making a business website for free
A clear, step-by-step plan for small businesses: build a professional site today using free tools, and learn simple SEO and growth tactics to get found.
This guide walks you through quick free options, exactly what to include, SEO basics that move the needle, and low-cost growth strategies you can use as traffic grows.
Tip: Free builds are great to start — upgrade later for a personalised, fully-managed site if you want faster results and local SEO done for you.
Quick 30‑Minute Build: the fastest free path
Want a live website now? Follow this minimal plan using Google Sites or Carrd and a free Gmail account. No code required.
What you'll do in 30 minutes
- Pick a platform: Google Sites or Carrd (free plan).
- Choose a template: Pick a clean, single-column layout.
- Add core pages: Home, Services, Contact (one page can include all sections if needed).
- Write concise content: Clear headline, 3 service bullets, contact details.
- Publish on a free subdomain: e.g., sites.google.com/view/yourbusiness or yoursite.carrd.co.
- Claim your Google Business Profile: This gets you in local search fast.
Quick copy templates
Headline: Reliable local [service] — fast, affordable, licensed
Service bullet (example): Same-day emergency repairs • Fixed-price quotes • 24/7 support
Contact line: Call now: 0400 000 000 • Email: hello@yourdomain.com
Best Free Platforms (pros & cons)
Google Sites
Super simple, no ads, fast to publish. Great for one-page brochure sites and internal pages.
- No cost, easy editing
- Mobile friendly templates
- Limited design control & SEO features
- Best for: service-only businesses that need info + contact quickly.
Carrd
Fast, pretty single-page sites. Free plan adds a Carrd domain (yourname.carrd.co).
- Beautiful templates and responsive
- Simple sections for services/testimonials
- Free plan includes Carrd branding
- Best for: freelancers, trades, and microbusinesses wanting a polished single page.
Wix / Squarespace / WordPress.com (free tiers)
These popular platforms offer free plans but usually show platform ads and use subdomains.
- Drag-and-drop editors, many templates
- Ads, limited SEO on free plans
- Best for: experimenting; upgrade later for domain + SEO control.
GitHub Pages / Netlify
Free hosting for static sites (you'll need basic HTML or a simple static site generator like Jekyll).
- No ads, fast, supports custom domain
- Requires technical setup (but great tutorials exist)
- Best for: hobbyists comfortable with code or if you want maximum control for free.
Quick verdict: use Google Sites or Carrd to get online fastest. Move to a paid plan (or a managed subscription) when you need a custom domain, better SEO, or unlimited updates.
Step-by-step: build a free website that actually converts
1. Choose your path (10 minutes)
Decide between fastest (Google Sites / Carrd) or more control (GitHub Pages / Netlify).
2. Pick a simple structure (5 minutes)
Minimum pages/sections: Home, Services (or What We Do), Contact. Optional: About, Testimonials, Pricing.
- Home: headline, 3 bullets of services, one CTA button
- Services: short descriptions for each main service
- Contact: phone, email, hours, basic contact form (if supported)
3. Write clear, customer-first copy (10–20 minutes)
Focus on benefits, not features. Use simple language and include a call to action on every page.
- Headline that states service + location (e.g., "Plumber in Brisbane — Same-Day Repairs")
- 3 bullets that solve common problems
- One clear CTA: Call now / Get a quote
- Contact details visible in header/footer
4. Add images & proof (10 minutes)
Use 3–6 high-quality images: your team, van, before/after work, or stock images if needed.
Make sure each image has descriptive alt text (for accessibility and SEO): e.g., "electrician fixing switch in kitchen".
5. Publish & claim local listings (5–15 minutes)
Publish the site and immediately claim Google Business Profile (formerly GMB), Bing Places, and local directories (TrueLocal, Yellow Pages).
SEO basics that actually move the needle
On-Page SEO (must-dos)
- Title tag: Include primary keyword + location. Keep under 60 characters.
- Meta description: 120–160 characters, clear CTA (calls, quotes).
- H1: One per page — mirrors the title and keyword.
- Image alt text: short, descriptive phrases including keywords where natural.
- Fast loading: compress images, avoid large video files on free hosts.
Local SEO (easy wins)
- Google Business Profile: Complete every field, add photos, collect reviews.
- Name/Address/Phone: Keep the same format across your website and directory listings.
- Local pages: If you serve multiple suburbs, add short pages for each suburb (unique content).
Technical SEO - quick checklist
- Use https:// (many free platforms include HTTPS)
- Create and submit sitemap.xml to Google Search Console
- Set robots.txt correctly
- Mobile-friendly layout (test in Chrome DevTools)
- Use structured data (LocalBusiness schema) when possible
Tip: Google Search Console + PageSpeed Insights are free — use them weekly for improvements.
Content & image guidelines: make your site trustworthy
Trust signals
- Clear phone number in header
- Business hours
- Testimonials or 3 customer quotes
- Before & after photos if relevant
Image tips
- Use real photos where possible (team, van, jobs)
- Compress images (TinyPNG or Squoosh) before uploading
- Add alt text and brief captions
Writing for conversions
Keep it short and benefit-led. People scan — use headings, bullets, and a clear CTA on each section.
- Headline: What you do + where
- Subheadline: Who you help + main benefit
- Service bullets: 3–6 quick value points
- CTA: Call now / Get a free quote
Growth strategies: how to turn visitors into customers
1. Track & measure
Install Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console. Watch pages that bring the most visitors and which keywords show impressions.
2. Get reviews
Ask customers for Google reviews — they improve local rankings and click-through rates.
3. Build simple links
List your business in local directories, partner pages, suppliers, and community sites.
4. Content that helps
Publish short articles answering common customer questions (e.g., "How often should gutters be cleaned?").
5. Promote locally
Use Facebook Local, community groups, and paid ads for top-performing services.
6. Convert more visitors
Add clear CTAs, a simple contact button, and a visible phone number. Consider click-to-call on mobile.
When to upgrade from free
Upgrade when: you need a branded domain, want better SEO tools, want to remove ads, or need professional design & unlimited updates.
If you want a website built and optimised for local search quickly (with unlimited updates and analytics), Congero offers a managed option that launches in minutes and handles SEO — ideal once your free site proves demand.
Free tools checklist
- Google Sites or Carrd (quick builders)
- GitHub Pages / Netlify (static hosting)
- Google Business Profile (listings)
- Google Analytics 4 & Search Console
- PageSpeed Insights & Mobile-Friendly Test
- TinyPNG / Squoosh (image compression)
- Canva (free graphics & simple hero images)
- Bing Places, TrueLocal, Yellow Pages (local listings)
- Schema Generator (for LocalBusiness JSON-LD)
- Free SSL is typically included on these platforms
Pro tip: Keep a simple spreadsheet of where you list your business (directory name, URL, username, password) — consistency is key for local SEO.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rank on Google with a free site?
Do I own my domain on a free plan?
How long before I see results?
When should I pay for a professional site?
Ready to get found by local customers?
Start with a free site to test demand. When you want faster results and ongoing local SEO, consider a professional solution that handles everything for you — design, hosting, updates, and analytics.
If you decide to upgrade later, Congero builds mobile-optimised, local‑SEO ready sites fast — with unlimited updates and simple text-in changes for busy business owners.
