Were you assigned Google Sites at school? Do you need Google Sites for a side hustle? Have you search for a Google Sites course, but they’re all over the place (and not very helpful)?
Rather than waste your time on a messy tutorial or starting from scratch, take an educated approach to your Google Sites course search.
Hi, my name is Carol, and I study online education to make it easy for your to choose courses to advance your career.
In this article, you’ll learn the vital components of Google Sites so that when you assess a tutorial or class, you know if it will meet your learning needs.
TL;DR:
Here are the topics to look for in a Google Sites course:
- Access: Go to Google Sites
- Create: Build your site from scratch
- Share: Share your site with team members
- Theme: Add layout, fonts, and colors
- Content: Add your content stories
- Headings: Add headings to your content
- Tables: Add tables to your content
- Images: Insert images inyour content
- Video: Embed videos
- Map: Insert maps
- Navigation: Build menus
- Sitemaps: Add a list of stories
- Site Hierarchy: Categorize pages
- Social Media: Add links to social media
- Speed: Make your site fast
- Hero Image: Add a home page image
- Google Tools: Add sheets and docs
- SEO: Make the site indexiable by Gogole search engine
What to Look for in a Google Sites Course
If you’re trying to learn Google Sites — whether through a paid class or a free tutorial — you will find that many lessons start in the middle, and then fade out from there.
How do you know how to choose the right course for you?
It helps to know the topics you should learn to ssess the course you’re going to take.
That’s why I made this table for you, so you can check that the course you choose has the Google Sites topics you need to learn.
But if you know what beginners need to learn to get started, you can choose the right parts of tutorials and courses so that you learn in the right order.
Here’s what you should look for in a Google Sites tutorial or course.
Table: Vital Google Sites Topcs
| Topic | Explanation |
| Access | How to browse to the Google Sites interface |
| Create | Build a site from scratch |
| Share | How to share a site with a team for editing or viewing |
| Theme | How to control the background, text, buttons, dividers, links, and images |
| Content | How to add your articles |
| Video | How to add videos |
| Map | How to add maps |
| Navigation | How to add menus |
| Sitemaps | How to add a page listing all content |
| Site Hierarchy | How to organize sub pages underneatah master pages |
| Social Media | How to add links to social media |
| Headings | How to add headlines |
| Tables | How to add a data tables to content |
| Images | How to add images to content |
| Speed | Speed the site’s load time |
| Hero Image | Add a cover image |
| Google Tools | Add Doc, Sheet, and Slides to your site |
| SEO | Make your site easier to find in search engines |
Understanding the Basics of Google Sites
If you’re absolutely new to building websites, then you should know about “hosting” and “accounts.
Google Sites Hosting
For most web building tools, you need to buy “hosting,” which is the the server that loads your website for people to download in their web browsers.
Google Sites allows you to build a website without buying hosting.
It’s a free web building tool and includes the hosting.
SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate is a way to encrypt the conversation between a computer viewing your website and the host serving your site.
Using most site builders, you need to acquire an SSL certificate to encrypt this traffic.
Google Sites comes with an SSL certificate, so you do not need to worry about that when you use Google Sites.
Google Account
You need a Google account to use Google Sites.
Create one for free at sites.google.com.
Google Sites Templates
Next, you should learn about Google Sites Templates.
A template is web browser code that builds the look and feel of your website.
You can make your own Google Sites template, but using a pre-built design is easiest.
A good Google Sites tutorial for beginners will walk you through choosing and installing your Google Sites template.
You should expect to learn at least the basics of how to customize your pre-built template’s colors and logo.
You should also learn how to modify the template’s colors and fonts.
Editing Google Sites Content
A beginner-level course will teach you how to edit your Google Sites content.
This includes creating and modifying your web pages, adding images, adding videos, and moving blocks of content around.
5 Google Sites from Tutorials and Classes
You can learn almost everything you need to start with Google Sites from free online resources.
Starting with a course is recommended to grasp the fundamental concepts of Sites. After that, Google Sites can become one of the top resources for further learning.
#1 Google Sites Help (free)
Google offers comprehensive tutorials on how to use the Sites tools and publish content.
They offer step-by-step instructions, video tutorials, and troubleshooting guides.
Start with the Google Sites Help page, where you can search for what you need.
Suggestions in the search box include beginner-friendly topics such as:
#2 How to Create Your First Google Site (free)
Richard Byrne specializes in creating technology solutions for teachers.
He created a series of Google Sites tutorials on YouTube that will get you from beginner to advanced Sites topics.
Start with How [to] Create Your First Google Site.
In this video, you will learn site setup, adding content, and adding pages.
When you’re through with the content editing lessons, you can learn the more advanced topic of creating a custom Google Sites template.
#3 How to Avoid Common Google Sites Mistakes (free)
Next, watch How to Avoid a Common Google Sites Video Mistake (I’m pretty sure he means “how to avoid common Google Sites mistakes,” but the mistake makes his video title ironic and charming).
In this tutorial, Richard teaches how to avoid common Sites mistakes.
For example, if you use Google Drive to host your embedded website files, you must change the references to these files before going live.
#4 How to Create a Custom Theme for Google Sites (free)
You do not need to create a custom theme for Google Sites, so this topic is more advanced. Save it until after you know how to use a free template or one you buy online.
How to Create a Custom Theme for Google Sites teaches you how to drag and drop positioning and image elements onto a canvas.
You turn that into a template containing your website’s positioning, fonts, colors, and menus.
#5 Google Sites Mastery – Zero to Hero in Creating Websites (paid)
The free information above is useful and informative but might not be comprehensive enough for your needs.
The best Google Sites course I’ve found is the Udemy Google Sites Mastery – Zero to Hero in Creating Websites.
This very popular course teaches you the Google Sites concepts in the right order for the best comprehension.
Take this course to learn how to:
- editing content
- adding images
- adding videos
- page arrangement
- creating menus and submenus
- adding links
- embed Google Sheets, Docs, Slides, Calendar, and Maps
- create a website cover image
- make your Google Sites website findable in Google (search engine optimization/SEO)
- speed your site’s responsiveness
- add a call to action button
- add testimonials
- monetize your website
You are entitled to a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.
Answers to Questions About Learning Google Sites
What is Google Sites?
Google Sites is a website builder provided by Google that allows you to create and publish websites for free.
How can I get started with Google Sites?
To get started with Google Sites, go to the Google Sites website and sign in with your Google account. Then, click on the “Create” button to start building your website.
Are there any templates available for Google Sites?
Yes, Google Sites offers a variety of templates that you can use as a starting point for your website. These templates include different layouts and styles to choose from.
Can I edit the templates in Google Sites?
You can edit the templates in Google Sites to customize them according to your needs. You can change the colors, fonts, and layout and add your own content.
How do I embed Google services like Google Docs or Google Forms into my Google Sites?
To embed Google services into your Google Sites, you can use the “Embed” option in the Google Sites editor. This allows you to add Google Docs, Google Forms, Google Slides, and other Google services directly to your website.
Can I create a website for my portfolio using Google Sites?
Yes, Google Sites is a great platform to create a website for your portfolio. You can showcase your work, projects, and achievements by creating different pages and organizing your content effectively.
Is Google Sites easy for someone without web development experience?
Yes, Google Sites is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, even for individuals with no web development experience. It utilizes a drag-and-drop interface, making it simple to add and arrange content on your website.
Can I use Google Sites to create a website for my school or classroom?
Absolutely! Google Sites is widely used in education to create class websites, school community pages, and online courses. It provides collaborative features that make it convenient for teachers and students to work together.
Are there any tips and tricks for using Google Sites effectively?
Yes, several tips and tricks can help you make the most out of Google Sites. Some include using a custom URL, exploring different layout options, utilizing Google Workspace integrations, and taking advantage of the website builder’s features for professional development.
Bonus Google Sites Interactive Tutorial!
While this doesn’t qualify as a whole tutorial, I found a neat walk-through on Iorad you will like.
Follow along as it guides you through creating a Google Sites website.
Click the mouse where the tutorial indicates to get the feel for using the actual product.
