Google Sites FAQ


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How do I get started with Google Sites?

You can follow the steps provided in Google's Get Started guide.

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Are there any limitations on how I can use Google Sites?

Please review the Office of Strategic Communications' usage and limitation guidelines for Google Sites. 

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How do I create a site?

Google provides instructions on how to create, name, or copy a site.

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Can I let others edit the site?

Allowing others to edit your site is much like adding permissions to other Google Drive products.

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How do I publish a site?

You can use Google's instructions to publish & share your site.

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What will the URL of my site be?

The URL of Google Sites includes your site name and will be set to: https://sites.google.com/a/umd.edu/YOURSITENAME.

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Can the site be recovered to an old version, or if it is deleted?

You can recover a site you deleted if it's still in your Google Drive trash. If it has been permanently deleted, it is not recoverable. New Sites are not backed up by Spanning Backups.

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What happens to a site when the owner's account is deleted?

New sites are part of Google Drive. When an owner's account is deleted, all account content, including Drive, is deleted. Make sure important sites are transferred before the owner's account is deleted. If you need to request a file transfer, contact the Service Desk.

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Can I transfer ownership of my site?

Yes. See Google's instructions.

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Can I modify HTML of my site?

Sites does not allow direct modification of HTML.

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Can DIT help me with my site?

DIT can help with site creation, permissions, and access. Support for customizing your site is limited and will vary based on the agent's experience.

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If I see objectionable content and want to report a site, who do I contact?

Contact the Service Desk.

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Why isn't Classic Sites available?

Classic Sites is an older Google product that is in the process of being deprecated

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What other website options does DIT offer?

DIT offers a number of options. See Choose a Web Hosting Service.

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Can I use Siteimprove with Google Sites?

Siteimprove should work with Google Sites.

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Can I use my own domain name instead of the default Sites URL? 

If you would like to use a customer domain for your Google Site, please submit an request to the Service Desk that includes your current Google Site URL, the purpose of your site, and the domain name you currently own that you would like to use. Eligibility for URL mapping will be determined by the Office of Strategic Communications. 

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LinkedIn Learning Course

Take this self-paced LinkedIn Learning course on Google Site's core features.

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