Google Sites makes it easy to build a website for free, but getting one that turns visitors into customers? That takes a bit more planning. The good news is you don’t need to be a designer or developer to create something that works.
Whether you’re starting a small business, showcasing your services, or building an online presence for your nonprofit, these seven steps will help you create a Google Site that connects with visitors and gets them to take action.
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Know What You Want to Accomplish
Before you pick a template or write a single word, figure out what you want your website to do. Are you trying to get people to call you? Sign up for your newsletter? Buy something? Visit your store?
Your entire site should be built around that main goal. If you want people to contact you for services, make sure your contact information is easy to find on every page. If you’re selling products, guide visitors toward your ordering process.
Don’t try to do everything at once. Pick one main thing you want visitors to do, then design your site to make that as easy as possible.
Make It Easy to Get Around
Your navigation menu is like a roadmap for your visitors. Keep it simple and use words that make sense to regular people, not industry jargon.
Most small business sites need just four or five main pages: Home, About, Services (or Products), and Contact. If you have a blog or portfolio, add those too. But resist the urge to create dozens of pages that confuse more than they help.
Put your most important pages in the main menu. Everything else can go in the footer or be linked from within your main content.
Write Like You’re Talking to a Friend
Skip the corporate speak and write the way you’d explain your business to someone at a coffee shop. Use “you” and “we” instead of “clients” and “the company.” Be specific about what you do and how it helps people.
Instead of “We provide comprehensive solutions for your business needs,” try “We help small restaurants save time on their bookkeeping so you can focus on cooking great food.”
Read your content out loud. If it sounds stiff or confusing when spoken, rewrite it until it flows naturally.
Make Sure It Works on Phones
More than half your visitors will probably view your site on their phone, so test everything on a small screen. Google Sites templates are mobile-friendly by default, but you still need to check that your content looks good and works well.
Keep paragraphs short. Break up long blocks of text. Make sure buttons and links are easy to tap with a finger. If your phone number is mentioned anywhere, make it clickable so people can call you directly.
Images should load quickly and look good even when they’re small. If something’s hard to read or use on your phone, fix it.
Learn from Sites That Work
One of the best ways to build an effective site is by studying what’s working for others. Look at websites in your industry, what makes some feel more trustworthy and professional than others?
Do a little research on effective simple website examples that demonstrate strong design principles and user experience best practices.
Cyphon Digital, recognized as a top web design agency in Portland, Oregon, has curated a collection of these examples to highlight current industry standards and strategies that work.
Pay attention to how successful sites organize their information, what they choose to highlight, and how they guide visitors toward taking action.
Tell People What to Do Next
Don’t assume visitors will know what to do when they land on your site. Tell them clearly and specifically. Instead of a generic “Learn More” button, try “Schedule Your Free Consultation” or “See Our Menu and Order Online.”
Every page should have at least one clear next step. Your homepage might encourage people to learn about your services. Your about page should build trust and direct them to contact you. Your services page should make it easy to get started.
Use action words that create urgency without being pushy. “Get started today,” “Call now,” and “Download your free guide” work better than vague phrases like “click here.”
Keep Making It Better
Your website isn’t something you build once and forget about. Pay attention to what’s working and what isn’t. Ask customers how they found you and what convinced them to get in touch.
Google Sites makes it easy to update content, add new pages, or change your layout. Use that flexibility to keep improving based on what you learn about your visitors.
If people keep asking the same questions, add an FAQ section. If they’re getting stuck at a certain point, simplify that process. Small improvements over time can make a big difference in how well your site performs.
Building a Google Site that converts isn’t about fancy design or complex features. It’s about understanding your visitors, making their experience smooth, and clearly guiding them toward the action you want them to take. Focus on these fundamentals, and you’ll have a website that works hard for your business.
