Building a Business Website with Google Sites
In this 2-hour live Zoom session, you’ll learn how to create a professional business website using Google Sites—no coding required! Perfect for small business owners and entrepreneurs, this course will guide you through choosing a template, organizing your site, and customizing it to showcase your products or services. You’ll also explore adding essential business features like Google Maps, calendars, and even simple e-commerce options. By the end, you’ll have a fully functional website ready to share with customers and grow your online presence.
Duration: 2 hours
Who is this course for? Beginners with no prior experience with Google Sites
Delivery Style:Â This course will combine lecture-style explanations with hands-on activities.
Tech Tools Needed:
- A web browser and a Google Account to access Google Sites
- Canva
- Reliable internet connection
Instructor: Professor Rome
Learning Objectives
- Understand the fundamentals of creating a business website using Google Sites.
- Learn how to organize and structure a website for business needs.
- Create banners using Canva
- Customize and publish a fully functional, visually appealing website to promote products or services.
What You’ll Learn
-
Introduction to Google Sites for Business
- Why Choose Google Sites for Your Business Website?
- Free, easy-to-use platform.
- Integration with Google Workspace (Docs, Drive, Calendar, etc.).
- Ideal for small business owners with no web development experience.
- Key Features and Examples of Business Websites on Google Sites
- Highlight different types of business websites: service-based, product-based, portfolio, etc.
II. Getting Started: Setting Up Your Business Website
- Accessing Google Sites
- Step-by-step guide to signing into Google Sites.
- Overview of the user interface and dashboard.
III. Structuring Your Business Website
- Key Pages for a Business Website
- Homepage: First impressions and calls to action.
- About Us: Sharing your brand story, mission, and values.
- Services/Products: Detailing offerings with images, descriptions, and pricing.
- Testimonials or Case Studies: Building credibility with reviews or success stories.(optional)
- Contact Page: Adding essential business information like address, phone number, and social media links.
- Creating Additional Pages and Navigation
- How to add new pages and organize them effectively.
- Setting up menus and navigation bars for user-friendly browsing.
IV. Customizing Your Website Design
- Adding Content to Your Site
- How to add text, images, and videos to each page.
- Using Google Drive to embed documents, presentations, and spreadsheets.
- Best practices for writing business copy that converts visitors into customers.
- Customizing Layouts
- Using the drag-and-drop builder to structure content.
- Adding sections, columns, and grids for a professional look.
- Branding Your Website
- Customizing themes, fonts, and colors to match your brand.
- Uploading a logo and creating a cohesive visual identity.
V. Enhancing Your Website with Business Features
- Embedding Google Workspace Tools
- Adding Google Calendar for appointment bookings.
- Embedding Google Maps to display your business location.
- Adding E-commerce and Payment Options
- Introduction to simple e-commerce options like embedding PayPal buttons or linking to online stores.
- Discussing more advanced e-commerce platforms like Shopify for full integration.
VI. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Basics
- Optimizing Your Website for Search Engines
- How to use keywords, titles, and meta descriptions to improve visibility on Google.
- Best practices for local SEO: targeting local customers and ranking in local searches.
- Tracking Website Performance
- Introduction to Google Analytics and how to integrate it into your site.
VII. Previewing and Publishing Your Business Website
- Previewing Your Website
- How to view your website on desktop, tablet, and mobile to ensure responsiveness.
- Publishing Your Site
- Setting your site’s visibility (public or private).
- Connecting a custom domain (e.g., www.yourbusiness.com).
- Finalizing settings and going live.
VIII. Q&A and Live Demonstration
- Open floor for participant questions.
- Live demo of site customization and publishing process.
- Addressing common issues and troubleshooting.
- Why Choose Google Sites for Your Business Website?