How to Create a Website for Free (and When It Stops Being Free) is a practical guide for individuals and small businesses in Jordan and the GCC to launch a simple website using free tools, understand the real limitations of “free” plans, and know exactly when upgrading is worth it.
What you’ll learn
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Which “free website” options actually work (and for what)
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A step-by-step checklist to publish fast
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The hidden limits of free plans (domain, ads, SEO, storage)
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Basic SEO setup you can do without paying
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Common mistakes + FAQs
Step 1: Choose the right “free” path for your goal
If you need a simple info site (portfolio / club / landing page)
Pick a free builder that publishes to a subdomain (example: yoursite.builder.com).
If you need a blog with regular posts
Choose a platform with built-in blogging tools (free plans exist, but have limits).
If you need online store / payments / advanced booking
Free plans usually won’t be enough. You can still start free to validate the idea, but plan an upgrade later.
Step 2: Pick a free website platform (quick comparison)
Drag-and-drop builders (fastest for beginners)
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Wix / Weebly / similar builders: easy templates, fast setup
Typical limits on free plans: ads, subdomain, limited SEO control, limited storage
Simple site builders (clean, minimal)
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Google Sites: very simple and stable for basic pages
Typical limits: limited design flexibility and advanced SEO controls
Blog-first platforms
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WordPress.com (free plan): good for writing and basic sites
Typical limits: subdomain, limited theme/plugin control on free plan
One-page sites
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Carrd (free plan): great for a single-page landing page
Typical limits: fewer pages/features unless upgraded
Tip: If your goal is “publish today,” choose the simplest builder that fits your content. You can rebuild later when you upgrade.
Step 3: Sign up and choose a template
Checklist:
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Choose a template that matches your site type (business / portfolio / blog)
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Make sure it looks good on mobile (most visitors will be on phones)
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Pick a clean layout over a flashy one (readability wins)
Step 4: Create your site structure (pages that matter)
For most small sites, this structure is enough:
Essential pages
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Home
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About
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Services / What you offer
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Contact
Optional but useful
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FAQ
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Blog (if you plan to post regularly)
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Privacy Policy (recommended if you collect any data)
Step 5: Customize the content (what to write)
Use this simple pattern per page:
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One clear headline (what this page is about)
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2–6 short sections (not long walls of text)
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Clear contact method (email / form / WhatsApp button if you use it)
Content checklist:
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Business name (consistent spelling)
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City/country (Jordan / GCC city if relevant)
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Phone/email
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Working hours (if applicable)
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Clear offer (what you do, for whom)
Step 6: Publish your website (free publishing basics)
Most free builders publish under a subdomain and may add their branding.
Before you hit publish:
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Preview on mobile
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Test all buttons and links
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Check spelling and contact info
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Make sure images are not huge (speed matters)
Step 7: Basic SEO you can do for free
Even on a free plan, you can still do the basics:
On-page SEO checklist
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Use one clear H1 on each page
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Add headings that match what people search (H2/H3)
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Write a short, clear intro on each page
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Use descriptive page titles (not “Home” only)
Local SEO basics (Jordan & GCC)
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Mention your city/area naturally where relevant (e.g., Amman, Irbid, Riyadh, Dubai)
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Make contact details easy to find
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If you have a physical location, add a map link (even if you can’t embed)
Performance basics
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Compress images (large images slow everything)
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Keep pages lightweight
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Avoid auto-play videos
The real limits of “free” (and when you should upgrade)
A free website is perfect for starting, but upgrades become worth it when you need:
A custom domain
Instead of yoursite.builder.com, you want yourbrand.com.
No platform ads
Free plans often show builder branding/ads.
Better SEO control
Some platforms restrict SEO settings on free plans.
Professional email
If you want [email protected], you’ll need a domain + email service.
Advanced features
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Payments / e-commerce
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Booking systems
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Member accounts
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Integrations and automation
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Choosing a platform that doesn’t match your goal
Fix: decide first (landing page vs blog vs store), then pick the tool.
Publishing with weak content
Fix: write clear headlines, services, and contact info first—design second.
Ignoring mobile experience
Fix: preview every page on mobile before publishing.
Using heavy images
Fix: compress images to keep the site fast.
Treating the subdomain as “final”
Fix: start free, then upgrade to a custom domain when the site proves value.
FAQ
Is a free website good enough for a business?
For a basic online presence, yes. For stronger branding, SEO, and trust, a custom domain and professional email usually become important.
Can I rank on Google with a free website?
Sometimes, but free plans often limit SEO control and domain authority. You can still improve visibility with good content and local signals.
Do I need a custom domain immediately?
Not immediately. If you’re validating an idea, start free—upgrade once you’re sure the site will stay and grow.
What’s the fastest way to publish today?
Use a simple builder + a clean template + 3–4 pages. Publish with a subdomain, then improve gradually.
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