How to Create an Online Support Group on Yahoo Groups

If you have ever wanted to connect with people with similar interests, health concerns, occupations or hobbies, this article will show you how to create an online support group using Yahoo Groups. It's quick, easy and best of all free.

First you will need to have a Yahoo ID. Go to the Yahoo Groups home page and click on "Sign Up." Complete the registration form. I suggest choosing a Yahoo ID that is easy to remember, but do not use your real name. Keep your real identity a secret unless you want someone from your support group showing up at your door.

After you receive an email confirmation of your Yahoo ID and password, be sure to write it down somewhere safe. You'll need this information each time you want to sign into Yahoo Groups.

Return to the Yahoo Groups home page and click on "Start your group today." You'll need to select a category for your support group. It's important to be in the correct category if you want your group to be searchable. Once you have found the appropriate category, click on "Place my group here."

Now it's time to give your group a name. You will want a title that includes words that are searchable to increase the chance that people with similar interests will be able to find and join your group. A catchy name may seem cool, but if no one can find it, is doesn't do you much good.

Next it will ask you for a group email address. I recommend using the group name without the spaces. For instance, if your group name is Yahoo Group Support, then your email address could be YahooGroupSupport. That way members will recognize the email when it shows up in their inbox.

Your next step is to write a description of your group. Think about who you want to join and the general mood of the group. Will it be serious, or humorous? Do you want to exclude anyone (such as women only)? I like to include something in the description that warns members that anyone using vulgar language, attacking other members, or not being respectful to group members will be unsubscribed. You can change the description later in the Management section of your group's web site.