How to Use Free Yahoo Groups

Guide to Easy-to-Use Online Discussion Forums at No Cost

Nov 1, 2007

Get the details on Yahoo! Groups, then learn how to join groups or set up your own Yahoo! Groups to share ideas and get information with these online discussion groups.

Yahoo! Groups is a free online forum consisting of a forum for sharing ideas and information online or via a mailing list. Each Yahoo! Group has its own web site and URL, and optional services determined by the group owner such as file and photo sharing, lists of links to information relevant to the group, a calendar and polls. Yahoo! Groups also provides an online message archive that members can search for information or conversations posted in the past.

Yahoo! Groups started in 1998 and are usually used as online discussion groups but can also be set up only to send out announcements via email. Groups can be set up for professional use, for family members to communicate, an an informative community or just for fun interaction with others who share an interest.

What Types of Groups are Available?

Yahoo! Groups offers online groups for just about any topic imaginable, from knitting to Freecycle free online give-aways to hiking in Flagstaff, Arizona. Yahoo! Groups are divided into these broad categories:

Animals
Business & Finance
Computer & Internet
Culture & Community
Entertainment & Arts
Family & Home
Games
Government & Politics
Health & Wellness
Hobbies & Crafts
Music
Regional
Religion & Beliefs
Romance & Relationships
Schools & Education
Science
Sports & Recreation

Each category is divided into subcategories, which are further broken down by specialized groups. There are often more than one group for any one topic.

How Can I Join a Yahoo! Group?

To find a group you are interested in joining, go to the Yahoo! Groups site and click on one of the group categories, then browse through subcategories. You can also find a group by entering search terms in the search box near the top of the Yahoo Groups page. For example, you could search for cats, Carribean basket weaving,hang gliding or any other interest.

Most groups are open to any interested party but some are closed, private groups which you cannot join without an invitation. You will need a free Yahoo ID to join a Yahoo Group, and if you use Yahoo! Mail, just log into Yahoo! Groups with the same ID and password.

Pay attention to any rules the group may have about what you may post. It is usually good online manners to only post questions, answers, comments and information that pertain to the group topic and flaming (ridiculing others online) is generally unacceptable.

Can I Start a Yahoo! Group?

Anyone can start a Yahoo! Group. Just log in at the Yahoo! Groups site then click on the link to start a group located on the upper middle part of the page. Browse or search for the category you will list your group under and when you find the appropriate category, cliick on "Place my group here". From there, select from a variety of options such as whether the group should be listed in the Yahoo! Group directory, whether you want access to message archives restricted, the color theme and any images for your group and other items.