Do you know what Google Sites is? Yeah, I thought not. No matter how deep you are into Google, it is a feature that was launched 8 years ago, which in Internet time is a lifetime ago.
The original goal of Google Sites was to make it easy for anyone to create a website, even with no HTML or web design experience. I thought of it as a page creator and tried it once but never went back because of limitations like the inability to use CSS, JavaScript or even the limited ability to use HTML.
A complete rebuild was announced earlier this year, and has now been unveiled to the masses. The new Google Sites utilises the Material Design aesthetics that Android users are familiar with. This has made Google Sites look much more modern and visually pleasing than its previous iteration. The website building interface has been updated with Google saying that it is now as easy to create a website as it is to create a Google Doc.
Users have more options while not overcomplicated the process, and the templates and layouts are all based on responsive design meaning your page will scale no matter the screen size it’s being displayed on.
As a Google App “Sites” makes it dead simple to incorporate elements from other Google products and services like Google Drive, YouTube and Maps. You can also edit sites collaboratively, which wasn’t at all possible before.
One of the most requested features of those in the early adopter program for Google Sites was the inclusion of Google Analytics, and this will now be standard on all sites created with Google Sites. This means you will be able to track engagement from visitors which you couldn’t do before.
Unfortunately, old Google Sites aren’t compatible with the new version, but migration options are scheduled for 2017.
However, if you want a professional site, Google Sites still won’t cut it. The only exception is if you are deeply embedded in Google Apps and want a simple website and don’t mind the limitations.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| All new Google Sites are based on Responsive Design | Old Google sites are not compatible (Migration options to come in 2017) |
| Google Analytics on all new Sites | Some features from the old Google Sites not supported |
| Easy to add content from G Apps | |
| Multiple people can edit a site at the same time | |
| Easy to use and modern interface |
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