What if you could create a professional-looking website for a local business in minutes — without being a web designer, without cold calling, and without paying for expensive software?
Artificial intelligence is changing the way websites can be created, and that creates an interesting opportunity for people who want to build an online service business.
Instead of starting by trying to convince a local business owner to buy a website, there is another approach:
Build the website first. Give the business owner something useful. Then let the conversation develop from there.
This approach is the foundation behind The Free Website Method, a training created by Ryan Shaw that teaches a simple process for using AI to create websites for local businesses and then turn those relationships into potential recurring clients.
Why Selling Web Design to Local Businesses Can Be Difficult
There are millions of small businesses in the United States, and many of them need better websites, updated websites, or websites that simply work better on mobile devices.
The challenge isn't necessarily finding businesses that need help.
The challenge is getting their attention.
If you approach a business owner and immediately say:
"Hi, I build websites. Would you like to buy one?"
you are immediately asking them to make a purchasing decision.
That can create resistance — especially if they don't know you, don't know your work, and haven't seen anything that demonstrates what you can do.
The free-website-first approach changes that conversation.
What If You Gave Them the Website First?
Imagine finding a local HVAC company, plumber, landscaper, roofer, barber, restaurant, auto detailer, or another service business.
Instead of pitching them, you create a sample website for their business.
Then you send it to them.
Now the conversation isn't theoretical.
They can actually see what you created.
That is a very different conversation from trying to sell an invisible service.
The basic concept is simple:
- Find a local business.
- Create a website for them.
- Send them the website.
- Offer to manage the system for them if they want to use it.
And AI can dramatically reduce the amount of technical work required to get started.
AI Has Changed the Website-Building Equation
You don't necessarily need to spend months learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript, web development, or complicated software before you can create a basic business website.
Modern AI tools can help generate website structure, copy, layouts, calls to action, service descriptions, FAQs, and other elements of a business website.
That doesn't mean AI magically turns everyone into a professional web developer.
It does mean that the barrier to experimenting with website creation is much lower than it used to be.
And that's where the opportunity becomes interesting.
The Four-Step Process
The Free Website Method breaks the concept down into four basic actions:
- POST
- BUILD
- SEND
- OFFER
1. POST
Start by making a simple offer in an appropriate local community, such as a town or local business Facebook group.
The idea is to let business owners know that you are willing to create a website for a small number of local businesses at no upfront cost.
Instead of chasing individual businesses one by one, you create an opportunity for interested owners to raise their hands.
2. BUILD
Once a business owner is interested, you use the provided AI prompt to create a website for the business.
The process is designed around copy-and-paste instructions rather than complicated coding.
You can use free versions of AI tools such as ChatGPT or Claude for the process.
3. SEND
Once the website is created, you send the business owner the link.
Now they have something tangible to look at.
They aren't being asked to imagine what you might create.
They can actually see it.
4. OFFER
If the business owner likes the website, you can explain that while the initial website was created for free, there can be an ongoing service involved in maintaining, hosting, updating, or managing the system.
For example, the training uses a $297/month client price as an example.
Important: That $297 figure is an example of a potential client price, not a promise of what someone will earn.
Why This Approach Can Be Interesting for Beginners
One of the biggest obstacles for someone trying to start a web service business is the question:
"How do I get clients when I don't have any clients?"
That creates a classic catch-22.
You need clients to build a portfolio, but potential clients often want to see a portfolio before hiring you.
Creating sample websites gives you a way to begin demonstrating what you can do.
You don't necessarily have to wait until someone pays you before you create examples.
You Don't Have to Be a Professional Web Designer
This is an important distinction.
The goal isn't necessarily to become a full-time web developer overnight.
The concept is to learn enough of the process to create useful websites for small businesses and potentially offer an ongoing service around those websites.
AI can handle much of the initial heavy lifting, while you focus on:
- Finding businesses that could benefit from a website
- Understanding what the business needs
- Creating and reviewing the website
- Communicating with the business owner
- Making sure the finished product represents the business accurately
- Offering ongoing service when appropriate
In other words, the opportunity isn't necessarily about becoming a coder.
It's about learning how to use the tools.
What You Get Inside The Free Website Method
The training is designed to provide a simple framework rather than leaving you to figure everything out from scratch.
The program includes:
- 7 short video lessons
- The Master Website Prompt
- 5 ready-to-use messages
- A read-through checklist
- A switch-on checklist
- A 7-day action calendar
The idea is to reduce the amount of guesswork involved in getting started.
What You Don't Need
According to the training's approach, you don't need to start with a long list of expensive tools or complicated technical requirements.
- No web design degree
- No existing portfolio required
- No paid AI subscription required
- No API key required
- No HighLevel account required
- No requirement to make cold calls
- No requirement to get on sales calls
You can begin by learning the process and testing it with actual local businesses.
The Psychology Behind "Give First"
There's another reason this model is interesting.
People generally respond differently when they're being offered something useful compared with when they're immediately being asked to buy something.
Consider the difference between these two conversations:
Conversation A:
"I sell websites. Do you want to buy one?"
Conversation B:
"I created a website concept for your business. Here's the link. Take a look."
The second conversation gives the business owner something to evaluate before making a purchasing decision.
That is the basic "give first" philosophy behind this method.
AI Is the Tool — Not the Business
It's easy to get distracted by AI itself.
Every week there seems to be another AI tool, another chatbot, another website builder, or another automation platform.
But the tool isn't necessarily the opportunity.
The business problem you're solving is the opportunity.
A local business needs a website.
You learn how to create one efficiently.
You put something useful in front of the business owner.
Then you determine whether there is an opportunity to provide an ongoing service.
AI simply makes the production side of that equation faster and more accessible.
What Could a Local Website Service Look Like?
Imagine a small business owner receives a website from you and says:
"I like it. Can you keep this updated for me?"
That creates a completely different type of conversation.
Instead of selling a one-time website, you could potentially offer an ongoing service that includes things such as:
- Website hosting
- Content updates
- Basic maintenance
- Adding services or promotions
- Updating contact information
- Adding photos
- Making ongoing improvements
The exact services and pricing would depend on what you actually provide and what the client agrees to.
Again, the $297/month figure used in the training is an example client price — it is not a guarantee of income.
What If the Business Already Has a Website?
That's going to happen.
Some businesses already have websites.
That doesn't automatically mean there is no opportunity.
Their existing website could be outdated, difficult to navigate, poorly optimized for mobile devices, missing important information, or simply not doing a good job of presenting the business.
However, you should never assume a business needs your service simply because you think its website could be better.
The goal is to identify genuine opportunities and provide something useful.
Who Is This Method Designed For?
This approach may be particularly interesting for someone who:
- Wants to learn an online service skill
- Is interested in working with local businesses
- Doesn't enjoy traditional cold selling
- Doesn't have a large portfolio yet
- Wants to experiment with AI-assisted website creation
- Has limited time available each week
- Prefers a step-by-step process instead of figuring everything out alone
It may not be for someone looking for guaranteed income, completely passive income, or a business that requires zero effort.
There is still work involved.
You have to find opportunities, communicate with people, review the websites you create, deliver what you promise, and provide whatever service you agree to provide.
A Simple Way to Test the Idea
You don't have to make this a huge project on day one.
You could treat it like an experiment.
For example:
- Week 1: Learn the process and create a few sample websites.
- Week 2: Identify local businesses and appropriate communities where you can make your offer.
- Week 3: Build websites for interested businesses.
- Week 4: Follow up, collect feedback, and determine whether any business wants ongoing help.
This lets you evaluate the model based on actual experience rather than simply watching videos about making money online.
Who Is Ryan Shaw?
The Free Website Method was created by Ryan Shaw, who describes himself as having approximately 15 years of experience running a web agency.
His background includes working with more than 100 agency clients and building websites and web services for businesses.
The training takes that experience and packages the process into a simplified system intended for people who want to use AI to create websites for local businesses.
How Much Does The Free Website Method Cost?
At the time of writing, the launch price is:
$27 ONE TIME
The launch price is scheduled to increase to $47 after Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee according to the offer.
There is no recurring monthly fee for the training itself.
Ready to Learn the Free Website Method?
If the concept of creating websites for local businesses using AI sounds interesting, you can take a closer look at the complete training.
The Free Website Method
7 lessons • 1 Master Website Prompt • 5 messages • 7-day action plan
Learn the process of finding local businesses, creating a website with AI, sending it to the owner, and introducing an ongoing service.
$27 Launch Price
Launch price ends September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
The Bottom Line
The internet has created countless opportunities to build digital services, but one of the biggest challenges has always been finding customers.
The free-website-first approach attempts to address that problem by changing the traditional sales conversation.
Instead of starting with:
"Will you buy my website service?"
you start with:
"I created something that may be useful for your business. Take a look."
That simple change can make the process much more tangible.
And with today's AI tools, creating the initial website can be much faster than it was just a few years ago.
The opportunity isn't guaranteed, and it's not completely passive.
But for someone willing to learn the process, test it, communicate with local business owners, and provide real value, it represents an interesting way to explore the growing intersection of AI, web design, and local business services.
Post. Build. Send. Offer.
That's the method.
Disclosure: This article contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through the link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. This article is for educational and informational purposes only. No income or business results are guaranteed. The $297/month figure referenced in this article is an example client price used in the training and is not a representation or guarantee of student earnings. Please review the product's terms, refund policy, and offer details before purchasing.
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