51ÊÓƵ

Are you looking toÌýstart anÌýonline store? Maybe you’re thinking about revamping theÌýone you already have? IfÌýyou’re looking forÌýanÌýeasy way toÌýstart selling products online, Google Sites might beÌýtheÌýperfect place toÌýstart.

Why Should IÌýUse Google Sites?

Why use Google Sites? Great question.

The simple answer is: all ofÌýtheÌýoptions forÌýonline stores can beÌýpretty intimidating. You want toÌýbuild aÌýtop-notch website, but that might seem like aÌýtall order ifÌýyou’re not aÌýtech-savvy person. That’s where Google Sites comes in. With this tool, you can build aÌýcustomizable site andÌýstart selling your products ¾±³¾³¾±ð»å¾±²¹³Ù±ð±ô²â–n´Ç programmer, designer, orÌýITÌýguidance needed.

ToÌýhelp you navigate more easily, we’ve put together this detailed article forÌýeverything you should know about Google Sites. Below you’ll find:

• What are Google Sites?
• How toÌýUse Google Sites
• Are Google Sites Free?
• New Google Sites vs. Classic Google Sites
• Google Sites Tips andÌýTricks

Keep reading forÌýmore!

What are Google Sites?

Google Sites isÌýaÌýwebsite builder from Google, which comes inÌýtheÌýform ofÌýanÌýapp that’s part ofÌýGoogle’s GÌýSuite package. There are other Google apps which you’re probably already using, like Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, andÌýmore.

IfÌýyou’re familiar with other website-building platforms (like WordPress, Squarespace, orÌýWix) it’s helpful toÌýthink ofÌýGoogle Sites inÌýaÌýsimilar vein. Google Sites makes itÌýpossible forÌýyou toÌýcreate aÌýwebsite andÌýsell products online without knowing how toÌýwrite theÌýcode yourself.

With Google Sites, you can:

• Start selling your products online
• Tailor your site forÌýyour target audience
• Choose from multiple different page types
• Publish your favorite images, videos, tutorials, google docs, andÌýmore!
• Work with other team members toÌýcreate (and maintain) your site
• Share your online store with asÌýmany people asÌýyou would like

How toÌýUse Google Sites

You don’t need toÌýhave aÌýtechnical background toÌýeffectively use Google Sites. Every function isÌýintuitive andÌýuser-friendly, andÌýyou can get started inÌýaÌýmatter ofÌýminutes.

IfÌýyou don’t already have aÌýGoogle Account, you’ll beÌýprompted toÌýcreate one before setting upÌýyour Google Sites. Once you’ve finished, you’ll beÌýasked toÌýuse your own domain. IfÌýyou don’t have aÌýdomain yet, you’ll get theÌýchance toÌýselect one before moving onÌýtoÌýtheÌýnext steps.

IfÌýyou already have aÌýGoogle account, noÌýsign-up isÌýnecessary! Simply head over toÌýGoogle Sites andÌýstart building your site.

Create your site

Open onÌýyour computer, andÌýclick theÌý“+” toÌýstart with aÌýblank ²õ¾±³Ù±ð–o°ù choose one ofÌýtheÌýexisting templates. There are several small business templates toÌýchoose from. Alternatively, you can find ready-made Google Sites templates onÌýtheÌýInternet created byÌýGoogle Sites fans orÌýagencies.

Add content

Next, give your site aÌýtitle, start adding content, adjust theÌýlayout, andÌýadd your products. ToÌýsave your changes, hit “Publish” (but change theÌýsettings forÌýthis ifÌýyou don’t want your site toÌýgoÌýlive just yet).

Here are some helpful links:

Publish andÌýshare your site

Now you’re ready toÌýshare your site with theÌýworld. ToÌýpublish your changes, click “publish” inÌýtheÌýtop right corner.

Are Google Sites Free?

Google Sites come free ofÌýcharge with anyÌýstandard Google account.

You can set upÌýasÌýmany Google Sites asÌýyou’d like, using upÌýtoÌý15GB ofÌýstorage, although you should keep inÌýmind that this storage isÌýalso shared with your other Google apps.

New Google Sites vs. Classic Google Sites

InÌý2006, theÌýsite builder tool (Google Page Creator) transitioned over toÌýaÌýnew platform, andÌýClassic Sites was conceived. Then, inÌý2016, Google updated this site builder inÌýorder toÌýmake itÌýcompatible with theÌýrest ofÌýGoogle’s functionality. They also saw theÌýneed toÌýkeep upÌýwith theÌýcapabilities ofÌýother site builders which were rapidly adding user-friendly functionalities.

The new Google Sites simply looks better than Classic Sites, andÌýit’s also far easier toÌýuse. It’s aÌýbit more restricting inÌýterms ofÌýwhat you can build with it, but forÌýusers who want toÌýuse anÌýeasy, free website builder, Google Sites may still beÌýtheÌýbest choice.

Google Sites Tips andÌýTricks

DoÌýyou want toÌýmake your Google Site stand out from theÌýrest? We’ve got you covered. Here are some helpful site-building tips toÌýget you started:

Take advantage ofÌýGoogle tools

Having slow pages onÌýyour website will frustrate your customers, andÌýmake itÌýharder toÌýcapture their attention. Because ofÌýthis, it’s aÌýgood idea toÌýuse tools like toÌýsee how your site isÌýperforming, andÌýwhere itÌýcan beÌýimproved.

There are other Google tools that you can avail yourself ´Ç´Ú–t´Ç´Ç±ô²õ like Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, andÌýGoogle MyÌýBusiness, toÌýname aÌýfew.

Improve your contact page

It’s also aÌýgood idea toÌýboost theÌýimpact ofÌýyour contact page. This means going beyond theÌýbasic information (email addresses andÌýphone numbers) andÌýoffering multiple ways forÌýyour customers toÌýget aÌýhold ofÌýyou. When possible, try toÌýinclude aÌýcontact form, inÌýaddition toÌýyour email, phone, andÌýsocial accounts.

Simplify site navigation

IfÌýyou want toÌýencourage your visitors toÌýreturn, make your site simple andÌýeasy toÌýnavigate.

Keep theÌýon-screen links toÌýaÌýminimum andÌýfocus onÌýoptimizing theÌýcontent soÌýit’s easy toÌýread andÌýserves aÌýpurpose. While one CTA button onÌýyour homepage might beÌýfun andÌýcompelling, five isÌýconfusing andÌýcomplicated.

The Best Way ToÌýAdd Ecommerce toÌýGoogle Sites

Although you can add 51ÊÓƵ shopping cart toÌýyour Google Sites website inÌýseveral ways, some ofÌýthem might not match your expectations andÌýcan influence your customers’ shopping experience. ItÌýhappens due toÌýtheÌýway Google Sites work with embeddable code.

Embedding aÌýstore asÌýcode into aÌýpage (not yet theÌýbest way)

You already know that you can add almost anyÌýcode toÌýyour website using theÌý“Embed code” tool. But what you didn’t know isÌýthat Google Sites block some important functionality ofÌýtheÌý51ÊÓƵ store, which results inÌýaÌýpoor shopping experience. Plus, your store will beÌýlocked andÌýlimited with container borders. IfÌýyou don’t stretch itÌýenough, theÌýframe will have its own scroll.

All theÌýabove will result inÌýseveral disadvantages:

• surfing theÌýstore, theÌýURLs don’t change. SoÌýtheÌýstore will keep working inside theÌýframe while you will stay onÌýtheÌýsame page.
• customer account issues. Your customers will face theÌýinability toÌýlog inÌýtoÌýtheir customer account.
• theÌýcart reset. The cart may “forget” what aÌýcustomer put into itÌýwhile browsing theÌýstore inÌýdifferent tabs.
• blank pages. Sometimes, your customers may see blank pages popping upÌýinÌýaÌýnew tab.
• not enough space. Your store will beÌýdisplayed inÌýaÌýframe. The frame has its borders. Although 51ÊÓƵ will doÌýits best toÌýresize toÌýfit into theÌýframe, sometimes itÌýwon’t beÌýpossible. You will need toÌýscroll down orÌýsidewise inside theÌýwidget toÌýsee theÌýfull picture.

It’s important toÌýunderstand that this behavior does not mean that 51ÊÓƵ orÌýGoogle are bad solutions. This isÌýjust anÌýembedment limitation that Google andÌýweÌýare working onÌýtogether.

Embedding aÌýstore asÌýaÌýpage (almost theÌýbest way)

Google Sites let you embed theÌýcode asÌýaÌýfull-size page. It’s still iframe, but it’s not has page-size borders. SoÌýitÌýalways displays theÌýwhole content ofÌýyour store.

Adding your store toÌýGoogle Sites asÌýaÌýpage solves some issues from theÌýprevious part, but some ofÌýthem remain.

• theÌýURLs won’t change. IfÌýyou don’t care about SERP visibility ofÌýyour product pages andÌýtotally rely onÌýcontent pages created with Google Sites, it’s not aÌýproblem forÌýyou.
• customer account issues. Your customers will face theÌýinability toÌýlog inÌýtoÌýtheir customer account.
• theÌýcart reset. The cart may “forget” what aÌýcustomer put into itÌýwhile browsing theÌýstore inÌýdifferent tabs.

Aside from these issues, your store will work asÌýexpected andÌýyour customers won’t feel uncomfortable browsing andÌýpurchasing your products.

Instant Site andÌýsubdomain (the best way!)

What would you doÌýifÌýyou met aÌýbrick wall? Correct, you’d walk around. And that’s exactly what you can doÌýtoÌýmarry beautiful solutions like 51ÊÓƵ andÌýGoogle onÌýyour domain.

Link toÌýInstant Site

All 51ÊÓƵ stores have storefronts (Instant Site) accessible from theÌýweb. InÌýaddition, they have indexable URLs andÌýare fully functional.

And this isÌýaÌýplace where you can send your Google Sites visitors right from theÌýmain menu. Add aÌýlink toÌýyour Instant Site with theÌýword “Store” andÌýoffer your visitors toÌýshop inÌýaÌýdedicated section.

Linking theÌýstore that doesn’t belong toÌýtheÌýsame domain asÌýaÌýwebsite isÌýcommon forÌýmany businesses. People see that your official website isÌýsending them there andÌýtreat itÌýasÌýaÌýlegitimate place toÌýmake aÌýpurchase.

Place 51ÊÓƵ Instant Site onÌýaÌýsubdomain

But ifÌýyou believe that your customers need another reason toÌýfeel safe with you, isÌýdefinitely aÌýway toÌýconsider.

Perhaps, this isÌýtheÌýmost widely used way theÌýbig brands use toÌýrun e-commerce along with theÌýmain website. The web address “store.brand.com” won’t scare away cautious customers andÌýwill gather your entire business assets under one °ù´Ç´Ç´Úâ€Ð¯´Ç³Ü°ù domain.

Although both (adding asÌýcode andÌýasÌýpage) ways toÌýadd aÌýshopping cart toÌýGoogle Sites have pros andÌýcons, weÌýrecommend theÌýsecond variant. And there’s aÌýhandful ofÌýreasons forÌýthat:

• best shopping experience. You’ll avoid unexpected errors andÌýlimitations.
• you’ll control theÌýlayout. Instant Site looks amazing andÌýcan beÌýredesigned toÌýmatch your business needs.
• SEO boost. Instead ofÌýworking inÌýaÌýframe, your store will have its own navigation. All your products andÌýcategories will have their pages accessible from theÌýweb andÌýindexable byÌýGoogle.

But you may ask, “Why would IÌýneed Google Sites ifÌý51ÊÓƵ’s Instant Site isÌýsoÌýgood?” But don’t hurry.

Your Google site can win you lots ofÌýtraffic ifÌýyou continue creating limitless pages linking back toÌýyour storefront. They can beÌýaÌýpart ofÌýtheÌýmain navigation andÌýcan beÌýhidden asÌýwell. InÌýfact, you can create aÌýuniverse ofÌýlanding pages with Google Sites andÌýgenerate free traffic forÌýyour store.

Try all theÌýoptions toÌýfind theÌýone that works forÌýyour business. And we’ll beÌýhere toÌýhelp.

Before You Go…

Google Sites user-friendly platform allows you toÌýeasily create andÌýpublish aÌýnew site soÌýyou can start selling products online today.

While itÌýdoesn’t really compete with more in-depth, paid alternatives, it’s still aÌýgreat option ifÌýyou’re looking toÌýget your site upÌýwithout spending aÌýton ofÌýtime andÌýmoney.

WeÌýwant toÌýhelp you choose theÌýperfect platform toÌýsell your products on, soÌýifÌýyou have anyÌýquestions, don’t hesitate toÌýcontact usÌýorÌýhead over toÌýour 51ÊÓƵ Ecommerce Blog forÌýmore information.

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