Essential Updates and Maintenance for Google Sites

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:

• Edit and refresh content that's already published on your Google Site
• Set up a simple maintenance routine to keep your site current
• Ensure your site information stays accurate and trustworthy

Introduction

Your Google Site isn't finished once you hit publish. Like any website, it needs regular care to stay useful and engaging for visitors. This chapter covers the practical steps to keep your site running smoothly, from making quick content updates to setting up a maintenance routine that won't overwhelm you.

We'll walk through the exact steps for editing published content, show you how to create a simple maintenance schedule, and share techniques to catch errors before your visitors do.

Lessons

Lesson 1: Editing Published Content

Making changes to your published Google Site is straightforward. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Open your Google Sites dashboard and select your published site.

Step 2: Click the pencil icon (Edit site) in the top right corner.

Step 3: Navigate to the page you want to change and click directly on the text or element you want to edit.

Step 4: Make your changes. You can edit text, swap images, or adjust layouts just like when you first built the site.

Step 5: Click 'Publish' in the top right corner to make your changes live.

Important note: Your changes appear online immediately after publishing. There's no delay or approval process.

Quick tip: Use the preview function before publishing to see exactly how your changes will look to visitors.

Lesson 2: Setting Up Regular Maintenance

A simple maintenance routine prevents small issues from becoming big problems. Here's how to create one:

Step 1: Choose a review frequency that works for you. Monthly works well for most sites, but quarterly is fine for sites that don't change much.

Step 2: Create a simple checklist. Include checking for outdated information, broken links, and whether your contact details are still correct.

Step 3: Set a calendar reminder. Google Calendar works well since you're already using Google tools.

Step 4: During each review, work through your checklist page by page.

Step 5: Make updates as you find them, or note what needs fixing for later.

Common maintenance tasks:

• Check that events, dates, and deadlines are current
• Test any external links to make sure they still work
• Review contact information and opening hours
• Look for spelling mistakes or typos you might have missed

Lesson 3: Keeping Information Accurate

Accuracy builds trust with your visitors. Here's how to maintain it:

Step 1: Fact-check any statistics, dates, or claims on your site during each review.

Step 2: If you display user-generated content like comments or testimonials, check these regularly for inappropriate or outdated material.

Step 3: Keep legal pages current. Privacy policies and terms of service should reflect how you actually use visitor data.

Step 4: Ask someone else to review your site occasionally. Fresh eyes often spot mistakes you've become blind to.

Red flags to watch for:

• Phone numbers or email addresses that no longer work
• Prices that have changed
• Staff members who've left
• Services you no longer offer

Practice

Pick one page from your Google Site and give it a thorough review. Check for any information that might be outdated, test any links, and look for typos or errors. Make any necessary updates using the steps from Lesson 1.

If you don't have a Google Site yet, visit a website you use regularly and imagine you're responsible for maintaining it. What would you check? What looks out of date?

FAQs

How often should I update my Google Site?
Monthly reviews work well for most sites. If your content changes frequently, check weekly. For sites with stable content, quarterly reviews might be enough.

Can I undo changes after I've published them?
Yes. Google Sites keeps version history. Click on the three dots menu in the editor and select 'Version history' to see previous versions and restore if needed.

What should I do if I find broken links on my site?
Either fix the link by finding the correct URL, or remove it entirely if the content is no longer available. Don't leave broken links on your site.

How can I tell if my information is accurate?
Cross-reference facts with original sources, ask colleagues to review content in their area of expertise, and set up Google Alerts for topics you write about to stay informed of changes.

Jargon Buster

Version History – A feature that saves previous versions of your site, allowing you to see what changed and restore older versions if needed.

External Links – Links that take visitors away from your site to other websites. These need regular checking as other sites might move or delete their content.

User-Generated Content – Any content created by your visitors rather than you, such as comments, reviews, or forum posts.

Google Workspace – The collection of Google tools including Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Sites that work together seamlessly.

Wrap-up

Regular maintenance keeps your Google Site trustworthy and useful for visitors. Start with monthly reviews, focus on accuracy, and don't be afraid to make changes when you spot problems. A well-maintained site reflects well on you and provides better value to your audience.

Your next step is to set up that first maintenance review. Put a reminder in your calendar right now, and your future self will thank you when your site stays current and professional.

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