How to Set Up a Family Website

Reader Wanda Anderson writes:  I am looking to set up a family website, where members can post messages, photos, calenders, and profile info. What is the best way to do this?

While it's easy to set up a website for just one person, when multiple people get involved, things can get a little tricky.

There are two major ways to go about this process. The first I'd recommend is checking out some of the services dedicated to letting you build family-oriented websites, like MyFamily.com, which has all the options you're looking for, from a message board to a photo gallery, to an online calendar. Service is free for 30 days, then $30 per year or $110 per year if you want your own domain (ala wandaswebsite.com). I tried it out and it was painlessly simple to set up. You'll find similar services at FamilyLobby.com or TheFamilyPost, among other sites. Perhaps readers will chime in with other services they can recommend?

If a custom family service isn't for you, you might consider cobbling something together yourself. Blogger lets you create a free website which multiple people can access to post messages and updates. You could then add a Flickr account linked to the site, where everyone can upload pictures, then perhaps an online calendar from Calendars.net, which you can integrate with your site. This method takes a lot more work, but most of the services are free and fairly easy to use. If you want complete control over the look and feel of your site, doing it yourself is a fun option.