how to make your own site for free
Step-by-step, no-code instructions + focused SEO tips so your free website actually gets found.
Building a free website is easier than ever in 2025. This guide walks you through planning, choosing the right free tools, on-page SEO, speed tuning, analytics, and the small things that turn visitors into customers. Includes clear action items you can do today.
1. Plan your site — keep it focused
Before opening any website builder, decide the single goal your site must achieve: phone calls, email enquiries, bookings, or online sales. A focused site converts far better than a sprawling brochure.
Define your primary goal
- Lead generation: Prominent phone number + contact form on every page
- Bookings: Show availability, clear CTA to book
- Showcase work: High-quality portfolio images with captions
Collect essentials
- Business name, phone, address, hours
- Short description (1–2 lines) and 3–5 service bullets
- 3–8 good photos (use phone photos or free stock)
- Customer testimonials or simple case studies
Action step: write a one-sentence business headline and a 50–120 word "about" you can paste into your site.
2. Choose a free platform (pros & cons)
There are multiple free builders in 2025. Pick one based on control, branding, and whether you want to upgrade later.
Wix (Free plan)
Very easy, lots of templates. Free plan shows Wix branding and uses a Wix subdomain.
Google Sites (Free)
Ultra-simple and fast, but limited design and SEO controls.
GitHub Pages + Static Site
Free hosting with a custom domain, full control if you can manage a repository. Good for portfolios and landing pages.
Decision checklist
- No-code & fast? Choose Wix / Squarespace / Google Sites
- Need SEO control? Prefer builders that allow custom meta and headers
- No upfront cost but want a custom domain later? Use GitHub Pages or choose a builder that allows domain mapping
3. Set up pages & navigation — keep it simple
A small website converts better. Start with 4–6 pages and make key information obvious.
Essential pages
- Home: One-line headline, 3 bullets of what you do, CTA (phone/email)
- Services: Short sections for each service with 50–100 words
- About / Why choose us: Team, credentials, trust signals
- Gallery / Work: Real photos, caption with location/date
- Contact: Phone, email, address, hours, and map
Navigation & CTAs
- Put phone number in the header and footer
- Use a prominent CTA button like Call Now or Get a Quote
- Keep menus short — avoid multi-level dropdowns
- Make contact links telephone-friendly: tel:+61400000000
Action step: Build the Home, Services, and Contact pages first. Add other pages later.
4. On-page SEO checklist — what to do today
Free builders sometimes limit SEO controls. Do everything you can within the editor.
Keyword basics
- Find 1 primary keyword per page (e.g., "melbourne plumber" or "house cleaning sydney")
- Include the keyword in the page title, H1, and first 100 words naturally
- Use 1–2 related phrases across the page (service + suburb)
Meta tags & headings
- Title tag: 50–60 characters, includes keyword and location
- Meta description: 120–155 chars, benefit-driven CTA
- Headings: Use one H1 per page and H2/H3 for sections
Images & alt text
- Compress images (aim for <200KB per image)
- Use descriptive alt text with keywords (e.g., "kitchen renovation by [business] in [suburb]")
- Name files simply: kitchen-renovation-melbourne.jpg
Internal links & URLs
- Keep URLs short and keyword-rich (no query strings)
- Link from Home to Services and from Services to Contact
- Use descriptive anchor text, not "click here"
5. Local search & maps — get on the map
If you serve local customers, local SEO is the most effective way to get quick enquiries.
- Google Business Profile: claim and fully populate your profile (photos, services, business hours). This is the #1 local ranking factor.
- Consistent NAP: Name, Address, Phone number must match exactly across your site and directory listings.
- Reviews: Ask happy customers for Google reviews — respond to all reviews professionally.
- Embed a map: Add a Google Map on your Contact page so users can find you.
Action step: create or update your Google Business Profile and add your exact NAP on every page footer.
6. Speed & performance — fast sites rank higher
Free sites can be slow due to large images, third-party scripts, or heavy themes. Here are practical fixes.
Practical speed fixes
- Compress images (use TinyPNG or Squoosh)
- Serve smaller images on mobile (use your builder's responsive settings)
- Remove unused widgets and third-party trackers
- Prefer built-in fonts over multiple Google Fonts to reduce requests
Testing tools
- Google PageSpeed Insights: aim for 70+ on mobile initially
- WebPageTest.org: see detailed waterflow and slow resources
- Lighthouse: follow accessibility and best-practice tips
Action step: compress your 5 largest images today and re-run PageSpeed Insights.
7. Tracking & analytics — measure what matters
Install at least one analytics tool so you can see visitors and measure conversions.
- Google Analytics 4: free, standard for tracking users and conversions
- Set up simple goals: phone click, contact form submission, or booking completion
- Use UTM tags: track which ads or posts send traffic
Action step: add GA4 and create a conversion event for your main CTA.
8. Launch checklist — test before you share
Pre-launch tests
- Open site on phone: header, CTA, and contact link visible above the fold
- Submit contact form — verify messages arrive
- Check all links and images
- Confirm page titles and meta descriptions
- Verify GA4 is receiving events
Promotion plan
- Update your Google Business Profile with new URL
- Post on Facebook, Instagram, and any local community pages
- Ask 5 customers to leave a Google review
- Consider a small local ad spend to get initial traffic
Action step: complete the pre-launch tests and then announce on your top 2 customer channels.
9. Grow traffic — low-cost strategies that work
Free site setup is just the start — grow traffic with these dependable tactics.
Content & local pages
- Create a short blog or news post once every 2 weeks about jobs you've completed
- Build simple "service + suburb" pages for the areas you serve
- Share project before/after photos with short captions
Social & partnerships
- Share new pages to local groups and community forums
- Partner with complementary businesses and swap links (carefully)
- Collect email addresses and send occasional value updates
Action step: publish one local service page and promote it in a local Facebook group this week.
10. When to upgrade to professional help
A free site is an excellent start. Consider professional web design and marketing when any of the following apply:
You're busy
If updating the site takes time away from customers, a managed service saves hours each week.
You need leads now
Professionals speed up SEO, set up paid ads, and tune conversion flows so your site starts generating enquiries quickly.
You want predictable costs
Subscription services bundle hosting, domain, updates and SEO into one monthly fee — no surprises.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really build a site that ranks for free?
Will a free site show my business on Google Maps?
What are the biggest limitations of free builders?
When should I pay for a domain?
Ready to build your free site?
Follow the steps above to create a working, discoverable website today. If you prefer to let professionals handle the heavy lifting — design, SEO, hosting, and unlimited changes — explore managed options at any time.
Pro tip: Start free, measure traffic for 30 days, then decide whether a professional subscription (fast setup, local SEO, analytics dashboards) will save you time and win more customers.
Want someone to do it for you?
If time is tight, a professional service can deliver a mobile-first, SEO-optimised site faster than DIY. It can also manage updates so you never worry about technical details.
See How It Works