According to numerous studies in the UK, a full 49% of sole traders still don’t have a website to promote their business. When you take into account the total number of registered business in the country, that adds up to almost 1.7 million businesses. On top of this astonishing figure, over a quarter of UK businesses with 2-5 employees also don’t have a website of their own.
All too often, many businesses find themselves saying that it’s too difficult or too expensive to get started building a website of their own. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Now more than ever, it's easy to find software online that can teach your business how to create their own free website; and here at Fasthosts, our Website Builder is designed to provide just that.
If you want to begin building your businesses presence online, then follow all our steps below on how to create a website from scratch without paying a penny.
Choose your domain name carefully
Finding the right web address for your business's website is the key first step in building your online presence. You want to make it easy for your customers to find you online, so choosing a domain name that is short, memorable, and matches your business name is a must.
Our website Builder includes a .uk/.co.uk/.com/.website/.club domain name free for the first year. You can also read our blog for more information on choosing the right domain name for your business.
Choose a free website template
Next, you'll need a template that suits your industry. There is a variety of software options out there that offer templates for free websites, so your choice will likely come down to personal preference.
Our website Builder includes a range of free website templates for a wide number of different industries. From fashion and photography, to restaurants and travel blogs, all of our free website templates are responsive to mobile devices, ensuring your website will look great on any device.
Customise your website with drag and drop
Many of the templates that let you make free websites can be fully customised and personalised, enabling you to create a free website that looks bespoke and tailored to your business and branding. You have total control over the look of your website, and with drag-and-drop functionality, it’s easy to change fonts, add your company logo, or change the colours of the template to make your website instantly recognisable to your customers.
With Fasthosts Website Builder’s mobile quick-edit, you can make changes to your website from wherever you are, even on your smartphone or tablet.
Add extra features to your website
Our website builder's free stock image library allows you to add beautiful imagery to your website. As well as content and imagery, you can add extra features like contact forms, photo galleries, and video clips. Giving your customers more to interact with on your website will increase the likelihood of them getting in touch or purchasing something.
Create a website with multiple pages
Your website homepage should outline all the important things about your business that your customer needs to know, such as what you sell, what you stand for, and how people can get in touch with you.
To give your users all this information, you should add multiple pages to your website. Website Builder Complete allows you to add unlimited pages to your website, meaning you can have a page for each product you sell, a page for reviews and testimonials, a contact page, a blog, a help section, and much, much more.
Sell your products online
With your website in hand, you're ready to take the next step and start selling your products and services online. Website Builder Complete makes it easy to add a shop to your website, meaning you can start selling products in just a few clicks. A built-in ordering system lets you sell unlimited items, take secure payments, and manage stock and delivery options all from the same place.
Get your business found online
On top of being able to build a website for free, included with the Website Builder Complete package are tools for marketing and search engine optimisation that will improve the chances of getting your website found online. Edit and update your content to match these tips, and you’ll be flying up the search rankings in no time.
With a domain name, email account, SSL certificate and a range of customisable templates included, Website Builder gives you everything you need to create a free website.
When you sign up to Website Builder from Fasthosts, you can easily learn how to create a website for free at no cost for up to 3 months. Our support teams are available 24/7 to help give advice on how to build your perfect website, And if for any reason you’re unsatisfied with our Website Builder, you can cancel your contract in the first 30 days without paying anything.
For even more information on how to create a website using or using services like WordPress to expand your online presence, you can find guides and articles covering all that and more over on the Fasthosts blog.
