Getting Started with Google Sites?
As Do It Today Workshops continues to provide training and consulting on Google Sites, we've noticed that many users come up with the same mistakes and questions. Here are the most common Google Site errors and how to avoid them.
Avoid the 5 Biggest Mistakes When Getting Started
1. Not understanding the process of mapping custom domain to a Google Site.
Already own a domain? You should set up Google Apps for your domain vs using the stand-alone version of Google Sites.
Do It Today Resource: Quick steps to get you started with Google Apps
2. Not checking the look of a Google Site on various monitors/systems.
Be sure to look at your site in Internet Explorer, Goggle Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox to see how it displays. Also check on smaller and larger monitors. The Site is fluid but images are fixed which can cause problems when using large images on your site.
Also, know that IE creates extra links that need to be deleted.
3. Using a Google Site for purposes that don't align with Google Sites Policies.
Google Sites can be used to create websites for your business or to promote your products or services. However, there are some commercial activities that are not allowed by Google's program policies. Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. Since revenues come from advertising, it only makes sense that Google Search has to produce the best results. This means, if you are creating sites that subvert someone's attempt to find quality information, you are diluting the effectiveness of search and Google.
My advice, always strive to create websites that focus on people and build their trust.
"We don't allow websites that have the primary purpose of redirecting visitors, acting as a bridge page, or driving traffic to another website. We also don't allow websites that have the primary purpose of profiting from displaying ads from any publisher network, such as sites created with little or no unique content and exist only to display ads. " Read full overview of policies
4. Thinking easy = intuitive
Google Sites is an easy tool to use but that doesn't make building a functional website intuitive. With only a few template pages and limited examples to learn from, it is easy to get frustrated with the job of building a good site. Remembering that Google Sites is a "free" tool and opting to use the free version vs Premier Edition, might help to keep a good perspective.
It is not uncommon to have oodles of questions when learning something new. The ability to stay open to experimenting goes a long way when working in sites and don't forget to check the help page, forums and groups, for answers to your questions.
Google Sites Help
Sites Help Forum 5. Creating a Google Site for better search results.
Google won't favor a site just because someone uses their products, otherwise their search results wouldn't be trustworthy, and that wouldn't help anyone.
If you would like to learn more about Google Sites, check out our hands-on workshops, Google Sites:
Creating a Website has Never Been Easier
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