Build an AI website in 60 seconds

You don’t need to break the bank or spend weeks learning code to get a professional website up. If your goal is to figure out how to build a website for free, the trick is focusing on the essentials. For beginners, a simple layout, a few key pages, and copy that sounds natural is all you really need.

With ready-made templates and AI website builders, launching a credible website in under 10 minutes is totally doable – even if you’ve never touched code. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a simple 10-minute setup, highlight the essentials, and list the common pitfalls to avoid.

How to build a website for free: The 10-minute plan

Ten minutes is enough to get started, as long as you keep things simple. Don’t worry about nailing every line or color scheme. Focus on a site that functions and looks good enough to share, then tweak it over time.

Minute 0–2: Pick purpose + pages

Take a moment to decide why your website exists before building it. Is the goal to get leads, let clients schedule appointments, or simply show you’re a legit business? Usually, three pages (Home, Services, and Contact) cover the basics.

Minute 2–4: Choose a builder

A free website builder makes web development easier. They handle the tricky layout and structure work, so you’re not stuck figuring out code or design. A good builder will ask a few simple questions and generate a ready-to-go site instead of starting you off with a blank canvas. Tools like B12 and Google Sites can set up pages and layouts for you automatically.

Minute 4–6: Generate a draft with AI

AI creates a usable layout and starter copy in seconds. It might need some tweaks, but it beats writing from scratch.

Minute 6–8: Customize brand + copy

Swap in your logo, pick your colors, and polish key sentences so they sound natural. Small edits go a long way toward making the site feel unique. If it helps, try drafting your copy in Google Docs first, then paste it into the site builder once it feels right.

Some builders like B12 also offer an AI copywriter, which helps you generate full drafts for web pages, blog posts, or copy for email campaigns in under a minute.

Minute 8–10: Publish + share

Hit that publish button. Then show it off: send the link to someone you trust, pop it on social media, or include it in your next email. A live site beats a perfect one gathering dust.

7 steps in building a professional website for free

Going live with your website doesn’t need to be complicated. Stick to these steps, and you’ll have a polished site up and running before you know it.

Step 1: Choose the right site type (business, portfolio, landing page)

Before anything else, pick a style that fits your goals. The kind of site you pick will guide the structure, design, and wording.

People often get stuck when they try to do too much at once. Pick one goal for your site and run with it.

Step 2: Pick a domain strategy (free subdomain vs custom domain later)

When you create a website for free, you’ll usually start with a free subdomain. 

A free domain works well when:

• You’re validating an idea
• You need something live quickly
• The site is mainly for credibility or early outreach

You can always connect a custom domain later once the site proves useful. The important part is getting your website up. Not having a custom domain won’t stop someone from contacting you if the site feels legit and easy to use.

Step 3: Generate pages with AI using a prompt

This is where AI saves the most time, but only if you give it decent input. Vague instructions give you a vague site. Spell out exactly what your business offers and who should visit.

Here’s a simple prompt structure that works well: include what the business offers + who the ideal customer is + what action visitors should take.

For example, instead of “build me a website,” try something like:
“Create a professional service website for a local bookkeeping business that helps small business owners with monthly accounting and tax prep. Include a homepage, services page, and contact page.”

Step 4: Edit the hero, CTA, and contact section first

If time is limited, focus on edits where they matter most. Most visitors will skim, not read.

Start with:

Get your hero and contact sections right, and the rest will naturally come together. If visitors know what you offer and can reach you without hassle, your site’s already doing its job.

Step 5: Add trust (testimonials, FAQs, policies)

Once the structure is in place, trust is what separates a “quick site” from a site that actually works. Most people aren’t judging your design pixel by pixel. They’re asking a simpler question: Can I trust this business?

You don’t need dozens of reviews or long legal pages to answer that question.

Image of a testimonials page

Start with one or two short testimonials. Hearing from actual clients or collaborators instantly builds trust. A sentence about reliability or results is better than nothing. If the business is brand new, a short “What clients say” section can wait, but don’t fake testimonials. That hurts credibility more than it helps.

Image of an FAQs page

Keep FAQs practical. They should clear up confusion, not just make your page longer. Common questions to cover:

• What services do you actually offer?
• Who is this for (and who it’s not for)?
• How do people get started?

Answering these directly shows confidence and saves time on both sides.

Image of privacy policy page

Basic policies also matter, even on a free site. A simple privacy policy and terms page tells visitors your site is legit. Many AI website builders will generate them for you, which is a nice time-saver.

Step 6: Check mobile + speed basics

A website can look great on a laptop and still fail in real life. Most visitors will see it on their phone first.

Do a quick mobile check:

• Scroll through each page on a phone
• Make sure text isn’t tiny or cramped
• Confirm buttons are easy to tap
• Check that forms actually work

Speed matters, too. Avoid uploading huge images and don’t stack unnecessary animations. Clean layouts load faster by default, which is another reason website templates work well for beginners. 

If your site feels snappy and readable on a phone, you’re doing better than a lot of sites out there. After publishing, connecting it to Google Search Console is an easy way to check how Google views it.

Step 7: Publish and promote

Lots of folks freeze at this step, but the point is simple: get your site out there. A draft sitting around doesn’t do anything for you. 

Once it’s live, pop the link on social media and let people know it’s ready.

Expect to tweak things after. A website isn’t a one-time task but something you adjust day-to-day as you learn what people respond to.

Prompt examples that produce better first drafts

AI can speed up website creation, but it only knows what you tell it. Even if you use the best website builder, vague prompts like “build me a site” usually produce a dull, unfocused draft. For a first version that actually helps your business, give clear, detailed instructions that speak to your audience.

Below are some examples for different industries that you can tweak and use to kickstart your website creation.

Accountants

If you’re an accountant, your website needs to communicate trust and expertise while showing potential clients exactly how you can help them. Some prompts you could try typing in a website maker include:

• “Create a professional accounting website that helps small business owners find tax preparation and bookkeeping services.”
• “Generate a website draft for an accounting firm that clearly showcases services, client testimonials, and scheduling for consultations.”
• “Design a homepage for a CPA firm that makes complex financial services easy to understand and approachable.”

Coaches

For coaches, the website’s job is pretty simple: let people see your expertise and make booking a session painless. Try prompts like:

• “Build a website for a life coach that attracts new clients and highlights coaching packages and client success stories.”
• “Create a coaching website that clearly explains services, session formats, and booking options in a friendly, approachable tone.”
• “Draft a homepage for a business coach that emphasizes expertise, client results, and easy contact forms.”

Lawyers

Law firm sites need to build trust and make it obvious what areas of law you specialize in. Some prompt ideas:

• “Generate a professional website for a law firm that highlights practice areas, lawyer bios, and client testimonials.”
• “Create a lawyer website that communicates trustworthiness and makes it easy for potential clients to book consultations.”
• “Draft a website for a personal injury lawyer with clear calls to action, service pages, and an FAQ section.”

4 pitfalls to avoid when using a free website builder

Some common mistakes to watch out for include:

1. Too many pages 

Don’t overload your site with every little detail. A cluttered site can confuse visitors and weaken your main message. Focus on the essentials and what you want people to do next.

2. Vague copy 

Generic lines such as “We offer great service” won’t make your business stand out. Point out what you do best, the experience you bring, or the results that old or new customers can expect.

3. No CTA 

Make sure each page nudges people toward action, like scheduling a call, asking for a quote, or joining your mailing list. Companies with clear CTAs see up to 202% higher conversion rates than those without.

4. Ignoring SEO basics 

Skipping even simple SEO can keep your small business website invisible online. 

As B12’s web strategist says, “No matter how polished your free website looks, it won’t attract visitors if search engines can’t read it. Using SEO tools and properly optimizing page titles, headings, and metadata aren’t optional. It’s the foundation for any professional website that wants to be found online.”

How B12’s site builder helps you go live fast (And grow past free)

Launching a website in just 10 minutes seems tough. But B12 makes site creation simple and professional. Its AI website creator puts together layouts, fills in content, and even suggests text that matches your business, giving you a solid site right out of the gate.

Once your site is live, B12’s built-in tools make it easy to grow at your own pace. You can:

• Edit your site anytime: Adjust the design, switch up photos, and polish your text, no coding needed.
• Add business functionality: Integrate forms, payment processing, and appointment scheduling as your needs expand. If you’re booking calls or meetings, for instance, B12’s native scheduling lets clients book directly on your site. You can also integrate Google Calendar to keep everything organized.
• Refresh your site: Add new content or tweak existing pages in a snap.
• Track and optimize: Track visitors, check conversions, and adjust things in real time.

This combination of speed and flexibility means you can start small, get online quickly, and then scale your own website or own online store into a fully functional, professional presence as your business grows – without getting bogged down in tech or extra costs. Plus, you don’t have to worry about security. B12 keeps your site safe with secure hosting and encryption from day one.

Conclusion

With the 10-minute plan above, you no longer have to wonder how to build a website for free that works well, looks decent, and gets results.

Forget spending weeks on details or learning code. After it’s live, you can fine-tune your text, add pages, and expand into more complex websites as needed.

Start building your website today with B12 and see your ideas come to life.