Got something to share with a group?

Did you know that Windows Live Hotmail lets you create an email distribution list (also known as an email alias or a contacts category)? Creating one makes it easier to send email out to a large group.  This little tip could come in handy on New Year’s Eve when you want to send a certain group of friends a picture of you at Times Square or in a few months when you’re working with others on a team project. 

Here’s how it works.

To create a distribution list

1. Sign in to Windows Live using your Windows Live ID.
2. Mouse over Hotmail, and click Contacts.

3. Click Manage categories.

4. Click New. Give the group a name and then type or paste the email addresses of the contacts you want to add to this group and then click Save.

Note: The email addresses must be in your Hotmail contacts list before you can add them to a category.

To send an email

1. Mouse over Hotmail and click Inbox.

2. Click New.
3. In the To field, start typing the name of the group and it should automatically fill in the rest.

4. Compose your email and click Send when you’re done. All of the members in the group will receive the email.

Now if you want to send a link to your photos or share an Office Web Apps document, you can email everyone in this category using one email address. Pretty handy, huh? To discover what else you can do with Windows Live, visit the Windows Live Solution Center

To share an Office Web Apps document

1. Mouse over Office and click Your documents.

2. Mouse over the document you want to email to the group, and click Share.

3. Click Send a link.

4. In the To field, type in the name of the group and then click Send.

Now that you're in the sharing mood, how about sharing your questions with us? Leave a comment and let me know what you'd like to learn about in 2011. Subscribe to our RSS feed to see what topics we'll cover next.

--Jennifer Bost