How to Start a Google Group

Google groups are a free service that allows you to set up online discussion groups and forums on a topic of interest to you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• a web browser
• a topic or interest that lends itself to discussion by an online group

Google Makes It Easy

1. Sign up for or log into your Google account.
2. Go to the Google Groups page and click on Create a Group. Your group can be on any topic, such as your kickball team, your class reunion, your favorite software, or other topics that you'd like to discuss or organize.
3. Invite people to become members of the group. Each member can decide whether to get group posts by email or strictly by reading the discussion online. Only people who are members of the group can join in the topic discussions. However other people may be able to read what is posted there, although they cannot participate in the discussion. When you set up the group, you decide whether anyone can read it, or only members can read it.
4. An example of a customized Google group page Set up your page. You can customize graphics, colors, and styles.
5. As new members join the group, ask them to create a profile. The profile can include information about the members, member photos, and other background to help the members get to know each other.
6. Group members can upload files to share with each other. These might be schedules, work documents, photos, sample itineraries, or any other files pertinent to the group.
7. Another example of a Google group customized page Start enjoying the conversation with your fellow group members.

Tips & Warnings

• As the creator of the group, you have the power to moderate the discussion and remove spam or other offensive material that gets posted.