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Google SitesÌýis aÌýfree site builder from Google. But you know that already, since you research its pros andÌýcons. SoÌýlet’s get straight toÌýtheÌýpoint.

Google Sites Advantages

It’s free, simple, secure, fast, andÌýit’s aÌýpart ofÌýtheÌýGoogle ecosystem.

Pricing

Google Sites isÌýaÌýfree website builder. Period. ItÌýdoesn’t have aÌýtraffic, project, orÌýtime limitation. AÌýpaid plan forÌýGoogle Sites does not exist. Well, atÌýleast forÌýnow!

Everything you need toÌýstart using Google Sites isÌýaÌýGoogle Mail account. Just like anyÌýother tool byÌýGoogle.

Simplicity

You need anÌýhour toÌýbecome aÌýmaster inÌýall Google Sites features. The interface isÌýintuitive, andÌýall theÌýoptions andÌýtools you meet inside are familiar. Besides, Google Sites doesn’t have aÌýton ofÌýthemÌý— just essentials toÌýbuild aÌýnice-looking basic website with aÌýclean design.

Security

Google Sites security isÌýasÌýstrong asÌýtheÌý. The main point hereÌý— you don’t leave theÌýGoogle environment. You don’t have toÌýshare access with aÌý3-rd party, expose your credentials, create new accounts andÌýpasswords.

ToÌýlevel upÌýyour account security, you can set upÌý2-step verification andÌýuse anÌýauthentication app (also provided byÌýGoogle).

Speed

When itÌýcomes toÌýload speed, Google Sites isÌýnot theÌýbest platform, but it’s definitely inÌýtheÌýtop 5—e²õ±è±ð³¦¾±²¹±ô±ô²â considering that you don’t need toÌýtune aÌýserver orÌýCDN. Everything just happens.

Google Sites isÌýnot using many scripts andÌýdoes minimal image compressing toÌýmake your website faster.

Watching your image size isÌýtheÌýonly advice you can follow toÌýmake your Google website even faster, especially onÌýmobile. Large images are theÌýpain point forÌýGoogle Sites, soÌýmake them light.

Ecosystem

Google Sites isÌýfully integrated with all other Google productsÌý— Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Google Mail, etc. And not only doÌýthey work together andÌýexchange data, they feel almost theÌýsame. This means that managing all Google tools isÌýasÌýeasy (or hard) asÌýone ofÌýthem.

OnÌýtop ofÌýthat, you’ll find out that your Google Sites website isÌýnothing more than aÌýfile onÌýyour Google Drive (basically, Google Drive isÌýyour server). And you can copy, share orÌýdelete itÌýjust like anyÌýother file. Although, downloading Google sites isÌýimpossibleÌý— there’s noÌýsuch option.

Google Sites Disadvantages

The downsides ofÌýGoogle Sites are design features, marketing features, 3rd-party integrations, SEO, ecommerce features.

Design

This isÌýtrue, but atÌýtheÌýsame time, contradictory. Google Sites hold simplicity atÌýits core. That’s how theÌýdevelopers what itÌýtoÌýbe. Giving Google Sites more design options will lead toÌýmaking itÌýmore complicated and, asÌýaÌýresult, more difficult toÌýmaster andÌýuse.

The platform could use more blocks, background settings, button styles, orÌýeven basic animation. Many things are missing. But are they essential toÌýcreate aÌýwebsite?

InÌýpractice, you can create aÌýneat website forÌýalmost anyÌýpurpose with what Google Sites have toÌýoffer andÌýgoÌýonline instantly. Then, ifÌýitÌýall goes well, you can search forÌýmore complicated, inÌýterms ofÌýdesign options, platforms.

And don’t think that Google Sites developers don’t have design options onÌýtheir Áª³Ù´Ç-»å´Ç´Ï list. They add them, but very slowly. ItÌýtook them months toÌýgive usÌýmore text editing options. Imagine weÌýcouldn’t choose fonts some time ago.

Marketing

Another gap forÌýGoogle Sites isÌýmarketing features. Although they have some, more are missing. Google Analytics andÌýanÌýAnnouncement banner are pretty much it. There’re noÌýpop-ups, subscription boxes, live chat. You can’t even add tracking pixels (like Facebook pixel). And although you can use Google Forms asÌýaÌýsubscription box replacement, it’s not aÌýbusiness approach. SoÌýweÌýconclude that Google Sites are not ready toÌýhost serious online businesses.

However, it’s not that bad atÌýtheÌýend ofÌýtheÌýday! Google Sites allow adding widgetsÌý— code injections that can beÌýanything!

3rd-party

Google Sites don’t have plugins, like WordPress, add-ons, orÌýextensions. But itÌýhas anÌýEmbed block that allows you toÌýembed aÌýlink orÌýaÌýpiece ofÌýcode toÌýtheÌýwebsite that can beÌýalmost anythingÌý— aÌýlive chat, aÌýshopping cart, aÌýsubscription box.

But beÌýcareful using code injections asÌýthey significantly slow down theÌýload speed.

Ecommerce

AsÌýforÌýnow, Google Sites doÌýnot have anÌýecommerce feature. Meaning, you can’t accept payments via Google Sites. OfÌýcourse, you can add images with text andÌýbuttons andÌýcall itÌýproducts, but toÌýmake money from them, you’ll need another platform.

Google Sites isÌýaÌýwebsite builder, not anÌýecommerce platform. But you can use itÌýforÌýlanding pages. And use another platform forÌýselling your products onÌýtheÌýsubdomain.

But with growing ecommerce, something’s telling meÌýthat Google won’t beÌýwaiting onÌýtheÌýside ofÌýtheÌýroad forÌýlong. And integration ofÌýGoogle Sites andÌýGoogle Shopping tab (with Google Merchant Center) isÌýyet toÌýcome.

SEO

What Google Sites could really benefit from isÌýSEO. Created byÌýtheÌýsearch engine, Google Sites don’t have soÌýmany essential SEO settings like meta title, meta description, open graph settings, redirects, sitemap, robots, schema.

All you can doÌýisÌýname your website, use on-page markdown (where H1Ìý=Ìýpage title) andÌýedit page URLs.

WHAT?

Well, itÌýisÌýwhat itÌýis. AtÌýleast forÌýnow.

Closing

With all myÌýrespect andÌýlove forÌýGoogle Sites, this isÌýnot theÌýbest website builder onÌýtheÌýplanet. But ifÌýyou’re looking forÌýsimplicity, aÌýquick start, andÌýcan marry different solutions using domain infrastructure, you’re going toÌýlove Google Sites.

Google Sites isÌýforÌýthose who don’t want toÌýthink about website building but need aÌýspot onlineÌý— freelancers, creators, writers, small local businesses.

Ìý

• Everything You Need toÌýKnow About Google Sites
• Google Sites forÌýEcommerce: How toÌýSell Online With Google Sites andÌý51ÊÓƵ
• Google Sites Tutorial: Why Consider Google Sites forÌýBuilding MyÌýWebsite?
• What IsÌýGoogle Sites Used For
• Google Sites Pros andÌýCons