Google Website Builder
Should you use Google Sites for Your new Website?
There are tons of website creators out there, such as Wordpress, Wix, Squarespace, and tons more. So it may seem annoying to hear that there is yet another website creator out there. However, Google Sites is a tool that surpasses many of the other leading website creators, and works specifically with the largest search engine in the world. So what is it, and why should you use it over the competition?
Google Sites is a tool that enables people to make a website for free. The main goal of it is to allow people to make a website and collaborate with other editors more easily. It used to be a different company, by the name of JotSpot. JotSpot would be used for small and medium-sized businesses to have a way to promote their business.
Google then acquired the site back in late 2006. 10 years later, they have updated the site into “new” Google Sites, which is the Google Sites that we know of today.
The first thing that you should consider, is the fact that it is free to use. Like many other sites, like Wordpress, it does not require you to purchase a domain before setting up your account. This means that you can start a website for free, and get it running the way you like with no cost to you!
However, if you would like to have your own domain name, or custom URL, you will have to purchase one for a low price. Otherwise, your site is going to be branded by Google, and will look like:
“https://sites.google.com/view/your-site-name-here”
Despite that, it is very easy to use. Google Sites has a drag and drop design, which means you can customize every new page on the spot. Since there is a grid involved, there is only so much that you can do, but Google provides a lot of possibilities for the set up of the site.
Google Sites is also run by the same people who have created the search engine, Google, and other Google-products. This means that the site itself has a level of brand loyalty to them, and Google works hard to make sure that the site is functional and working great.
Knowing all of this is fine, but what are some of the features of this site creator?
Features that you should consider
Google Web Pages: I like the fact that this site has an option to allow for multiple pages. You can use these for many things. For example, if you would like to link to more information about your business that might be different, or more detailed, than what you added to the main page.
This can also be used in order to link to other places. For instance, a charity, a web store that you might own, or even to your other social media accounts. The possibilities are endless!
Importing Information: Another thing that you should consider, is the fact that you can import content from other areas of Google into your site. For instance, Google Docs, Forms, Videos, Calendars, Maps, Slides, Charts, and more can all be imported into your blog easily and painlessly.
Google Responsiveness: Google is a huge company, so what it wants is for as many people as possible to view your site, so that people know what their sites can look like. As a result, this means that your site will change in appearance, depending on what device it is used on. This includes cell phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.
Having Permissions: If you are a business, you have probably found it to be a bit of a pain to collaborate with other people when it comes to posting information on your site, or editing it. This is why having permissions as a feature, like if you were using Google Docs, was an otherwise genius idea. These “Permissions” are known as “Owners,” “Editors,” or “viewers.”
Owners are the people who own the site, and have the ability to do pretty much whatever they want with the website. Including being able to have other people come on to edit the content for them.
Editors are people who have access when it comes to the look or content of the site. This means that you can hire someone to have access to your site, and to add content if you desire. The best part about this, is that you can make it so that anyone who lands on the site can edit it.
This is what is generally referred to as a “wiki” site, or a site in which anyone can have a contribution. Having this kind of site is great if you have topics that you would like to crowdsource information from. For instance, a fan site for a popular TV show.
Viewers are people who can simply view your site. They cannot make any alterations, or have any input on how the site looks or reads.
You do not have to make it public: This is one of those things that not many other sites do. But this is an important feature if you are running a business, and want a site that can only really be interacted with by people in your circle.
For instance, you can publish your site to the public, and have anyone see and interact with it as planned. Or you can only publish it for anyone who has the link, so that people will not be able to find it via a Google search. This helps to make sure that only the people you want to interact with your site, do so.
Google sites is a newer, yet more trustworthy website creator that makes things far easier for you by integrating everything all in one place. Being able to utilize all other Google software helps to make Google Sites the one stop shop for all of your website creating needs. Try it out and see for yourself.
