Google Sites give us something most client websites don’t: full control. When a main site is slow, cluttered, or locked behind an unresponsive webmaster, we mirror it onto a Google Site and use that version as a clean, structured wrapper. This lets us fix architecture, tighten internal linking, and push aggressive link building into a Google-owned domain — all while passing authority safely to the client’s actual pages. Below you’ll see how the mirroring model works, why it’s so effective, and when to use (or avoid) it.
Table of Contents
What is site mirroring with Google Sites?
Site mirroring means we create a straight one-to-one version of the top pages of the main website on Google Sites. We do not copy blogs, privacy pages, or anything extra. We mirror the homepage, each top-level service page, and each top-level location page. That is it. The Google Site becomes a clean container that wraps the main site.
Why use a Google Site wrapper?
There are three big reasons we use this approach.
- Fix structure without touching the main site. If the client’s webmaster will not change internal links, titles, or page structure, we can fix those things on the Google Site pages.
- Be more aggressive with link building. We can push lots of links to the Google Site. Because Google Sites are a Google property, they tolerate a heavier link profile than a small business domain. The links feed authority through the Google Site and down to the embedded pages on the money site.
- Improve crawl efficiency. A clean mirrored structure with one page per service and one page per location cuts down on redundant pages. That helps search engines crawl fewer low-value pages and better index your money pages.
Got SEO Questions? Get answers every week at 4pm ET at Hump Day Hangouts. Ask questions ahead of time, or live – just go to: https://semanticmastery.com/hdho (bookmark this!) 10+ years of insights given every week!
Get your checklist to help get better results with GBPs, faster.
How we mirror a site step by step
We keep this simple and repeatable.
- Create a new Google Site in the client’s account or a brand account we control.
- Build a homepage and one page for each top-level service and location. No blog posts, no extras.
- On each Google Site page embed the corresponding money site page inside an iframe. This makes the Google Site act like a wrapper around the real page.
- Use the Google Site pages to fix internal links, SEO titles, and add content where needed. Add video boxes, text boxes, or other embeds to strengthen the page.
- Start link building to the Google Site pages and to any other container layers you create.
How iframe stacking works
Think of the money site and the YouTube video as the chewy center of a Russian doll. Around that center we stack layers that act as containers or wrappers. Each layer can be a link target and can pass authority inward through the iframe behavior.
Example stack:
- Money site + YouTube video at the center
- Blogger or a public blog that hosts a post about the page
- Cloud pages that host the blogger posts inside an iframe
- Google Site that wraps the cloud pages
Each layer is a place we can build links. The iframe link behavior passes some authority down and also a little back up. That means we can push lots of links into the outer layers and still flow benefit to the money site without pointing a pile of low-quality backlinks directly at the client domain.
When the Google Site outranks the money site
Sometimes, after heavy link building, the Google Site may outrank the main site for the same terms. This happens if the wrapper gains more authority from links than the money site. When that occurs we change the embed to a regular hyperlink on the Google Site page instead of an iframe. That reduces the evident authority of the Google Site and helps the link flow favor the money site instead.
Fixing internal linking problems when you do not own the money site
We often see sites that use service x location pages for every combination. That creates a mess of competing pages and redundant content. Helpful content updates punish that noise. If the original site cannot be cleaned up, we fix the problem on the Google Site.
- We create one page per service and one page per location on the Google Site.
- We set internal links on the Google Site to make clear associations between services and locations.
- We embed the corresponding money site pages so users and search engines can access the same content inside a cleaner structure.
This approach improves crawl efficiency and reduces the chance of internal competition between pages.
Link building strategy for the wrapper model
We treat each wrapper layer as a linkable asset. Google Sites, Blogger, YouTube, and cloud pages are all domains that accept links and rank. Because we are not building directly to the money site, we can be bold with the volume and variety of links we create.
- Push links to Google Site pages via blogs, citations, niche edits, or guest posts.
- Build supporting links to YouTube videos and to blogger posts that mention the page.
- Use multiple container layers to spread link signals and create redundancy.
The goal is to flood the outer layers with relevant signals so they feed inward to the money site through the embed chain.
When to avoid mirroring
Mirroring is not a perfect replacement for fixing the money site. If you have full control of the main site, it is usually better to correct the structure directly on the real domain. Mirroring is a strong fallback when we cannot change the money site and need results without waiting months for a web team to act.
Quick checklist for setting up a mirrored Google Site
- Create one Google Site per client and use a simple, branded domain name if possible.
- Mirror only top-level pages — homepage, core services, main locations.
- Embed each money site page in the corresponding Google Site page with an iframe.
- Fix internal links on the Google Site to reflect the clean site architecture we want.
- Start link building to the Google Site and any other layers in your stack.
- Monitor rankings and if the Google Site outranks the money site, remove the embed and replace it with a normal link.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mirroring blog posts and low-value pages. Keep the Google Site focused on money pages only.
- Embedding every page without monitoring. If the wrapper starts to outrank the main site, switch embeds to links.
- Relying on mirroring as a long-term substitute for a well-built website. Use it to gain control fast, then plan to fix the main site when possible.
FAQ
Will embedding the money site page inside a Google Site hurt the original site?
No. Embedding does not normally hurt the main site. It often helps because the Google Site can pass authority through the iframe. If the Google Site starts to outrank the main site, change the embed to a hyperlink to shift the balance back.
Can we link directly from the Google Site to the money site?
Yes. You can embed the page and also include links. If the wrapper outranks the money site, switch to a plain link instead of the embed for that page. That helps push more authority to the main site.
How many layers should we stack around the money site?
There is no fixed number. Start with one or two layers like YouTube and a Google Site. Add blogger posts or cloud pages as needed. Each layer is another place to build links and send signals inward.
Is this approach safe for long-term SEO?
Yes, when used responsibly. Use high-quality supporting content and relevant links. The wrapper model gives us control and a way to push signals without damaging the brand domain.
We use the Google Site as a wrapper to fix structure and to be aggressive with link building without pointing low-quality links at the client's domain.