How to Build a Free Google Website

One of the simplest ways to build a free websites is through Google Sites. If you already have a Google Email address, then go directly to sites.google.com and use your gmail user name and password to log in and create a website.  If not, then go to gmail.com (which redirects you to google.com) to create an account:

   

Write down your gmail User Name and Password so you don’t forget them!

Next go back to sites.google.com and log in.  Then click on Create new site. This will bring up the Create New Site screen:

In the Name Your Site box, insert the website name you would like to use.

(Note that the name will appear as http://sites.google.com/site/yoursitename

Template selection

You can choose a blank template or any of several existing templates.  Click on Browse the gallery to see all of your options

You can also choose a theme (color combination)

 

Then type in the code at the bottom of the Create New Site screen and click on Create the page.

This will take you to the Site Start page.

 

Unless you chose a blank template, the Site is currently set up based on the Website template you chose. To Edit the website, click on EDIT PAGE in the upper right corner.

This will bring up the Edit text screen which will allow you to edit many parts of your webpage:

 

Click on the INSERT button on the left side of the screen to Insert images and other things into your webpage:

 Click on the pages in the side menu to edit other pages. Clicking on Edit Sidebar at the base of the menu will allow you to edit the Menu and the Header areas.

  From the Edit sidebar page, clicking on Change Site Layout allows you to change the header height and sidebar width.

Clicking on Configure site logo allows you to replace the default logo with a custom image:

Click on Preview at the top of the page to view the changes you have made.

(some changes may not appear until after clicking on SAVE changes) and/or clicking on F5 to refresh the page in your web browser.

When you are done making changes on the Sidebar Edit screen, click on Return to Site in the upper left corner.

To view the demonstration Google Website, visit:

http://sites.google.com/site/springforwardwebdesign

You can also visit a Google Website created by my 10 year old daughter to show off pictures of her kitty cats and other favorite activities:

: http://sites.google.com/site/sierraspringfamily

The advantages of Google sites, besides the fact that they are free is that they are relatively easy to make and you can make a website with several pages. It is a great way for students to practice getting started on the web.

Te drawback of Goggle Sites is that it is difficult to customize the appearance of your website. There are also only a very limited number of Extensions available for expanding the functionality of your website. Thus, Google sites would not be good for a commercial site. Finally, there is one way to really manage the content if you have a whole bunch of pages. Thus, Google sites are not that good for blogging and/or social networking.

If you are looking at building a website for commercial, social, or educational purposes, you should consider building a Joomla website which is the subject of the next tutorial.