January 24, 2013

How to Create a Free Google Groups Web Forum in Blogger

An interesting way of diverting the attention of your readers is to start a discussion over a topic that is trending in the blogosphere. Those who have successful blogs would agree here that reader’s interaction is extremely significant not only for the website’s reputation, but also for generating affiliate sales.  We do have Commenting system that allows readers to interact, but they don’t have the freedom to start a whole new conversation. For that reason, we have Web Forums that allow a user to start a discussion over any topic that he likes. Those who are looking to add a Forum to their Blogger enabled website then today in this article, we will learn how to create a Google Groups Forum in Blogger.

Our Main Goal:

Installing a Forum in a BlogSpot blog appears to be an uphill task. Since, everything is under Google’s control. Therefore, it gets extremely difficult to host a third-party forum. However, when we have problems we also have their solutions. The ideal way of installing a Web forum on our site is “Google Groups”. It neither needs any hosting nor any kind of money because it is free to use. Therefore, the main goal is to embed a Google Groups Web Forum in the website. 

Advantages of Google Groups:

  • Free Hosting: We hardly see any Forum that gives free hosting. The greatest advantage of using Google group is that it needs no hosting. We have to create a Group and embed it onto our website. 
  • Free to Use:  There is no need to pay anything because Google Group is absolutely free of cost. 
  • Highly Flexible: The platform has robust options that allow the webmaster to customize it according to his needs.

Step #1: Creating a Google Group:

Now before, anyone creates a Google group its essential to have a free Gmail Account. However, those who don’t have Gmail Account then, first register it. After registering a Free Gmail account, Sign in to your account. 

Then Go to https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!myforums and from the navigation menu select “Create Group”. The button would be different from others so everyone can easily find it. We have attached a screenshot below for further help.
Now a form will be opened which would ask for details. Don’t be confused because we will explain each and every text area so everyone can fill it without facing any problem whatsoever. Consider the following.
  • Group Name: Here we would enter the name. It entirely depends on a person what he wants to name it. Remember: We can rename it anytime from the setting panel. 
  • Group email address: Here we will choose an email address as well as our Forum URL. For example, if we write “mblforum” in the text area it would provide us with a free email i.e. mblforum@googlegroups.com as well as URL i.e. https://groups.google.com/forum/embed/?place=forum/mblforum. 
  • Group description: Write something about you forum, just like we add the description in our website. It would help search engines. Furthermore, visitors would be able to understand the main purpose of it. 
  • Group's primary language: This is the language that a person may select according to his desire needs. However, we usually select English (USA) which is a standard language throughout the globe. 
  • Group type: Now this is the most significant thing. There are three options i.e. Email List, Web Forum, Q&A Forum. Since, we are creating an online forum. Therefore, we would select “Web Forum”. However, anyone can select the other options too depending upon their interests. 
Now once everything is done. Select the “Create” button present at the top of the page. Now you will able to see a notification, “Congratulation, your group is up and ready to use”.

Step# 2: Embedding a Google Group in Blogger:

Honestly, this is the easiest part of the whole tutorial. Just login to your Blogger account and go to Blogger >> Add a new Page >> from blogger post editor select Edit HTML Tab and paste the following coding in the HTML Box. Remember: Don’t forget to replace “mblforum” with the email address keyword that we added in the previous step i.e. mblforum@googlegroups.com.
<iframe frameborder="0" height="1000px" id="forum_embed" scrolling="no"
src="javascript:void(0)" width="100%">
    <br />
</iframe>
<script type="text/javascript">
    document.getElementById("forum_embed").src =
        "https://groups.google.com/forum/embed/?place=forum/mblforum" +
        "&showsearch=true&showpopout=false&parenturl=" + encodeURIComponent(window.location.href);
</script>

Congratulations: Now publish the page by pressing the “Publish” button. Cheers the online Google group web forum is added onto your blogger website. Remember: Keep in mind, all the Admin setting can be done through the https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!myforums Admin Area.

From The Editor's Desk:

On This account, We would like to announce that we have added a Free-to-use online Help Forum for our visitors. They can easily post their problems related to Blogging/Blogger and our moderators as well as Experts would try to help you. Just visit the Following URL and start the discussion. P.S: We can also use it as a demo:
Hope, it would help novice bloggers to get solutions to their problems. Feel free to leave your suggestions. Take care till then, Peace, Blessings and Happy discussing. 

24 comments:

  1. AumkarJanuary 24, 2013 at 6:19 PM

    But the problem is that this type of groups are not being indexed by Search Engines, So we don't get extra traffic to our blog :(((

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Syed Faizan AliJanuary 24, 2013 at 11:46 PM

      Indeed Pal, Google Groups Never Get Indexed. It may not increase the Organic Traffic but Surely Increase the "Time on site" and "User Engagement".

      There are many Free-to-Use Source Forums but they need Hosting. Like We have SMF and vBulletin. Nonetheless, Google is free to use and no hosting needed so we have to go with it

      Delete
    2. Muhammad AliSeptember 18, 2013 at 8:18 PM

      Hey.. I Want To Convert My Blog Into Full Forum, How It Is Possible?

      Delete
    3. Syed Faizan AliSeptember 20, 2013 at 12:08 AM

      You have to use Forum Scripts for that.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2013 at 3:38 AM

    That is great!!. Many thanks from Indonesia my friends :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nguyễn Văn ThươngJanuary 25, 2013 at 6:47 AM

    Good idea! We can create a forum to support or feedback any problem in our site.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Shopy BusinessJanuary 25, 2013 at 7:34 AM

    Awesome tutorial thanks for sharing this type information for my blog. i will install forum for my blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJanuary 25, 2013 at 9:37 PM

    demo please!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Syed Faizan AliJanuary 25, 2013 at 10:27 PM

      Here you go http://www.mybloggerlab.com/p/forum.html

      Delete
  6. UnknownJanuary 26, 2013 at 5:08 PM

    Thanks for amazing trick Faizan. :). but i have some trouble. why my page forum is not full like yours. i mean can you remove the sidebar on my forum page?.

    http://www.moodboosterblog.com/p/forum.html

    Many Thanks...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Syed Faizan AliJanuary 26, 2013 at 11:11 PM

      Its Very Simple Go To Blogger >> Pages >> Edit The Page Which has the Google Groups Coding >> HTML TAB >> And Paste the Following CSS Coding in the End.

      <style>
      #sidebar-wrapper, #midsidebar-wrapper, .gapad2, .blog-pager, .post-header-line-1, .post-footer { display:none !important;} #main-wrapper { width:98%!important;} .post { width:98%!important; }
      </style>

      Hope That Helps. Peace

      Delete
  7. UnknownJanuary 28, 2013 at 5:16 PM

    Thanks, it works :))

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownApril 19, 2013 at 7:29 AM

    First class tuts

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJune 14, 2013 at 10:24 PM

    It's work fine,but is it illegal to inframe google product on our blog? When signup for adsense
    Pls tell

    ReplyDelete
  10. MelissaAugust 15, 2013 at 10:31 AM

    Fabulous! Thanks much, this will definitely come in handy on my blog! I have been looking for a way to increase engagement and interaction and this might just be my solution!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Saad IqbalJanuary 5, 2014 at 2:09 AM

    thnku very helpful post

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousFebruary 1, 2016 at 5:01 PM

    Thank you for saving me and my time. At first when I look at the description, I thought it's the longest and hardest way to add a google forum, but when I read the first step then I thought it is so easy. I created it now and it is awesome.
    Thank you so much
    #yep-forum

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousFebruary 6, 2016 at 1:29 PM

    You can change the button color "New Topic"?

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownFebruary 27, 2016 at 9:16 AM

    Thanks.. It worked out for me!!
    www.mustwatchhollywoodfilms.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousMay 12, 2016 at 9:34 AM

    Awesome !! I successfully added forum into my blog , if you wanna see as an example you can check it here
    https://shareyourcheatingstory.blogspot.com/

    Click on second tab to see forum.

    ReplyDelete
  16. UnknownAugust 5, 2016 at 12:04 AM

    The is not a Responsive forum.

    can you make it responsive..?

    ReplyDelete
  17. RomShillzzAugust 26, 2016 at 2:59 PM

    Thank it worked for me. https://romshillzz.blogspot.com.ng/p/blog-page_26.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownSeptember 6, 2016 at 3:41 PM

    Nice one bro

    ReplyDelete

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