Do you want to start a blog? Perhaps you have an idea for a project or passion that you’d like to share with the world. Before you go investing money in a website, why not give Google’s free platforms some consideration?
The two google platforms I bring to your table today offers a user-friendly and customizable build that is perfect for bloggers of all levels. Both have seamless integration with other Google tools and no-coding-required approach make it a popular choice for those looking to create a professional and engaging blog without breaking the bank.
If you’re looking for an easy way to get started, Google Blogger and Google Sites provide everything you need to get off the ground. They give new bloggers from all walks of life the chance to create something great without any fuss.
In this article, I'll discuss just what makes this Google's platforms so powerful, as well as the steps required for you to get your own blog up and running in no time at all. Get ready to join the ranks of the blogging world!
The Two Platforms - Google Blogger and Google Sites?
As I have noted in the intro of this post, if you're looking to quickly create a website or start a blog, this two of Google's free platforms, Blogger and Sites, offer a great way to get started. But what are they exactly?
Blogger is a free online blogging platform that lets you create your own websites or blogs with or without needing any coding skills, there are plenty of resources already available. All it takes is creating an account and you can start making your own blog site. You can start a simple blog while skipping all the complexity of blogger. You can use the default themes or change from google options and get it all running yourself. Later on, you can get to implement additional features to the blog. You can tweak from available resources.
Google site, on the other hand, is a web creation platform with a formal API to the google Ecosystem It is connected with various programs and applets created by Google ( like Google forms, Google docs, sheets and all ), where users can use different google provided tools to create a website.
Whether you’re just starting out or already have some experience tinkering around with websites and blogs, the use of Blogger or Sites opens up a world of possibilities for easily getting online.
Plus, you don’t need to spend much, they are both free and extra or advance features are cheap. You do not even need any coding experience or special software. Google provides everything you need to get your site up and running in no time and google also has community answers to help and solve any problem you might face.
Advantages of Using Google Blogger and Google Sites
A blog is a great way to make your mark on the web and share your thoughts, opinions and knowledge with the world. One of the most popular blog hosting services out there is Google's free platforms, Blogger and Sites
These platforms offer several advantages for beginners who are just getting started with blogging.
Going with Blogger means you don't have to worry about hosting your own website or dealing with any of the technicalities involved. It also allows you to easily manage multiple blogs, as well as customize designs for each individual blog without any coding experience.
Moreover, it has a vast library of themes that you can use for free, as well as a wide range of plugins and widgets to extend the functionality of your blog. Plus, since it's a google product, you get access to their other offerings such as analytics and AdSense integration, both of which allow you to keep track of your blog’s performance while monetizing it at the same time.
How to Create a Blog on Blogger
Creating a blog on Blogger is easier than you might think. All you need is a gmail account address, and you can have your own blog up and running in five easy steps.
Step 1: Sign Up for Google
The first step is to sign up for a Google account. If you already have a Gmail address, then you're all set . Proceed to step 2.
Step 2: Sign up to Blogger and Create your site
Visit www.blogger.com
It's easy from there - you would see an action button "Create blog"
After that follow the whole prompt process required to create your site. Any of those can be changed later when your site is active.
Step 3: Choose a Theme or Design Template
The third step is to choose which theme or design template you want your blog to feature. There are many different options available ranging from basic black-and-white text layouts to vibrant, colorful designs that match any brand identity.
Go to 'Theme' on your blogger dashboard, tap and select any template of your choice. You can always change it anytime.
Step 4: Name Your Blog and Add Content
You should set and confirm the name for your blog.
Go to 'settings' you'd see the option to edit your blog name as well as a short description.
Your Blogging journey begins here then.
Step 5: Set Up SEO Optimization & Analytics
The final step is setting up SEO optimization so that your blog would appear on search engine and analytics so you can track how people find and interact with your blog posts across the web.
With SEO being set, when a user search on Google your site would appear. And with analytics, you'll be able to analyze which pages are most popular among visitors so that you can tailor content accordingly in the future.
How to Setup a Blog on Google Sites
Same steps applies here also Creating a blog on Sites is easy. Yes you would also need your gmail account.
Step 1: Sign in to Google Sites:
To start creating your blog, you will need to sign in to Google Sites using your Google account. Go to sites.google.com
Step 2: Choose a Template:
Google Sites offers a range of pre-designed templates that you can use to create your blog. Choose a template that fits your style and brand. You can click the first '+' box, but don't! only if you want to design and build from a template from scratch (not advisable for beginners)
Step 3: Customize Your Template:
Once you’ve chosen a template, you can customize it to your liking using the drag-and-drop editor. Add text, images, and other design elements to create your blog’s unique look and feel.
Step 4: Create Pages and Add Content
To organize your blog content, you can create pages on your Google Sites blog. You can create pages for blog posts, an about page, a contact page, and more.
Then, you can start adding content. Write blog posts, add images and videos, and make your blog engaging and informative.
Step 5: Publish and Promote your Blog
Once you’ve created your blog and added content, it’s time to publish it for the world to see. You can choose to make your blog public or private, and share it with your audience.
And To grow your audience, it’s essential to promote your blog. Share your blog on social media, use SEO techniques to improve your blog’s visibility in search engines, and engage with your readers.
How to Make Money from Your Blog
Did you know you can make money with your free platform blog? It's true, and that's one of the great things about google site and Blogger, they both support monetization and can be used to generate income.
Ad Networks
One way to make money from blogging is to join an online ad network. Most ad networks let you select which ads to display on your site, so you can choose ones that fit the theme and content of your blog.
All you have to do is register with an ad network, get approved, and then paste the code it gives you into the HTML sidebar of your blog posts. When visitors click on the ads, you make money!
Do this on Sites or and on Blogger
Affiliate or Sponsored Links
You can add links to Affiliate or sponsors on your blog. You should search online and join some affiliate programs. When visitors of your blog click these links and purchase what is on the sponsor page, you will earn a percentage commission.
Sell Your Own Products & Services
With google site or Blogger, it's easy to sell products and services related to your blog. You can easily set up a page or link that connects people to an external page where they can buy something from you or sign up for something related to what they read in your blog post.
The possibilities are limitless when it comes to making money from blogging with these two free platforms. You just have to find out what works best for you!
Integrating Google Tools to Enhance Your Blogging Experience
Google offers a range of powerful tools that you can integrate with your blog to enhance your blogging experience. Here are some tools you can use:
- Google Analytics: Use Google Analytics to track your blog’s performance and gain insights into your audience’s behavior. You can use this information to optimize your content and improve your blog’s engagement metrics.
- Google AdSense: Monetize your blog by using Google AdSense to display relevant ads to your audience. You can earn money when your readers click on these ads.
- Google Search Console: Use Google Search Console to monitor your blog’s presence in search engine results pages and identify opportunities to improve your SEO.
- Google Drive: Use Google Drive to store your blog content, images, and other assets. You can also collaborate with other writers and editors by sharing access to your Google Drive files. Every rich media file (photos and videos ) uploaded on blogger or Google sites are usually hosted on your Google drive.
- Google Docs: You can use Google Docs to write and edit your blog posts. You can collaborate with other writers and editors in real-time and easily import your content into your Blog. Blogger has it own built-in post editor 🤔 I remember in my early days I still preferred to use Docs.
- Google Calendar: You can use Google Calendar to schedule your blog posts, track deadlines, and set reminders. You can also share your calendar with other writers and editors to stay organized and on track.
- Google Maps: Use Google Maps to add location-based information to your blog. You can embed maps into your blog posts to show your readers where events are taking place or to highlight points of interest.
- Google Keyboard Planner: This tool is helpful for keyword research which is helpful to stay at the top of your SEO game.
- Google Trend: Never run out of ideas. You can see and track what word, keyword or phrase that is trending on Google search. Know what people are searching for and create a post on it. This tool can also be helpful in your SEO game.
- 🤔🤔🤔...
Troubleshooting Common Issues with Google's Platforms
Sometimes, even the most tech-savvy of us wonders why Google platforms won't behave like they should. Fortunately, common issues are often solved quickly and easily with a few simple troubleshooting steps.
Troubleshooting Tips
First, review your blog settings to make sure everything looks right. If something doesn't look right, double-check that the settings are correct for the desired purpose. For example, if you want your blog to appear on a custom domain, make sure you've entered the correct domain in the settings.
It may also be helpful to clear your browser's cache and cookies. This won't fix every problem but could be useful if your blog isn't displaying correctly or if pages are loading slowly or taking a long time to load. Once you've cleared the cache and cookies, try reloading the page again.
If neither of those tips solved your issue, contact Google support for help. They usually respond within 24 hours with some helpful advice or troubleshooting tips that can get your blog back up and running in no time.
Read more on how to monetize a blog to earn a living
In All
Creating a blog or website using Google's free tools is incredibly easy, even for the novice user. With the detailed info and resources provided in this guide, you can get started creating a blog/website right away using either Blogger or Sites.
Getting started is easy and free, and there's no limit to the possibilities of what you can create. Whatever your platform, it's important to remember that you're not just creating content, but also building an audience. So start crafting those posts and make them count!
You might want to check this step-by-step Infographics.
