We’ll use Google Drive (15GB storage free) to send/share all website assets with one another. Instructions below 👇
Video Transcript
To create, view, or share a Google Drive folder, first open a new browser window and ensure that you’re signed into your Google account.
Next, click the three-dot icon next to your profile photo and check whether the Google Drive icon is visible. It might be there, or it might not.
If it’s not, scroll down and click on More from Google. This will take you to a page where you’ll need to scroll again to see all of Google’s products and services. You should find Drive listed there.
If you still can’t see it, simply do a Google search for "Google Drive"—the correct result is typically the third one down. Make sure you’re clicking on the official Google Drive link.
If someone has already created a folder and shared it with you, you can find it in the Shared with me section. Any folders shared with you will appear there.
Otherwise, to create a new folder, click the New button in the top-left corner. Select Folder, and give it a name—I’ll call it "Example". Once the folder is created, double-click it to open.
To share this folder with someone else, click the small drop-down arrow and choose Share. As you start typing in the text box, you’ll see a list of email addresses pop up—these are people you’ve previously shared folders with.
If you want to share with someone new, just type in their email address. Ensure that their permission is set to Editor, and ideally, use a proper Google account email (i.e., a Gmail address). Click Send.
If the email address you entered is not linked to a Google account, you may get a warning saying it’s a non-Google account. If it is a Google account, this message won’t appear, and the folder will be shared without issue.
[Note – enter ilkestonwebdesign@gmail.com as the address to share your folder with.]
Once shared, you can click the share icon to see who the folder has been shared with. Make sure their role is set to Editor, and that General access is set to Restricted, so only invited users have access.
The person you've shared the folder with will receive an email from Google inviting them to collaborate on it.
You can also copy the sharing link—click Copy link, and then paste it into a direct message, email, or wherever else is convenient.
Click the blue Done button, and that’s it. This is a great foundation on which to start a website project.
My Google email is: ilkestonwebdesign@gmail.com
Sending files and other website assets over email is not feasible or practical.
- ⚠️ Documents sent by email get lost or missed
- 🔄 Documents sent by email end up having multiple revised versions
Therefore, we need a place for documents, files, video footage, photos, etc, to live… a central hub to put everything in.
It’s simple: you upload files, I download them.
📤📥
For this we’ll using Google Drive because they offer 15GB of free storage.
Google Drive Requires a Google Email Address
Locate the email address associated with your Google account.
You’ll need to let me know what that email address is so I can look out for your invitation to join your shared folder.
If you haven’t already got a Google account, create a Google account now.
Assuming you have a Google account, log in and visit Google Drive.
Sharing a Google Drive Folder 🗂️
This guide assumes you’re using a desktop or laptop computer. Follow the steps below or watch the video at the top of the page.
1. Visit your Google Drive account
Go to Google Drive and see what you have already. You may have some existing folders, or none at all.
The screenshot below shows some example folders I created.
2. Create a new folder
Click the “New” button on the top left of the screen.
You’ll be given the option to create a new folder. Call it “Website assets”.
3. Share the new folder with me
Right click the new “Website assets” folder you just created and click “Share”.
Remember: this guide assumes you’re on a laptop or desktop. Smartphones will be slightly different.
4. Enter the email address belonging to the person you want to share the folder with
Type ilkestonwebdesign@gmail.com and select it.
5. Click done
Click the blue “Done” button.
Let me know you’ve invited me and what the email address is for your Google account.
By the way, Google accounts many other free tools including:
- 📊 Google Search Console
- 📊 Google Analytics
- 🏢 Google Business Profile
The Google suite of tools is extensive, and all you need is a Google account.
Definitely worth having.
Keeping Them Plates Spinning…
This whole setting up of Google Drive is to help you and me both be organised and at our best.
Nothing is left to chance. Nothing is forgotten or overlooked.
If you and I are going to be working together on a big project (like a new website), I’ll be setting us up some free and easy-to-use project management software called Trello.
I’ll guide you through everything. The Google Drive folder will be added into Trello for quick access.