Are Google Sites real websites?

Yes, Google Sites creates real websites that are accessible over the internet. While Google Sites may not offer the same level of advanced features and customisation options as some other website builders, or as a professional website designer would provide, it still provides a functional and usable platform to create and publish websites.

Here are some key points to understand about Google Sites:

1. Hosting:
When you create a website on Google Sites, it is hosted on Google’s servers. This means that your website’s files, images, and content are stored and served from Google’s infrastructure.

2. Domain Mapping:
Google Sites allows you to map a custom domain to your website, which means you can use your own domain name (e.g., www.yourdomain.com) instead of the default Google Sites URL. This enhances the professional appearance of your website and makes it more personalised.

3. Accessibility:
Websites created with Google Sites can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection. Visitors can view your website on various devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

4. Public or Restricted Access:
You have control over the visibility and accessibility of your Google Sites website. You can choose to make it public, allowing anyone to access it, or restrict access to specific users or groups by granting them permission.

5. Search Engine Indexing:
By default, Google Sites websites are indexed by search engines like Google, which means they can appear in search engine results when relevant keywords are searched. However, you can also set your website to be private or not indexed if you prefer to keep it hidden from search engines. White Google Sites are associated with Google, they do not rank better as a result. In fact many Google Sites often rank quite poorly.

6. Performance and Uptime:
Google Sites benefits from Google’s robust infrastructure, which generally ensures good performance and uptime for your website. However, it’s important to note that the performance can depend on various factors, including the complexity of your site’s design, the amount of content, and the use of external integrations.

While Google Sites may not have the same level of advanced features or design flexibility as other website builders, it can still serve as a viable option for creating basic websites. It’s a suitable choice for individuals, small clubs, and organisations looking for a simple and free website-building solution.

Google Sites is a user-friendly website builder, but it does have some limitations in terms of advanced design and customisation options. It’s a great tool for creating simple websites, portfolios, project pages, or internal team sites. If you need a good looking website for your business or company and would like a professional website to be designed and built for you, please contact us.