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Start from scratch

  • Find and join a group
  • Post topics and responses
  • Create a group
  • Collaborate with your team
  • Manage groups
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Cheat sheet

  • Groups cheat sheet

    Need a quick reference for the Groups basics you've learned? Download this cheat sheet.

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Tips

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FAQ

  • What types of Groups can I create?

    You can create email lists, web forums, Q&A forums, and collaborative inboxes. For more information on these types of Groups, see Get Started with Groups.

    Note: Your G Suite administrator must first set up Groups for Business before you can create Groups.

  • How do I know if I’m creating a public group or a group within my organization?

    When you’re creating a group, check the end of the Group email address. If you see @googlegroups.com, you’re creating a public group. If you see @yourdomain.com, you’re creating a group within your organization.

    Whether you create a public group or a group within your organization, you can set permissions to specify who can join the group. For more information on types of groups and permissions, see Get started with Groups.

    Note: Your admin must first set up Groups for Business before you can create Groups.

  • Who can see the groups I create?

    If you create a group within your organization, your group’s visibility to others depends on your admin’s Groups settings. If you have questions, please contact your admin. The visibility of your group’s content depends on the group’s permission settings. For more information on group permissions, see Get started with Groups.

    For information about the visibility of public Groups, visit the Groups Help Center.

    Note: Your admin must first set up Groups for Business before you can create Groups.

  • What’s the difference between an email alias, a mailing list, and a collaborative inbox?
    Email alias

    You can add an email alias to your personal address. Use them if you need a business address or multiple personal addresses.

    Who it's for: One person.

    How do I set it up? Contact your G Suite Administrator.

    Example: Cassy has her primary address (cassy@solarmora.com). She adds info@solarmora.com and cassy@kitbeat.com as email aliases.

    She can send and receive email at all of these addresses in her Gmail inbox.

    Mailing list

    You can create a mailing list to communicate with multiple people using one address. Use for internal and external users.

    Who it's for: A group of people.

    How do I set it up? See Get started with Groups.

    Example: Anyone on the Project X team gets messages sent to projectx@solarmora.com.

    The team can also easily share Google Drive files, such as documents and spreadsheets, and send Google Calendar invitations using projectx@solarmora.com.

    Collaborative inbox

    Use a collaborative inbox to manage incoming messages and questions, such as support requests from external customers.

    Who it's for: A group of people who manage requests through email.

    How do I set it up? See Get started with Groups.

    Example: Your Support team receives customer requests sent to support@solarmora.com. Each member can take a support request, work with the customer, and then mark it complete.

  • Why can’t I join certain groups?

    An open group allows you immediate membership.

    A restricted group requires approval from an admin before you can be added.

    A private group requires you to click on a link to request membership from the owner.

    Note: Your admin must first set up Google Groups for Business before you can create Groups.

  • What’s the difference between Gmail contact groups and Groups for Business mailing lists?

    Both Gmail contact groups and Google Groups for Business mailing lists allow you to share documents and send email and Google Calendar invites to a specific set of people. The difference between a contact group and a mailing list is who can use it.

    If you create a Gmail contact group, you’re the only person who can use it. However, when you send an email or invite to a contact group, recipients can view the contacts in your group. If you create a Groups for Business mailing list, you can set permissions for who can see and use it, for example, just you, anyone in the group, or anyone in the world.

    For more information on Groups for Business mailing lists, see our tip on sharing content with multiple people. For more information on Gmail contact groups, see Get started with Contacts.

    Note: Your admin needs to set up Groups for Business before you can create a group mailing list.