Why we're giving a website away
We've built websites for a lot of small businesses, and we keep meeting good people doing good work who are stuck with no website, or one that's so outdated it's costing them customers. A lot of them can't justify a few thousand dollars on a website right now.
So we're drawing one business at random and building it a real website, the same way we build every paid project. Fully custom, fast, and built to bring in calls. No templates, no catch in the fine print. The rules are short and they're right on this page.
What the winner gets
The same custom work our paying clients get. We agree on the scope together before we start.
Custom design
Designed around your business, your customers, and your work. Not a template with your logo dropped in.
Up to a $2,500 value
A full website build at no cost to you. You don't pay for the design or the build.
Mobile-first
Most of your customers will find you on a phone, so that's where we start. It looks right on every screen.
Built for Google
On-page SEO done right from day one: clean structure, real page titles, and fast load times.
Contact and quote forms
Easy ways for customers to reach you, so the website turns visitors into calls and leads.
Stores and advanced setups
If it fits your business, it can include a small online store or something more advanced like booking and scheduling.
How it works
Here's the whole process.
Apply by the last day of the month
Fill out the form below. Tell us about your business and what a new website would change for you.
A random drawing you can check
In the first week of next month, one winner is drawn at random using RANDOM.ORG, an independent randomness service. Then we post the result so you can see it's fair.
Winner announced, then we build
The winner is announced in the first week of the next month. Then we plan and build your website together.
How we keep it fair (and how to check for yourself)
Giveaways are easy to fake. We don't want you to have to take our word for it. So we don't pick the winner. RANDOM.ORG does: it's an independent service that has been used for raffles and giveaways for years. Then we post the result: the list of entry codes that went in and the code that won.
What happens at the end of the month
- When you enter, you get an anonymous entry code (like YW-2610-7KQ4M) on the confirmation screen and in your confirmation email.
- Every eligible entry's code goes into the drawing, one entry per business.
- Entries are only removed if they break the rules: not a real business, outside the U.S., or a duplicate. That happens before the drawing, never after.
- We put the full list of entry codes into RANDOM.ORG, it picks one at random, and we post the result.
How to check for yourself
- After the drawing, we post the result.
- It shows the full list of entry codes going in, so you can find yours and see you were in the drawing.
- It shows the winning code RANDOM.ORG picked, so you can see whether you won.
- Lost your code? Email [email protected] and we'll look it up.
No names, emails, or phone numbers ever leave this site. RANDOM.ORG only sees anonymous entry codes.
Want to know more about how it works? Read about how RANDOM.ORG generates random numbers.
Apply for this month's free website
Fields marked are required. Be honest and specific. That helps us more than anything.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. The design and build are free, up to a $2,500 value, and so are the first 6 months of hosting on a free Yoder Websites address (like yourbusiness.yoderwebsites.com). After 6 months, keeping the site online is the standard $40/month hosting plan, which also lets you use your own domain (like yourbusiness.com). We register and manage the domain for you, and if you ever leave, it's transferred to you. If you'd rather not continue, the site is simply taken down. No contract.
How do you pick the winner?
It's a random drawing using RANDOM.ORG, an independent randomness service. Every eligible entry has the same chance, and we post the result, so you can find your entry code in the list and see which code won. How to check.
What if I don't win?
You're welcome to enter again the next time we run it. And if you'd rather not wait, get a quote and we can talk about building it now.
Do I have to be in Ohio?
No. We're based in Walhonding, Ohio, but we build websites for businesses all over the U.S. Everything can be done by phone and email.
Giveaway rules
- Free to enter. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.
- Who can enter. Open to businesses located in the United States. The person entering must be 18 or older and authorized to speak for the business.
- One entry per business per giveaway. Each giveaway runs for one calendar month. Entries don't carry over, but you're welcome to enter a later giveaway.
- How the winner is chosen. One winner is drawn at random from all eligible entries received during the month. The drawing is conducted using RANDOM.ORG, and takes place in the first week of the following month. Each entry is identified in the drawing only by an anonymous entry code, given to the entrant on the confirmation screen and in the confirmation email. No names, email addresses, or phone numbers are provided to RANDOM.ORG. The posted result shows the list of entry codes in the drawing and the winning code, so any entrant can confirm they were entered and whether they won. Entries that don't meet these rules (for example, not a real business, outside the U.S., or duplicate entries) are removed before the drawing. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
- Prize value and taxes. The approximate retail value of the prize is up to $2,500. Any taxes on the prize are the winner's responsibility; the winner will be asked for a W-9 and may receive a 1099 for the prize value.
- The prize. A custom website design and build valued at up to $2,500. The exact scope is agreed on with the winner before work starts.
- Timeline. The winner has 2 weeks from the win date to provide everything that goes on the website (text, photos, logo, and business details). If the content isn't provided in time, another winner may be drawn.
- Hosting. The first 6 months of hosting are free on a Yoder Websites subdomain (for example, yourbusiness.yoderwebsites.com). After 6 months, the website stays online only on the standard $40/month hosting plan; otherwise it is taken down.
- Custom domains. A custom domain (like yourbusiness.com) is available only on the $40/month hosting plan. Yoder Websites registers and manages the domain for the winner and can give them access at any time. If the winner leaves Yoder Websites, the domain is transferred to them.
- Changes after launch. The prize covers the website as launched. Changes after launch are not included and are billed separately.
- Declining. The winner may decline the prize.
- No cash value. The prize can't be exchanged for cash and can't be transferred to another person or business.
- Notification. The winner is notified by email or phone and must respond within 7 days. If we don't hear back, another winner will be drawn.
- Featuring the winner. We'll only feature the winning business in posts or videos with their permission.
- Changes. Yoder Websites may end or change the giveaway at any time.
- Questions. Email [email protected].