Creating Subpages in Google Sites for Better Navigation
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:
- Understand what subpages are and why they matter for website structure
- Create subpages in Google Sites step by step
- Organise subpages for clear, logical navigation
- Recognise the design limitations when working with subpages
Introduction
Building a website with clear navigation is essential for keeping visitors engaged. When people can't find what they're looking for, they leave. That's where subpages come in.
Subpages help you organise your content into logical sections, making it easy for visitors to browse through your site. Instead of cramming everything onto one page, you can create a structured hierarchy that makes sense.
This chapter will show you exactly how to create and manage subpages in Google Sites. You'll learn the practical steps, discover some useful organisation tips, and understand the limitations you'll need to work within.
Lessons
Creating Your First Subpage
Getting started with subpages in Google Sites is straightforward. Here's how to do it:
Step 1: Open your Google Sites editor and go to the page where you want to add a subpage.
Step 2: Click the "Pages" button in the top toolbar.
Step 3: Click "Add page" and select "New subpage" from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: Give your subpage a clear, descriptive name that tells visitors what they'll find there.
Step 5: Click "Done" and start adding content to your new subpage.
Your subpage will now appear in the navigation menu, nested under its parent page. Visitors can access it by clicking the parent page and then selecting the subpage from the dropdown menu.
Planning Your Subpage Structure
Before you start creating multiple subpages, take a moment to plan your site structure. This bit is crucial and often gets overlooked.
Think about your main topics first. These become your parent pages. Then consider what subtopics sit naturally underneath each main topic. These become your subpages.
For example, if you're creating a business website, your structure might look like this:
- About Us (parent page)
- Our Team (subpage)
- Our History (subpage)
- Services (parent page)
- Web Design (subpage)
- SEO Services (subpage)
Keep your structure simple. If visitors need to click through more than three levels to find something, you've probably made it too complex.
Managing Multiple Subpages
Once you have several subpages, keeping them organised becomes important. Here's how to manage them effectively:
Reordering subpages: In the Pages panel, you can drag and drop subpages to change their order. The order you set here is how they'll appear in your navigation menu.
Moving subpages: You can also drag subpages to different parent pages if you need to reorganise your structure later.
Reviewing your structure: Use the preview function regularly to see how your navigation looks from a visitor's perspective. What makes sense to you might not be clear to others.
This is the bit most people miss: regularly check that your structure still makes sense as your site grows. What worked with five pages might not work with twenty.
Working Within Design Limitations
Google Sites keeps things simple, which means you have limited options for customising subpage navigation. Here's what you can and can't do:
What you can do:
- Change the order of subpages in the navigation
- Choose from available themes that affect the overall look
- Add icons to your pages for visual clarity
What you can't do:
- Create custom dropdown menus
- Add complex multi-level navigation
- Significantly change how the navigation looks or behaves
These limitations aren't necessarily bad. They keep your site clean and ensure it works well on all devices. But it helps to know what you're working with from the start.
Practice
Here's a practical exercise to help you get comfortable with subpages:
Create a simple website structure for a local café. Start with these parent pages:
- Menu
- About
- Location
Now add two subpages under each parent page. For example:
- Menu
- Food Menu
- Drinks Menu
- About
- Our Story
- Meet the Team
- Location
- Find Us
- Opening Hours
Once you've created this structure, preview your site and navigate through it as if you were a customer. Does it make sense? Can you find information quickly?
FAQs
Can I create subpages under subpages?
Yes, but Google Sites only supports one level of subpages. You can't create sub-subpages, so keep your structure to two levels maximum.
How many subpages can I create?
There's no hard limit, but aim for no more than 5-7 subpages under each parent page. Too many options can overwhelm visitors.
Can I hide subpages from the navigation?
No, all subpages will appear in the navigation menu. If you want hidden pages, create them as regular pages instead.
Will subpages affect my site's loading speed?
No, subpages don't impact loading speed. Google Sites only loads the content for the page someone is currently viewing.
Jargon Buster
Subpages – Pages that sit underneath a main parent page in your website's navigation structure
Parent page – The main page under which subpages are organised
Site hierarchy – The overall structure of your website, showing how pages relate to each other
Navigation menu – The clickable links that help visitors move around your website
Dropdown menu – The menu that appears when visitors hover over or click on a parent page with subpages
Wrap-up
You now know how to create and organise subpages in Google Sites. This knowledge will help you build websites that are easy to navigate and make sense to your visitors.
Remember to plan your structure before you start building, keep it simple, and regularly review how it works from a visitor's perspective. Good navigation is one of the most important factors in creating a successful website.
Next, you'll learn how to add and format content within your pages to make them engaging and useful for your audience.
Ready to put these skills into practice? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more hands-on tutorials and expert guidance: https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership