You may not know yet that there is a free Google tool that allows us to create and publish websites easily, even without knowing anything about design or programming. In this article we explain what is Google Sites and what is it for?
The first thing to say is that Google Sites is part of the productivity suite of Google workspaceIt was first launched in 2008 and has since evolved to offer the best experience to those users who want Create functional websites quickly.
Main features of Google Sites
These are the main features of Google Sites, a tool designed for users without advanced technical knowledge or experience:
- Simple and easy to use interface. Using just the classic drag and drop method, we can add and customize all kinds of elements, from text and images to forms and videos.
- Responsive designThat is, the sites adapt to any type of device and screen (computer, tablet or smartphone), thus offering the best user experience.
- Integration with Google Workspace, which means you can embed Word documents, spreadsheets, calendars, YouTube videos, etc.
- Basic customization options: themes, colors, fonts…
- Free serviceThere's not even a hosting fee, making Google Sites an affordable and accessible option.
Google Sites Utilities
What is Google Sites used for? There are many purposes and goals for which using this tool can be a very good idea, from personal projects to business uses:
- Personal Websites (blogs, professional portfolios, sites for sharing photos among friends, etc.).
- Pages for teams and companies, which incorporate different applications aimed at teamwork, as well as to display products or services in a professional manner.
- education and learning: classroom sites, meeting points for students, workplaces for preparing and presenting academic projects…
- Events and activitiess. You can use Google Sites to create pages dedicated to weddings, birthdays, family reunions, travel plans, etc.
- Shared resources (documents, tutorials, videos, etc.) gathered in one place.
How to create a page in Google Sites?
It is worth emphasizing once again that Google Sites is an incredibly simple tool, and that is precisely the key to its success. Here are the simple steps to follow to create a site:
Create a new site
- To start, we access the Google Sites page.
- There, We created a new site. We have two options:
- Click on the "+" button to start from scratch.
- Select one of the predefined templates displayed in the top bar.
- Then we can start to add content via the sidebar: text, images, videos, documents, etc.
Organize the layout
- We can organize the content to our liking which we added using the “drag and drop” method.
- It is also possible customize site style changing the theme, colors and fonts.
Publish
- Before finishing, you have to decide if we want the site to be public or private (you can also specify who can edit it).
- Finally, we click on «Post": We choose a name for your site and share the link with whoever we want.
Google Sites: Advantages and Limitations
It is unquestionable that we are facing a tool that offers us a series of very interesting advantages, whether we are going to use it for personal or professional purposes. However, there are also certain limitations that, without being clear drawbacks, are necessary to know. We summarize everything below:
Advantages
- Gratuity: It is a free tool for individual users and companies with Google Workspace accounts.
- Simplicity: It is very easy to use, no technical knowledge is required.
- Speed: A website can be created in a matter of hours, sometimes just a few minutes.
- Security: Thanks to Google's support, it is a completely reliable service.
- team Work: it is perfect for working as a team in a collaborative way.
Limitations
- Requires the user to have a Google account.
- Customization options are somewhat limited, especially when compared to platforms like WordPress.
- It does not have built-in functions for online commerce, such as a shopping cart or payment gateway.
- The custom domain is also limited.
Putting everything on the table, the good and the not so good, we can talk about Google Sites as a free, very versatile and easy-to-use tool. An excellent resource open to everyone so that any user, regardless of their technical level, is able to create their own website.
It is true that it has significant limitations in terms of customization and e-commerce, so it would not be the best option for those looking to create a more sophisticated website. However, it is the ideal solution for simple and quick projects.