Two ways to Embed a Flash file into Google Sites

Google Sites is the simplest way to make information available to individuals who require fast, current access. With Google Sites, developing a website is as simple as modifying a document and you constantly manages who has access, be it only your group, yourself, or even your entire organization.

However it is no more a strange news that Google sites do not support Flash, CSS or JavaScript, which is one of the barriers people faced when attempting to use Google web hosting.

Conversely, there are several ways available through which you can embed flash, CSS or even complex JavaScript based web applications to the Google sites and also design a stylish website. To achieve this, you can either attach a flash file to Google sites or host a flash file via Google Drive.

Likewise through these techniques, you can upload and post virtually any still content on your site together with HTML pages, flash banner, flash images for website, CSS, icons, video & audio files as well as podcasts.

This tutorial will teach you how the two options mentioned above can be carried out.

FIRST OPTION: ATTACH A FLASH FILE TO GOOGLE SITES

Step 1. Once you have developed your flash file (.swf) for instance Penguin Diner with any flash banner software, the next thing would be to login into your Google Sites, navigate to your site, and click on the Gear icon (More Actions) at the top right corner of the page and then, click on the "Manage site" menu.

Step 2. Navigate to "Attachments" on the left navigation bar to upload your flash file. After that, copy the link address by right clicking on “View” link. For instance,

Step 3. Return to your site, and click on the pencil button to create or edit a page. This opens an editing window of Site page.

Step 4. Click the "HTML" button on the main toolbar to embed the link below html codes;

Replace the (swf) file link with yours and also, adjust the width and height.

<embed src="https://sites.google.com/site/1test12345678902/penguin-diner.swf" width="800" height="500" pluginspage="https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/"></embed>

OPTION 2. HOST A FLASH FILE VIA GOOGLE DRIVE

Step 1. Once you have developed your flash file (.swf), the next thing would be to upload the (swf) file into your Google Drive.

Step 2. Change the link sharing to Public on the web access.

Step 3. Change the link URL to host flash file with Google Drive. In this case,

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzCAbCoOWP-TY1h0VFlwaGlKc1U (Google Drive View)

https://googledrive.com/host/0BzCAbCoOWP-TY1h0VFlwaGlKc1U (Google hosting view)

Step 4. After entering the Google hosting view link on your browser, copy the converted link address, as seen in the link below.

https://3425a03752ad002a607d2b73ee2da9a433d4e3e2.googledrive.com/host/0BzCAbCoOWP-TY1h0VFlwaGlKc1U

Step 5. Return to your site, and click on a pencil button to create or edit a page. This will open for you an editing window of Site page.

Step 6. Navigate to "Insert" menu at the top of the editing window, and then click “More Gadgets”. (In this case I will use a gadget)

Step 7. Search and select “Include gadget (iframe)”

Step 8. Copy the universal URL link into "URL to content (required)" field and likewise, enter the width and height.

Conclusively, perhaps you are searching for how to quickly host your sites however you have no access to any web hosting server, Google Drive is an excellent choice. While Google Drive is used for Google web hosting, Google site on the other hand is a Google site builder tool.

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Five Types of Websites that you can build with Google Sites

Google Sites allows you to create an unlimited number of FREE websites if you have a google account.  Also, you can design website for almost any purposes.  Here are the types of websites that you can build with Google Sites.

1. Website for Company or Brand

You can use Google sites to build a fascinating public facing website for your product branding or organization.  For example, you can add dynamic components and multimedia files such as slideshow, flash, video and many others. Also, you can embed Google Form for online contact us form and google maps to show your business locations.  Plus, you can embed google hangout call gadget to make visitors call you or start hangout in one click.

2. Project site

The project can be managed through Google Sites.  You can make a private website and share the site to an authorized user to view or edit the entire sites or certain web pages with page level permissions.  Also, you can add materials to manage proposals, RFQ, calendar, Google Sheets with Gantt Chart, project documents.

3. Intranet

An intranet can help you not only to boost internal communications.  You can also create an Intranet or enterprise portal for only users who have same google apps domain. 

Google Sites based intranet can include custom gadgets such as Announcements, News, Company Calendar, Today's Weather, Stock Market Index as well as Gmail/Inbox, Workflow, Google Drive document list, Dashboard for the management.  All gadgets can be personalized for team, company or a single user.  In short, you can also widen the Portal as a Business Intelligent tool for your management. 

4. Website Templates

You can create a deployable template website with rich contents and simply make a copy and deploy into your partner or guests’ website.  For example, an agent can create a template with insurance information such as e-Brochure, marketing materials, policies, videos, and it can be used for individual or business clients after changing the logo and names.

5. eCommerce Website

Yes, you can build an eCommerce site with Google Sites.  Add buy now button with a shopping cart feature, so visitors can add items to a cart, modify the quantity and check out.

Google Sites can be your ultimate website platform.  Build your own website for yourself or hire Sites experts to get started.  Don't miss to check Google Sites Design essentials during the Site development.

How to Make a Mobile Friendly Site with Google Sites and Get a Higher Rank

Google has released a very important news last week which will greatly impact on Google's search engine result page (aka SERP).

That is, Google will rank mobile friendly websites higher on the SERP.  Google announced a major change in an official blog. 

It will impacts everyone, anywhere from individuals, small businesses, non-profits to large organizations who has the websites.  If you have a website and want to show your website on a higher rank, it is a mandate that optimizes your website as a mobile friendly.

Because nowadays people spend more time on mobile rather than on computers people search and visit the website through mobile more than computers.

The analysis by comScore also supports the trend. On Jan 2014, Mobile exceeds PC internet usages for the first time in history.

Google has announced that starting April 21st it will be expanding its use of mobile friendliness as a ranking signal.  This change will affect in all languages worldwide.

In order to help you to build the mobile friendly website, Google offered a tool called Mobile-Friendly Test website.  To get you started, simply enter your website address and you can find the test result.

There's a good news for Google Sites lovers since Google Sites, which is developed by Google has advantages.  You can make a mobile friendly website in one click.  For example, find the test result to see 'Google Sites for Mobile'.

<Before Mobile Friendly>

<After Mobile Friendly>

The secret of 'Google Sites for Mobile' is simple.  I have just checked on 'mobile option' as below screenshot to get the mobile friendly site. For more information, please refer to the previous article here.

However, please note that even if you have designed a website with Google Sites and checked on mobile it may not look perfect on mobile.  In that case, you would need to fine tune it to make more mobile friendly websites.  Also, you can think of developing an optimum Google Sites for mobile phone resolution.

After all, this change could motivate people that currently don't have a mobile-friendly site to create one.

If you have questions about your Google Sites development for mobile or how to optimize design, contact us at info[@]bnhservice.com

7 Things You Should Not Miss for Your Google Sites

Google Site is a development tool offered by Google. If you have a personal Gmail or Google Apps account, you can create an unlimited number of web sites without any fee. You can create a company website, the project site or a corporate intranet website and many more. 

In addition, you can limit the access to the site to allow only an authorized user can view or edit the site or make it as a public website.

Google Sites does not cost you a web hosting fee or maintenance fee as this is totally free and available within your Google account.

You can simply edit the website by log in, edit the contents and save so you will feel it is like a word processor software.

For example, you can give a site editing permission for particular web pages so even a non - tech person to like sales people can edit the contents.

Google Sites is not only Google search friendly site, but also it provides you a way to integrate with 60 Google Services such as YouTube, Google Drive, Google Maps, Picasa and etc. In other words, you can embed Google services in a few clicks.

There are minor but important things that you should not miss for Google Site development.

1. Favicon

The favicon (favorite + icon) is an icon that is displayed in a browser's address bar.

You can create a favicon by changing file format as .ico from square image (eg, 50x50 pixcel) of the company or product logo. And go to the 'Manage site > Attachments' and upload the file.

For example, below animation shows how to create a favicon. After uploading the file, you will see that the icon is reflected in the title bar.

2. Footer

The copyright statement, social icons at the bottom of the website are the essential. By default, custom footer is disabled, so you need to enable under 'Edit Site Layout' and add the content in the footer.

3. Online Contact Form

Using Google Forms, website visitors can enter the required information via the online form. The form is connected with Google Spreadsheet so you may receive an immediate email once a visitor submits the form. And you can embed the Google Form on a Google Site page.

You may also consider to use Jotform for beautifully designed form and embed on Google Sites, but there are limitations on a number of submissions for free version. So consider a pros and cons between Google Form versus Jotform. 

4. Page Settings

The 'Page Settings' is where you specify the 'meta tags'. In other words, this is the place for a meta description of the page for the search. Meta description and keywords are the essential element for the Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Enter 2 or 3 sentences with keywords so your website can be better exposed. 

You may also consider to uncheck 'Allow attachments' and 'Allow comments' to prevent unwanted posting and attachment by visitors.

5. Privacy for Google Sites Activities

If you develop a website alone, or build with collaborators as a team, you may want to hide site change activities showing from website visitors. Google Site is configured to show all site activities in public, so you need to adjust Access settings by choosing 'Collaborators only' under Users who can access site activity and revision history. 

Also, Check to hide 'Recent Changes' link at the bottom of the website. Go to 'Edit Site Layout' and click 'System Footer' Area to bring the pop-up as below and check it.

6. Site Analytics

If the website development is completed, it is not the end. It is very important to set up a Web site to allow for statistical analysis and search optimization. Use Google Analytics and Webmaster Tools, and it is a free tool you can register and create a code for your website and paste into the entry fields.

7. Optimize for Mobile

Many users visit the website through mobile these days. Keep in mind how does your website would look at the mobile phone as well. Google Sites does not provide Responsive Web Design (RWD) so even if you have designed the beautiful website, it may not look natural on mobile phone. 

Check or Uncheck 'Automatically adjust site to mobile phones' to preview on mobile phone.

If you want the perfect website for mobile phone, you may build a Google Site for mobile phone and insert a link in the Footer section so your mobile users can choose between computer and mobile version. 

If you have questions about your Google Sites development project or learn more about the Google Site development, visit BNH Services or get a beautifully designed template at Google Sites Templates website.