| Today's do-it-yourself genealogists are lucky. The | | | | process are: |
| advent of the internet has made our task easier | | | | - Double check everything! Information validation |
| and more fun than ever before. There are many | | | | should be performed for data obtained online, |
| advantages and features you get if you choose | | | | especially through sources that are not officially |
| to build your family tree online. But there are also | | | | recognized. |
| numerous pitfalls that can complicate your job, | | | | - Review and edit! Avoiding repetitions is |
| instead of making it easier. Here is what you need | | | | important if you copy a part of your family tree |
| to know-- the good and the bad-- to succeed. | | | | from another source or through a relative, |
| First the good news. Going online to do your | | | | because you may already have a few members |
| research is a great second step. After | | | | of this branch in your family tree. Most people |
| interviewing your family members,feel free to go | | | | have made this mistake at one point or another-- |
| online to try standard search engines, as well as | | | | try and avoid it. |
| specialized genealogy websites like You'll also find a | | | | - Know when to stop! Managing the wealth of |
| lot of great public record information that will be | | | | information is important and you should not |
| of great help in identifying and tracking down your | | | | overdo information association. Limit the use of |
| ancestors. All in all, there is a wealth of | | | | photographs and documents to the most |
| information out there you can easily tap into, with | | | | important ones to manage the family tree in an |
| just a little patience and creativity. | | | | organized manner. |
| Here are just a few of the advantages of using | | | | - Think before you commit to a design! There are |
| online resources. | | | | be many possible designs, but do not get lazy! It |
| - Easy modification of data and elimination of | | | | is always best to use a design that suites your |
| errors. | | | | family tree the best. You can of course get ideas |
| - High research potential through thousands of | | | | from other designs, but finally you should carefully |
| genealogical databases available online that help | | | | consider your specific situation and carefully decide |
| you build your family tree. | | | | on the best way to present your information. |
| - Superior organization of data through associated | | | | - Remember to go off-line! Online researching isn't |
| photographs, videos, documents, etc. and help | | | | as easy as following the lead of a software, |
| with research such as storing of citations and | | | | because they may have only limited scope for |
| sources to give credibility to your research. | | | | research, e.g. within the US. Even then, there can |
| - Multitude of really easy ways to share your | | | | be some information that you will only find on |
| family tree online with family and friends. | | | | your trip to the library or the church and look at |
| - Superior designing techniques to make your | | | | their records. Do not expect everything served |
| family tree truly unique are yours at the click of a | | | | on a platter while you build family tree online! |
| mouse-- even if you have no artistic ability or | | | | Bottom line: it is important that you understand |
| interest. | | | | that to build a family tree online means having a |
| These and similar features are huge assets; | | | | lot of tools and resources at your disposal, but at |
| however, to take full advantage of them, you | | | | the same time you should be aware that there |
| must carefully avoid some common mistakes | | | | are quite a few limitations that this option can |
| people make when they build family tree online. | | | | present as well. |
| Some precautions that you must take during the | | | | |