11.5 Creating a Website with Google Sites
Getting started with Google Sites
Let’s take a look at the basics of Google sites to get your first site up and running…
Creating a new Site
Once you have signed into Google, head over to sites.google.com to access the main Google Sites dashboard. Hit the + button or choose the Blank template to create a new draft Google site. If you wish to start with a pre-built template, there are several you can use from the Template Gallery, but more often than not this just means more work deleting all the things you don’t like! You can also create a Google Site directly when in Google Drive by clicking New +, More, and then selecting Sites.
Now you will be in your draft, unpublished Google Site. But before you get to editing, don’t forget to give your site an appropriate name. The naming box at the top of the site determines how your Google Site will be named where it is stored in Google Drive, whereas the naming box below it determines the name of your site as it will appear when published.
Watch Getting Started in Google Sites (8 mins) on YouTube for an example of how to create a digital portfolio using Google Sites
Video source: The Learning Portal / Le Portail d’Apprentissage. (2022, January 24). Getting started in Google sites [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IP0ZJJ4JIY
Edit Mode vs. Published Version
Understanding the distinction between edit mode and the published version is key when creating your Google Site.
Edit Mode: This is your draft website. It is your creative workspace, hidden from public view. Here you can experiment, refine, and perfect your site without the fear of your changes being seen by others. It will be quite clear when you are in editing mode, but if you are ever unsure, the big purple Publish button in the top right hand corner should allay your fears! You can also always tell if you are in edit mode as you will see the three main content editing tabs on the right of your window.
- Insert, where you can add content to your site.
- Pages, where you can choose how people navigate your site.
- Themes, where you can start personalising how your site looks through fonts, colours and more.
You can always get back to edit mode in your website editor by accessing the site file in your Google Drive, through the Google Sites Application, or by pressing the pencil icon in the bottom right on any site you have edit rights to.
Published Version: Once your site is all nicely polished and ready for the world to see, simply hit the Publish button.
This will make your site go live online, and anyone with the link can access it (depending on your audience settings.) Bear in mind that after publishing, any edits you make will be immediately visible to your audience. But don’t worry, you can always make updates.
Collaboration and Content Access
Consider: Collaboration
As you plan your Google Site, consider who will need access and what role they play in the creation of the site. This will allow you to add permissions that allow others to contribute to your project.
- Will collaborators review and make suggestions for improvement?
- Will collaborators edit and revise, or be responsible for maintaining aspects of the site once it is created?
Content Access Permissions
Before you dive into adding content to your Google Site, it’s essential to remember that when you’re including content uploaded from Drive or other Google Workspace apps, the content must be appropriately shared to be visible to others. Sharing settings ensure that your content is accessible to your site’s visitors. For example, if you embed a Google Doc and its sharing permissions are restricted, this means it will not be visible to any site visitors. Before adding content, make sure to set the sharing permissions accordingly for your audience.
Collaborating on a Site
Collaboration is a key feature of Google Sites. You can add collaborators to work on your site together in the same way you can on other Workspace apps such as Google Docs, Slides, and so on. It’s important to understand that when you add collaborators as Editors, you’re sharing access to the Site editor, not just the published Site, so be careful about who you invite.
To collaborate on a Site, click on the Share With Others button located at the top right of your Site editor. You can also do this within Google Drive by right clicking the item and selecting Share Enter the email addresses of the individuals or groups you wish to invite and choose whether you want to give them access as an Editor, or if you want them to just be able to see the published Site and not the editor, set them as a Published Viewer. When adding Editors, you can select Settings within the sharing dialogue box to enable or disable the option for Editors to be able to publish, change permissions and add new people.
Watch Google Sites 101: Control Access & Share Permissions (2 mins) on YouTube for more tips on sharing and collaborating on Google sites.
Video source: IHeartEdTech. (2021, February 19). Google sites 101: Control access & share permissions [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxOMh4rR4jg
Adding content to your Site
Adding text
Text is the foundation of your website’s content, so it’s probably just as well it’s the easiest thing to add! Here’s how to add text to your site:
- Using the toolbar: While in edit mode, navigate to the section where you’d like to add the image or document. Double click on the section of your page where you want to insert text to bring up the toolbar. Use the Text box icon in the centre of the toolbar to create a text box, and start typing your content.
- Using the insert tab: Text boxes can also be added by going to the Insert tab on your edit pane and selecting Text Box.
Once your text box has been added, you can also format your text using the provided toolbar options, including headings, lists, and more. You’ll follow a similar process to add other types of content.
Watch How to Add Content to a Google Site (6 mins) on YouTube for an overview of adding other types of content
Video source: BGPS EdTech. (2019, October 28). How to add content to a Google Site [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCVMwH0H8HM
Choosing how people navigate your Site
Adding pages to your Google Site is essential for structuring your content effectively. To create a new page, navigate to the pages tab in your site editor.
Here, you’ll find a + button that allows you to add a new page. Select the appropriate page type based on your content and provide a clear name for the page.
Page types
Google Sites offers a variety of page types to suit your Site’s needs:
- Standard Page: This is your all-purpose page for adding text, images, videos, and more. It’s the most versatile and commonly used page type.
- New Menu Section: Use this page type to create collapsible menu sections. It’s excellent for organising subpages or grouping content together.
- Full Page Embed: If you want to embed external content like Google Docs, Sheets, or Forms and have it occupy the entire page, this is the ideal page type.
- New Link: This page type allows you to link to external websites or files, making it useful for directing visitors to other online resources.
Navigation mode
You can control how your site’s navigation is displayed to your audience. The default setting places the navigation at the top of the page, but you have the option to change it. By going into the Settings and then the Navigation section, you can switch between top navigation or side navigation, depending on your site’s layout and your preferences.
Changing how your website looks
Themes play a crucial role in defining your site’s overall appearance. Google Sites offers a selection of preset themes to choose from, and you also have the option to create your own custom theme. All of this can be found under the Themes tab of your Site editor.
Here, you can personalise your site’s colours, fonts, and other design elements to create a unique style for your Site.
Watch 2 quick ways to change the colors on Google Sites using themes (with example) (2022) for an overview of using themes to customize your site
Video source: In 30 Minutes. (2022, July 18). 2 quick ways to change the colors on Google Sites using themes (with example) (2022) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCj-EHY3I5E
Brand images
Adding brand images to your site is great for branding and recognition. Within Settings , you can upload a logo, which will be displayed at the top of your site, adding a professional touch. You can also upload a favicon, which is the small icon that appears in the browser’s tab when users visit your site.
Announcement banner
The announcement banner is a useful tool to communicate important updates or messages to your site visitors. It is located at the top of your site and can be easily enabled or disabled within the Settings menu. You can convey your message effectively through this banner, ensuring that it catches your audience’s attention as soon as they open your Site.
Tip: Previewing Your Site
Before publishing your site, it’s a good practice to preview it to see how it will appear to your visitors. This allows you to make final adjustments and ensure everything looks as intended. In the edit mode, simply click on the Preview button at the top right of the screen. The preview will open, allowing you to review your site’s appearance and functionality. You can also try the preview toggles at the bottom to see how your Site will appear on different devices. And when you’re done, just hit the X to take yourself back to edit mode.
Publishing & sharing your site
There’s more than one way to cook an egg, and there’s more than one way to share your Google Site! Let’s take a look at how you can collaborate on a Google Site, set who can see your Site, and then, at last: taking the plunge and publishing your Site to make it LIVE!
Storing your Site: Shared Drive vs. My Drive
As with all Google Workspace items, you have two options for storing your Site: Shared Drive and My Drive. It’s crucial to understand the differences:
Shared Drive: Storing your site in a shared drive is recommended for collaborative projects. It allows multiple individuals to access and manage the site. This is ideal for ensuring that the site remains available and under control, even if the original owner leaves the University or organisation.
My Drive: Storing a site in your personal My Drive may lead to complications if you leave the university or if you’re the sole owner. Access could be lost, and the site may become unmanageable.
Carefully consider the long-term use and ownership of your site when choosing. If you wish to move a Site from My Drive to Shared Drive, be aware that the access permissions of the Site will inherit the permissions of this Shared Drive. For more on how inheritance and ownership works, see our guidance on Managing content in Shared Drives.
Version history
Google Sites automatically maintains a Version History of your site. This feature allows you to view and restore older versions of your Site or specific pages. You can also create named versions to keep track of specific iterations of your site. This is a valuable tool for tracking changes, troubleshooting, or simply reverting to a previous design.
To view your Version History, go to the three dot menu in the top right of your Site editor next to publish and select Version History. You will be able to see a date stamped list of all the changes you have made to your Site. You can restore, name, or make a copy of specific versions by clicking on the three dot menu beside each version. To restore specific pages, click on a version, select your page, and then click on restore this page version towards the top of your Site editor. If your Site has already been published, you will need to publish it again to see these changes go live.
Publishing your site
And at last, we’re here! You’ve created a wonderful, unique, accessible Google Site and it’s time to share the fruits of your labour with your chosen audience! And guess what? To publish your Site all you need to do is hit that big beautiful Publish button:
When you first publish your Site, you will need to give it a Web address which will form the Site’s URL. You can change this at any point by clicking on the small drop-down arrow next to the publish button and going to Publish settings. Though bear in mind, if you have already given the previous URL out to people this will mean the old URL will not work for them and they will need the new one to access the Site, so be careful! This same drop-down arrow next to the publish button is also where you can Unpublish your site if you get cold feet or need to take it down.
You are now free to continue editing your Site in the Site editor and your changes will not go live in the published version until you hit publish again.
Attribution & References
Except where otherwise noted, this content is adapted from “Google Workspace: a Practical Guide” by University of York, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
