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Blog Your Way to Genealogical Success (view source)
Revision as of 12:17, 19 March 2012
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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. [[Image: | '''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.[[Image:Tablet.jpg|thumb|right|240x240px]] | ||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
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#Some use blogging to socialize. There is a large community of genealogical bloggers who have become fast friends, reading each others’ blogs, giving encouragement, even getting together at genealogy conferences for dinner or drinks. | #Some use blogging to socialize. There is a large community of genealogical bloggers who have become fast friends, reading each others’ blogs, giving encouragement, even getting together at genealogy conferences for dinner or drinks. | ||
#Blogs make great organization newsletters. Members of your society, user group, or genealogy organization can sign up for e-mail notification of blog posts. Editors can post meeting announcements, articles, reminders, and so forth.<br><br>In this presentation, we’ll focus on these uses for blogging: <br><br> | #Blogs make great organization newsletters. Members of your society, user group, or genealogy organization can sign up for e-mail notification of blog posts. Editors can post meeting announcements, articles, reminders, and so forth.<br><br>In this presentation, we’ll focus on these uses for blogging: <br><br> | ||
#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! | #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! | ||
#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> | #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> | ||
#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. | #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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[[Image:DesignLink.png|center|601x139px]] | [[Image:DesignLink.png|center|601x139px]] | ||
=== The Design tab<br> === | === The Design tab<br> === | ||
*'''Page Elements''' | *'''Page Elements''' | ||
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*In their place, add two gadgets, a Labels gadget and a Text gadget. Use ''Add a Gadget'' to add a Labels Gadget. Set the Title to “Ancestors and Articles.” Sort alphabetically. | *In their place, add two gadgets, a Labels gadget and a Text gadget. 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> | ||
*'''Edit HTML''' | *'''Edit HTML''' | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
*These settings allow minute changes using HTML coding. For the sake of KISS, leave it alone for now. | *These settings allow minute changes using HTML coding. For the sake of KISS, leave it alone for now. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
*'''Template Designer''' | *'''Template Designer''' | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
*The template designer is full of choices which we don't have time or space to cover. Here are some of the most helpful settings.<br> | *The template designer is full of choices which we don't have time or space to cover. Here are some of the most helpful settings.<br> | ||
*Maximize the column width of your blog by clicking on Layout, then Adjust Width, and setting the width to the maximum value.<br> | *Maximize the column width of your blog by clicking on Layout, then Adjust Width, and setting the width to the maximum value.<br> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
[[Image:AdjustWidth.png|center|600x206px]] | [[Image:AdjustWidth.png|center|600x206px]] | ||
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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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*Enable Float Alignment? Yes | *Enable Float Alignment? Yes | ||
*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> | ||
*'''Archiving''' | *'''Archiving''' | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
*We won't cover this in the presentation because the defaults match the desired settings. Normally, you don't need to change these settings.<br> | *We won't cover this in the presentation because the defaults match the desired settings. Normally, you don't need to change these settings.<br> | ||
*Archive Frequency? Monthly | *Archive Frequency? Monthly | ||
*Enable Post Pages? Yes | *Enable Post Pages? Yes | ||
</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> | ||
== 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> | ||
== Further Ideas From Others == | == Further Ideas From Others == | ||