Practical Guide • 2025

prepare website free

How to prepare everything you need to launch a professional website with no upfront cost — SEO, content, images and marketing steps that actually work.

Use this checklist to gather content, map pages, and set up SEO before your site goes live — so the moment it’s launched it can start bringing you calls and enquiries.

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Upfront cost to prepare

60s

Demo to see a live site (Congero)

24–48h

Common professional launch window

Unlimited

Updates once live (subscription)

In this guide

Plan your site structure Content essentials (copy + images) SEO fundamentals to do now Local SEO & Google Business Profile Analytics & conversion tracking Pre-launch marketing tactics Launch checklist FAQs

1. Plan your site structure — pages that convert

Before writing a single line of copy, map the pages your visitors need. Keep it simple. Most small businesses convert best with 4–7 pages.

Essential pages

Home: Clear headline, main services, call-to-action (phone + contact)
Services: Break out primary services with benefits & pricing ranges
About: Short bio, qualifications, service area, trust signals
Contact: Phone, email, address, business hours and a contact form
Gallery/Work: Real photos of jobs—before & after if possible
FAQ/Policies: Answer common objections and terms

Conversion-focused layout

Above the fold: Phone, one-line value proposition, and a primary CTA
Social proof: 3–5 reviews or case photos near the top
Service blocks: Short bullets of benefit-led copy
Lead capture: Phone, click-to-call button, and contact form

Simple URL structure examples

/ — Home
/services/ — Services overview
/services/plumber-unstoppable-drain-cleaning — Service-specific landing page
/about — About us
/contact — Contact details

Tip: Keep URLs readable and include the main keyword if it fits naturally.

2. Content essentials — copy, images & trust

Great content attracts and converts. Prepare these assets in advance so launch is fast and professional.

Copy checklist

Headline (Home): 6–10 words that explain who you help and what you do
Subheadline: 12–20 words with quick benefits
Service descriptions: 3–5 bullets + one short paragraph (50–120 words)
Call-to-action: Phone first, then contact form (e.g., Call now — 0412 345 678)
About blurb: 100–200 words, include experience, licences, service area
FAQ: 5–8 questions that remove objections

Image checklist

Main hero image: Photo of your team or van (authentic beats stock)
Service images: 3–6 high-res before/after or work-in-progress shots
Team photo: Humanise your business
Image filenames: descriptive (plumber-repair-drain.jpg)
Alt text: 6–12 words describing image + keyword if relevant
Compression: Save as JPEG/WEBP, <200KB where possible

Write one lead-ready service page template

Use this structure for each service page — it helps SEO and conversions.

H1: Service name + primary city (e.g., Emergency Plumber Sydney)
Intro: 30–50 words explaining service & main benefit
Bullets: 3–6 quick services offered
How it works: 3 steps (call, inspect, fix)
Pricing: starting price or price range
CTA: Click-to-call button and contact form

3. SEO basics you can set up before launch

Do these simple SEO tasks now so search engines index the right pages as soon as you go live.

Title tags & meta descriptions

Create unique title tags and meta descriptions for each page — these are what users see in search results.

Example Title: Emergency Plumber Sydney — Fast 24/7 Service | YourBusinessName
Example Meta: Need an emergency plumber in Sydney? Call now for fast response, guaranteed workmanship and upfront pricing. Open 24/7.

Tip: Keep title tags under 60 characters and meta descriptions under 155–160 characters for best display.

Headings & content structure

Use one H1 per page, then H2/H3 to break content. Search engines prefer structured, scannable content.

H1: Primary keyword + location (where applicable)
H2: Service features, pricing, how it works, FAQs
H3: Supporting points or specific job types

Schema (structured data)

Add LocalBusiness markup and Service schema — it helps Google show rich results.

Robots & sitemap

Prepare robots.txt and an XML sitemap; submit sitemap to Google Search Console after launch.

Mobile & speed

Plan lightweight images, limit heavy scripts, and target mobile load < 3s.

4. Local SEO & Google Business Profile — be findable nearby

Local searches drive high-intent leads. Do these now so your listing and site stand out.

Google Business Profile (GBP)

Create or claim your GBP and confirm business details (name, address, phone).
Add business categories — primary + 2–3 secondary that match services.
Upload 6–10 photos: exterior, van, team, jobs, logo.
Write a clear business description with local keywords.
Enable messaging and set service areas if you travel to customers.

Collect and manage reviews

Ask satisfied customers for a Google review — make it easy with a short link.
Respond to all reviews professionally; thank positive reviewers and offer help on negatives.
Aim for 10+ recent reviews to build local trust signals.

Local citations

Create or update profiles on key directories: TrueLocal, Yellow Pages, Facebook Business, Bing Places. Ensure NAP (name, address, phone) consistency.

5. Analytics & conversion tracking — measure from day one

Set up basic tracking before launch so you can measure traffic, calls and form submissions from day one.

Google Analytics & GA4

Create a GA4 property and get the measurement ID. Add it to your site header or through your CMS so sessions are recorded immediately.

Set up conversion events: contact form submitted, click-to-call, booking click.
Link GA4 to Google Ads if you plan to advertise later.

Call tracking & forms

Decide how you'll track phone leads: simple click-to-call, Google forwarding numbers via GBP, or a third-party call tracking provider.

Tip: If using call tracking, ensure local numbers are used and documented to avoid citation mismatches.

Event examples to track

contact_form_submit, phone_click, direction_click, booking_click, brochure_download

6. Pre-launch marketing — warm up your audience

You don’t need a live website to start generating demand. Use these low-cost tactics to capture interest before launch.

Email warm-up

Collect emails via a simple signup on Facebook or a landing page and send a "coming soon" offer.

Social posts

Post before/after photos and short videos of work. Link to a booking number and say "website coming soon — call to book".

Micro-ads

Small boosted posts on Facebook targeting your suburb can get early leads for <$50.

Offer idea to drive initial bookings

Launch with a limited-time discount (e.g., $20 off first service) to encourage first customers who can leave reviews for your GBP right away.

7. Launch checklist — last-minute essentials

Run through this checklist before flipping the switch.

Technical checks

SSL certificate installed and working (https:// + padlock)
Mobile test on multiple devices
All internal links working
Forms submit to real email and generate confirmation
Robots.txt not blocking search engines
Sitemap.xml uploaded to Search Console

Marketing checks

Google Business Profile updated and linked to site
Meta title & description live on each page
Analytics (GA4) tracking active
Call tracking set up (if used)
Launch announcement ready for email & socials

Quick copy checklist to paste into the site

H1 (Home): Emergency Electrician in [Suburb] — Fast Response
Meta: Need an electrician fast in [Suburb]? 24/7 service, no callout fee after hours. Call 0412 345 678 now.
CTA text: Call Now — 0412 345 678

Launch without upfront cost — how Congero helps

If you want to avoid setup fees and get live fast, Congero builds professional, mobile-optimised websites with no upfront design cost. Start with a free demo (no credit card) and see a working site in under 60 seconds via text.

Free domain registration (or bring yours)

Hosting, SSL & maintenance included

Built-in local SEO & unlimited updates

See a Free Demo

Frequently asked questions

Can I prepare everything with no budget?

Yes. The planning, copywriting, Google Business setup, and social warm-up all cost time, not money. If you prefer to avoid time costs, services like Congero remove upfront fees and build your site quickly for a monthly subscription.

How do I write meta descriptions that convert?

Include the main benefit, a clear call to action, and trust signals (e.g., "open 24/7", "licensed"). Keep it under ~155 characters. Example: "Fast, licensed locksmith in [Suburb] — call now for emergency entry. Competitive fixed pricing."

Do I need a blog?

A blog helps long-term SEO but isn't required at launch. Prioritise service pages, GBP, and reviews first. Add a blog later and focus posts on local, practical topics that customers search for.

What are the quickest SEO wins?

1) Optimise title tags and meta descriptions for service + location. 2) Claim and complete Google Business Profile. 3) Add 6–10 authentic photos. 4) Collect reviews from recent customers.

Ready to prepare and launch your website with no upfront cost?

Follow the steps above and your site will be optimised for visitors and search engines from day one. Want someone to build it for you with zero setup fees?

See a Free Demo — No Card Required Learn About Our Services

Congero builds professional, mobile-first websites with local SEO, hosting and unlimited updates included for a single monthly fee — no lock-in contracts.