How to Create a Yahoo Group

Yahoo Groups is a great tool for any organization, club or family that needs a centralized home in cyberspace. Once set up, members can post messages, chat, share files and photos, add and view events in the shared calendar and create polls and databases.

Setting up and moderating a Yahoo Groups page is easy. From the Yahoo home page, click on groups then find the “Start a Group Now” link. Choose a category and a subcategory. Assign a name, an email address alias and a description of the group.

The email address alias is neat because it allows all group members to send and receive group messages using just one email address. For example, suppose the group address is groupname@yahoogroups.com. Simply send one email to groupname@yahoogroups.com and all members will receive a copy depending on the mail preferences they have set up. Some may prefer a daily digest of emails which is one email per day containing all messages. Others may want their emails as they are sent while other members may not want to receive any email at all. When a new member joins the Yahoo group or an old member leaves, the mailing list is automatically updated.

The next step involves choosing a member profile. If you do not have a Yahoo Profile, you will be prompted to do so during this step. Go ahead and choose your existing profile or create a new one. Enter the word verification step and the basic Yahoo Groups page has been created.

But wait, you’re not quite done yet. Click on “Customize Your Group”. This is an important step, especially if you want a private group. From here you will decide whether you want to list the group in Yahoo’s directory, who can join your group, who can post messages to your group, whether you want an archive of messages and what web features you will take advantage of. Click the “Get Started Button” and answer the questions.

• List the Group in the Yahoo Groups Directory? Yes or no. 

• How can people join? Immediately or with your approval.