Yes, you read that right. A professional website that generates sales for less than four euros a year is possible.
I know because I've already built several.
I'm talking about corporate websites, personal sites, business websites or portfolios, not ecommerce sites or magazines publishing content constantly. The sites we're building here are ones we expect to change only occasionally, not daily. You could do that too, but it's more awkward than with other systems.
Here's the system we're going to use:
- Buy a domain. That's your only expense.
- Add it to Cloudflare.
- Build the website.
- Manage your business email.
Let's look at each step.
Step 1: buy a domain
This is the foundation, the first step and the only one that will cost you money.
In this article I explain everything you need to know about the cheapest domains and where to buy them..
As you'll see, you can even get one for free, which is fine for test websites, but given how little a domain costs, I wouldn't base my business's digital presence on one.
Step 2: create your website with AI
Once you have the domain, the next step is building your website.
In this other article I explain how to create your website from scratch using AI, step by step:
- PRD.
- Visual mockups.
- Development.
- SEO optimization.
- Analytics.
- Multiple languages.
- Publishing.
All thanks to ChatGPT and the technology stack I recommend, which handles your website's inner workings.
It can take anywhere from a day to a week, depending on how many sections and languages your website has and your experience building it.
Step 3: business email
Your website will probably have a contact form. And you'll communicate with suppliers and customers by email.
In this article I explain step by step how to manage your business email with the best free tool for the job: Zoho Mail.
The technology stack
Here's a summary of the technology stack we'll use:
- Cloudflare: buying .com domains, managing any domain and free hosting.
- STRATO or another domain provider: for other cheap extensions such as .es, .top and .vip.
- Astro framework: the website technology. Free.
- ChatGPT and Codex: to build the website from scratch. The free plan is enough.
- GitHub: as a code repository. Free.
- Zoho Mail: for webmail (cloud storage for emails) and an API for the website's contact form. Free plan.
As you can see, we'll use these companies' free plans to build our website. As I said, the only thing you'll pay for is the domain, which can cost as little as three euros a year or as much as you want to spend.
Conclusions
These days, if you don't have a decent website in 10 languages, it's because you don't want one.
It's about knowing the system and investing a little time, with AI's help, to build a digital asset that brings you customers and money.
And yes, it's that easy. Of course, you do have to put in the time.
If you don't have it, write to me and let's talk.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I really have a professional website for 30 euro cents a month?
Yes, if you use free services for development and hosting and find a domain costing around €3.60 a year. But you'll need to spend time building and maintaining the site.
How much does it cost to maintain a website each year?
With the system I suggest, the only compulsory expense is the domain, available from around €3 or €4 a year. Development, hosting and basic tools can all be free.
How can I host a website for free?
You can use Cloudflare Pages to publish a static website without paying for hosting, as long as you stay within its free-plan limits. It's a very interesting option for business websites and portfolios.
Do I need to know how to code to create a website with AI?
You don't need to be a programmer, since ChatGPT and Codex can help you generate the code. However, you'll need to learn some basic concepts to check the result and troubleshoot problems.
Which is better for a cheap website, Astro or WordPress?
For a business website that rarely changes, I prefer Astro because it creates fast pages you can host for free. WordPress is more convenient if you plan to publish content and change your site constantly.
Can I get free professional email with my own domain?
Yes, services such as Zoho Mail offer free options for using your own domain, although availability and features depend on the plan and current terms.
Can I create a website for my business with this system?
Of course. It's especially suitable for local businesses, freelancers and companies that need to present their services and receive enquiries without updating the website daily.
Can I have a contact form on a static website?
Yes. Even if the site is built with Astro and has no server of its own, you can connect the form to an external service or a function that processes and sends messages.
Can I create a multilingual website without paying more?
Yes, you can use AI to prepare translations and publish different versions of a static site without necessarily increasing hosting costs. But you'll have to review the text and keep each language up to date.
What are the limitations of a website built with free tools?
The main limitation is that you'll need more knowledge and time to make changes than with a traditional content management system. Free services also have terms of use and limits you should check before relying on them for a business.
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