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Blog Your Way to Genealogical Success: Difference between revisions
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'''This is the syllabus for a class taught by [[User:AncestryInsider|the Ancestry Insider]] at the 2010 NGS Conference and other conferences.''' Further ideas from others are welcome at the end of the syllabus. | |||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
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#3. Blogs are an easy way to publish information on the Internet. Remember that book you’ve been planning on publishing about your family? Yes, I understand you’re still refining the material before publishing it. Well, while you’re perfecting it, you should share it on your blog. Then others can benefit from your work, review your conclusions, make suggestions, offer new information, and more. Plus, blog posts can always be revised as you touch up your research findings. Try that with a book! | #3. Blogs are an easy way to publish information on the Internet. Remember that book you’ve been planning on publishing about your family? Yes, I understand you’re still refining the material before publishing it. Well, while you’re perfecting it, you should share it on your blog. Then others can benefit from your work, review your conclusions, make suggestions, offer new information, and more. Plus, blog posts can always be revised as you touch up your research findings. Try that with a book! | ||
#4. Before message boards, there were newspapers and newsletters that published genealogical queries. “I’m researching Paul Raymond, b. abt 1770, d. abt 1845 Bristol, Vermont. Please contact me.” Membership had its privileges and joining a genealogical society always came with a couple of credits for queries in the society publication. Blogs allow you to post all your dead ends, for the entire Internet world to see and to respond. Unlike message boards, you can revise your queries; even delete them, as your research progresses.<br> | #4. Before message boards, there were newspapers and newsletters that published genealogical queries. “I’m researching Paul Raymond, b. abt 1770, d. abt 1845 Bristol, Vermont. Please contact me.” Membership had its privileges and joining a genealogical society always came with a couple of credits for queries in the society publication. Blogs allow you to post all your dead ends, for the entire Internet world to see and to respond. Unlike message boards, you can revise your queries; even delete them, as your research progresses.<br> | ||
#5. Blogs make a great research log. In fact, the word blog is a contraction of web log. By putting your log on the web, you’ll have a copy of it wherever you go. Never again will you find yourself at a genealogy library without a copy of what records and sources you’ve already considered. | #5. Blogs make a great research log. In fact, the word blog is a contraction of web log. By putting your log on the web, you’ll have a copy of it wherever you go. Never again will you find yourself at a genealogy library without a copy of what records and sources you’ve already considered. | ||
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== Web sites mentioned in this presentation == | == Web sites mentioned in this presentation == | ||
Here are the important web sites mentioned in this presentation:<br> | Here are the important web sites mentioned in this presentation:<br> | ||
*[http://mail.google.com mail.google.com] – get a free Google Mail e-mail address at this web site | *[http://mail.google.com mail.google.com] – get a free Google Mail e-mail address at this web site | ||
*[http://www.blogger.com www.blogger.com] – create a free blog<br> | *[http://www.blogger.com www.blogger.com] – create a free blog<br> | ||
*[http://claytonraymond.blogspot.com claytonraymond.blogspot.com] – the example blog I created for this presentation<br> | *[http://claytonraymond.blogspot.com claytonraymond.blogspot.com] – the example blog I created for this presentation<br> | ||
*[http://download.live.com download.live.com] – download Windows Live Writer, a free blog editor<br> | *[http://download.live.com download.live.com] – download Windows Live Writer, a free blog editor<br> | ||
*[http://www.getpaint.net www.getpaint.net] – download Paint.NET, a free image editor<br> | *[http://www.getpaint.net www.getpaint.net] – download Paint.NET, a free image editor<br> | ||
== Create a blog == | == Create a blog == | ||
In keeping with the KISS principle, I’ve illustrated just one of many ways to set up a blog. Follow these steps:<br> | In keeping with the KISS principle, I’ve illustrated just one of many ways to set up a blog. Follow these steps:<br> | ||
*If you don’t already have a Google Mail address, go to [http://mail.google.com mail.google.com] and sign up for one. | *If you don’t already have a Google Mail address, go to [http://mail.google.com mail.google.com] and sign up for one. | ||
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*Enable transliteration? Disable | *Enable transliteration? Disable | ||
*If you changed any settings, don’t forget to click SAVE SETTINGS | *If you changed any settings, don’t forget to click SAVE SETTINGS | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
*Formatting | *Formatting | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
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*Convert Line Breaks: Set to No. There are subtle ramifications to converting line breaks that you may not notice for some time. Beginners often prefer setting it to Yes, but I advise against it. | *Convert Line Breaks: Set to No. There are subtle ramifications to converting line breaks that you may not notice for some time. Beginners often prefer setting it to Yes, but I advise against it. | ||
*If you changed any settings, don’t forget to click SAVE SETTINGS | *If you changed any settings, don’t forget to click SAVE SETTINGS | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
*Comments | *Comments | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
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*Comment Notification Email: Specify your usual, personal email if it is not Gmail | *Comment Notification Email: Specify your usual, personal email if it is not Gmail | ||
*If you changed any settings, don’t forget to click SAVE SETTINGS | *If you changed any settings, don’t forget to click SAVE SETTINGS | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
*Permissions | *Permissions | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
*If you wish to allow multiple family members to make posts, you may add additional authors to your blog. | *If you wish to allow multiple family members to make posts, you may add additional authors to your blog. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
=== Layout === | === Layout === | ||
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*In their place, use Add a Gadget to add a Labels Gadget. Set the Title to “Ancestors and Articles.” Sort alphabetically. | *In their place, use Add a Gadget to add a Labels Gadget. Set the Title to “Ancestors and Articles.” Sort alphabetically. | ||
*Use Add a Gadget to add a Text Gadget. Set the Title to “About Me.” Set the Content to something like this: “I am researching Wickliff Clayton Raymond and his ancestors. To contact me, please leave a comment on any post.” | *Use Add a Gadget to add a Text Gadget. Set the Title to “About Me.” Set the Content to something like this: “I am researching Wickliff Clayton Raymond and his ancestors. To contact me, please leave a comment on any post.” | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
*Fonts and Colors, Edit HTML, and Pick New Template | *Fonts and Colors, Edit HTML, and Pick New Template | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
* These options allow you to customize the look of your blog. For the sake of KISS, we’ll leave them alone for now. | * These options allow you to customize the look of your blog. For the sake of KISS, we’ll leave them alone for now. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
== Get a blog editor == | == Get a blog editor == | ||
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To insert an image into a blog post, click on the Insert menu and then on Picture. With the image selected, adjust the various options shown on the right side of Writer. Under the Advanced tab, adjust size, rotate, and crop the image. You can add text to an image with the watermark option. You can also adjust the size of the image by dragging one of the corners of the image. The Effects tab allows application of effects such as Black and White or Sepia.<br>Before you publish a post, use the Category list to list the name of each ancestor talked about. To list ancestors alphabetically by last name, put the last name first, then a period (commas are used to separate entries), and lastly the first name. For example: | To insert an image into a blog post, click on the Insert menu and then on Picture. With the image selected, adjust the various options shown on the right side of Writer. Under the Advanced tab, adjust size, rotate, and crop the image. You can add text to an image with the watermark option. You can also adjust the size of the image by dragging one of the corners of the image. The Effects tab allows application of effects such as Black and White or Sepia.<br>Before you publish a post, use the Category list to list the name of each ancestor talked about. To list ancestors alphabetically by last name, put the last name first, then a period (commas are used to separate entries), and lastly the first name. For example: | ||
<blockquote>Pitcher. Ireta<br>Raymond. Alma<br>Raymond. Alonzo Pearis<br></blockquote> | <blockquote>Pitcher. Ireta<br>Raymond. Alma<br>Raymond. Alonzo Pearis<br></blockquote> | ||
== Get an image editor<br> == | == Get an image editor<br> == | ||
Paint.net is a free, easy to use image editor. Go to [http://www.getpaint.net www.getpaint.net] and click on the link on the right-hand side underneath “Get it now (free download).” | Paint.net is a free, easy to use image editor. Go to [http://www.getpaint.net www.getpaint.net] and click on the link on the right-hand side underneath “Get it now (free download).” | ||
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== Conclusion == | == Conclusion == | ||
You can see the results of these steps at http://claytonraymond.blogspot.com . It really is that easy! <br><br> | You can see the results of these steps at http://claytonraymond.blogspot.com . It really is that easy! <br><br> | ||
<br> | == Further Ideas From Others == | ||
You are welcome to add your own ideas here. | |||
<br> | |||
[[Category:Genealogy_Education]] | [[Category:Genealogy_Education]] | ||