Google Sites SEO Guide

Is Google Sites SEO-Friendly?

Out of the box, Google Sites offers many SEO-friendly features, such as:

• Mobile-responsive design

• Fast loading speed

• Secure HTTPS connection

• Clean, minimal code structure

While it may not support advanced SEO plugins or schema markup, Google Sites can rank well on search engines when optimised correctly.

Let’s break down how to do just that.

SEO Best Practices for Google Sites

🏷️ Use Keyword-Rich Titles and Headings

Your page title (displayed in browser tabs and search engine results) is one of the most important on-page SEO factors.

Use your primary keyword in the title (e.g., “Graphic Design Portfolio | Jane Doe”)

Make sure each page has a unique title

Use proper heading tags:

• H1 for your main page title

• H2 for section headings

• H3 for sub-points

Tip: Don’t just bold your text—use actual heading formats in the editor for SEO structure.

🔗 Optimise URLs and Page Names

Google Sites automatically generates URLs based on your page names, but you should:

1. Use short, descriptive URLs (e.g., /services instead of /page-1)

2. Include your target keyword when appropriate

3. Avoid symbols, numbers, or generic labels like “Page 3”

✅ SEO-friendly URL: yourdomain.com/social-media-marketing

🚫 Not SEO-friendly: yourdomain.com/123abc

🖼️ Add ALT Text to Images

Google can’t "see" images—but it can read the alt text, which helps with both accessibility and SEO.

In Google Sites:

• Click on the image

• Select the gear icon

• Add a short, keyword-relevant description

Example:

 Bad ALT text: image123.png

 Good ALT text: Freelance web designer portfolio layout

📚 Structure Content for Readability

Well-structured content keeps users on your site longer and helps search engines understand your message.

• Use bullet points, short paragraphs, and whitespace

• Insert section dividers or collapsible text for long content.

• Keep important content above the fold (visible before scrolling)

Bonus Tip: Use a table of contents (like this post!) to boost user experience.

📈 Connect Google Analytics and Search Console

To measure your SEO performance, connect your Google Site to:

• Google Analytics – to track visitors, bounce rate, and user behaviour

• Google Search Console – to monitor indexing, keyword rankings, and crawl issues

You’ll need to verify your domain and use a custom domain for full tracking. Once set up, you can monitor performance and identify content that needs improvement.

🔁 Internal Linking

Internal links help users navigate your site and show search engines how your content connects.

• Link related pages together (e.g., from your blog post to your contact page)

• Use descriptive anchor text (not just “click here”)

• Keep a logical hierarchy with main pages and subpages

This boosts crawlability and helps search engines understand site structure.

📱 Mobile Optimisation

Mobile usability is a confirmed Google ranking factor. Fortunately, Google Sites are responsive by default—but you should still:

• Preview your site in mobile view before publishing

• Keep buttons and text touch-friendly

• Avoid placing critical content in columns that stack awkwardly

A mobile-friendly design leads to lower bounce rates and better search rankings.

Final Thoughts

Google Sites can absolutely be SEO-friendly—as long as you apply the right techniques. From optimizing your page titles to structuring content and linking pages, there’s a lot you can do to improve visibility and performance.

Whether you're a beginner or building a simple business site, Google Sites gives you a solid foundation for ranking on search engines—without needing to learn code or hire a developer.