How To Create A Free Business Website
The free Google My Business website is the best free website option available for small business owners.
While it’s not a "forever" website, it’s a great option for someone creating a website on a shoe-string budget.
Additionally, if you’re in a hurry, it’s the easiest website builder to learn.
One downside to the free GMB website is that it’s only one page. However, that one page is very well designed and can display important info about your business.
Watch this step-by-step video and get a website published today:
Here are the 8 steps to create your own free business website:
1. Create or Claim Your Free Google My Business Listing
The first step you must take before creating the website for your business is to claim your free Google My Business listing.
Wondering if your business qualifies for a Google listing?
Any business that has a location or services local customers is eligible for a Google My Business (GMB) listing, and therefore a free Google website.
Go get it claimed now.
2. Fully fill Out Your Google My Business Listing
Once you gain access to your listing, fill out as much information as you can, including address, hours, photos, and services your biz provides.
It’s very important to fill out all business information.
Why?
When you move on to the next step and view your website, Google will pull your information from GMB and display it on your website.
You can save yourself time and work by having this info flow over accurately.
3. Review What Your GMB Website Currently Looks Like
Now that your GMB listing is thoroughly filled out, go check out your website!
To access your website, log into the backend of your GMB. On the left hand side of the menu navigation bar, you’ll see “Website”. Click on that link to get started.
4. Change Current Content On The Website
Within the Google My Business website builder, start changing content that has auto populated. For example, on the “hero image” (which is the top section of the website) you’ll be able to edit the image, first tag line, second tag line, and call to action button.
Go ahead and edit those.
Additionally, you’ll have another section where you can write more information about your business. Typically, this is a great section for an “About Us”. Add a few paragraphs discussing your expertise and history of your business.
In the “About Us” section, basically try to persuade potential customers to do business with you.
You’ll also see several sections that you cannot edit in the website builder, such as the “Updates”, “Testimonials”, and “Services”.
One cool aspect of the GMB website is that it updates in real time.
For example, when you make a new Google Post or receive a new Google Review, your website will update.
How great is that!?
5. Claim Or Connect Your Domain Name
Once you’ve put the finishing touches to your website, it’s time to publish it.
However, before you can go live with the site, you need to determine your domain name.
You have two options for this:
- Use Google’s free domain name, which is www.(yourbusinessname).business.site
- Or you can purchase your domain name through Google.
Determine which option you’d like to make and move on the the next step.
6. Hit Publish On Your Website
Hit Publish and go live, baby!
Once your new business website is open to the public, make sure to add it to your social media profiles, email address signature, and online business directories.
7. Get Feedback From Family, Friends, & Loyal Customers
Before moving on from the website and starting a new project, get feedback on it.
Make sure to have people review the website on both desktop AND mobile.
Ask them what their impression is of your business? Is there any information missing that they’d like to know? What was most memorable about your website?
Use this feedback to tweak the website and improve a potential customer’s experience.
8. Review Your Free Business Website Periodically
Now, because the website is connected to your Google My Business listing, you must check it periodically.
Like we mentioned above, the website will change as info on your GMB changes.
Additionally, Google is adding website features about every 6 months, so you’ll want to periodically check in with the builder to see if there is a new website element you can add.
Bottom Line - Free Google Website
Competition with Google My Business is heating up. More and more businesses are understanding the power and potential of a well organized GMB listing. If you don’t currently have a website (or have one created during the Flintstone era), consider using the Google My Biz website to get more customers for your business.