Using Canva Docs to Transform Your Google Sites Experience

Do you remember your last epiphany? That moment when—whether walking or driving—everything suddenly clicks and the world makes perfect sense?

Well, yesterday I had one of those moments, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Are you ready?

Canva + Google Sites = AWESOME!

Let me back up a second.

For the last 13+ years, I’ve been a HUGE fan of Google Sites. I use them for everything—running professional development sessions, organizing classroom lesson plans, and showing teachers and coaches how they perfectly complement Google Classroom to create a unified teaching experience.

But let’s face it, they have a drawback.

3 Unfortunate Issues with Google Sites that Need to be Fixed

I often have said “Google is WONDERFUL, until it needs to be.” (am I right?)

Sure Google Sites are great, but often I have a hard time getting the best results out of them.

One of the biggest feature annoyances is the header section. Many people (including my students) want to create nice looking graphics and add them in the header area, only to find that the header images natively is responsive. This means that when you look at your Google Site in tablet mode or mobile mode the header graphic gets cut off so you can’t see any words on the image you just spent a ton of time creating.

NOT GOOD!

My solution to this is often to create a generic header image, toss it in the image area up top and then use Google Site’s text area to overlap so that when it retracts on mobile, the words don’t get cut off.

But this takes time, planning, and most people won’t think of this.

Strike 1

Problem #2: You are locked in to a clunky website layout

Don’t get me wrong here, one of the blessings of Google Sites is that it IS simple to make a website out of. I have my students each year using Google Sites to create a simple one-page website that acts as a digital poster all the time. But getting them to think about layout in terms of what it looks like on mobile devices is impossible.

For this reason, I teach students about creating posters rather than creating websites.

Strike 2

Problem #3: You are extremely limited in what you can do with images.

Website images. How I loath the process of finding images for websites.

• Build a site layout
• Figure out what you want on the page
• Go search for the image
• Stick the image on the website
• Realize that it’s not looking good
• Import the image into a graphic editor
• Export again
• Repeat the process.

Who has time for this?

Strike 3

There has to be a better way of creating a nice looking website, especially with your students, quickly and efficiently.

This is where I mind was blown when I realized that Canva can do … this!

Enter Canva Docs: My New BFF

The other day, I was searching for a way to build a course workbook for some upcoming presentations. I tried designing something in Google Sites but it really wasn’t looking the way I wanted it to look.

I went on to Canva and tried creating something using one of the premade templates but I’m not the greatest designed on the planet and it wasn’t doing much for me.

That’s when I started looking into Canva Docs.

MIND BLOWN!

Did you know that Canva Docs is the PERFECT solution and PERFECT partner for creating amazing looking Google Sites?

How to Merge Canva Docs and Google Sites to Create a Great Looking Website

To merge Canva Docs and Google Sites, the process is pretty simple. I’m not sure why I didn’t think about this earlier.

To add a Canva Doc into a Google Site there are two simple steps.

Add a New Page to a Google Site

This will then create a new blank page where Google Sites will ask you to provide either a URL to embed on the page, or you can select something directly from Google Drive.

Pro Tip: This is a great way of building a clean Google Sites page from a Google Doc, Spreadsheet, or Google Slides file. (Forms also works great!)

Find the Embed Link from a Canva Doc

Step 2: Create a Canva Doc and copy it’s embed code into Google Sites

• In Canva, create a new Canva Doc and design it how you wish it to look.
• On the top right, click on the SHARE button
• Click on EMBED
• Click and copy the “Smart Embed Link”
• Paste this link into Google Sites where it says “Add embed”
• Choose the option on the left to embed the full page Canva Doc into Google Sites
• Sit back and wait to be AMAZED

Again… Mind blown!

Canva Docs & Google Sites … Perfect Together!

Ever since I realized that you can marry Canva Docs and Google Sites, I have been a busy busy creator. There are so many reasons why you should give this a try today!

When creating a Canva Doc, you have the option of adding a banner graphic to the very top and having it be seen full width. When you look at your Canva Doc acting as a website in Google Sites, these headers are amazing, clean and yes… RESPONSIVE! This means that they show up in all their full glory no matter what the screen size is.

Reason #2: Extremely Clean Layout Options

One of the advantages I found using Canva Docs as my website builder is the fact that I can now add my content just about anywhere on the page with few limitations. (Limitations that actually make me rethink what are usually poor layout decisions).

True, you need to start thinking more vertically with your content choices, but thats actually a feature (rather than a bug) that helps you think like your students or website readers. This simple yet flexible layout allows you to focus on your content rather than your page design.

Reason #3: Unlimited Graphical Resources

Let’s face it, you now have the ability to do anything you can in Canva, directly in Canva. This means you can bring in images, remove their backgrounds and make quick decisions without spending a ton of time on Google Image Search.

You also have all of the features found in Canva AI allowing you to create, manipulate, and reevaluate everything quickly and far simpler than when working natively in Google Sites or any other website editor.

Another great feature of working in Canva Docs is the ability to bring in all of your Canva projecs, images, presentations, and logos without the need for switching between multiple applications.

Get Your Canva and Google Sites Game On Today!

Is your mind blown about the possibilities that a Canva and Google Sites marriage have for your projects, lesson plans, and presentations? I know that I am!

Ready to take your website game to the next level?

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