Your guide to making a free website in 2024

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Owning a website is one of the best ways to promote any organisation, person or movement. It provides the owner complete control over its content, style and delivery. It is not subject to third-party intervention like social media algorithms. It is one of the purest ways to spread a message online.

For over half a decade, I have built websites for a living. I know how expensive they can be. I also know how to keep website costs low.

I work with entrepreneurs and small businesses at every stage of their journey. I have launched new websites and rebranded existing ones.

I understand that hiring someone like me may be too expensive and risky. For those people, I write this guide. In this article, I share how to keep website costs low and even eradicate them.

Can You Make a Website for Free?

Yes, you can make a website for free. How do I know? Because this website is free. I only pay the annual fee for my domains. If you know how to design, build and grow a website, you can do the same as me. Netlify offers a great free hosting plan for websites and web apps.

For those who are not web designers and can't write code, never fear! You can make a free website without code. I will explain how you can next.

How to Build a Website for Free Without Code

There are several platforms available to create a free website. The platforms make it easy and accessible to people without any coding ability. They have extensive documentation and communities to support and guide you. Let's look at some examples.

  1. WordPress is the most used platform on the internet. Over 40% of websites use it. That is a s**tload! It enables businesses and bloggers to make great websites using its wide array of free templates and plugins.
  2. Wix is one of the best website-building tools for beginners. It also has many free templates. Its drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to customise your site to your needs.
  3. Google Sites is a free tool offered by Google. It doesn't have as many features as Wix and WordPress. It still makes building a website easy. You can also use it with an existing Google account.

Disclaimer: Please note that each of these tools free plans does not come with a domain. If you use the platforms for free, you must include their domain as part of yours. So, instead of www.yourbusiness.com, it might be www.yourbusiness.wordpress.com.

Free Website Setup Tutorial

For this example, we will build a free website with Wix. 

I will walk you through the process step-by-step. Each step will give a brief overview of the process. Wix also provides excellent, in-depth documentation to help you along the way.

It may seem daunting at first. But believe me, building a free website is simple and easy with Wix. With all that said, let's get started and create our free website.

  1. Create a Wix account. Go to Wix.com. In the top-right corner, click the 'Get Started' button. Register with Wix and follow their step-by-step guide to create your account and website.
  2. Design your website. Designing is the fun part (in my humble opinion). Click the 'Design Site' button in the 'Setup section of your dashboard. You can use their AI tool or choose a template yourself. If you are unfamiliar with using Generative AI, it may be easier to use a template and edit it yourself. You can always redesign it with AI later.
  3. Add your content. Once you have chosen your template, you can make it your own. Add your content to make the site relevant to you. Add images, text and all other important information needed by your users.
  4. Use SEO to appear on Google searches. Wix comes with built-in SEO tools. SEO is the process of making your website appear higher in Google searches. Read my beginner's guide to SEO to make the most of this tool.
  5. Publish your free website. Once you have designed your site, added your content and optimised for SEO, it is time to go live. Once published, you can spread the word and find people to use your new, free website.

Create a Website for Free: How To Make a Great Website

I have over half a decade of experience building websites. During that time, I have learned how to make the most of a website. Since I am a nice guy, I will share that knowledge with you.

  1. Understand your purpose. Don't follow trends. Don't copy other people. Understand the message you want to share. Stay true to that message. Your audience will always appreciate transparency.
  2. Simplicity is king. You don't need to reinvent the wheel. Make it easy for users to navigate your content and find what they seek.
  3. Know your audience. Who is your website for? What device are they visiting your website on? What content are they interested in seeing? Keeping these questions in mind will help you create a user-friendly website.
  4. Seek help. Owning a website takes time and effort. Don't isolate yourself. Someone else will always have the answer to any problem you face. Learn how to read documentation, use support forums, and ask for help from experts. Websites are not a new technology. There are many people out there who are happy to offer support and guidance. Reach out. Don't suffer unnecessarily.

Tools That Make Life Easy as a Website Owner

I told you in the last section to seek help with your website problems. I mentioned support forums and places to find experts. You probably already know many of the places I suggest. I still think it is worth listing them.

  1. Stack Overflow is the king of software, web and design support forums. If you have a question, search for the answer here. There are answers to almost any question you have. If not, ask your question and watch the answers flood in. Stack Overflow is a thriving community of digital experts looking to help each other. And it's free!
  2. YouTube is, in my opinion, the ultimate educational tool. No matter your problem, there is likely a video guide on how to solve it.
  3. Google your problem. If you can't find the answer on Stack Overflow or Google, there is probably a blog article about it somewhere.
  4. Upwork or any other freelancer platform. You can hire freelancers to help fix more technical problems. They won't do it for free. But, it means you don't have to acquire the technical knowledge.
  5. Jack Christian's blog. I know it's a plug. It's a shameless plug. I try to answer common questions and share my knowledge and experience through my blog. If this article has helped you, my other blog articles will help further advance your website knowledge.

Conclusion: Yes, you can build a website for free

Whatever the goal for your website, you can achieve it without spending money. When you don't spend money, you spend time instead. A website requires ongoing management even after going live. It can take up a lot of time.

If you are a business owner, your time is valuable. Outsourcing exists for a reason. Consider whether the cost of paying someone else is less than the time cost of doing it yourself. Is it worth spending your limited time on your website, or is outsourcing a better option?

I understand new businesses may not have much cash flow. Website costs may be too expensive in those early days. That is why I made this guide.

I don't believe in gatekeeping. I believe in sharing knowledge and helping each other to achieve our goals. If you wish to make a free website, I support you.

When your business grows, so will your cash reserves. At that point, I recommend investing in your website. Even a small amount invested in a domain will positively affect your credibility and brand building. Understanding the value of your website to your business will inform how much it is worth investing in.

In the meantime, I wish you well with the website you built for free without coding.