Are you looking to establish an online presence without the usual costs? Google Sites offers a seamless and cost-effective solution for setting up your own website, especially if you already have a Gmail account. This platform is user-friendly, making it perfect for beginners who want to create a professional-looking site without any technical expertise or financial investment. In this article, we'll guide you through the simple steps to launch your free website with Google Sites, helping you get online quickly and efficiently. Let's get started!

Free Starter Website with Google Sites

Start by logging into your Gmail account (see warning below) and navigating to the Google Sites page (https://sites.google.com/). From there, you can choose a template that suits your business or personal brand. The drag-and-drop interface allows you to easily customize your site with text, images, and other content. You can also add pages, edit the layout, and create a navigation menu to make your site easy to navigate.

Once you're happy with the look and feel of your site, you can preview it before publishing it to the web. Google Sites also offers domain mapping, allowing you to use a custom domain name for your site, giving it a more professional appearance.

WARNING: If you want to connect your custom domain name to this website you must be using a regular Gmail account and NOT a Google Workspace account.  As of the writing of this article, only regular, non-Workspace, accounts can add a domain.  You can still use Google Workspace for your email and also set up your Google Workspace accounts as editors on the site, but the site itself must be owned by the Gmail account in order to use the domain.

Overall, setting up a free website with Google Sites is a great option for start-ups or individuals who are not yet ready for a full custom website. It's easy to use, cost-effective, and allows you to establish an online presence without the usual financial investment. With Google Sites, you can quickly and efficiently create a professional-looking website that represents your brand and helps you connect with your audience.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Setting up a free Google Sites website is straightforward. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Sign In to Google Sites:

   • Go to Google Sites.

   • Sign in with your Google account. If you don't have one, you will need to create it.

2. Create a New Site:

   • Once signed in, click on the "+" button or "Create" to start a new site.

   • You can choose a blank template or select one of the pre-designed templates available.

3. Customize Your Site:

   • Title Your Site: Click on "Untitled Site" at the top left to give your site a name.

   • Add Content: Use the right-hand sidebar to add text, images, and other content by dragging and dropping the desired elements.

   • Pages: Click on "Pages" in the right-hand sidebar to add new pages to your site. You can create subpages and arrange them in a hierarchy.

   • Themes: Click on "Themes" to customize the look of your site. You can change the colors, fonts, and overall design.

4. Publish Your Site:

   • Once you're satisfied with your site, click on the "Publish" button in the top right corner.

   • Choose a web address for your site (this will end in .sites.google.com). For example, if you choose "mysite", your site's URL will be "https://mysite.sites.google.com".

   • Set the sharing permissions to determine who can view your site. You can make it public or restrict access to specific people.

5. Manage and Update:

   • After publishing, you can update your site at any time by going back to Google Sites, making the necessary changes, and clicking "Publish" again to update the live site.

Adding your Custom Domain Name

To connect your purchased domain to your Google Sites, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify Your Domain

1. Go to Google Sites:

   • Open Google Sites.

   • Sign in with your Gmail account.

2. Open Your Site:

   • Click on the site you want to connect to your domain.

3. Verify Ownership:

   • In a new tab, go to Google Search Console.

   • Click "Start now" and sign in with the same Google account.

   • Click "Add Property" and enter your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com).

   • Follow the instructions to verify your domain ownership. This usually involves adding a TXT record to your domain’s DNS settings. Your domain registrar (where you purchased your domain) will have specific instructions on how to do this.

Step 2: Map Your Domain to Google Sites

1. Open Google Sites Settings:

   • Go back to Google Sites.

   • Click on the three vertical dots (More options) in the top-right corner.

   • Select "Custom URLs."

2. Add Custom URL:

   • Click on "Start setup" under the Custom URLs section.

   • Enter the custom URL you want to use (e.g., www.yourdomain.com).

   • Click "Add."

3. Set Up DNS Records:

   • Google will provide you with the DNS records you need to add to your domain registrar's DNS settings. Typically, you need to add A records and a CNAME record.

   • Log in to your domain registrar's website.

   • Navigate to the DNS settings or domain management section.

   • Add the provided A records and CNAME record.

Step 3: Update DNS Settings

1. Add A Records:

   • For the A records, use the IP addresses provided by Google. You will likely add multiple A records.

   • Example A record:

     • Host: @

     • Type: A

     • Points to: 216.239.32.21 (you will add several such records with different IPs).

2. Add CNAME Record:

   • Example CNAME record:

     • Host: www

     • Type: CNAME

     • Points to: ghs.googlehosted.com.

Step 4: Verify and Publish

1. Verify in Google Sites:

   • After adding the DNS records, go back to Google Sites.

   • Click on "Verify" in the Custom URLs section.

   • Google will check the DNS settings and verify the domain.

2. Publish Your Site:

   • Once verified, click "Publish" to make your site live on your custom domain.