Google Sites websites for small businesses

You might not have considered Google Sites for your business website. Perhaps you think of it as something for school projects, internal documents or simple personal sites. But it can be a surprisingly good option for a small business that needs a professional online presence without the cost and complexity of a more involved website.

I use Google Sites to build straightforward, easy-to-manage websites for small businesses, sole traders and organisations. It's particularly useful when you need a website that explains what you do, helps people find the information they're looking for and makes it easy to get in touch — without paying for features you don't need.

And because Google Sites doesn't charge a separate fee for website hosting, it can help keep your ongoing costs down, too.

Websites from £399 · £0/month hosting · Easy to manage

One of the biggest advantages of Google Sites is how simple it is to manage. There's no separate hosting package to set up, no website software to install and no WordPress plugins to keep updated.

You can have a professional-looking website with multiple pages, clear navigation, images, contact forms, maps, reviews and links to your social media. If you've used Google Docs, you'll probably find the basic editing tools fairly familiar, making it easier to update your own content when things change.

And if you'd rather not spend your time working on the website yourself, that's fine too. I can build it for you and help with updates when you need them.

For the right business, it's a practical way to get online without making things more complicated than they need to be.

If you need a handful of well-designed pages explaining who you are, what you do, where you work and how people can contact you, Google Sites can do a very good job.

A simple website doesn't have to look basic or unprofessional. The difference comes down to how it's designed, how the information is organised and how well it serves the people using it.

You don't need to decide which of these you need before getting in touch. We'll talk about your business and what you'd like the website to achieve, then work out which features are actually useful.

And if your business grows, you can add pages and update the content as your needs change.

Google Sites doesn't charge a separate website hosting fee, so you don't have another monthly hosting bill simply to keep your site online. You'll still need to consider any other costs relevant to your setup, such as a custom domain name if you want one.

My website design service is separate from Google's platform. I'll plan and build the website around your business, and you'll know what's included and what it will cost before we start.

Website builds start from £399.

The final cost depends on what you need, how much content there is and any additional work involved. If a simpler approach will do the job, I'll tell you rather than recommending something more complicated just because I can.

You can read more about how my pricing and process work.

I'm a fan of using the right tool for the job, but I wouldn't recommend Google Sites for every website.

If you need a complex online shop, a membership system, sophisticated booking functionality, extensive third-party integrations or highly customised features, another platform may be a better fit.

That's where WordPress — or sometimes a more specialised solution — may make more sense. It offers greater flexibility, although that can bring additional costs and ongoing maintenance.

You don't need to know which platform is right before you contact me. Tell me what you're trying to achieve, and I'll explain the options. If Google Sites is a good fit, great. If it isn't, I'll tell you that too.

Compare my website options.

Google Sites can provide a useful foundation for a small business website, but choosing the platform doesn't automatically mean your website will appear near the top of Google.

Search visibility depends on several things, including the quality of your content, clear page titles and headings, how information is organised, how useful the site is to visitors and how well your business is represented elsewhere online.

For a local business, that can also mean making sure your service area is clear and keeping your Google Business Profile accurate and up to date.

I'll build sensible SEO foundations into your website, including clear page structure and relevant content. If you'd like to improve your local visibility further, I can also help with SEO and local search optimisation.

There's no magic switch that guarantees rankings, but there are practical things we can do to help search engines and potential customers understand your business.

Another advantage of Google Sites is that Google manages the underlying website platform. You don't have a separate WordPress installation, hosting environment or collection of plugins that need regular software updates.

That means there's less technical maintenance to worry about, although it's still important to keep your website content accurate, useful and up to date.

Your business will change over time, and your website should keep up. You might need to update your services, replace photographs, add a new page or change your contact details. You can make many of these changes yourself, or I can help when you need an extra pair of hands.

Yes — and that's one of the things I like about Google Sites.

Once your website is set up, you can make changes through your web browser. You can update text and photographs, add or remove pages, change navigation and publish new information without needing a developer for every little adjustment.

I'll show you how to manage the parts you're likely to need and explain things in plain English, so you can make changes with confidence.

Of course, you don't have to do everything yourself. If you'd rather concentrate on running your business, I can help with updates and improvements as and when you need them.

It's your website, and you should have control over it.

Google Sites is the platform. My job is to turn it into a website that works for your business and the people you want to reach.

That means thinking about what your customers need to know, organising the information so it's easy to follow, making sure the design looks professional and works well on mobile, and helping visitors understand what to do next.

I'll also consider the practical things that are easy to overlook when you're building a website yourself, such as page titles, navigation, contact details and how people will find you through search.

I've spent more than 30 years working with technology, and I use that experience to keep things straightforward. You don't need to become a web designer or learn a load of technical jargon. I'll help you work out what you need and take care of the bits you don't want to deal with.

Google Sites doesn't have to look like a collection of documents. With a bit of thought, it can be the basis of a professional website designed around your business, your customers and the information you want to share.

Here are some examples of website styles that can be adapted to suit different businesses:

You don't necessarily need to start again just because you're not happy with your current website.

Perhaps the layout is awkward, the content needs improving, the site doesn't work as well as you'd like on a phone, or you're simply not sure whether it's doing its job. Sometimes a few well-chosen changes can make a real difference.

I can review what you've already got and help improve the design, structure, content and overall experience. If the website is doing what it needs to do already, I'll tell you that too.

Find out more about website care and improvements.

If you like the idea of a straightforward website but don't fancy spending your evenings trying to build one yourself, I can take care of it for you.

We'll start with a chat about your business, your customers and what you'd like the website to achieve. I'll help organise the content, design the pages and build a website that feels right for your business, without adding unnecessary complexity.

Website builds start from £399, and I'll confirm the scope and price before any building work begins.

And if I think you could build it yourself and save the money, I'll tell you that too.