1 — Launch
- Publish site, verify Search Console
- Claim Google Business Profile
- Submit sitemap
Weeks 2–4 — Foundation
- Build 2 service pages
- Collect 5 reviews
- Share 8 social posts
Months 2–3 — Amplify
- Start a small ads test ($5–10/day)
- Publish 4 FAQ/blog posts for long-tail keywords
- Improve PageSpeed and mobile UX
Ready to move past "free" limits?
If you want a fast upgrade to a fully-managed, SEO-optimised website with unlimited text-in updates and local SEO handled for you, Congero builds professional sites in under 2 minutes and includes hosting, domain, and analytics from $49/month.
See the Demo — Start Free
Frequently asked questions
Can I rank with a free website?
What about the free platform branding and subdomains?
Do I need to learn code?
When should I pay for a professional site?
Launch today — grow tomorrow
You can have a usable, SEO-friendly website live for free today. Follow the steps above, measure results, and scale with paid tools when it makes sense.
Prefer a done-for-you upgrade later? Congero can take your free site and migrate it into a managed, local-SEO optimised website with unlimited updates — all without lock-in.
