This is part 2 of my virtual conference experience. You can read about day 1 here.
Day 2 was similar in format and time to day 1. Three separate sessions with 45 minute breaks in between (most attendees were information professionals likely tuning in from their places of employment). Each session was offered as a GoToMeeting webinar with a distinct, unique log-in url. Session titles are in bold.
Ninja Skills for Librarians
Jennifer Doyle and Jill Strand
This session was received well at the 2013 SLA conference in San Diego, so they included it as part of their virtual conference. I'm glad they did.
The two speakers were friends and black belts in their respective martial arts disciplines. Much of martial arts deal with the mind and how you think and approach a situation. The speakers channeled that train of thought and applied it to information professionals.
They broke their presentation down into levels, similar to the colored belts one attains in martial arts. Here are some of the achievements:
Confidence - the speakers discussed introverts because there are so many in the library world. When you're not feeling confident, act like an extrovert. "Fake it til you make it" is a common saying in the info pro world. At a genealogy conference many years ago, I was approached by an employee at a Very Important Genealogy Entity and asked if I take paid work. "Yes," I said (I hadn't). Then the person asked if I ever go to Slighty Intimidating Special Archives in my area. "Oh yes," I nodded as though I go there every Tuesday (I'd never been there). And that's how I got my first paid genealogy gig.
Balance - this one seems self explanatory, but the speakers made a good point. Obviously we need to work to achieve our own balance, but we also need to be aware of those who don't have balance. Don't let them upset yours. Sadly, this is a big issue in the more cantankerous corners of the genealogy sandbox. Don't let the "unbalanced" ones get to you.
Strategy - this applied to librarians in complex organizations, but I thought it was a good takeaway for the genealogy world, too. The speakers emphasized that you don't always have to win. Sometimes it's best to let competitors go to market first, let them make mistakes, then you can learn from what you see. Think about what you want to accomplish before taking action.
Negotiation - in the information professional world this includes vendor relations, company issues and general life. Here was my favorite takeaway: Is it more important to be right, or to maintain a good relationship so we can achieve our common goal? The professional genealogy field is somewhat divisive right now. Too many trying to be right, no discussion on the common goal.
I really liked this session. I wish I could see (or even design) something similar for genealogy, but I don't think it would be received well. The audience expects a talk on records and a handout. This ninja-style presentation is different and "different" doesn't go over well. Maybe I'll hash it out anyway and try it on a smaller audience. But I digress.....
Contributed Papers: Outgoogling Google and An Ethnographic Approach to the Knowledge Audit
John Coll and William Cook
This session was made of two discussions on contributed papers. The knowledge audit one--though interesting--had nothing I could transfer to genealogy, so I won't discuss it here.
The speaker for the Outgoogling Google paper was from the National Library of Scotland. This was a discussion on the use of Google and Google Scholar over library services. This is a very familiar topic in library circles. There were some statistics presented, including a study of doctoral students who relied mostly on Google for their research (shudder).
There's a continuous movement to illustrate the value-added services of libraries in terms of research. Do your users know you (the librarian) know things they don't? Librarians can provide further guidance on the research subject, filter down to the "good stuff," share their knowledge, save time and get better results. Unfortunately they don't always advertise that fact.
The speaker shared about the National Library of Scotland website and user expectations. Users want a single search box...just like Google. So the speaker showed how they achieved that while still providing the best possible search experience and results. I don't think genealogists realize how much time and energy goes into improving user experiences. Librarians are always thinking about ways to improve their systems. Keep that in mind as you navigate the genealogy information highway.
Practitioner Best Picks: Best CI Techniques in Legal, Science and Finance
Anne Herron, Alex Ilg and John Jackson
This session was about competitive intelligence (CI) but you know I can mine that information and apply it to genealogy.
The session involved three speakers, each speaking on one of the above fields. The first speaker (finance information professional) discussed the importance of knowing your client. He referenced what he called the (Peter) Drucker Three:
What is our business? Who is our customer? What does the customer value?
In terms of professional genealogy, who is your customer? The answers will probably vary a bit. A few months back, I ruffled feathers by saying that a certain membership-based genealogy group did not provide enough value for me to retain active status, so I left. This is the point I was trying to make. Value is a "thing" and the genealogy field needs to address it. I encourage you to look at all the genealogy things you pay for and figure out their value to you. If you're in the genealogy biz (societies, too), make sure your services or products provide value and that you understand your customer/user/client.
Let's talk about the reference interview. This was brought up in several sessions including this one. When you first contact a librarian, he or she will initiate a reference interview. This is done to determine what you're looking for so they can provide the right materials or answers. Often people will ask for one thing, but it turns out they really want another. A reference interview hashes that out at the beginning, saving time and getting better results for everyone.
When it comes to dealing with genealogy clients, I often go the reference interview route, too. People email me and ask "I need help! How much to you charge?" I reply back with a bunch of questions because I need to define the project before I can put a price tag on it. This can go on for several replies and potential clients get antsy because they want a price. But I can't give you a price until I know what the project will entail. That's just how I roll. One time I contacted a professional genealogist about doing some work for my own family history. She replied back with a price list. That's it. No questions about what I wanted and was hoping to accomplish. Thanks and buh-bye.
Much is written and discussed in library circles about user experience. It is essential because libraries need users to keep going. Do you see how this translates to the genealogy field? Ancestry.com needs users. Genealogy societies need users. Your professional genealogy business needs users. Your genealogy blog that you just write for fun needs users. Take a hard look at your corner of the genealogy world and see if you know who your users are and what they value.
Debriefing
I'm really glad I spent the money to attend this SLA virtual conference. I wasn't sure how relevant it would be since I'm straddling the information field right now but I found lots to keep me current in research practices.
I tried my best to cull information relevant to the business of genealogy and discuss it here. I hope it did help a few of you. If not, then better luck next time.
Showing posts with label professional development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label professional development. Show all posts
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Dispatches from the SLA Virtual Conference (as They Pertain to Genealogy)
Today I attended the Special Libraries Association (SLA) Virtual Conference.
Special libraries include businesses, museums, law offices, hospitals, government entities, solo librarians, independent information professionals (yo!) and everything else that doesn't fall under the traditional school/academic/public umbrella of libraries.
The special library track was my "thing" in library school. I loved the concept of subject specialty. I loved the science of research. Precision and recall are my idea of a good bar conversation.
Though I've moved to the genealogy world, I still like to keep my toes in the special library pool. You see, genealogy education is a drug of the over-the-counter variety. Nice for minor use, but sometimes I need a hit of Improved Research Skills and SLA is my dealer.
Some of what I learned on day 1 of this virtual conference translates to the professional genealogy world, so I decided to include a few sound bites here. Session titles are in bold.
1. A Profession in Transformation; Including Five Habits of Highly Effective Information Professionals
Simon Lord
One thing I love about SLA is that they know their identity. They are information professionals, plain and simple. Subject specialty doesn't matter. Credentials (or lack thereof) do not matter. Each member is an information professional in one way or another and they move the association forward as a unified body.
Information professionals are always communicating their value. They have to because their value to their employers is always being questioned. "Why do I need you when I can look everything up on Google?" Does this sound familiar, professional genealogy types? Info pros hear this All. The. Time. They answer with quality reports produced in less time which translates to savings for the company. However, communicating value is a never-ending task, which is why it stressed so heavily in info-pro circles.
Do you see ways professional genealogists can communicate their value, too? I don't mean walrus barking about your "qualifications." I mean busting your butt and producing quality work. I mean answering someone's questions and offering them a business card and a smile that says you're the right person for the job and you have the knowledge to back it up. You get the idea.
Every research or library-based group I've ever belonged to stressed the importance of information professionals "keeping current," especially with technology. This is more than downloading the latest app on your smartphone (or for some actually getting a smartphone).
In the information-professional world, keeping current is part of the job. In the professional genealogy world, I've experienced a weird indifference, especially when it comes to technology. Keeping current can save you time and money. Keeping current can make you a better researcher, writer, record keeper, etc. To do your job well, you should know the latest tech tools. You may not use them, but you should know how to use them and who else does. You need to know the latest databases online (and these are constantly coming online). You need to know what records repositories are adding, updating and saying online and offline. You need to know developments in genealogy software. How can I as a potential client or sub-contractor feel good about hiring you as a professional genealogist if you don't assure me you are "current?" You might miss the very item I need to make my project a success.
This virtual conference session also discussed more library-ish effective habits, but the best takeaways for professional genealogy (in my opinion) were promoting value and keeping current.
2. Go Beyond Google: Gathering Competitive Intelligence
Sean Campbell
I really dig competitive intelligence, so this session was right up my alley. I have found that the skills one acquires doing this type of research come in handy in professional genealogy, too.
Market analysis of the genealogy industry is best performed using competitive intelligence tools. These skills are also handy for finding living people, such as you would do in forensic genealogy.
This speaker had a background in the tech industry, but his knowledge translated well into other fields. He really liked Twitter as an information tool (as do I) and spent a large portion of the presentation on various Twitter analytic tools one can use to gather business information. This is more than just monitoring tweets. It's measuring the reach of hashtags, finding influencers and more.
Several tools were mentioned. They are Tweetreach.com, Follwerwonk, and Foller.me.
Much of the session was also dedicated to LinkedIn as a business intelligence resource. Again, this is a really good tool if you're trying to get information on genealogy companies (or those that have the data we want) or living people (as you'd want in forensic genealogy).
I learned some neat tricks in this session and I intend on practicing them by doing a little research of my own in the genealogy industry.
3. Just Say No to Aimlessness! Strategic Leveraging of Social Media Content
Ethel Salonen, Cheryl Yanek
The first speaker in this session was a librarian/social media person for a non-profit. She talked about how they used social media tools to reach their intended audiences. Some of the takeaways from which the pro genealogy world would benefit are:
Don't send the same message to all of your social media channels. Learn who your audience is on each site. This is a big pet peeve of mine. Many genealogy businesses and researchers phone in social media this way. You're not fully engaged and it shows.
Be aware of those who can influence your brand. These folks can come from media, celebrities, clients, peers, etc.). In the genealogy world, influencers can be those same people. Determining influencers can also be done using social media analytic tools, just like what was mentioned in the first session. See how this all fits together?
What is worthy of sharing? Keep your personal self out of social media. Um...do as I say, not as I do here. My single Twitter account is a free for all and I have no intention of changing it. However, as the speaker says, steer clear of the more personal rants on your business accounts. It seems like common sense, but I look at some accounts and wonder...
Social media is a conversation, not a monologue. Create an engagement strategy. Keep your followers engaged. Another huge pet peeve of mine in the genealogy business world. Lots of pushing products, links, etc. and minimal dialogue with followers. As the speaker was talking about this point, I started thinking about social media accounts in the genealogy business world. There is one account that keeps posting the same thing over and over. I will never understand it. Then I got to thinking some more and decided I really like the way Ancestry.com initiates dialogue and engages followers on their Twitter account. I mentally gave them a gold star. Then I got to thinking about how if you ask RootsMagic a question on their Facebook page, you often have an answer from their team in a matter of minutes. I mentally gave them a gold star, too.
Don't be afraid to fail. Take risks.
This speaker was so cool. She's tried all these social media tools in her job and shared her experiences with them, even the ones that didn't work. It's a matter of learning what works for you and doesn't. Same thing applies in the genealogy business world.
The next speaker in this session talked about an in-house social media tool that her company uses. This did not translate well into genealogy so I used that time to start this blog post.
Overall my first day at this virtual conference went really well. I'm glad I spent the money as I feel it is helping sharpen my research skills. I hope my decision to blog about it here was a good idea. I just wanted others to see how information-based events from other associations outside the genealogy field are good for business within the field.
Read about day 2 here.
(Edited to add: The virtual conference sessions were done through GoToMeeting. I had three different unique links for three different log-in times (45 minute break between sessions). It was just like a genealogy webinar experience.)
Special libraries include businesses, museums, law offices, hospitals, government entities, solo librarians, independent information professionals (yo!) and everything else that doesn't fall under the traditional school/academic/public umbrella of libraries.
The special library track was my "thing" in library school. I loved the concept of subject specialty. I loved the science of research. Precision and recall are my idea of a good bar conversation.
Though I've moved to the genealogy world, I still like to keep my toes in the special library pool. You see, genealogy education is a drug of the over-the-counter variety. Nice for minor use, but sometimes I need a hit of Improved Research Skills and SLA is my dealer.
Some of what I learned on day 1 of this virtual conference translates to the professional genealogy world, so I decided to include a few sound bites here. Session titles are in bold.
1. A Profession in Transformation; Including Five Habits of Highly Effective Information Professionals
Simon Lord
One thing I love about SLA is that they know their identity. They are information professionals, plain and simple. Subject specialty doesn't matter. Credentials (or lack thereof) do not matter. Each member is an information professional in one way or another and they move the association forward as a unified body.
Information professionals are always communicating their value. They have to because their value to their employers is always being questioned. "Why do I need you when I can look everything up on Google?" Does this sound familiar, professional genealogy types? Info pros hear this All. The. Time. They answer with quality reports produced in less time which translates to savings for the company. However, communicating value is a never-ending task, which is why it stressed so heavily in info-pro circles.
Do you see ways professional genealogists can communicate their value, too? I don't mean walrus barking about your "qualifications." I mean busting your butt and producing quality work. I mean answering someone's questions and offering them a business card and a smile that says you're the right person for the job and you have the knowledge to back it up. You get the idea.
Every research or library-based group I've ever belonged to stressed the importance of information professionals "keeping current," especially with technology. This is more than downloading the latest app on your smartphone (or for some actually getting a smartphone).
In the information-professional world, keeping current is part of the job. In the professional genealogy world, I've experienced a weird indifference, especially when it comes to technology. Keeping current can save you time and money. Keeping current can make you a better researcher, writer, record keeper, etc. To do your job well, you should know the latest tech tools. You may not use them, but you should know how to use them and who else does. You need to know the latest databases online (and these are constantly coming online). You need to know what records repositories are adding, updating and saying online and offline. You need to know developments in genealogy software. How can I as a potential client or sub-contractor feel good about hiring you as a professional genealogist if you don't assure me you are "current?" You might miss the very item I need to make my project a success.
This virtual conference session also discussed more library-ish effective habits, but the best takeaways for professional genealogy (in my opinion) were promoting value and keeping current.
2. Go Beyond Google: Gathering Competitive Intelligence
Sean Campbell
I really dig competitive intelligence, so this session was right up my alley. I have found that the skills one acquires doing this type of research come in handy in professional genealogy, too.
Market analysis of the genealogy industry is best performed using competitive intelligence tools. These skills are also handy for finding living people, such as you would do in forensic genealogy.
This speaker had a background in the tech industry, but his knowledge translated well into other fields. He really liked Twitter as an information tool (as do I) and spent a large portion of the presentation on various Twitter analytic tools one can use to gather business information. This is more than just monitoring tweets. It's measuring the reach of hashtags, finding influencers and more.
Several tools were mentioned. They are Tweetreach.com, Follwerwonk, and Foller.me.
Much of the session was also dedicated to LinkedIn as a business intelligence resource. Again, this is a really good tool if you're trying to get information on genealogy companies (or those that have the data we want) or living people (as you'd want in forensic genealogy).
I learned some neat tricks in this session and I intend on practicing them by doing a little research of my own in the genealogy industry.
3. Just Say No to Aimlessness! Strategic Leveraging of Social Media Content
Ethel Salonen, Cheryl Yanek
The first speaker in this session was a librarian/social media person for a non-profit. She talked about how they used social media tools to reach their intended audiences. Some of the takeaways from which the pro genealogy world would benefit are:
Don't send the same message to all of your social media channels. Learn who your audience is on each site. This is a big pet peeve of mine. Many genealogy businesses and researchers phone in social media this way. You're not fully engaged and it shows.
Be aware of those who can influence your brand. These folks can come from media, celebrities, clients, peers, etc.). In the genealogy world, influencers can be those same people. Determining influencers can also be done using social media analytic tools, just like what was mentioned in the first session. See how this all fits together?
What is worthy of sharing? Keep your personal self out of social media. Um...do as I say, not as I do here. My single Twitter account is a free for all and I have no intention of changing it. However, as the speaker says, steer clear of the more personal rants on your business accounts. It seems like common sense, but I look at some accounts and wonder...
Social media is a conversation, not a monologue. Create an engagement strategy. Keep your followers engaged. Another huge pet peeve of mine in the genealogy business world. Lots of pushing products, links, etc. and minimal dialogue with followers. As the speaker was talking about this point, I started thinking about social media accounts in the genealogy business world. There is one account that keeps posting the same thing over and over. I will never understand it. Then I got to thinking some more and decided I really like the way Ancestry.com initiates dialogue and engages followers on their Twitter account. I mentally gave them a gold star. Then I got to thinking about how if you ask RootsMagic a question on their Facebook page, you often have an answer from their team in a matter of minutes. I mentally gave them a gold star, too.
Don't be afraid to fail. Take risks.
This speaker was so cool. She's tried all these social media tools in her job and shared her experiences with them, even the ones that didn't work. It's a matter of learning what works for you and doesn't. Same thing applies in the genealogy business world.
The next speaker in this session talked about an in-house social media tool that her company uses. This did not translate well into genealogy so I used that time to start this blog post.
Overall my first day at this virtual conference went really well. I'm glad I spent the money as I feel it is helping sharpen my research skills. I hope my decision to blog about it here was a good idea. I just wanted others to see how information-based events from other associations outside the genealogy field are good for business within the field.
Read about day 2 here.
(Edited to add: The virtual conference sessions were done through GoToMeeting. I had three different unique links for three different log-in times (45 minute break between sessions). It was just like a genealogy webinar experience.)
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Mind the Gap: Comparing Genealogy Associations to Other Info-Based Groups
In catching up on my blog reading, I came upon a post written by the CEO of the Special Libraries Association (SLA). This group serves information professionals that don't exactly fit in the traditional public, school or academic library settings. Members are often employed in businesses, legal firms, government agencies, museums or anywhere else a collection of materials needs to be managed. A lot of them are solos in their positions without a team or other peers. They do the research and the information management themselves. Some SLA members are also independent researchers for hire, much like professional genealogists.
The SLA blog post that stood out to me was the recap of 2012 events and accomplishments put forth by the group. Here is the link. Please read the post, then come back here so we can talk. Go ahead, I'll wait:
SLA in 2012: Laying the Groundwork for an Essential Association
So...what do you think? Do the statements, observations and intentions made there translate to the major genealogy associations? I'm going to pull some sentences from the SLA blog post to tell you what I think...
"An Essential Association"
SLA knows its value and tells us so right in the title of this post. Do major genealogy associations view themselves as essential? Do they walk the walk? I've seen them exist. Provide some value. But be essential to my genealogical life? No.
"The vibrant associations of tomorrow will be the ones...that stop speaking in nouns like conference, magazine and Webinar and start thinking in verbs like transform, renew and inspire."
I often joke that if you want to see where genealogy as a field will be in five years, look at there the library field is right now. That humor never goes over well, but it's true. Genealogy just embraced Webinars in 2012, and they're already in the rear-view mirror at SLA. I'm not knocking the Webinar format, just saying that SLA has been using it for years. On the information highway, who is in the fast lane and who is traveling at 45MPH with their blinker on?
Does the genealogy community think in verbs? Do you want them to? You can probably guess my answer.
"(Our upcoming 2013 website) should be a go-to resource to help information professionals network, learn and collaborate...not a place to store items that are viewed and downloaded a handful of times each year."
I can think of some go-to/can't-live-without websites in genealogy, but none is an association website. SLA is making me want to be a member, because you know there will be some real treasures in that chest.
..."Our magazine, Information Outlook, (is transforming) from a printed publication to an online digital product that can be viewed on tablets, laptops and smartphones. (It) will be easy to bookmark, share and search, helping transform it from a static reference tool to a mobile resource for ideas and inspiration."
TAKE MY MONEY NOW! No, really. I'm still receiving printed genealogy publications in the mail with articles like, "Why you need an online presence." I've had an online presence since 1994. I want the digital product that will give me ideas and inspiration!
"The changes we're making are not one-off attempts to breathe new life into familiar products and services; rather, they are part of a comprehensive effort to redefine SLA, to change it from an association organized around a common profession and interests to one that enhances members' careers, their peer relationships, and their professional development."
The Special Libraries Association knows its members. It knows that they want. It knows what they need. It knows what to give them in order to become indispensable in their lives. They do speak in verbs. They continuously move forward. They are all about improving and ensuring that their members do, too. Collaboration is everywhere there.
How does this compare to the major genealogy associations? What do their end-of-the-year blog recaps say? Do they even have recaps? Do they even have active blogs? Do you see where I'm going with this?
Here's where I'm going with this:
1. It's time for professional genealogists to learn from other types of information professionals. There's much more in common than you realize. You can go outside the genealogy community to enhance your skills and development. You can also bring back to the genealogy community and share with them what you've learned.
2. There are significant gaps between major genealogy associations and those catering to other information professionals. Brand identity, self-awareness, technology adoption, forward thinking. Even the use of verbs.
3. Major genealogy associations, societies and individual professionals can all benefit from the examples in the SLA blog post. Really. I see so many takeaways that can be applied to genealogy. I hope you see them, too.
4. It's ok if you think I'm a nut job for the opinions I've expressed in this post. Just understand that Curt Witcher gave a fabulously inspirational keynote on innovation and meeting the needs of others at the 2011 RootsTech Conference. D. Joshua Taylor also gave a powerful speech on the need for genealogy organizations to be indispensable in their own communities at the 2012 Federation of Genealogical Societies conference. They used many of the action verbs also included in the SLA blog post. So if I'm crazy, then they're crazy, too. I'm taking everyone down with me.
I might be talking to a wall here. Maybe what I need and expect from an association when I hand over my membership dues is not what others need and expect. If so, that's ok. It's just that this SLA blog post really showed me the differences between A and B. There's a big gap there. Maybe it doesn't bother others as much as it does me.
Genealogy is part of the information highway. There are also lots of other subjects, fields and people on the same information highway. We are all going the same direction, but at different speeds and angles. Which lane are you in? Which lane do you want to be in? Me? I'm going to mingle with some associations and colleagues that speak in verbs and push my professional development into the high-occupancy vehicle lane. Beep beep.
The SLA blog post that stood out to me was the recap of 2012 events and accomplishments put forth by the group. Here is the link. Please read the post, then come back here so we can talk. Go ahead, I'll wait:
SLA in 2012: Laying the Groundwork for an Essential Association
So...what do you think? Do the statements, observations and intentions made there translate to the major genealogy associations? I'm going to pull some sentences from the SLA blog post to tell you what I think...
"An Essential Association"
SLA knows its value and tells us so right in the title of this post. Do major genealogy associations view themselves as essential? Do they walk the walk? I've seen them exist. Provide some value. But be essential to my genealogical life? No.
"The vibrant associations of tomorrow will be the ones...that stop speaking in nouns like conference, magazine and Webinar and start thinking in verbs like transform, renew and inspire."
I often joke that if you want to see where genealogy as a field will be in five years, look at there the library field is right now. That humor never goes over well, but it's true. Genealogy just embraced Webinars in 2012, and they're already in the rear-view mirror at SLA. I'm not knocking the Webinar format, just saying that SLA has been using it for years. On the information highway, who is in the fast lane and who is traveling at 45MPH with their blinker on?
Does the genealogy community think in verbs? Do you want them to? You can probably guess my answer.
"(Our upcoming 2013 website) should be a go-to resource to help information professionals network, learn and collaborate...not a place to store items that are viewed and downloaded a handful of times each year."
I can think of some go-to/can't-live-without websites in genealogy, but none is an association website. SLA is making me want to be a member, because you know there will be some real treasures in that chest.
..."Our magazine, Information Outlook, (is transforming) from a printed publication to an online digital product that can be viewed on tablets, laptops and smartphones. (It) will be easy to bookmark, share and search, helping transform it from a static reference tool to a mobile resource for ideas and inspiration."
TAKE MY MONEY NOW! No, really. I'm still receiving printed genealogy publications in the mail with articles like, "Why you need an online presence." I've had an online presence since 1994. I want the digital product that will give me ideas and inspiration!
"The changes we're making are not one-off attempts to breathe new life into familiar products and services; rather, they are part of a comprehensive effort to redefine SLA, to change it from an association organized around a common profession and interests to one that enhances members' careers, their peer relationships, and their professional development."
The Special Libraries Association knows its members. It knows that they want. It knows what they need. It knows what to give them in order to become indispensable in their lives. They do speak in verbs. They continuously move forward. They are all about improving and ensuring that their members do, too. Collaboration is everywhere there.
How does this compare to the major genealogy associations? What do their end-of-the-year blog recaps say? Do they even have recaps? Do they even have active blogs? Do you see where I'm going with this?
Here's where I'm going with this:
1. It's time for professional genealogists to learn from other types of information professionals. There's much more in common than you realize. You can go outside the genealogy community to enhance your skills and development. You can also bring back to the genealogy community and share with them what you've learned.
2. There are significant gaps between major genealogy associations and those catering to other information professionals. Brand identity, self-awareness, technology adoption, forward thinking. Even the use of verbs.
3. Major genealogy associations, societies and individual professionals can all benefit from the examples in the SLA blog post. Really. I see so many takeaways that can be applied to genealogy. I hope you see them, too.
4. It's ok if you think I'm a nut job for the opinions I've expressed in this post. Just understand that Curt Witcher gave a fabulously inspirational keynote on innovation and meeting the needs of others at the 2011 RootsTech Conference. D. Joshua Taylor also gave a powerful speech on the need for genealogy organizations to be indispensable in their own communities at the 2012 Federation of Genealogical Societies conference. They used many of the action verbs also included in the SLA blog post. So if I'm crazy, then they're crazy, too. I'm taking everyone down with me.
I might be talking to a wall here. Maybe what I need and expect from an association when I hand over my membership dues is not what others need and expect. If so, that's ok. It's just that this SLA blog post really showed me the differences between A and B. There's a big gap there. Maybe it doesn't bother others as much as it does me.
Genealogy is part of the information highway. There are also lots of other subjects, fields and people on the same information highway. We are all going the same direction, but at different speeds and angles. Which lane are you in? Which lane do you want to be in? Me? I'm going to mingle with some associations and colleagues that speak in verbs and push my professional development into the high-occupancy vehicle lane. Beep beep.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
2011 RIGS Alliance Workshop in Fort Worth
FYI. I thought some of my TX/OK/AR readers might be interested in this: [--Amy]
Jasper, Georgia (3 July 2011)—The Regional In-depth Genealogical Studies Alliance (RIGS Alliance) will present a week-long workshop at the National Archives at Fort Worth, Texas (26-30 September 2011).
RIGS Alliance workshops are designed for genealogists, historians, and librarians with a general genealogical or historical grounding who want to learn skills and techniques for researching original records at national and regional archives. To ensure a quality experience, enrollment is limited to eighteen participants. Although the workshops focus on records within the region, many of the record types are available at other NARA regional facilities.
Activities are based on an integrated curriculum with an emphasis on methodology and problem-solving skills. Attendees work in teams to complete assigned projects and to build confidence in research proficiency. All workshops provide an opportunity for on-site research.
Workshop staff includes J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA; and Linda Woodward Geiger, CG, CGL, co-directors of RIGS Alliance, with assistance of the expert staff members at the National Archives at Fort Worth.
Strike now! Early Registrations (save $100) must be received by August 15th.
For details about the RIGS Alliance workshops, visit the web site at www.rigsalliance.org. Questions may be addressed to info@rigsalliance.org.
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Monday, May 30, 2011
Houston Area Genealogy Event This Friday
Friday, June 3, there will be a meeting of the Lone Star Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists from 7-9 p.m in Houston. You can find the details here.
Everyone is welcome! You do not have to be a member of APG, the Lone Star Chapter, or even a professional genealogist. If you don't feel comfortable crashing such an event, let me know and we'll form an entourage and make an entrance together.
I'm speaking at this event about my experience at RootsTech. I'll be talking about the RootsTech event in general, it's differences from other genealogy conferences and how it can benefit genealogists from a professional perspective.
Though I have a list of points I want to make, I hope to make this a group discussion more than a lecture. I want people to ask questions and learn as we go. Sort of like in the spirit of RootsTech.
If you're in the Houston area on Friday night, please come say hi! There will be cookies.
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Everyone is welcome! You do not have to be a member of APG, the Lone Star Chapter, or even a professional genealogist. If you don't feel comfortable crashing such an event, let me know and we'll form an entourage and make an entrance together.
I'm speaking at this event about my experience at RootsTech. I'll be talking about the RootsTech event in general, it's differences from other genealogy conferences and how it can benefit genealogists from a professional perspective.
Though I have a list of points I want to make, I hope to make this a group discussion more than a lecture. I want people to ask questions and learn as we go. Sort of like in the spirit of RootsTech.
If you're in the Houston area on Friday night, please come say hi! There will be cookies.
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Friday, March 25, 2011
Hear ye, hear ye
Houstonians mark your calendars. On June 3 I'll be speaking at the Lone Star APG meeting. The topic is my experience at the 2011 RootsTech conference. I will be talking about the value of the conference from a professional genealogist perspective.
My guess is that there are some people are trying to determine if it's worth it to go to the 2012 RootsTech conference. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you already know what I'm going to say.
This Lone Star APG event is free and open to the public. The exact location in Houston hasn't been confirmed, so check back with me in a few. The event coordinator is working on getting a room reserved now.
If you are interested in attending but don't want walk in alone in a room full of strangers, let me know and I'll say you're part of my entourage.
Ta-da! Instant network.
Hope to see you there.
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My guess is that there are some people are trying to determine if it's worth it to go to the 2012 RootsTech conference. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you already know what I'm going to say.
This Lone Star APG event is free and open to the public. The exact location in Houston hasn't been confirmed, so check back with me in a few. The event coordinator is working on getting a room reserved now.
If you are interested in attending but don't want walk in alone in a room full of strangers, let me know and I'll say you're part of my entourage.
Ta-da! Instant network.
Hope to see you there.
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Thursday, April 29, 2010
Another ProGen Update
Today I turned in my assignment for this month's ProGen topic. Can you believe I'm already on month 13? I think there are 18 months, so I'm almost done.
April's task had to do with writing research reports. Several examples were given in the Professional Genealogy book. I opted for a letter-style report. Mine wasn't an actual report, but a sample I produced for the assignment. It included a letter to an imaginary client, a description of the work performed, an attached document that met the client's need (with appropriate citation included) and an invoice.
The invoice wasn't part of the assignment, but the report samples indicated them as attachments, so I decided to make one. I'm glad I did because the document came out great and now I have a template I can use in the "real world."
The good thing about the ProGen experience is that each person brings something different to the table. The bad thing about ProGen is that I always feel weird for bringing something different to the table. I have no idea how my assignment will be received. I did my best, however, and I learned a lot. In the end, that's all that really counts.
Interested in the ProGen experience? Join the waiting list.
April's task had to do with writing research reports. Several examples were given in the Professional Genealogy book. I opted for a letter-style report. Mine wasn't an actual report, but a sample I produced for the assignment. It included a letter to an imaginary client, a description of the work performed, an attached document that met the client's need (with appropriate citation included) and an invoice.
The invoice wasn't part of the assignment, but the report samples indicated them as attachments, so I decided to make one. I'm glad I did because the document came out great and now I have a template I can use in the "real world."
The good thing about the ProGen experience is that each person brings something different to the table. The bad thing about ProGen is that I always feel weird for bringing something different to the table. I have no idea how my assignment will be received. I did my best, however, and I learned a lot. In the end, that's all that really counts.
Interested in the ProGen experience? Join the waiting list.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
ProGen Explained
Recently, the official ProGen website went live. This makes me very happy because I was having a hard time explaining ProGen to people and what exactly I was doing in the group. Now, all I have to do is refer people to the link.
I belong to ProGen 3. We have a few assignments under out belts and are starting to get into a groove. The first online interactions were kind of formal, but I sense things changing as we learn more about each other.
I love ProGen. It was the educational experience I was looking for and couldn't find in the genealogy community. There are assignments about research. There are assignments about the business end of genealogy. ProGen--for me--has been everything I can't find (but want to) in the National Genealogical Society course and the Association of Professional Genealogists membership. And it's free.
ProGen is an 18-month commitment. You have an assignment every month. You are expected to offer feedback on everyone else's work. You also meet monthly online to chat about the chapter covered during that time period.
It sounds scary, but it's not. Everyone brings different experiences and skill sets to the table. We learn from each other. So far I've actually had fun doing the homework and I haven't screwed up too much. That's a win in my book.
If you have serious genealogical aspirations or really want to challenge yourself, I encourage you to consider signing up for an upcoming ProGen session. I'm happy to answer any questions you have and coax you into it as well. :)
I belong to ProGen 3. We have a few assignments under out belts and are starting to get into a groove. The first online interactions were kind of formal, but I sense things changing as we learn more about each other.
I love ProGen. It was the educational experience I was looking for and couldn't find in the genealogy community. There are assignments about research. There are assignments about the business end of genealogy. ProGen--for me--has been everything I can't find (but want to) in the National Genealogical Society course and the Association of Professional Genealogists membership. And it's free.
ProGen is an 18-month commitment. You have an assignment every month. You are expected to offer feedback on everyone else's work. You also meet monthly online to chat about the chapter covered during that time period.
It sounds scary, but it's not. Everyone brings different experiences and skill sets to the table. We learn from each other. So far I've actually had fun doing the homework and I haven't screwed up too much. That's a win in my book.
If you have serious genealogical aspirations or really want to challenge yourself, I encourage you to consider signing up for an upcoming ProGen session. I'm happy to answer any questions you have and coax you into it as well. :)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Gentle Advice for Genealogy Societies
[Note: The television show mentioned below never aired as expected. However, the advice for genealogy society still stands. Groups should always be prepared for an influx of web site traffic. --Amy, July 2009]
In April 2009, an American adaptation of the British series Who Do You Think You Are? will run on NBC. If this show is well accepted, interest in genealogy could rise. People will start Googling their family names and searching for ways to learn more about genealogy. When these new folks click on your genealogical society's web page, what will they see? Will it be enough to get them through your virtual door?
In the process of creating the Texas Genealogy Events calendar, I have looked at the web sites of dozens of local, regional and statewide genealogical societies.
However, culling event information from some genealogical web sites has been surprisingly challenging. If you--as part of a genealogical society--are interested in attracting an audience for your events and gaining new members, I offer the following suggestions:
Keep your web site current. Use dates and years. Does your event page say the current year anywhere on it? If you post a list that says, "Meeting on March 1," or "Meeting the first Thursday of the month," how are we supposed to know if you mean this year? It may seem basic to long-time society members, but potential new members won't know the routine. In my web site visits, I saw several genealogy societies' web sites that showed no year information anywhere and I had no idea if the society was still going strong, or if the page I was visiting was an old one.
Provide detailed location information. "Meeting at the library," does not tell potential new members where to go. At the very least, provide the name of the library, the address and a phone number someone could call if they were lost on the way.
Include email addresses where questions can be addressed, then answer those questions. When trying to build this calendar, I had questions I wanted to ask before adding events of certain societies. I emailed five or six different societies, asking if "meeting 1st Thursday of the month" was still going on, or requesting clarification of some confusing details. Not a single society I emailed returned a reply. One of the societies was a biggie, and I was surprised at the silence.
Make your group and events sound fun! The Internet is the stage on which your genealogical society is standing, and the potential new members clicking on your web site are the audience. What kind of impression does your web site give, and will it entice visitors to take the next step? It's very hard to enter a meeting room full of people where you don't know a soul. Tell us what to expect and convince us to walk through the door. If you have a social time before your meeting, describe it. Will there be coffee and treats? Are there smaller groups gathering after the meeting to discuss specific genealogical topics? Describe those events. Are there regular casual meetings at local restaurants? Tell us and make sure new people know they're welcome.
Many smaller genealogy societies are barely hanging on, and frankly, they need new blood. Having a web site with current, detailed information and veteran members willing to reach out will attract the eager new members that are out there. A genealogy web site does not have to be fancy, but it should provide enough information to sell itself to the larger genealogical audience.
In April 2009, an American adaptation of the British series Who Do You Think You Are? will run on NBC. If this show is well accepted, interest in genealogy could rise. People will start Googling their family names and searching for ways to learn more about genealogy. When these new folks click on your genealogical society's web page, what will they see? Will it be enough to get them through your virtual door?
In the process of creating the Texas Genealogy Events calendar, I have looked at the web sites of dozens of local, regional and statewide genealogical societies.
However, culling event information from some genealogical web sites has been surprisingly challenging. If you--as part of a genealogical society--are interested in attracting an audience for your events and gaining new members, I offer the following suggestions:
Keep your web site current. Use dates and years. Does your event page say the current year anywhere on it? If you post a list that says, "Meeting on March 1," or "Meeting the first Thursday of the month," how are we supposed to know if you mean this year? It may seem basic to long-time society members, but potential new members won't know the routine. In my web site visits, I saw several genealogy societies' web sites that showed no year information anywhere and I had no idea if the society was still going strong, or if the page I was visiting was an old one.
Provide detailed location information. "Meeting at the library," does not tell potential new members where to go. At the very least, provide the name of the library, the address and a phone number someone could call if they were lost on the way.
Include email addresses where questions can be addressed, then answer those questions. When trying to build this calendar, I had questions I wanted to ask before adding events of certain societies. I emailed five or six different societies, asking if "meeting 1st Thursday of the month" was still going on, or requesting clarification of some confusing details. Not a single society I emailed returned a reply. One of the societies was a biggie, and I was surprised at the silence.
Make your group and events sound fun! The Internet is the stage on which your genealogical society is standing, and the potential new members clicking on your web site are the audience. What kind of impression does your web site give, and will it entice visitors to take the next step? It's very hard to enter a meeting room full of people where you don't know a soul. Tell us what to expect and convince us to walk through the door. If you have a social time before your meeting, describe it. Will there be coffee and treats? Are there smaller groups gathering after the meeting to discuss specific genealogical topics? Describe those events. Are there regular casual meetings at local restaurants? Tell us and make sure new people know they're welcome.
Many smaller genealogy societies are barely hanging on, and frankly, they need new blood. Having a web site with current, detailed information and veteran members willing to reach out will attract the eager new members that are out there. A genealogy web site does not have to be fancy, but it should provide enough information to sell itself to the larger genealogical audience.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog. 52 Ideas. 52 Weeks. Part 2
There are so many ideas, this piece is divided into 2 parts. Begin with Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog, 52 Ideas. 52 Weeks. Part 1, then continue to ideas 27-52 below:
27. Visit the graves of local celebrities. Talk about their lives. The word “celebrity” is used very loosely here. Just do some research and you’ll find some fascinating people buried within. Tell your readers about these past lives and they’ll be hooked on your blog.
28. Write about the genealogy software you use. Comment on any tips, tricks or complaints you may have about the product.
29. Write about your favorite genealogy web sites. It seems like a new web site pops up every day. Tell us about the ones you like best.
30. Write about your experiences with social networking tools for genealogy purposes. Do you use MySpace, Facebook or Twitter? Are you a wiki kind of person? None of the above? Tell readers about your experiences with these tools and watch your own social network grow.
31. Have a family member be a guest blogger. Let a family member take the reins and provide a different perspective for a post or two. If you can’t find anyone to take the job, interview a relative and spotlight the person yourself.
32. Update older posts. If you find more information related to a previous post, create an update post. Link to the older posts to refresh readers’ memories, then give us the details on new discoveries.
33. Highlight the good work of others. List your favorite posts of the week/month/year. This is an easy way to give some blog love and write an easy post. You can use this idea as little or as much as you want.
34. Share a photo that conjures mixed emotions in you. Explain why this is the case as you detail the who/what/when/where/why of the subject matter.
35. Talk about an orphan picture containing people you do not know. Provide comments on your best guess about date, place, subjects.
36. Talk about military battles and your ancestors’ connections to them.
37. Talk about historical events and your ancestors’ connections to them.
38. Talk about natural disasters and your ancestors’ connections to them.
39. Did your ancestors come by boat? Talk about the documentation that records their departure and arrival.
40. Discuss on your ancestors’ land records. Where did they live? Who were their neighbors?
41. Talk about any unusual occupations your ancestors had.
42. Campaign for the politicians in your family tree. If you don’t have one, research the political leaders in your ancestors’ city, county, or state and share the information on your blog.
43. Go directly to jail and talk about your ancestors in the slammer.
44. Dig around the patent office. Talk about your creative ancestors and their inventions. You can also pick a patent and research the registrant.
45. Extra, read all about it! Do you have an ancestor featured in a newspaper article that wasn’t an obituary? Share the article (or a bit of it if there are copyright concerns) on your blog.
46. Comment on obituaries in your collection. Obits come in all shapes and sizes. Share some of the stand-outs with readers.
47. Seek help for records that don’t make sense. Do you have a census page or family record that contains information that just doesn’t add up? Discuss it in your blog and see if readers can help.
48. Open up the ancestral military and pension files. Talk about the records contained within.
49. Use your blog like a sounding board for research plans. Sometimes it helps to write down what you want to do, so you can plan how to do it.
50. Ask questions on your blog. Get answers from readers. Need to find a record? Need to know the parking situation at a big repository? Throw the questions out there and see what happens.
51. Talk about the email discussion lists to which you belong. Are they great? Too quiet? Informative? Let readers know.
52. Discuss your favorite genealogy publication. Why do you like it? Is it worth the money? How would you improve it?
There you go! 52 blog writing ideas for 52 weeks of the year. Use these prompts for times when you’re stuck about something to write about. Hopefully, genealogy blog writing will evolve from a resolution to a wonderful habit that’s automatic.
[Edit: Due to spammers targeting this particular post, I've had disable comments here. I am very sorry for this. If you'd like to comment on this post or have questions, feel free to email me using the address listed on the side of this blog. Thanks!]
Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog. 52 ideas. 52 weeks. Part 1
As quick review of genealogy blogs shows that many bloggers have made resolutions to write more about genealogy in 2009. Yes, you should blog more about genealogy! Carve out a little time for yourself (that means make an appointment for YOU and put it on your calendar). If you have a little writer’s block, don't worry. Help is on the way
Below are some genealogy blog prompts to jump start your brain. There are 52 in all, one for each week of the year. These are not intended to be done in order. Skip around and repeat all you want, so long as you have fun!
1. Upload your favorite picture and talk about it on your blog. Answer the who/what/when/where/why of the subject matter and explain why it is your favorite.
2. Participate in carnivals. A blog carnival is a showcase of bloggers’ posts on a given topic. Genealogy bloggers LOVE carnivals because there’s something for everyone. To learn about when these showcase-type events are happening, read others’ genealogy blogs. Someone’s always talking about a carnival.
3. Participate in weekly blog themes: Tombstone Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday, etc. Many genealogy bloggers post photos of grave stones on Tombstone Tuesday or a photo worth 1,000 silent words on Wordless Wednesday. Participate in these informal events or invent your own.
4. Take a genealogy day trip and blog about it. Discover the local history and genealogy in your area. Take a trip to a cemetery or other historic location. Describe the day, what you learned, where you went, how it looked, how it sounded. Armchair genealogists will love the mini travelogue.
5. Talk about your genealogy adventures while on vacation. Doesn’t everyone plan a little genealogy visit during vacation? Take your readers along for the ride.
6. Let readers in to your kitchen. Discuss your family’s favorite foods. What was a typical Sunday dinner in your childhood house? What did grandma make that had you coming back for more? Were there any dishes that the dog wouldn’t even eat?
7. Share your holiday traditions. How did you spend the 4th of July? Did the fire truck ever come to your house on Thanksgiving? Share your memories of all holidays, not just the December ones.
8. Talk about highlights and events from your local genealogy society. Most genealogy bloggers are members of several historical societies and love to hear about the events in other organizations. This is also a great way to attract new members.
9. Attend a local genealogy presentation and talk about the experience. How was the speaker? How was the venue? How did the event help your personal research? Talk about the day, but use caution when discussing the subject matter in detail. The information presented belongs to the speaker(s). Posting part or all of the presentation would violate copyright.
10. Attend a national conference and blog about it! Genealogists who can’t make the conference will appreciate the first-person account of the action. Exercise the same copyright caution as mentioned in #9.
11. Have a unique record filing system? Share your secrets! Every genealogist has a stack of paper and an individual way of organizing the pile. Share your way of tackling the record mountain and help others get organized!
12. Use your blog to break down a brick wall. Posting a name may ring a bell with a reader. Maybe you’ll make a connection in 5 minutes. May be it will take 2 years. Either way, asking for help is the first step to knocking down that wall.
13. Have expertise in a specific area of study? Share your knowledge! If you’ve lived in the same town for 60 years, you have something to share. If you’re a librarian in your day job, you have something to share. If you read Civil War history books for fun, you have something to share. If you’re walking on this Earth, you have something to share.
14. Talk about the different types of technology you use in your genealogy research. Whether it’s a new search engine, a special application, or anything else “2.0,” let readers know what you’re working with, and how it’s working for you.
15. List some vital signs. Talk about specific birth, marriage and death certificates. Topics may include misspelled names, fudged dates, other anomalies that stand out in your records.
16. Goals. Not just for resolutions anymore. Write down your genealogy goals. Then you can look back and see what you’ve accomplished.
17. Make a research task list. Posting these items to will help you get your tasks done, and may encourage readers to do the same.
18. Showcase a favorite blog or blogger. This is a great way to share some blog love and introduce readers to new genealogy writers.
19. Describe your favorite records repository. Why is it your favorite? What types of records does it contain? Do you have any advice for first-time visitors?
20. Talk about a least favorite records searching experience. Did you have a run-in with a cranky court clerk? Did you butt heads with an over-protective records manager? Share your pain on your blog and commiserate with others who have put up their genealogical dukes in the name of family history.
21. Lessons learned. Fess up to your research mistakes so others can learn from them.
22. Dish the dirt on your celebrity ancestors. Don’t have a movie star in the tree? Then talk about ancestors famous for other reasons. This is your chance to be an historical gossip columnist!
23. Talk about anything that’s haunted. Readers love spooky genealogy.
24. Document a genealogy event with photos and share in your blog. Show others how much fun your local luncheon can be, or how your genealogy field trip turned into a landslide of books. Don’t forget to get permission before posting photos of others.
25. Visit a cemetery and talk about your ancestors buried there. Bring their stories to life for your readers.
26. Visit a cemetery. Take photos and comment on unusual/unique grave monuments. Most cemeteries have at least a monument or two that make you stop and look, so do just that. Take a picture of the grave marker that made you pause and tell us why it did so.
On to part 2, ideas 27-52...
Below are some genealogy blog prompts to jump start your brain. There are 52 in all, one for each week of the year. These are not intended to be done in order. Skip around and repeat all you want, so long as you have fun!
1. Upload your favorite picture and talk about it on your blog. Answer the who/what/when/where/why of the subject matter and explain why it is your favorite.
2. Participate in carnivals. A blog carnival is a showcase of bloggers’ posts on a given topic. Genealogy bloggers LOVE carnivals because there’s something for everyone. To learn about when these showcase-type events are happening, read others’ genealogy blogs. Someone’s always talking about a carnival.
3. Participate in weekly blog themes: Tombstone Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday, etc. Many genealogy bloggers post photos of grave stones on Tombstone Tuesday or a photo worth 1,000 silent words on Wordless Wednesday. Participate in these informal events or invent your own.
4. Take a genealogy day trip and blog about it. Discover the local history and genealogy in your area. Take a trip to a cemetery or other historic location. Describe the day, what you learned, where you went, how it looked, how it sounded. Armchair genealogists will love the mini travelogue.
5. Talk about your genealogy adventures while on vacation. Doesn’t everyone plan a little genealogy visit during vacation? Take your readers along for the ride.
6. Let readers in to your kitchen. Discuss your family’s favorite foods. What was a typical Sunday dinner in your childhood house? What did grandma make that had you coming back for more? Were there any dishes that the dog wouldn’t even eat?
7. Share your holiday traditions. How did you spend the 4th of July? Did the fire truck ever come to your house on Thanksgiving? Share your memories of all holidays, not just the December ones.
8. Talk about highlights and events from your local genealogy society. Most genealogy bloggers are members of several historical societies and love to hear about the events in other organizations. This is also a great way to attract new members.
9. Attend a local genealogy presentation and talk about the experience. How was the speaker? How was the venue? How did the event help your personal research? Talk about the day, but use caution when discussing the subject matter in detail. The information presented belongs to the speaker(s). Posting part or all of the presentation would violate copyright.
10. Attend a national conference and blog about it! Genealogists who can’t make the conference will appreciate the first-person account of the action. Exercise the same copyright caution as mentioned in #9.
11. Have a unique record filing system? Share your secrets! Every genealogist has a stack of paper and an individual way of organizing the pile. Share your way of tackling the record mountain and help others get organized!
12. Use your blog to break down a brick wall. Posting a name may ring a bell with a reader. Maybe you’ll make a connection in 5 minutes. May be it will take 2 years. Either way, asking for help is the first step to knocking down that wall.
13. Have expertise in a specific area of study? Share your knowledge! If you’ve lived in the same town for 60 years, you have something to share. If you’re a librarian in your day job, you have something to share. If you read Civil War history books for fun, you have something to share. If you’re walking on this Earth, you have something to share.
14. Talk about the different types of technology you use in your genealogy research. Whether it’s a new search engine, a special application, or anything else “2.0,” let readers know what you’re working with, and how it’s working for you.
15. List some vital signs. Talk about specific birth, marriage and death certificates. Topics may include misspelled names, fudged dates, other anomalies that stand out in your records.
16. Goals. Not just for resolutions anymore. Write down your genealogy goals. Then you can look back and see what you’ve accomplished.
17. Make a research task list. Posting these items to will help you get your tasks done, and may encourage readers to do the same.
18. Showcase a favorite blog or blogger. This is a great way to share some blog love and introduce readers to new genealogy writers.
19. Describe your favorite records repository. Why is it your favorite? What types of records does it contain? Do you have any advice for first-time visitors?
20. Talk about a least favorite records searching experience. Did you have a run-in with a cranky court clerk? Did you butt heads with an over-protective records manager? Share your pain on your blog and commiserate with others who have put up their genealogical dukes in the name of family history.
21. Lessons learned. Fess up to your research mistakes so others can learn from them.
22. Dish the dirt on your celebrity ancestors. Don’t have a movie star in the tree? Then talk about ancestors famous for other reasons. This is your chance to be an historical gossip columnist!
23. Talk about anything that’s haunted. Readers love spooky genealogy.
24. Document a genealogy event with photos and share in your blog. Show others how much fun your local luncheon can be, or how your genealogy field trip turned into a landslide of books. Don’t forget to get permission before posting photos of others.
25. Visit a cemetery and talk about your ancestors buried there. Bring their stories to life for your readers.
26. Visit a cemetery. Take photos and comment on unusual/unique grave monuments. Most cemeteries have at least a monument or two that make you stop and look, so do just that. Take a picture of the grave marker that made you pause and tell us why it did so.
On to part 2, ideas 27-52...
[Edit: Due to spammers targeting this particular post, I've had disable comments here. I am very sorry for this. If you'd like to comment on this post or have questions, feel free to email me using the address listed on the side of this blog. Thanks!]
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