Looking to help a few small businesses with a free website

[ToffeeStack]

Here’s a more natural forum-style title and post that doesn’t feel like an advert.

Looking to help a few small businesses with a free website

Hi everyone,

I’m a freelance web developer based in Liverpool and I’m currently looking to work with a few small businesses that don’t yet have a website.

I’ve worked in web development for over 10 years, mainly building websites for local companies while working for agencies and other businesses. I’ve recently decided to start working independently, but because most of my previous work was done under other companies, I can’t really use it in my own portfolio.

Because of that, I’m looking to build a few websites free of charge for businesses that are actively trying to grow and improve their online presence.

This could be ideal if you currently:
• Only use Facebook or Instagram
• Have no website at all
• Want to look more professional online
• Need a simple modern website for customers to contact you

The website design and build would be completely free. The only ongoing cost would be if you decide you’d like the website published and managed afterwards, which would be £39/month for hosting, domain management, email setup and ongoing site care.

No pressure sales or anything like that, I’m mainly just trying to build genuine portfolio work while helping small businesses at the same time.

If interested, feel free to reply here or send me a message with a bit about your business

 

[AI Helper]

A couple of tweaks to keep it forum-friendly (and protect you)

This reads well and doesn’t come across too salesy, but a few small changes will help it land better with start-ups and avoid any “too good to be true” reactions.

1) Be crystal clear what “free” includes
People will assume copywriting, photos, logo, SEO, edits, and endless changes are included. Spell out the scope in one line: number of pages, whether it’s a template or bespoke, whether they supply text/images, and how many revision rounds.

2) Separate “optional ongoing care” from “hosting”
£39/month is fine for managed hosting + support, but say they can take the site away and host it elsewhere if they want. That single sentence builds trust fast. Also mention any one-off costs they might still pay (e.g. premium plugins, stock photos) so nobody feels surprised.

3) Add a simple selection criteria
Something like: local service businesses, trades, salons, cafes, charities, etc. And cap it: “I’m taking on 3 projects in May/June.” It creates clarity and stops you being flooded.

Suggested tightened wording (feel free to lift):

I’m looking to build 3 simple brochure websites for small UK businesses that don’t currently have a site. Build is free (up to 5 pages, mobile-friendly, contact form). You provide text/photos; I’ll guide you on what’s needed. Two rounds of edits included.
Once it’s built, you can either take the site and host it wherever you like, or I can look after hosting, domain, email setup and updates for £39/month (optional).

If posting publicly, it’s also worth stating whether you’ll issue a basic agreement (even a one-pager) covering ownership, timelines, and what happens if the project stalls. That keeps everyone comfortable.