How to Use Custom Themes and Branding in Google Sites for Better SEO

Create a memorable brand and stand out in search results by customising your Google Sites theme to reflect your business’s unique identity.

Compiled by GoogleSites.Dev

Applying custom branding helps make a stronger first impression on visitors and improves recognition, all while making your site look polished and professional.

Last updated: 26th November 2024

Why Custom Themes and Branding Matter for SEO in Google Sites

Custom themes and branding help you shape your visitors’ experience, creating a cohesive and memorable site that represents your business. When people recognise your brand and trust your website’s look and feel, they’re more likely to engage and return, which positively impacts your SEO. Google Sites offers flexible customisation options to make it easy for you to showcase your brand colours, logo, and style. In this article, we’ll explore how using these features can improve your website’s design, keep visitors on your pages longer, and ultimately support your SEO efforts.

How to Customise Your Theme in Google Sites

Selecting a Base Theme and Colours

Start by choosing a base theme in Google Sites that reflects your brand’s personality. In the Google Sites editor, head to Themes and browse through options like “Simple,” “Vision,” or “Impression.” After picking a theme, customize the colors to match your brand’s palette. You can select specific colors for the background, text, and accents, creating a cohesive look across your site.

Useful tip: Choose a theme that reflects your brand, and adjust colours for a cohesive look. 

Create your own template or download a free Google Sites template from I Make Templates 

Screenshot of Google Sites’ theme selection and colour customisation options
Google Sites’ theme selection and colour customisation options
Free Google Sites templates at I Make Templates
Free Google Sites templates at I Make Templates
Premium Google Sites templates at IMakeTemplates.com
Premium Google Sites templates at I Make Templates

Adding Your Logo for Brand Recognition

A logo is essential for brand identity, so make sure it’s visible at the top of each page. In Google Sites, you can upload your logo by selecting Settings > Brand Images > Logo. A clear, high-quality logo helps build recognition, as visitors will see it every time they visit your site. It also adds professionalism to your pages and builds trust with your audience.

Useful tip: Upload your logo to boost brand recognition on every page. Use the 'alt text' to reinforce your brand.

Google Sites brand settings showing logo upload section.
Adding a logo in Google Sites settings

Tips for Strengthening Your Brand in Google Sites

Customising Fonts for a Unique Look

Fonts play a big role in how people perceive your brand. Google Sites allows font customisation within each theme, so take advantage of this to select styles that match your business’s tone. For instance, a clean, modern font can give a professional look, while something more decorative might suit a creative brand. Be mindful of readability, especially for body text, as clear fonts keep visitors engaged - legibility and readability are key.

Check out Google Fonts, especially clear sans-serif fonts like Inter, Roboto and Noto Sans.

Using High-Quality Images Consistently

Consistent, high-quality images enhance your website’s appeal and keep visitors engaged. Upload images that reflect your brand values or services, and add them to your site using the Image feature in Google Sites. Make sure to use relevant images on every page and add alt text to each image to improve accessibility and SEO. Google Sites also lets you add image captions, which can be an excellent way to provide context or encourage action.

How Custom Branding Supports SEO

Improving Visitor Retention with a Polished Look

A well-branded, visually pleasing site keeps visitors on the page longer. When visitors spend more time on your site, it signals to search engines that your content is relevant, improving your rankings over time. Consistency in branding, like colours, logos, and font styles, also makes it easier for visitors to feel at home on your site, which helps with retention and engagement.

Increasing Click-Through Rate (CTR) in Search Results

A site that looks professional and is tailored to your brand will encourage more people to click when they see your pages in search results. Custom branding, combined with relevant and descriptive titles, can attract a larger audience. Google Sites allows you to use customized text and images that will appear on search engine results pages (SERPs), so make your branding shine here to catch potential visitors’ attention.

Steps for Ongoing Brand Consistency and SEO Improvements

1. Regularly Update Your Visuals

Branding is an evolving process, and keeping your visuals fresh can help maintain engagement. Google Sites makes it easy to update logos, colors, and images. Aim to refresh visuals occasionally to keep your site modern and in line with any updates to your brand identity.

2. Monitor Engagement with Google Analytics

To see how your branding impacts SEO, track user engagement with Google Analytics. Google Sites allows easy integration of Analytics, which can help you review metrics like page views, bounce rates, and time on page. By understanding which pages or visuals perform best, you can make more informed decisions about future branding updates.

Useful tip: Use Google Analytics to monitor user engagement with your Google Sites website

Google Analytics dashboard displaying page views and engagement metrics
Use Google Analytics to track the impact of branding on visitor engagement

Conclusion

Custom themes and branding are more than just visual details; they’re essential for building trust, engaging visitors, and supporting SEO on your Google Sites website. By carefully selecting colours, fonts, logos, and images, you create a memorable online presence that aligns with your brand values. This investment in a cohesive look and feel not only enhances the visitor experience but also helps your website gain traction in search engines. With a few simple steps in Google Sites, you can start building a brand that keeps people coming back.