This system is cheap.
Only $10-30 CAD/ year.

Your only yearly cost is for your domain name (approx. $10-30 CAD with no complications). So while Google Sites lacks the integration features of Shopify, Square, or WordPress, it makes up for it in cost. Plus, you can get Analytics on your site for free with Google Analytics.

It is a clean, easy to learn, professional-looking web builder. An excellent solution for small artists, business owners, or hobbyists who can't afford to pay $120+ USD/year for a website.

Free features and web hosting via Google Suite.

Google Drive acts as your web hosting service (free under 15GB of space usage, pay for more space). More than enough room to get started.

You can embed Google Suite features like Forms, Slides, Docs, and Sheets into your Google Site. This feature allows you to add surveys, maps, videos, and presentations easily.

As I continue to build The Printmaker's Library, I'm constantly discovering new ways to use G-Suite features on my website to convey my message to my audience best.

PROS:

• The cheapest way to have a professional-looking portfolio.
  + $10-$30 CAD/ year vs. $100-$400/ year (ex. Wix, Squarespace, Shopify).
  + Cheap so long as your chosen art production domain name is cheap. More on this in Section 2, "Link Your Domain," Troubleshooting.

• Easy to use, clean-looking web builder. Plus, invite collaborators onto your Google Site.
  + A super easy tool to use. I have had no issues figuring out the features. Learn to use it from a single tutorial.

• Compare rates/ prices for your domain name.
  + When using a web builder like Square, it can seem like you don't have much control over the price of your domain, but you do! The checkout process is designed to encourage you to buy from them when it isn't necessary. Often, I find these "in-house" rates to be more expensive.

• Save money: Free 15 GB Web Hosting from Google Drive.

• No intrusive “buy for full use” watermarks or accreditation.
  + Ex. A free Wix site will have a huge banner encouraging visitors to buy/host a Wix website.
  + Google Sites just a little ( i ) icon in the bottom left which tells people when the site was last updated and notes "Google Sites." Non-intrusive and lets users know if your site is active.

• Automatically Mobile Compatible
  + The grid system Google Sites uses formats automatically to any window size, including phone and tablet screens.

• Link to Google Analytics for Free
  + Free metrics about your audience - popular web pages, clicks, bounce rate, and how people find your website.

• Can link other Google Features via Web Embedding.
  + A great deal of Google Suite is available to you for free without paying for a business account with them. Use it! Google Sheets, Docs, Slides.

CONS:

• Manual input: You do the website planning and web design work. "Build from scratch."
  + No “form fills” or "blog posts" for the website (like Tumblr).
  + You design most of the user experience.
  + There are site themes but few layout choices.

• No integration to other platforms like on Shopify, Square, or WordPress. For example, on Shopify, you can link a product to be automatically printed and shipped when ordered via another seller.

• No ability to easily create/switch to a web store with Google Sites.
  + I have made a webstore with Paypal links using Google Sites. It is possible, but it's not like Squarespace, where you buy a plan and sell right away.
  + The system I use is manual: I manually track down my orders in a spreadsheet (names, addresses, price paid, shipping info, and confirmation). If I had Squarespace and someone made a purchase through my site, all that info would automatically be placed into a spreadsheet.

• Limited/Changing Features & Site bugs since Google Sites is still in development.
  + The behaviour of site features can change every few months once google makes a new iteration of Sites.
  + Not all features work as they should - it is uncertain when glitches or things will be added. But, Google is very attentive to the project on the forums.
  + More on this in section 3, "Using Google Sites" under "Glitches/Missing Features."

• Google itself.
  + You're using a free product, but they own your data and the service like other tech things.They can stop servicing Sites anytime, though this is unlikely.

• Using Google Sites requires you to learn some "tech" skills.
  + For Domain Names, you may need to work with Google & your domain seller's tech support if you have trouble linking them. I will do my best to guide you, but it may require individual research.

• Zoom In/Out on Mobile Devices
  + Sites doesn't have a product 'zoom in and out' feature (yet). To compensate, I've found a way with Google Drive links.
  + Works great for desktop, but it doesn't load the same way and looks less professional on mobile. It does not automatically load on mobile -- it asks the user to download it/view on Drive/a web browser instead.
  + I have accounted for this issue in Section 5: Zoom In/Out

• External links (except those placed into embedded code) are redirected by google before reaching the destination.
  + This is a non-issue for pretty much everyone but deserves mention.
  + So, instead of Link → Instagram, it goes Link → Google Redirect → Instagram
  + A bit of a strange user experience for some
  + Can cause “back” problems on web browsers OR sites that embed a cookie on the last webpage you visited as a way to return to your previous destination. More on this with the Paypal Shopping Cart “Back Button” Bug when I release that guide.