7 ways to build a family tree using social media
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7 Ways To Build a Family Tree Using Social Media
Kristie Wells - @kristiewellsHead of Global Social Media, Ancestry.com
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What is social media?
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Via Mary Meeker’s Internet Trends report: http://ancstry.me/1Fv8WP3
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Agenda
I. Blogging
II. Facebook
III. Instagram
IV. Pinterest
V. YouTube/Podcasts
VI. Twitter
VII. Flipboard
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#1: Blogging: Also Known As “Cousin Baiting”
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52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
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Mistakes, Happen
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Turns out, I am NOT related to Baron Robert de Vaux
or Charlamagne.
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• Wordpress - https://wordpress.com/
• Medium - https://medium.com/
• Tumblr - https://www.tumblr.com/
• Blogger - https://www.blogger.com
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Blogging Platforms
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If Content is King, thenyour Blog is your Castle.
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#2: Connect With Cousins on Facebook
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Join Facebook Groups Katherine R. Willson’s (@moonswings) great resource: http://ancstry.me/1Fv775T
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#3: Share Photos on Instagram
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#4: Build a Family History Board on Pinterest
• Scan photos from your personal albums and put them online.
• Create a board of the cities and towns where your ancestors lived.
• Add grave photos with birth and death dates, include cemetery information.
• Pin your blog posts and videos to help people find them.
• Create Memorial Boards and share a collection of favorite things for your loved one as a way to build their family history.
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Pinterest Board Ideas
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Tweet about your surnames (hashtag them e.g. #Wells #Heuer)
#5: Tweet Surnames, Locations, etc.
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#6: Share Family Histories on YouTube & Podcasts
Questions To Ask Your Family
150 questions at
ancstry.me/1H2lvqH
compliments of
@DeseretNews
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Google Hangouts
• Great for relatives not located close to you
• More casual than a ‘camera in your face’
• Can shoot in a private or public mode
• Record and publish to YouTube
• Consider for those who cannot attend family reunions so they can still participate
• “Just takes a webcam and the will to talk”
• https://plus.google.com/hangouts 21 @KristieWellsAncestry.com
Podcasting
• Audio recordings that can be downloaded to a computer or portable media player
• Post on your blog
• Set up RSS so your listeners can subscribe and automatically download new episodes
• Publish to media platforms like iTunes, go to https://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/specs.html for details
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#7: Create Family History Magazine on Flipboard
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Lisa Louise Cooke - https://flipboard.com/@gengems
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Randy Seaver- https://flipboard.com/@geneaholic
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• Link to your blog posts and videos to help people find them.
• Add grave photos from your Find a Grave account
• Feature cities and towns where your ancestors lived
• Create a magazine of your favorite resources or tips
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Flipboard Magazine Ideas
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Tweet about your surnames (hashtag them e.g. #Wells #Heuer) @KristieWells
Ancestry.com
Share your stories online, find some cousins
and hopefully break down those walls!
Thank you
Find me online:
• Twitter: @KristieWells
• Instagram: @KristieWells
• Website: kristiewells.com
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If the stars are aligned, there will be answers too.