News, Tips, and Resources for Small Web Site Developers



SmallSiteNews
FlashNewz
DevWebPro










Google Sites Now Available To All Users

By Rene LeMerle
Expert Author
Article Date: 2008-05-27

Google has taken the "corporate only" wraps off its Google Sites service and made it available to all users.

At its most basic level, Google Sites offers a simple website creation tool with all the standard WYSIWYG fanfare - made as simple as possible. Being that its a Google offering, it has all the social and multimedia integration you'd expect (e.g. video, pictures, calendars etc).

Don't have a domain? No problems. Your Google site can sit as a subdomain on the Google sites address e.g. sites.google.com/sites/[your site]

So is Google Sites worth investing your time and effort in? If your website looks like a throwback from the 80's, then it does offer a simple and FREE way to build a reasonable good looking basic website, with some pre-loaded themes to assist the creatively challenged.

Here's a quick one I whipped up for ineedhits.



It's all child play to create the site, with simple gadgets and inbuilt functions to make your site more interactive. Spread across three design tabs - you'll be able to change appearances, add analytics, and even allow others to edit, view and comment on the site.



That said, there are probably more feature filled website building tools out there that are free, (or almost free).

So the real value of Google Sites (in my opinion) is the collaborative nature of it. If you have a community group, or need an office intranet to share ideas and information, then Google sites could be the answer.

While it's not as feature rich as some of the other "wiki" style collaborative site builders out there (i.e. Basecamp), its Google product integration will place it in good stead in this growingly important space.

Comments

About the Author:
Rene is the marketing manager of ineedhits.com - a leading small business search marketing firm with over 10 years of experience. Rene has over 8 years of marketing experience with much of that time spent helping businesses embrace the best of the internet.

SEM Blog by ineedhits



Tips for creating sites

Creating a professional site is the most important thing for businesses. Having the look and feel of a corporate site can make your potential just as high as a corporate website

Click here for more design tips and help for creating professional sites


Develop Your Skills

Graphics play a major role in website development and deployment. By sharpening your skills you can help your website earn more income.

Get more info on graphics


Downloads

HTML Editors

Stuff for PHP

Password Stuff

Graphic Goodies

More Site Stuff