Practical guide for beginners — 2025

website making websites free

Step-by-step: build a useful website with free tools, optimise it for Google, and get your first visitors without spending a cent.

You don't need to pay an agency or learn code to have an effective website. This guide shows practical, low-effort steps using only free tools and basic SEO so beginners can start getting enquiries fast.

Quick Start (10 minutes) Try a pro alternative (#demo)

Tools cost (starter)

10 mins

Quick site (landing page)

60–90 mins

Full 3-page site

100%

Mobile-ready with modern templates

In this guide

Why use free tools Choose the right free tool Quick start (10 min landing page) Step-by-step site build SEO basics Easy marketing tips Local SEO Analytics & speed Common beginner mistakes Free tools checklist

Why build a website using free tools?

Free tools let you validate an idea, get found online, and start collecting leads without upfront cost. For many small businesses and side projects, a simple, well-optimised free site is enough to win customers.

Fast and low-risk

Launch a landing page in minutes, test demand, and upgrade only when you need custom features.

Zero upfront cost

Use free hosting or free tiers to avoid fees while you build traffic and revenue.

Choosing the right free tool (best options in 2025)

Pick based on what you need: easiest setup, most control, or a clean single-page landing.

Carrd

Best for single-page landing pages. Super fast to set up and mobile-ready.

Limit: no advanced CMS on free plan

GitHub Pages + Static Site

Free hosting for static sites. Good if you can use a static site generator (or copy a template).

Requires some technical steps but 100% free

Google Sites

Fast, simple, and integrates with Google tools. Great for simple brochure sites and calendars.

Limited design control but very easy

WordPress.com (Free plan)

Good for blogs and content sites. Offers basic SEO tools on free tier.

Ads and branding on free plan

Netlify / Vercel (Free)

Free hosting for static sites with CI/CD and fast global CDN.

Great for performance-focused sites

Wix / Weebly (Free tier)

Drag-and-drop editors that are easy for non-technical users.

Free plans include platform branding

Quick start: Make a landing page in 10 minutes

Follow these minimal steps to get a working page live fast. Use Carrd, Google Sites, or Wix free plan for the fastest result.

Choose a template. Pick a simple one with a clear hero headline and contact method.
Write a single clear headline. Describe what you do in one line: e.g., "Fast, same-day gutter repairs —Free quote".
Add 3 essential sections: What you do, key benefits/price, contact (phone/WhatsApp/email).
Use a real contact link. Add tel: and a WhatsApp URL so visitors can message instantly.
Publish and test. Open on your phone and click your contact links.

Pro tip: Use a clear call-to-action button like Call now or Get a free quote —make contacting you effortless.

Step-by-step: Build a small website (3 pages)

This covers a home/landing page, services page, and contact page —the core that most small businesses need.

1. Prepare content (30–60 minutes)

Short business description (1–2 sentences)
3–5 services with one-line benefits
Phone, WhatsApp, address, opening hours
2–6 good photos (your team, your work)

2. Create pages & structure (15–30 minutes)

Home: headline, one-sentence pitch, 3 benefits, CTA.
Services: list services with short descriptions and prices if possible.
Contact: phone, address, map (embed if available), and a contact method.

3. On-page SEO basics (20 minutes)

Title tag: unique and includes main keyword (e.g., "Plumber in Sydney — Quick Gutter Fix").
H1: one clear H1 per page that matches the page topic.
Meta description: 120–155 characters summarising the page.
Alt text: describe images briefly for accessibility and SEO.
Internal links: link services to the contact page or booking info.

4. Publish, verify, and announce (15 minutes)

Add the site to Google Search Console and submit a sitemap (many builders generate one automatically).
Install Google Analytics or GA4 to track visits.
Share the site on Facebook, Instagram, and your WhatsApp community.

SEO Basics: What actually moves the needle

Focus on the fundamentals — they matter more than fancy plugins.

Keyword focus

Pick one primary keyword phrase per page (e.g., "electrician Brisbane emergency"). Use it in the title tag, H1, first paragraph, and URL (if possible).

Avoid keyword stuffing—write for humans first.

Quality content

Write helpful content that answers common customer questions. Even 300–500 useful words per page can outperform thin pages.

Mobile-first & speed

Ensure your templates are responsive and images are compressed. Fast sites rank better and convert more visitors.

Local signals & citations

For local businesses, consistent NAP (name, address, phone) across directories and a claimed Google Business Profile are essential ranking signals.

Pro tip: Write one "service + location" page for each location you serve (e.g., "AC repair Melbourne") — this is one of the fastest ways to rank locally.

Content & easy marketing tips that get traction

Simple content ideas

Short FAQs that answer 5 common customer questions.
Before & after photos of your work (use descriptive captions and alt text).
Price ranges or starting prices to reduce friction.
Short case studies with a headline, challenge, solution, and result.

Marketing tips that don't cost money

Post your site on local Facebook groups and community pages.
Ask satisfied customers for Google reviews and share one-click links.
Use WhatsApp or SMS to send quick links to your site after service.
Create a simple QR code linking to your site for flyers and receipts.
List your business on free directories (Yellow Pages, TrueLocal, etc.).

Bonus: A single well-optimised piece of content shared in the right Facebook group or on a local forum can bring your first handful of leads — focus on useful advice, not just promotion.

Local SEO: the simplest wins

Claim your Google Business Profile: add photos, business hours, and services.
Use the same phone number on your website and all directories.
Gather reviews: ask customers for short reviews and post replies.
Local citations: list your business on 5–10 trusted local directories.
Local content: write one page about the suburbs or areas you serve.

Pro tip: Add your service area as text on the homepage (e.g., "Serving North Sydney, Chatswood, and Hornsby") — this helps local searches.

Analytics & speed: monitor what matters

Install analytics

Add Google Analytics / GA4 to see visitors, pages, and traffic sources. Check which pages bring the most calls or messages.

Measure speed

Use PageSpeed Insights or WebPageTest. Compress images, use modern templates, and prefer static hosting (Netlify / GitHub Pages) for faster load times.

Focus on mobile performance — a fast, usable phone experience increases conversions dramatically.

Common beginner mistakes (and how to avoid them)

1. Too many goals on one page

Keep your headline and CTA focused. If the page tries to do everything, visitors do nothing.

2. No clear contact method

Make it trivial for someone to call or message you—use clickable phone and WhatsApp links.

3. Ignoring mobile users

Always test on a real phone. Buttons should be big enough to tap and text should be readable without zooming.

Free tools checklist

Site builder: Carrd / Google Sites / WordPress.com (free)
Hosting for static site: GitHub Pages / Netlify
Images: Unsplash / Pexels (free stock photos)
Analytics: Google Analytics (GA4) / Search Console
Speed test: Google PageSpeed Insights
Local listings: Google Business Profile, Yellow Pages
QR code generator: qr-code-generator.com

Checklist action: Complete the above and schedule a 1-hour sprint to publish your first live pages. Momentum matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rank on Google with a free website?

Yes. Google cares about relevance, speed, and user experience. A well-structured free site with good content and basic SEO can rank for local keywords.

Is my domain free?

Most free builders give a subdomain (yoursite.builder.com). For a professional look you should plan to buy a custom domain (~$10-20/year). Some services offer a free domain for the first year.

When should I upgrade from free tools?

Upgrade when you need your own domain, remove platform branding, need e-commerce, or require higher performance and support. If you’re getting steady leads, invest in a paid plan to professionalise your presence.

Ready to get better results—faster?

Free tools are great for getting started. If you'd rather skip the setup and get a professional, optimised website (live in 60 seconds via phone), Congero builds, hosts, and maintains sites for a low monthly fee — with unlimited updates and local SEO included.

See a Demo (60s build) Learn about Congero

All Congero plans include domain, hosting, SSL, local SEO, and unlimited text-in updates — if you prefer a done-for-you option.