I recorded this video to walk through how to create a new Google Sheet, whether you’re starting from scratch, using a template, or setting up a shared spreadsheet with collaborators.
Google Sheets is one of the most versatile free tools available. Whether you’re tracking content calendars, budgeting, or organizing client data, learning how to quickly create and structure a sheet is essential.
Step 1: Go to Google Sheets
Head to sheets.google.com and log in with your Google account. You’ll land on the dashboard with options to:
- Start a blank spreadsheet
- Choose from prebuilt templates like to-do lists, project trackers, or calendars
Click “Blank” to start with a clean slate.
Step 2: Name your spreadsheet
At the top-left, click where it says “Untitled Spreadsheet” and give your document a name. I use naming conventions like:
- 2024 Marketing Calendar
- Video Ideas Tracker
- Affiliate Product Earnings
This keeps everything searchable and easy to organize in Google Drive later.
Step 3: Enter your headers
In Row 1, add column titles — this sets the structure of your data. For example, if I’m building a content tracker:
- Column A: Title
- Column B: Platform
- Column C: Status
- Column D: Publish Date
- Column E: Notes
I recommend bolding the top row (select it, then click Format > Bold or use Ctrl+B), and optionally freezing it so it stays visible as you scroll.
Step 4: Customize formatting
Use the toolbar to:
- Adjust column widths
- Change alignment
- Add color coding
- Apply conditional formatting (e.g., highlight overdue tasks)
This step helps improve readability — especially when sharing with clients or team members.
Step 5: Share or collaborate
Click the “Share” button in the top-right, enter the email of your collaborator, and adjust permissions:
- Viewer (read-only)
- Commenter (add notes, no edits)
- Editor (full access)
You can also generate a link to share publicly or embed in Notion, WordPress, or client dashboards.
Bonus tip: If you want to quickly create a new sheet, just type sheet.new into your browser — it opens a fresh Google Sheet instantly.
Are you using Sheets mostly for solo planning or sharing with a team?