How Can You Use Google Sites to Establish a Website?

We will go over the fundamental procedures required to set up a website with Google Sites in this tutorial. Although I never advise using free hosting and website builders, there are situations in which you should or even can.

For instance, you’ve just recently begun building a website. Furthermore, you’re still unsure if it’s worthwhile to pursue. Even seasoned webmasters use several free builders and platforms from time to time to create their websites. These could be unrelated websites that the developer wants to keep up for whatever reason, but they still relate to the core resource.

For some reason, you can make your own website with Google’s service.

Google Sites: What Are They?

Google offers a tool called Google Sites that allows users to build webpages. You may make straightforward, dynamic, and interactive websites with its help. To accomplish this, you don’t need to know HTML. Typically, websites employ a WYSIWYG editor. Even for more experienced users who choose to manually update HTML code, its interface is appropriate.

You must first register for a free Google account in order to utilize Google Sites to develop sites. Open a web browser and go to Google Sites to establish a new account. Use your current login information to access Google sites if you have already enrolled for another Google service, like Gmail.

Creation of the first website

Once you visit Google Sites, a form will appear. All that’s left to do is click the “+” icon at this point.

Step 1 — Choose a site name

When you arrive at the site creation page, you will notice that the site is nameless in the upper left corner. After selecting Untitled Site by clicking on the wording, give your website a name. It’s time to select a design theme for your website after deciding on a name.

Step 2 — Choose a theme

Google Sites presently offers five different themes. The Insert, Pages, and Themes tabs are located in the right panel. To view the available subjects, click on them. For this lesson, “Rivna” is the theme that I have selected.

There aren’t many themes available right now. There are just five available design themes, however they are all free.

Step 3 — Choosing a layout

After deciding on a theme for our website, we will begin modifying its layout. Navigate to the right-hand Insert tab. Here, you’ll explore many approaches to incorporating text, graphics, and buttons into your webpage. You will also be presented with an assortment of pre-made layouts that you can click to add to your page.

Furthermore, widgets from many Google services are accessible, such as calendars, documents, tables, forms, and more. To begin altering, select your preferred layout and click on it.

Step 4 — Inputting information on the main page

Once we’ve designed the style and layout for our website, we need to add content. It is currently empty save from the chosen theme and style of the website.

4.1. Changing the page title

Changing the page’s title is the first step. To begin editing, just click on the page title. I have designated this page as “The First Site”.

4.2. Cover editing

To alter the cover image, hover your cursor over the current image and choose Change Image. Google sites have a large number of photographs. Images can be inserted from your gallery, URL, or Google albums, or you can upload them from your PC. You may also use Google Sites to search the Internet for photographs and add them straight into the website editor.

For this lesson, I have chosen a picture from the collection. My website has undergone a redesign.

4.3. Adding content to the main page

We now have to add the item to our home page. We’ve already decided on our website’s layout. The text is on the right and the image is on the left of the two columns in my arrangement. Of course, you are free to select your own layout.

To incorporate the content, I’ll only click on the relevant part. I have the option to enter a map, a YouTube video, a Google calendar, or an image in the image section. Because it offers all of these applications, Google has an advantage over other site-building platforms.
I’ll put the text in the right block and the image on the left, as seen below.

An editor will open as you input text so you may format it. The text can be rearranged, bolded, italicized, aligned, and have an ordered or numbered list and links added.

It is easy to alter the text. Just double-click the text field to begin editing.

4.4. Adding additional sections

How may the page’s content be increased? Just below the area we just created, I’m adding another one. To accomplish this, choose a new layout by clicking the “Insert” option in the top right corner of the page. You have to follow the same steps again in order to add content to a new part of the layout.

Think about selecting a layout based on what your website requires.

4.5. Adding a site footer or footer

Up until every part is present on your main page, you are free to add as many as you like. I’m going to finish this page by adding a basement. This is referred to as a footer in web design. Locate the “Add Footer” button by scrolling down the page to accomplish this. You are free to edit and add text as you like.

Best wishes! We have recently completed developing our website’s primary homepage.

Step 5 — Adding new pages

You will undoubtedly need to add more pages if your website isn’t a one-page website. On the right side of the screen, select Pages. Next, click the plus sign (+) at the bottom to enter the page’s name. I’ll refer to the newly created page as “About us”.

The identical subject will be added to a new page. Keep in mind that the page titles can be found in a menu located in the upper right corner of the page.

To add a unique URL to this page, choose “More” from the dropdown menu, just like in the preceding screenshot. Next, type in your URL and select “Done.”

I’m going to add the content to a new page and go through the same process as in part four of this tutorial. After adding every page your website will require using steps 4 and 5, move on to the next stage.

Step 6 — General site management

There are a few crucial components that you might need to install and setup before you can put your website live. Click the gear icon located in the page builder screen’s upper right corner to accomplish this. You can enable a favicon, modify site settings, access analytics, and even make a duplicate of the website in the new window.

Upload the logo and favicon under Brand Image. An icon connected to a certain website is called a favicon. It commonly shows up next to the website’s name in a user’s favorites list or in the browser’s address bar to identify the website. The icon is available for download from your PC.

By selecting the “custom domain” option, you can add your own URL, or domain, such as www.mysite.com.

Anyone can visit new websites. You can add admins who will also be allowed to change the site by clicking the “add people” icon located at the top right corner of the screen. A pop-up window will appear. If you want to restrict who can view the site after it is published and it is not meant for quick reading, you can also choose user groups.

Step 7 — Publish the website

The final stage is to publish the website when it has been edited and all requirements have been confirmed. On the right side of the screen, select “Publish”.

You’ll be prompted to input the website address in a pop-up window. In this instance, https://sites.google.com/view/your-name would be the URL. Alternatively, by selecting “MANAGE” and inputting your own URL, you can modify it if you have one. It is possible to block search engines from accessing your website.

When you’re finished, click Publish. The website https://sites.google.com/view/your-name is where you can access it.

Advantages and disadvantages of Google Sites

Pluses

  • Making and editing web pages is simple.
  • Google Account holders can access Google Sites for free.
  • It is not necessary to have web programming experience to create such a site.
  • Installing software is not necessary.
  • Its benefit over alternative website construction tools lies from its interaction with Google apps.
  • Perfect for novices looking to build their first website.

Cons

  • In case you don’t possess a personal URL, the website that appears opens at sites.google.com/view/.
  • When compared to certain competitors, Google Sites’ capability is somewhat limited.
  • It’s simple to incorporate solely Google Apps apps. It can frequently be difficult to add apps outside of Google Apps.
  • It is not the greatest site builder for businesses because of the restricted customization choices.
  • The themes are rather basic in comparison to other website builders.

Conclusion

With Google Sites, building a personal website only takes a few minutes. I didn’t have to type a single line of code in this instance.

Google Sites is a straightforward and cost-free site builder, while having very few capabilities. If you want to construct sites but aren’t ready to build a whole website, Google Sites can help you get started.

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