A landing page on a website has a very specific purpose: to get visitors to interact and usually perform an action. The question is how to create a landing page for free without paying for expensive platforms. I’ll suggest a few options and provide a blueprint for beginners to build landing pages using readily available tools.
What Tools to Use for Building Landing Pages in WordPress
My intention with this article is to help you understand the typical section structure so you can design landing pages for free using WordPress.
Having the ability to build landing pages yourself, you as a freelancer (or your client) won’t have to pay for expensive tools like OptinMonster or Leadpages. Instead, learn how to create a landing page for free using existing tools.
So, what tools to use for building landing pages in WordPress?
Well, you CAN use WordPress’ native Gutenberg editor now. If you follow the landing page blueprint, you can build section by section and still have the necessary and recommended content flow.
But for my part, I think the Gutenberg editor is frustrating and difficult to work with. So, I use professional page builders instead.
That means builders like Bricks Builder or Oxygen Builder. Another option for beginners is to go for Divi Theme, which, like Bricks and Oxygen, has a big library of free-to-use designs.
Working with page builders like this gives full control to build the same as you would have paid a high price for with LeadPages.
Of course, professional page builders for WordPress are a paid package. But with that small investment, you can quickly learn how to build custom landing pages for WordPress over and over, instead of paying an expensive monthly fee for other services.
Use this landing-page blueprint for correct structure
Okay, so maybe you’ve made a decision about which page-builder to use to build landing pages. Now it’s about creating such a page with a proper structure.
By this, we mean that there ARE specific elements a typical landing page should have. Because, in web marketing, we now know enough to understand what works. Psychologically, visitors get triggered and convinced when they see specific elements and receive the right type of information on a landing page.
Okay, below is a template structure of sections that should be part of a landing page. This landing-page blueprint is not final. It will vary depending on the type of landing page you build and what the call-to-action (CTA) is.
- Header with logo and menus (Remove standard full menu. It’s distracting)
- Hero section — the top introduction with title, subtitle, and image or graphic
- CTA — Call to Action — What you want the user to do
- Consider a video presentation. It has a stronger message.
- Social Proof — Use brand or company logos if available
- Features/Benefits — Showcasing the features and benefits of the offer or product
- How it works — Show how the offer or product works in simple steps
- Testimonials — Present real stories from past customers or clients
- FAQ — Give the reader simple answers to common questions
- CTA — Call to Action — Repeat CTA at the bottom of the page
- Footer — The copyright, title, and maybe some links
So, with this new gem of landing-page knowledge, you now know how to build landing pages for free using WordPress and a page-builder of your choice.
You can also learn how to build landing-pages from this lady
I've designed more landing pages in the past 5 months than in the last 5 years combined.
— Namya @ Supafast (@namyakhann) August 14, 2024
Here are 9 key sections for a high-converting SaaS landing page: pic.twitter.com/1fooIK6F0m
If you’re a freelance Web Designer, you’ll now have much stronger value for your clients. Because knowing how to create a landing page for free (using a builder you already have) brings your client both sign-ups and sales. And if you can help them grow and sell, they’ll be happy to pay you for it.
Learn how to create a landing page for free using these tools
Are you a freelance beginner?
Remember that the page builders I mentioned all have ready-made design libraries. You can just pick and choose what fits for each of the sections above.
These page-builders are not free to buy. But, you WILL be building landing pages for free, without having to pay expensive monthly “landing-page platforms” instead. Also, a page builder is an investment in your whole business and all future websites. It‘s not just for landing pages.
For new Web Designers, or website owners doing their own pages, it can feel hard putting things together at times. But here are a few important tips to simplify the process:
- Use one of the professional page builders. Or, go for Divi Theme as a beginner.
- Follow the template sections in the landing-page blueprint above
- Keep things clean, simple, and with minimal words
- Use clean and professional images (Use sites like Pexels for free images)
- Use ready-made design sections instead of reinventing the wheel
And if you want to design your own landing page for free, there’s a huge amount of free resources and design inspiration out there.
See if you can learn something from companies like WithSupaFast.com who specialize in this.
Landing-page skills with tips in the Landing Page Hot Tips book
I suggest you combine this website inspiration and design resource with this book on how to design landing pages and 100 hot tips to do it right.
Get a discount following the link to the Landing Page Hot Tips book here.
And sniff out some awesome inspiration at the OnePageLove.com website. I have spent a lot of time there myself to find ideas and inspiration.
If you get just a little bit better at building landing pages instead of just trying random stuff, you will have more people signing up or buying from you. If you work with clients and get good at website copy and landing pages, you’re gold to them!
Most website owners don’t know how to do this. They don’t know the structure, and they don’t know how to put things together. That’s why you, as a freelancer and Web Designer, have great value. Clients just want a page to do its job without having to fiddle around with website page builders and learn the structure or psychology of a good landing page.
So help them!
You could become a Web Designer who focuses on getting good at one thing: designing landing pages that not only look amazing but also CONVERT visitors into buyers. Learn how to create a landing page for free (without using a paid platform) is a sales-point in itself.
If you’re looking to find a new way to make a living by working online, learning Web Design without any coding or design skills is one clever way of creating more freedom in your life.
Download my Web Designer’s Blueprint to learn more about it.
It could be your next step towards a better life with more freedom and new experiences.