I was looking around for some website builders and re-discovered the site builder on google.com So here is your Freebie this week, http://googlepages.com . Here is my 20 minute creation SteppingStoneServices.net.
I like:

• The Simplicity in creating the pages
• The fact that copying text (including menus) from one page to another keeps the coding behind the text is Great! This makes creating a template and copying it to new pages is really easy.
• The clean and balanced templates

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I Dont like:

• The simplicity of the system. I want to add text fields and images that are not a part of a long text block
• The fact that I can not get into the HTML. I have code I need inside the pages
• The way the pages are managed in the interface.

Because I have been buildign sites for so long and using higher-end software to do it, I may not be the best in judging simple site designers. When I am evaluating an application I look for what it does quickly and easily (low learning curve) and what it has for future expansion of the users skills (advanced features). This is what I like about Dreamweaver, you can make simple sites with little effort but you can grow within the application. FrontPage is another application that is great fo beginners; however, there are more barriers to user growth.

There is a whole host of applications that I would suggest that you avoid. There is no way that I could even begin to list them here so I will identify a few features that I have found problematic.

Avoid:

• Any application that turns your pages into .gif images on upload.
• Any application that exclusively uses DIV tags that include specific locations for elements. (the problem is the code gets really cluttered and it is difficult to optomize the site.)
• Most applications that you get for free or at a “great” discount. (unless you buy it from me) 🙂

So in closing, the googlepages tools are not great and really flashy, but they are clean and easy to get site content up quickly. Also the added bonus… Do you thing Google lists pages built on their system? Bet your bottom dollar they do!