Five Myths about Google Sites

Five Myths about Google Sites

Google Sites, a member of the Google Apps family, is a strong tool for creating wikis and web pages. Offered through the Google Apps Productivity suite, it allows individuals to create a collaborative website where numerous users can share files. Sadly, not many people know about Google Sites despite the potential benefits it has to offer. This is because of a number of myths that plague users’ minds and prevent them from availing this service.

If you have heard a few bad things about Google Sites, check them against the following top myths about this service and discover the truth.

Myth #1) Google Sites isn’t Free

People have gotten used to finding a catch in everything, which is why it’s easier to suspect that such a valuable service comes with a price. However, Google Sites is free. Regardless of the number of websites you create, rest assured that you don’t have to pay a dime, not even for upkeeping or web hosting.

Myth #2) Google Sites Doesn’t Offer Much Storage

Sites created via a personal Gmail have a storage quota of 100 MB per site.  Now this may seem less for many. However, considering the fact that embedded Google Documents, YouTube videos or other Google services don’t count against your storage quota, you’ll be getting a good deal. If you still want more, you can go for a site through Google Apps to get 10 GB per domain. If that isn’t enough, you have the Google Apps for Business option, which provides you with 10 GB plus 500 MB per paid user.

Myth #3) Google Sites Can’t Produce a Company Website

Just a peek into Google Sites’ landing page will disprove this myth. For starters, you will see that the service offers company intranet and project work site templates. Another factor which disproves this “fact” is the availability of Google Site’s services company-wide through Google Apps Premier Edition. With this plan, you will get:

• 10 GB of storage and 500 MB for each user account
• Sharing settings for managing Google Sites
• Easy publishing features
• Integration of Gmail with 25 GB e-mail storage per account
• Addition of Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Talk for easy collaboration
  

With so much to offer, how can Google Sites not be suitable for company websites?

Myth #4) Google Sites Has Limited Functionality

Because Google Sites doesn’t support CSS or JavaScript, many conclude that the service is limited. However, Google has always prided itself on having a unique architecture. Therefore, rather than supporting these conventional tools, it uses XML, RSS, JQuery, custom gadgets and 60 of its services including Google Apps Scripts, YouTube and Google Maps. That way your website can be highly interactive.

If you’re still feeling down about not being able to use JavaScript, there is a way out using Google Gadgets. Gadgets are applications written in XML, HTML and JavaScript. Developers create these using the Google Gadgets API. However, you’re welcome to use prebuilt gadgets from the Gadget Gallery. Some applications you may like are those displaying RSS feeds or the local weather. You can even customize the gadgets through the WYSIWYG editor without ever interacting with the code.

Myth #5) Google Sites Have a Bad Design

Web pages made with Google Sites usually look attractive since you get to choose from dozens of design themes, which include images, backgrounds and text styles. You can also go to the Template Gallery to pick a template for your whole site’s layout and structure. However, if these don’t produce the results you want, you can always get in touch with a Google Sites web designing company like BNH Services.
BNH Services offers you the chance to improve your communication and enhance your visibility virtually. Through its Google Sites Design service, you can get two drafts and three web page designs, Google Apps setup, and Google Search Engine submission.

To give you a peak at what you can get by hiring a specialist Google Sites developer such as BNH Services, here are some examples.

So if these myths have stopped you from choosing Google Sites in the past, don’t let them do so in the future.