A number of helpful writers have contributed tips on starting and sustaining a genealogy blog. There are genealogy blogs that work like regular blogs and provide news and ideas on genealogy in general such as The Accidental Genealogist and The Genealogue. However, as I wrote in the overview, building a family history genealogy blog is different from a regular blog that posts on current events and shares ideas These blogs generally do not go back and makes changes to prior posts. They just move forward.
A family history blog is an online draft history that, in my case, I hope to continue to improve. I intend to continue to modify this document on an ongoing basis and welcome all comments, additions, and corrections. This includes going back and correcting material already posted when new evidence arrives.
This blog is primarily a family history blog but I will occasionally address common genealogy issues such as in this post. In this case I am cross posting on my other genealogy blog, Sharp Family in NC because of the common topic. I keep refining how these blogs work. I have added a number of side bars that I hope are useful to readers. Since I use my genealogy blog as my own research tool, these links are also added to help my own efforts.
Lorelle VanFossen has written a wonderful series of articles on how to write a genealogy blog. They include such topics as Starting With a Purpose and a Plan, What’s the Difference Between a Genealogy Blog and a Normal Blog?, and Determining What Features I Want in My Blog.
Her work includes some great advice. The first article, having a purpose and a plan, is the most frequent mistake I see in initiatives that use technology. As a consultant to organizations on how to use new technology for over 25 years, I have seen the adoption of technology for its own sake to occur over and over again. It usually ends in disappointment but it continues.
In my blog, I wanted to share the family history research I conducted several years and, until now, only gave to my cousins. I hope to learn from readers and meet new relatives. I also want to learn more about genealogy blogs, in general. I have written a blog, Portals and KM, on business uses of emerging technologies, including blogs for almost three years. It has a good readership and I have met many new people with common interest through my blog. Now I want to see what will happen with a genealogy blog. Lorelle’s advice was helpful to me as someone experienced in blogging but new to genealogy blogs. I am sure it will be even more helpful to people new to blogs.
She has a useful comparison between regular blogs and genealogy blogs. Some differences with genealogy include: Stronger Inter-linking and Relationships With Outside Resources and Content, more scanned Documents, and stronger use of footnotes and citations. I use citations on occasion and lots of footnotes in my series on Who was William Ives' Wife?
There is much more and I encourage you to look at her series.
Thank you for the credits. I recommend to everyone that they start their family history blog slowly. Make a plan and then carefully add content, learning as you go. The plan on paper will guide you longer than poking around your computer. ;-)
I'd also like to point out What Do You Put Into Your Family History Blog? ( http://www.cameraontheroad.com/family/what-do-you-put-into-your-family-history-blog/ ) and Move Your Genealogy Blog Into the 21st Century With Site Feeds ( http://www.cameraontheroad.com/family/move-your-genealogy-blog-into-the-21st-century-with-site-feeds/ ), fairly new articles from my ongoing blog building series.
Thanks again!
Posted by: Lorelle | March 20, 2007 at 09:10 PM
Lorelle
As I commented on your blog, I like your review of possible blog content in the post above http://www.cameraontheroad.com/family/what-do-you-put-into-your-family-history-blog/. I plan to try most, if not all, of your topics. I also have some old family letters that I have transcribed that I may include. I think that starting wiht a plan and an outline is especially good advice for genealogy blog. Any blog needs a plan but since a genealogy blog often tells a story over time, an outline is also useful. Pictures of changes over time is a great idea. I recently did this with my other family history blog on the Sharp Family in North Carolina - here is Harrellesville, NC in 2204 - http://billives.typepad.com/sharp_family_in_nc/2007/03/harrellsville_2.html and the same street in 1905 - http://billives.typepad.com/sharp_family_in_nc/2007/03/harrellsville_1.html However, I did not take the new picture form the same spot as the old one. I have some other new ones that match locations with old ones and I am going to try placing them together. Your advice has both helped better conceive some ideas I had and openned up some new possibilities.
Bill
Posted by: bill Ives | March 21, 2007 at 08:30 AM
Sorry for the delay in responding. I've been traveling. I'm so thrilled that you got some good advice out of my little blog. It means so much to me to know that I've made a difference. Thank you and keep up the great work!
Posted by: Lorelle | March 28, 2007 at 05:59 PM
Lorelle - You are very welcome and also very modest to refer to your "little blog" as it is the most comprehensive advice I have seen on genealogy blogs. Bill
Posted by: bill Ives | March 28, 2007 at 09:32 PM