make your own site for free
Practical, no-nonsense steps to launch a free website + essential SEO and marketing tactics to grow traffic and leads.
This guide walks you through realistic, free-first options (zero upfront cost) and shows how to optimise for search engines, track results and turn visitors into customers.
Quick 10-minute setup (zero-cost)
Want a working website right now? Follow this shortcut: pick a free platform, choose a template, add your info and publish. Use the steps below to make that site discoverable.
1. Choose platform
Use a free plan: Wix, WordPress.com, Google Sites, or Carrd (for single-page sites).
2. Pick a template
Select a clean, mobile-first template. Prefer templates labelled “business” or “services”.
3. Add core pages
Create Home, Services, About, Contact. Keep text short, benefit-focused and use clear CTAs.
Publish the site. You’ll often get a free subdomain (yourname.platform.com). Don’t worry — you can upgrade later or connect a custom domain when ready.
Next: apply the essential SEO checklist below so search engines can find you.
Pick the best free platform for your needs
Free platforms differ by features and limitations. Pick the one that matches your goals.
Wix (beginner-friendly)
Drag-and-drop, many templates, free plan includes subdomain and Wix branding. Good for visual businesses.
WordPress.com (flexible)
Free blogs and basic pages. Upgrade later for plugins and custom domain support.
Google Sites / Carrd (fast single-page)
Very fast to launch, minimal features — ideal for landing pages, portfolios or a simple lead capture page.
Tip: If you serve local customers, check if the platform supports adding your address and embedding Google Maps. For lead capture, ensure you can receive enquiries by email or connect a free Zapier webhook later.
Content structure: what pages and what to write
Organise content so visitors and search engines instantly understand your business.
Home
- Top headline: one sentence what you do + location (if local).
- Value bullets: 3 quick benefits or services.
- Primary CTA: Call, WhatsApp or contact form.
- Social proof: 2–3 short testimonials or trust badges.
Services / Products
- Individual pages for each primary service (helps SEO)
- Clear pricing or ranges — even approximate prices boost conversions
- Call-to-action on each service page
About
Short story, qualifications, a friendly photo — builds trust.
Contact
- Phone (click-to-call)
- Business hours
- Embedded map (if local)
Write for humans: short paragraphs, headings, and clear CTAs. Use one primary action per page (call, message, book).
Essential on-page SEO (do these first)
These quick tasks are high-impact and easy to implement on any free site.
Title tags
Every page needs a unique title (50–60 chars) that includes your main keyword and location if relevant. Example: Plumber in Melbourne | Rapid Emergency Plumbing
Meta descriptions
Write a compelling 120–155 character description that encourages clicks. Include one benefit and a CTA.
Headings (H1, H2)
Use one H1 per page (clear, keyword-focused). Break content with H2/H3 subheadings for readability and SEO.
Friendly URLs & internal links
Use readable URLs (example: /plumbing-repairs-melbourne) and link between related pages to spread page authority.
Images & alt text
Compress images, name them descriptively and add alt text that includes keywords naturally. Example: emergency-plumber-melbourne-van.jpg
Page speed
On free platforms use compressed images, avoid heavy widgets and enable platform caching. Aim for under 3 seconds on mobile.
Bonus: Add a simple JSON-LD schema for local businesses (if platform allows editing of header) — it helps Google understand your business type and contact details.
Local SEO: get found by nearby customers
If you serve a service area, local SEO is often the fastest way to get paying customers.
Google Business Profile
Claim and verify your listing. Add accurate hours, phone, services and photos. Ask customers for reviews — responses boost visibility.
Citations & directories
Ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is consistent across directories (Yellow Pages, TrueLocal, local Chamber). Consistency improves local rankings.
Reviews
Encourage 5-star reviews—reply to them professionally. Reviews are a strong local ranking factor and improve click-through rates.
Service-area pages
Create short pages for each suburb or area you serve (avoid duplicate content — write a unique intro for each area).
Free & low-cost marketing tactics that actually work
Once your site is live and SEO basics are in place, these tactics help generate consistent traffic and leads.
Start a simple blog
Write short how-to posts that answer common customer questions. Each post targets a long-tail keyword and brings steady organic traffic.
Social presence
Share site pages and posts on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn — depending on where your customers are. Use small paid boosts ($5–10) to expand reach.
Email list
Add a simple newsletter signup (many platforms support a free plan). Send occasional specials and helpful tips to keep customers engaged.
Local partnerships
Partner with complementary local businesses (e.g., builders and electricians). Exchange links and refer each other.
Customer referrals
Offer a small discount for referred customers and promote it on your site and in email.
Local ads (starter)
Use Google Local Services Ads or small geo-targeted search ads with a tight budget to appear at the top for buying-intent queries.
Important: Measure results — invest more in what delivers leads. Small monthly ad budgets ($50–150) can produce reliable ROI if your landing pages convert.
Analytics & tracking — measure what matters
Install analytics tools early so you can learn what drives visitors and where to improve.
Google Analytics (GA4)
Set up GA4 to track sessions, sources, and conversions. Define conversion events (call button clicks, form submissions).
Google Search Console
Verify your site, submit a sitemap and monitor search queries and index coverage. Fix crawl errors quickly.
Heatmaps & recordings
Free tools like Hotjar (limited plan) help you see where users click and where they drop off.
Simple reporting
Check key metrics weekly: sessions, new users, top pages, and conversion rate. Small improvements compound over time.
Conversion tip: If you get traffic but few leads, simplify your contact flow: clear phone number, WhatsApp link, or a short contact form above the fold.
Maintenance & next steps
Keep your free site working and improving every month with a few simple habits.
Monthly checklist
- Update opening hours or services
- Publish one helpful blog post or update a service page
- Check forms & phone links work
Security & backups
Free platforms handle hosting and SSL. Keep passwords safe and enable two-factor where available.
When to upgrade
Upgrade to a paid plan or a professionally managed site when: you need a custom domain, advanced SEO, more speed, or unlimited updates.
Scale tip: For busy business owners who prefer to focus on customers rather than tech, a managed subscription (from providers like Congero) moves updates, SEO and hosting off your plate for a predictable monthly fee.
Free website checklist (copy & use)
- Pick platform and publish a site (Home, Services, About, Contact)
- Set unique title and meta description for each page
- Add H1 on each page and structured H2/H3 subheadings
- Compress images and add keyword-rich alt text
- Claim your Google Business Profile and add photos
- Install GA4 and verify Search Console
- Publish one blog post targeted to a long-tail keyword
- Ask 3 customers for reviews and reply to them
- Test site on mobile and run PageSpeed Insights
Want a professional site faster (still low cost)?
Free sites are great to start. If you prefer a done-for-you option that includes SEO, domain, hosting and unlimited updates for a single predictable monthly fee, try Congero's demo — live site ideas in 60 seconds and managed builds from $49/mo.
No lock-in contracts. Domain, hosting and SEO included with managed plans.
