| The internet is a rich information source, used by | | | | * You may want to use an easy-to-remember, |
| people every day for casual browsing and for | | | | catchy website name. Since it's your family's |
| serious research. Today, genealogical research is | | | | name and information, you should ask them about |
| fast becoming a major web category. | | | | their preferences and opinions. |
| Genealogy is the study of family relationships | | | | * For a better chance of being included on search |
| through time. It's most well-know product is the | | | | engine results, your heading, URL, and first |
| family tree. Undertaking genealogical research | | | | paragraph must contain the surnames of family |
| involves extensive research, careful | | | | branches you've identified. Use these names |
| documentation and verification, and presentation | | | | several times in your content. Try also to use |
| of findings. It is a time-consuming, sometimes | | | | words and forms of words related to family |
| frustrating, project with invaluable rewards. | | | | genealogy like "family tree," "family history," |
| If you're interested or involved in your own | | | | "ancestors," or "genealogy." |
| genealogical research, you may want to consider | | | | * The quality of your content is important for |
| creating your own family genealogy website. | | | | several reasons. First, you'll want to offer |
| There are some important reasons for doing this. | | | | interesting easy-to-read information. You'll also |
| It helps you document what you've learned. It | | | | want to be sure visitors to your website can find |
| also gives easy access to family members and | | | | what they need easily. Your home page should |
| may stimulate their contribution to or participation | | | | contain several short paragraphs on your family's |
| in your research. The most important reason: it's | | | | history and links to your second-level or detail |
| fun! | | | | pages, family photographs, and copies of records. |
| You can also find tools and advice on family | | | | We recommend that you limit the amount of |
| genealogy research on the internet. There are | | | | graphics on your home page because they make |
| many websites devoted to the topic, and they | | | | the page take longer to open, and you'll lose |
| offer not only help and advice but raw information | | | | visitors who don't have the patience for the page |
| in the form of searchable databases. | | | | to download. |
| You can find software programs designed for | | | | * Develop a good navigation system with plenty |
| genealogy research as well. These programs | | | | of text links and navigation buttons. Your links |
| make it easier to gather information, organize and | | | | should make it very clear what the user will find |
| interpret your data, and create documents (like | | | | when he clicks on them. Simple, clear titles are |
| family trees and narratives) to record your | | | | best. |
| family's history. Genealogy software can | | | | * Using proper meta tags in your HTML code is |
| automate processes like submitting your GEDCOM | | | | important for search engines. If you want your |
| file to several sites at once, allowing you to make | | | | website and home page to come up early in the |
| more effective use of your time and reach more | | | | list of searches, be sure to use your family name |
| information sources. | | | | and keywords that are relevant to the story |
| You don't have to wait until your research is | | | | you're telling. |
| finished to start your family genealogy website. | | | | * In addition to including links to other genealogy |
| As mentioned, it may help you gather more | | | | websites, try to get them to link to you as well. |
| information, filling in missing pieces of the puzzle, | | | | You may be able to work out agreements with |
| to make it freely available to the public. And you | | | | other sites for trading links, or you might consider |
| don't have to pay a lot of money to own your | | | | joining a webring focused on your family or |
| own website. Services like Yahoo GeoCities offer | | | | genealogy in general. |
| free services and hosting at a nominal price. | | | | * Be sure to provide contact information on your |
| However, if you're a newbie to the internet, you | | | | website that is easy to see. Because you're doing |
| may want to use a more comprehensive service | | | | research, you'll want to make it easy for your |
| like Site Build It! to make the web authorship | | | | visitors to get additional family information to you. |
| tasks easier and focus on your research. | | | | You'll also want to give them an easy way to |
| Once you decide where and how to manage your | | | | contact you with questions or feedback on your |
| family genealogy website, you'll need to decide on | | | | website. |
| some details: site design, content writing, | | | | These are some basic tips on how to go about |
| copyrights, and access rights. You'll have to | | | | creating a family genealogy website that will both |
| purchase your own domain name, and you can | | | | publicize your findings and bring in additional |
| find out what names are and are not available by | | | | information. Your content can range from the |
| querying a whois service. You can own a domain | | | | specific and personal, concentrating on your family |
| name for a small fee: the costs comes in finding a | | | | and its branches, to the general and educational, |
| host server. In developing pages, you can use | | | | sharing your broader experiences with family |
| your own HTML editor like the popular | | | | genealogy. |
| Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft's | | | | Your family genealogy website will be a satisfying |
| FrontPage. If HTML and coding aren't your thing, | | | | project that makes what you've learned about |
| you can buy those services at a reasonable price | | | | your family available to everyone. It will be a |
| by visiting some of the "freelance" websites. Be | | | | source of information, entertainment, and |
| careful, though, to assure your provider is | | | | education that your whole family will appreciate. It |
| experienced, dependable, and honest. | | | | will also be a wonderful tool for expanding and |
| When you decide to build your website, you | | | | enhancing your family genealogy research effort. |
| should consider these elements: | | | | |