creative professional using laptop computer at work
Google Sites makes it easy to design your own website.
10'000 Hours/Getty Images

Google Sites is a free tool to make your own website without the help of a developer.

You can start from scratch or use a template to make a browsable job portfolio, school projects, or an event page.

Google Sites are basic but customizable. You can upload images, add links, text, and basic HTML if you know how to code.

Once you’ve created a Google Site, editing is completely intuitive. If you’ve worked on a Microsoft Word document or used Google Slides, its interface should be familiar to you. 

You don’t have to be a wiz to make something simple and functional.

How to edit a Google Site

Once you've created a website, you can start playing around with different features.

On the top of the right hand side of the edit page, you'll see three tabs: "Insert," "Pages" and "Themes."

Options under Insert allow you to add images, text, links, and more. Pages allows you to add multiple webpages on your site beyond the homepage. Themes lets you change the general look of the site. You can choose from a limited number of colors and fonts.

How to use the Insert tab

The Insert tab provides the most granular editing techniques.

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Use the "Insert" tab to add important elements to your Site.
Vivian McCall/Business Insider

In the top right, you'll see buttons to add a text box, image, embedded link or a document from your Google Drive.

Scrolling down, you'll see different layout options. 

Instead of changing the entire look of the page, selecting a layout adds additional image and text boxes for you to play with. When you tap any of the layout buttons, that selected layout will appear below your page title.

Tap the trash can icon on the left hand side to remove a layout. Tap the palette button to customize its background.

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You can customize your chosen layout by clicking the palette icon on the left side panel.
Vivian McCall/Business Insider

Click any text box to add text. When you've selected a text box, you can bold, italicize or change the text style from a title, to header to body text. To change the font, see the "Themes" tab.

Any background can be replaced with an image. 

Select an image from a series of default images, from your Google Drive, or from your computer. Select "Change Image" to select the image you'd like to add. Alternatively, hit any plus icon in an empty photo box to add an image.

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You can add an image to a text box by clicking the plus "+" sign.
Vivian McCall/Business Insider

Below layouts, you'll see options to add YouTube videos, an image carousel, calendar, Google Maps and more. You can also add items from Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides directly from your Drive.

Placeholders reserve space for YouTube videos, images, maps and calendars. Buttons become clickable links. Dividers break up sections.

How to use the Pages tab

This tab allows you to add separate pages to your website. Edit the finer details with options under the Insert tab.

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To add new pages to your Site, click the plus "+" sign at the bottom of the Pages tab.
Vivian McCall/Business Insider

How to use the Themes tab

First, select a theme you like. Select a color or the paint bucket icon to pick your own. Tap font style to toggle between the few available options.

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Choose a theme from the available options in the "Themes" tab.
Vivian McCall/Business Insider

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