Why Google Sites Are Not SEO Friendly
Google Sites is a free and user-friendly website creation tool offered by Google. It allows users to create simple websites without any coding knowledge. However, when it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google Sites may not be the best choice. Here’s why.
1. Limited Customization Options:
Google Sites offers limited customization options compared to other website builders. This restricts the ability to implement advanced SEO strategies. For instance, you can’t customize URL slugs for individual pages, which is a key aspect of SEO.
2. Inadequate Meta Tag Control:
Meta tags provide information about your webpage to search engines and help them understand your content better. With Google Sites, you have minimal control over meta tags, limiting your ability to optimize your site for search engines effectively.
3. Google Sites Lack of XML Sitemap:
An XML sitemap helps search engines crawl and index your website more efficiently. Unfortunately, Google Sites doesn’t support XML sitemaps, potentially making it harder for search engines to find and index all your pages.
4. Absence of Robots.txt File:
A robots.txt file guides search engine bots about which pages or sections of your site to crawl or not. Without this, you lose control over what gets indexed, which can negatively impact your SEO.
5. No Support for Structured Data:
Structured data, also known as Schema markup, helps search engines understand your content better, potentially leading to rich search results. Google Sites does not support adding structured data, which could limit your visibility on SERPs.
6. Insufficient SEO Tools and Plugins:
Unlike platforms like WordPress, Google Sites lacks SEO-specific tools and plugins that can help you optimize your site. This means that you have to rely on manual efforts for SEO, which can be time-consuming and less effective.
7. Limited Blogging Capabilities:
Blogging is a powerful SEO strategy, helping to drive traffic and improve your site’s visibility. However, Google Sites doesn’t offer robust blogging features, making it less suitable for content marketing.
8. Google Sites Have No CDN Integration:
A Content Delivery Network (CDN) helps speed up your website’s load time by storing cached versions of your site on multiple servers worldwide. Faster load times can improve your SEO, but Google Sites does not support CDN integration.
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Google’s John Mueller reveals the truth about Google Sites and SEO… It’s not what some may have expected to hear.
In a recent article from Search Engine Journal, “Google Confirms Google Sites Are “Not Ideal For SEO Purposes””, Google’s John Mueller offered advice about the use of Google Sites for SEO, downplaying the usefulness of Google Sites for SEO.
“To be blunt, while it’s technically indexable, it’s not ideal for SEO purposes, and can be complex for tracking in Search Console.If SEO is your primary consideration, it might be worthwhile to explore other options and check the pros and cons before committing.”
Google Sites Are Popular With Spammers
The Google Sites service is popular with link spammers who create links on Google subdomains in a tactic called “Google Stacking.”
The idea behind Google Stacking is that spammers create a page of links on Google Sheets, Google Docs, etc. and then interlink them all from a Google Sites.
Google Stacking is a based on the mistaken belief that there’s “authority” and “trust” in Google subdomains that is transferred over to the spammer sites through links.
Of course, that’s wishful thinking.
There’s no such thing used by Google called “trust” or “authority” that gets transferred from one site to another through links.
Given how popular the “stacking” practice is, it’s a bit ironic that a Googler publicly says that Google Sites are “not ideal for SEO purposes” and recommends looking elsewhere if SEO is a concern.
Watch the Google Office Hours segment about Why Google Sites websites are not SEO Friendly:
In conclusion, while Google Sites is a convenient tool for creating simple websites, it falls short when it comes to SEO. For businesses serious about optimizing their online presence for search engines, it might be worth considering other platforms that offer more comprehensive SEO features. Remember, a well-optimized website is key to improving visibility, driving organic traffic, and ultimately, achieving business success in the digital world.
If you have a Google Sites website and would like to have a professional SEO-Friendly website to gain more exposure in the search engines, we can help! We can provide you with a visually appealing, user-friendly, and fully functional SEO-Friendly website that not only attracts visitors but also converts them into loyal customers. Let’s work together to transform your online presence and drive success for your business! Contact us today to see how to get started!
Rex Camposagrado is an SEO Expert & Digital Marketing MBA with over 20 years of experience. An Adjunct Instructor in Digital Marketing and an award-winning SEO receiving a BrightEdge Edgies Award winner for SEO Performance & Results in 2018. He’s worked with small businesses to Fortune 500 companies and enjoys helping companies grow their web presence because when they succeed, he feels that he succeeds as well!