make my own free website
A practical, no-fluff guide to set up a free website, cover essential setup, basic SEO, and grow your online presence in 2025.
Follow these clear steps to choose a free platform, get essential pages online, optimise for Google, add analytics, and attract your first visitors — even if you’re not technical.
Quick Start Checklist — Make a Free Website Today
You can be live in under an hour using a free plan. This guide shows the practical choices and trade-offs so your site actually helps your business.
Want a faster path? Congero can build a professional site and manage SEO for a low monthly fee — see demo.
1. Choose a Free Platform (options & trade-offs)
The easiest way to make a free website is to select a platform that fits your priorities: speed to launch, custom domain support, or full control. Below are practical options and when to use each.
Google Sites
Best for simple brochure sites and absolute beginners. No ads, easy to use, free with Google account.
- Fast to build
- Responsive templates
- Limited SEO/customisation
WordPress.com (Free)
Great for content-rich sites. Free plan has WordPress branding and limited plugins.
- Good blogging features
- Lots of themes
- Custom domain requires paid plan
GitHub Pages / Netlify (Free hosting)
Best for simple static sites or if you’re comfortable with a little git / static site generator.
- Free SSL, fast CDN
- Use custom domain for free
- Requires setup (but many templates exist)
Carrd / Tilda (Free tiers)
Perfect for single-page sites and landing pages with simple visual editors.
- Fast one-page builder
- Low learning curve
- Custom domain often requires paid plan
Wix / Weebly free plans
Drag-and-drop editors that let you build visually but include platform ads on free plans.
- Visual editor, many templates
- Quick launch
- Ads and limited SEO on free plans
Congero (Fast professional option)
If you want a professional site without the setup hassles, Congero builds and manages sites quickly with SEO and unlimited updates.
How to pick: If you want zero tech work and a clean brochure site, start with Google Sites or Carrd. If you plan to blog and scale, WordPress.com or GitHub Pages + a static generator is better. If you value speed and professional design, consider Congero’s build-first approach.
2. Domain Names: Free vs Paid (what to do)
Free plans often give you a subdomain (yourname.platform.com). That's fine for testing, but if you want credibility, invest in a custom domain (usually $10-20/year).
When a free subdomain is ok
- Personal projects, portfolios, quick landing pages
- Proof-of-concept or MVP
When to buy your own domain
- Business website — builds trust and branding
- Local SEO and directory listings
- Long-term control and portability
If you buy a domain, point it to your free platform when possible. GitHub Pages, Netlify, and many builders let you connect a custom domain for free or cheap.
3. Essential Pages & Content (what to write)
At minimum, create these pages and include the elements listed:
Home
- Clear headline — What you do and who you help
- Primary CTA — Call, message, or booking link
- Top 3 services with short bullets
- Trust elements — testimonials, logos, quick stats
About / Services
- Clear services list and pricing ranges (if possible)
- Short bios or team intro
- Photos of real work (optimised)
Contact
- Phone number and email
- Address (if you serve locally)
- Simple contact method — direct call link or booking
Bonus pages that help SEO and conversions: a short pricing page, FAQ, case studies or project gallery, and a blog for topical content. Always prioritise clarity: visitors should know what you do within 5 seconds.
4. Essential Technical Setup (the must-haves)
SSL / HTTPS
Your site must use HTTPS. Most free platforms include SSL automatically (GitHub Pages, Netlify, WordPress.com). If not, don't launch without it.
Mobile-first
Test on a phone. Buttons should be large enough to tap, text readable, and forms easy to complete.
Page speed
Compress images (WebP if supported), limit large scripts, and choose a platform with a CDN (Netlify/GitHub/Cloudflare).
Robots & Sitemap
Ensure the platform exposes a sitemap.xml and allows search engine indexing unless you’re still drafting. WordPress and many static hosts publish sitemaps automatically.
Accessibility basics
Use alt text on images, meaningful link labels, and headings in order (H1 → H2...). This helps users and search engines.
Contact / Tracking
Add a visible phone call link and a simple way for customers to contact you. Add analytics (next section) before launching.
5. Basic SEO: The 30-Minute Setup That Matters
SEO sounds complicated, but a few key steps get you visible in local searches quickly. Do these before you launch.
Keyword basics
- Pick 1 primary phrase for each page (e.g., "Melbourne plumber", "electrician near me").
- Use the phrase in the page title (title tag), H1, first paragraph, and meta description naturally.
- Don't keyword-stuff — write for humans first.
Title & meta description
Craft a concise title (50–60 characters) and meta description (120–160 characters) for each page, including your primary phrase and a call to action when possible.
On-page elements
- Single H1 per page — clear and descriptive.
- Use H2/H3 for sections to help scanning and semantics.
- Alt text for images describing the image and, if appropriate, containing a keyword.
Local SEO
Create or claim your Google Business Profile, list consistent NAP (name, address, phone) across your site and directories, and add schema markup if your platform supports it.
Quick SEO checklist
6. Add Analytics & Conversion Tracking
Install analytics before you promote the site. You'll learn what pages work and where visitors drop off.
Simple setup
- Google Analytics 4 (GA4): industry-standard and free.
- Google Search Console: monitor search performance and submit sitemap.
- Enable conversion events: phone clicks, contact form submits, booking completions.
If your platform restricts scripts
Some free platforms block third-party scripts on the free plan. If so, pick a platform that allows analytics or upgrade if tracking matters to you.
7. How to Grow Your Online Presence (practical tactics)
Once your site is live and tracked, focus on attracting visitors and converting them into customers. Below are high-impact, low-cost actions to prioritise first.
Local SEO
- Google Business Profile: Complete profile, hours, photos, services.
- Citations: List your business on local directories (TrueLocal, Yellow Pages).
- Reviews: Ask satisfied customers for Google reviews — they boost visibility.
Content & Blogging
- Write short, helpful articles answering customer questions (how-tos, prices, comparisons).
- Target localized keywords: "best plumber in [suburb]".
- Share posts on social platforms and local community groups.
Partnerships & Referrals
- Partner with complementary local businesses for referrals.
- Offer a small referral incentive and promote on-site.
Email & Messaging
- Collect emails with a simple newsletter sign-up (offer a discount or guide).
- Use SMS or WhatsApp for quick follow-ups — highly effective for local services.
Paid Ads (small budget)
- Test a $5-10/day local Google Ads or Facebook campaign for your top service.
- Measure leads and increase spend only when profitable.
Conversion Optimisation
- Clear CTA above the fold: "Call now", "Get quote".
- Use click-to-call on mobile and one-click booking if you have it.
- Track which pages generate leads and iterate content.
8. Maintenance & Next Steps
- Weekly: Check contact methods work, respond to messages and reviews.
- Monthly: Review analytics, top pages, and top search queries.
- Quarterly: Update content, add new photos of your work, and ask for fresh reviews.
If managing updates is too time-consuming, consider a managed solution that includes unlimited updates, local SEO help, and monthly reporting—so you focus on customers, not code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really have a free website that ranks on Google?
Should I buy a domain immediately?
What if the free platform limits analytics or scripts?
How long before I get traffic?
Ready to skip the hassle?
If you want a professional site without the setup, Congero builds fast, mobile-first websites, handles SEO, hosting, domain setup and unlimited updates — freeing you to run your business.
Want a free, working demo website in under 60 seconds? Click "See a Live Demo" and text us — no credit card required.
© Congero 2025 — Practical website help for trades and small businesses. Learn more about managed site plans and local SEO at Congero.
