Make Extra Money - Customizing Your Free Google Site's Look and Feel

Your site should be special, have a splash ofyour changes, it's a good idea to make sure that the
personality, and be inviting to everyone whotheme you've selected is the right one by clicking the
collaborates on or visits it. Or, you can opt for aPreview button at the top of the screen.
utilitarian approach, where function and a clean6. When you finish, return to your site by clicking the
presentation are essential. Whatever your preference,Google Sites logo or the Return to Site link in the
Google Sites has a set of simple tools to make yourtop-left corner of the screen.
site look just how you want.Your site now appears with your new theme, including
In this chapter, we look at changing your site's theme,colors and back-ground images. If the new theme
choosing how the page elements appear, anddoesn't appear right away, click the refresh button on
tweaking the colors to match your personality or teamyour Web browser.
scheme. Figure 7-1 shows a sample site where theWorking Magic with Site Elements
logo, theme, and layout have been personalized to fitWith a little bit of tweaking, the different parts of your
the needs of a classroom site. If you're still looking forsite don't need to be the same as everyone else's.
ideas after exploring this chapter, check out Part IV forThis section is dedicated to helping you customize the
more customization goodness.physical location of all the content on your site, as well
Sticking with a Themeas add a custom logo for your project or team.
When you first create a site, you have the option toTo begin tweaking your site elements, follow these
choose a Google-designed theme. Fortunately, if you'resteps to dig into your site settings:
tired of your theme or want to mix things up a bit for1. Log into your site.
your team, you're just a few clicks away from2. Click the Site Settings link in the top-right corner of
applying a fresh coat of color. These steps will havethe screen.
you going with a new theme in no time at all:3. On the blue bar, click the Appearance link. The
1. Log into your site.Appearance screen appears.
2. Click the Site Settings button at the top of the4. Click the Site Elements tab. The Site Elements
screen and choose Change Appearance from the listscreen appears. Here you notice the Change Site
that appears. A new screen appears, allowing you toLayout button, and options to adjust the Header,
adjust your site settings.Sidebar, and Page Content. We cover these in this
3. On the blue bar, click the Appearance link.section.
4. Click the Themes link. You see a large grid of5. When you're finished making adjustments on this
designs used in each theme, as shown in.screen, click the Save Changes button at the top of
5. Select the radio button next to the theme you wantthe screen and then click the Return to Site link to see
to use and then click the Save Changes button at theyour new layout. If your site has the Sidebar enabled,
top of the screen. To see what your site looks likeyou can go straight to the Site Elements tab by clicking
with any of the themes available, click the Preview linkthe Edit Sidebar link below the Sidebar on any page in
below the theme title. A new window appears,your site.
showing your site with the new look. Before you save