Get it online Google Sites, Square, Wix and Squarespace are far from the only options for creating a website with relative ease. However, whether you use these services or find your own, creating a simple, modern website to say whatever you need to put out into the world is easier than you might think. CSA Online sites.google.com If you have a Google account, you already have access to a free and simple website maker. Google Sites makes creating a website more like desktop publishing. Your site may not look as modern or flashy as with the other services which we’ll mention. That’s because Google Sites is probably the easiest way to build a website and get it online. You can add videos from YouTube, use Google Forms to create contact forms, add images, image carousels, event calendars and so on. Once published (and depending on the privacy settings that you choose), your site will be open to visitors at https://sites.google.com/view/YOURSITENAME. To make things look a little more professional, you can add your own domain name in the site settings. squareup.com If you’re not looking to pay for yet another monthly subscription but Google Sites is too limiting, Square is your best bet to build a free website. After Google Sites, it’s also probably the simplest way to get a website online. Where other site-builders with paid options will severely limit the functionality for users on the free tier, Square offers access to everything. The only tradeoff is a small, tasteful “Powered by Square” footer at the bottom of each page of your site. wix.com With more than 500 templates covering everything from blog, business, ecommerce, portfolio, photography and service business, getting started withWix is easy. In terms of design, you can create a flashy, modern site with less effort than youmight think. If you don’t mind a few Wix ads on your site, the Connect plan at CAD $7.50 per month for everything which a basic site needs will suffice. Double the cost to $15/mo. to get rid of the ads. squarespace.com Squarespace makes it easy to get started. Just choose what your site is about (photography, non-profit, consulting, personal, fitness, design andmany more), identify your goals (sell stuff, build community, promote stuff…). Then, Squarespace will present a variety of templates based on your goals. Squarespace also offers a free basic domain name (think yourproject.com), even at the least expensive US$14 per month “personal” plan − if you’re willing to commit to a year of service. CSANews | SUMMER 2022 | 51
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