Updates to Networked Blogs on Facebook

I was helping a friend market his genealogy blog this morning and noticed there are some changes over at Networked Blogs. Most of them seem to be cosmetic but I am glad of one major change: they now use the term Follow instead of Join.



Why is this important? Well in the world of social media and social media marketing (which I use heavily in both my new business and my genealogy), the term "follow" has much more significance than "join." The whole idea with social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) is to build a group of followers. The more followers you have - and they should be quality followers who have the same interests as you - the more likely you are to become an "influence" or an "expert" in an area.

Also, it appears there is a Profile area that allows you to enter a bio and up to five URL links to other sites.

When Is Your Blogoversary?

Bill West at West In New England is celebrating his two-year blogoversary today and it just so happens that I stumpled upon a neat widget called Blogoversary that you can add to your blog to count down the number of days until you next anniversary!

I've added it to my blog Destination: Austin Family and the process took less than two minutes - my kind of widget!  Here's how:

1.  Go to the Blogoversary site.

2.  Enter the Born Date, the Blog Name and the Blog URL.

3.  Click Generate Code Below then copy and paste this code into your HTML widget in Blogger (click Layout, Add Gadget, HTML) or your Text widget in Wordpress (Appearance, Widgets, Text).

New Geneablogs This Week Feature HAS MOVED

Just an FYI: the recent feature New Geneablogs This Week has moved over to the new Geneabloggers site.

Google Maps and Carnival Posts

Over at Small-leaved Shamrock, the 11th Edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture has been posted. With the theme "My Key to Ireland," many if not all of the posts listed place names in Ireland as well as the surname of ancestors.

Lisa emailed me early on Monday morning and asked if there was a way in which she could display a map of Ireland with links to the various posts - the idea being to give better idea of where ancestors lived. Always up for a "techie" challenge, I did some research and thought while it was possible to have image tags on a photo of the map of Ireland, that Google Maps was a much easier method.

Here is how you can create and customize your own Google Map and use push pins as well as other features to indicate where your ancestors lived:

1. Go to Google Maps.



2. Click My Maps and then click Create New Map. The New Map panel will appear in the left sidebar of your web browser.



3. In the Title field enter a name for the map. In the Description field enter a brief description of what the map depicts. In the Privacy and sharing settings, make the map public.



4. Next, you are ready to search for your first location. Using my post over at Destination: Austin Family (My Key to Ireland: Unlocking Family Mysteries), I search for County Monaghan, Ireland which is where my McEntee and MacEntee ancestors lived.



5. Click Search Maps. The map will display the location in the right panel.



6. If the location is correct, click Save To My Maps. Select the map to which the destination is to be saved and click Save.



7. Next, enter descriptive information including hyperlinks, images, etc. for the location. Click Rich Text to access the same formatting features found in Blogger or Wordpress when creating posts.



8. Click OK. A push pin will appear on the map for the location. Clicking the push pin will display the description. In addition, a list of locations appears in the left sidebar.



9. Continue adding destinations in this manner. When the map is complete, make sure you hit Save in the left sidebar.

10. Use the Send and Link options above the map to send the map to another person, or to retrieve the HTML code to embed the map in a blog post or website.

Several other geneabloggers have had some great Google Maps posts listing similar ways to creatively put the maps to work:

Making Maps with Google - Denise Olson, Family Matters

Ancestral Map - Oh What Fun It Is To Play! - Becky Wiseman, kinexxions

New Feature on Google Maps - Julie Cahill Tarr, GenBlog

Google Maps - Donna Moughty, Donna's Genealogy Blog

This Week's New Geneablogs

I've added several new genealogy and family history blogs upon which I've stumbled. And in case you don't remember, here is "the drill" in terms of things you can do to welcome these new blogs and help get them new readers and some exposure:

- if on Blogger, see if they have the Follow Me feature, and if so become a follower. If not, send them a message asking if they'll set up the feature

- add the blog to your blog reader

- in Facebook, on Networked Blogs look up the blog and join their blog network. Also try to invite others to join the blog.

Here are the new blogs - check'em out!

Colorado Reflections: "Central Colorado has its share of Wild West stories—the Lake County War, Ed Watkins’ lynching, the murder of Salida Marshal Baxter Stingley—to name a few. The Christisons, my family, were mixed up in all of it; the good, the bad, the right and the wrong. Join me as I explore the history of Chaffee, Fremont, Lake and Park Counties. Watch for research tips for the region and for Colorado. If your family lived in the region, type the last name in the search box at the top of the blog and it might show up!"

Ernie's Journeys: "I'm a pilgrim passing through this life for the past 87 years. Here are stories of my journey down the sunflower trail." [Note: I absolutely love this blog - it is by the 87-year old father of Becky Jamison who has another great blog called Grace and Glory]

Family Tales: "Keeping track of the Christmans, McAllisters, Mulhearns, Kempfs, Kellers, Tschirharts, Biedigers and all others I find lurking in records yet to be found...I may also post random thoughts not related to genealogy!"

Gena's Genealogy: "Thoughts and News from the world of genealogy" [Note: this blog has been around since 2005 and I don't know how I missed it!]

Genealogy By Ginger's Blog: "Researching two primary lines - BROOKS and GODWIN - from North Carolina. The Godwin line is from Sampson and Randolph Counties, NC and the BROOKS line is from Caswell Co., NC. Allied families for the BROOKS line includes KERR, WILLIAMS, GRAVES, & LEA; Allied lines for the GODWIN family include LATHAM, PULLEY, HARRELL, and RASCO"

Geri's Genes Family History & Genealogy Research: "As I look up from my desk I see our family pictures and heirlooms looking back at me. It is for them that I pursue my research and delve into the past. Whatever lies hidden in an archive on microfilm, tucked away in a dusty box up in an attic or on a weather worn stone hidden in a cemetery are treasures that drive me to fill in the blanks of my tree, our family tree. I want to find out the truths, the unknown, the mystery of where our people came from, how they got here and how they lived. How are we to know where we are going if we don't know where we came from? For my two young beloved daughters, this is your history."

Gtownma's Genealogy: "My name is Tina Sansone and I live in Tennessee. I am married with three kids. I love helping others discover their ancestor and seeing their excitement as they learn of their family. I’ve developed a love of history and writing. I am a DAR member, and member of The Tennessee Genealogical Society where I was a past board member and currently write for our quarterly, Ansearchin’ News." [Note: this not a new blog but I don't know why it wasn't in my reader! I've been following Tina Sansone for quite awhile on Facebook and she has some great insights and posts!]

Historical and Genealogical Research: "I am an independent historical and genealogical researcher in Atlanta, Georgia. I recently became a board-certified genealogist and am pursuing a master’s degree in Heritage Preservation at Georgia State University. My specialties lie in genealogical problem solving, property history, and African American family history, but I enjoy researching all questions of history."

Facebook Is NOT The Domain Of The Young

An article entitled Baby Boom Generation Now Outnumbered by Larry Bodine popped in my Google Reader yesterday. As I read, I noted the various statistics comparing my generation (late Baby Boomer) with The Millenials aka The Net Generation and came away in full agreement with the author on this point:

"Don't become one of those people who can't work a digital camera, set your cell phone voicemail or program your DVR. Be current. Stay relevant. Try new things."

I can't begin to tell you how often I talk to my generational peers and they automatically dismiss Facebook and other Web 2.0/social media components as "rubbish" or "nonsense." Or they mention their struggle with trying to achieve some mastery of the basic fundamentals of these programs.

Much of what I am seeing is a sense that they are "too old" to learn new skills or as one person told me via email, "I'm just too old for Facebook."

Nonsense. Many know that when a new member joins Geneabloggers over on Facebook, I reach out and make sure that the newbies not only learn all about the various Geneabloggers features and events, but I also ask if they need any Facebook help and recommend that they visit Facebook Bootcamp for Genea-Bloggers.

I get no greater joy than to hear comments such as, "My granddaughter can't believe her grandmother is now on Facebook," or "I can't wait to embarass my teenage daughter by being on Facebook."

For years as a computer trainer I've held this opinion: I'd rather have someone with a positive attitude than aptitude. Meaning I'd much rather work with a person who is receptive to learning new skills than someone who comes in and thinks they know everything, even to the point of self-doubt as to their capabilities.

Don't let people convince you out of trying your hand at Facebook or Twitter or other web-based social media applications. For many people of my generation, these programs have become lifelines and have allowed them to interact with others who hold similar interests. And as members of Geneabloggers will tell you, when you find a supportive community such as ours, it is easy to ask for help - just ask and you shall receive!

Are You A GeneaTwit?

I'm not trying to insult or cast aspersions - I'm just askin'.  What I mean is, "are you a fan of Twitter?"

If you aren't familiar with Twitter or if you've heard about Twitter but are wondering what all the fuss is about, here's my take on it.  And this is coming from someone who signed up back in June 2007 and thought "big deal!" but has since come around.  Now I don't think I'd want to live without Twitter since it connects me to issues, interests, networks and people that are important to me.

Twitter is an application that falls under the heading of "micro-blogging" or "micro-media" since you are limited to 140 characters in your messages.  There is an entire lingo involved too: from a twit (someone who uses Twitter) to a tweet (a Twitter message).  It took me sometime to get the hang of being a good twitizen and being brief and on point in my tweets.

So what's the point?  And why is this component of social media different than say blogging or Facebook?  Twitter lets you follow other Twitter users as they microblog about issues, topics, events as they happen and more.  You seek out these people based on common interests such as blogging, genealogy or simply just by knowing them through work, church, etc.  As you begin to tweet about interesting stuff, you'll find others will "follow" you - meaning they find your tweets interesting enough that they want to be notified when you post new tweets.

How is this important to me as a geneablogger?  I've been able to keep tab on what projects other geneabloggers are working on, issues or problems others are having with their research, discuss plans on traveling to upcoming genealogy conferences and events.  I also use Twitter to ask questions, to take the pulse of my followers on certain issues.  

And what's most amazing especially in the past few weeks is how Twitter user almost always scoop the news media on events as they happen.  Truly a form of "eyewitness news" or what is being called "witness journalism," several high profile events such as the attacks in Mumbai and the US Airways jet landing in the Hudson River were broadcast as they happened.  With Mumbai, several hostages stranded in their rooms were able to communicate to police and the media where they were and what was going on, as well as stay in touch with family.  With the US Airways incident, one person aboard a rescue ferry was able to relay photos instantly as events unfolded.

I normally don't say this, but like the old Alka-Seltzer commercial: try it, you'll like it.  If you've taken to Facebook and you want to bump your social media cred up to the next level, look into Twitter.  And to answer your next question: no - there won't be a new blog called Twitter Bootcamp for Geneabloggers.  Just stayed tuned right here for any technical tips, news and info related to your journey as a geneablogger navigating as you navigate new technology.

I've included a link to a quick slideshow created as part of my new business venture, BigLaw 2.0 which provides Twitter coaching and other Twitter services.  In addition, I've developed a quick reference card that can be used to walk any user through the process of setting up a Twitter account, customizing features, accessing widgets and apps as well as searching for other twitizens to follow.

Twitter overview: http://tr.im/8oh0
Twitter quick reference: http://tr.im/8npi

Pages and Fans

A feature of Facebook which isn't discussed very often is the Page feature.
What is a Page? And for that matter, what is a Fan? Pages and Fans go hand in hand.

What is a Page?

A page is Facebook's way of letting members market a product, service, concept or celebrity without having to create a group or having that product/service/concept/celebrity accept friend requests. It basically is a method of having a presence on Facebook without all the administrative duties that come along with groups, etc.

Finding a Page

For this post, I will be referencing certain genealogy-related pages on Facebook. Let's say you wanted to find ppages related to genealogy.

1. In the upper left right hand corner of your Facebook page, enter the term genealogy in the search field and press Enter. (Note: several entries may appear if they match the term genealogy and I am already a fan of their page or the person has genealogy in the name)



2. Facebook will display all results that contain the name genealogy including people, pages, groups and more.



3. Click the Pages tab.



4. Note the entry Genealogy Guys Podcast. Click the link to view the Genealogy Guys Podcast page. (Note: in the image below I have masked out the actual listing of fans due to privacy concerns)



Becoming a Fan

1. Click the Become a Fan link and your name/profile will be added to the list of fans.



2. Reviewing the list of fans for a page is a good way to find potential new friends on Facebook - you already have something in common, right?



Who Can Create a Page?

Any Facebook member can create a page but in order for the page to be approved, it must fit within certain categories. To create a page use this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php.

Still More New Genea-Blogs!

I'm convinced that many people had either "Create Blog on Genealogy" or "Return to Blogging About Genealogy" on their New Year's resolution list for 2009!  Either that or I've just been missing out on some great blogs!

Please check out the list below and besides welcoming them to the wonderful and wacky world of genea-blogging, try to do the following to not only welcome them into the fold, but to bring them some attention and some traffic:

• Use the Follow feature in Blogger and follow their blog
  
  
• Add them to your blog reader
  
  
• Use the "join blog network" feature in the Networked Blogs application on Facebook
  

Here are blogs which I've recently added to the Blog List here on Facebook Bootcamp for Genea-Bloggers:

Ask Olive Tree a Question -  "Do you need help finding an ancestor? Do you have a genealogy question you would like to ask me? Do you want to know where to find certain genealogy records? Let Lorine help! "

The Baca/Douglas Genealogy and Family History Blog

Carole's Canvas - "Where It All Hangs Out" (Carole is a new genea-blogger from Australia!)

A Canadian Family - "This site has two purposes: to share our family history information and to help others who are researching Acadians, French Canadians or the regions of eastern Canada." (Evelyn is a new genea-blogger from Canada!)

Claudia's Genealogy Blog - "I have been researching my family history for two years now. My regret and probably the one of many thousands of others is that they did not start sooner"

Computer Tips and Tutorials - "Tips and Tutorials for Your Genealogy Web Site Design & Research"

Conversation With Ancestors Past - "This blog is a place to gather my thoughts. I dabble in genealogy, I try to knit, on occasion I dust off my spinning wheel. A central point if you will, welcome!"

Excavating For My Roots - "Fitzpatrick, Clement, Butcher, Plaisted and Their Descendants"

Family Lines - "this and that in the world of genealogy"

Genealogical Hanhazardry - "This blog is devoted to investigating and collecting resources for public librarians and patrons to use in researching family histories. As I am a novice genealogist myself, I post things as I find them, and no, I don't really know what I'm doing, hence the haphazardry"

MoSGA Messenger - "The Official Blog of the Missouri State Genealogical Association"

Sasser Sagas - "Genealogy and History of individuals with the SASSER surname"

The Spittoon - "More than you've come to expextorate"

TJLGenes: Preserving Our Family History - "An attempt to document and disseminate genealogical information pertaining to my ancestry and related families - consisting of family history, genealogy and kin-kenning. Included within is information, photographs, speculations and history of my maternal & paternal lines, as well as the lines of my spouse and stepchildren"

Trace Your Dutch Roots - "A geneablog by Henk van Kampen"

New Genea-Blogs - Have You Checked Them Out?

One of my resolutions for 2009 is to do more outreach and networking with the Genea-Blogger community.  So I decided to check in on new readers using the Follow feature in Blogger for Destination: Austin Family and Facebook Bootcamp for Genea-Bloggers as a means of fulfilling my commitment.

Once I noted new followers, I followed them back, added them to my Google Reader (since this is what drives the Blog List widget for both Destination: Austin Family and Facebook Bootcamp for Genea-Bloggers), then made sure the blog owners were already in the Genea-Blogger group on Facebook.  If not, I added them as a Friend and then extended an invite to the Genea-Blogger group.

Also, I remembered to use Networked Blogs in Facebook and the Join Blog Network feature so I could track their posts.

Is it just me, or have many new genea-blogs started up in the past two weeks?  My theories: it is an exercise in New Year's resolution fulfillment for the authors or since the holidays tend to bring families together, it is a natural development after spending quality time with family and discussing family history.

Here are a few of the new blogs I've found - check them out!

Chapter & Wurst - Exloring My German Heritage

GENIAUS - The Musings of an Amateur Australian Genealogist Excited By Web 2.0 Applications

Grave Mappers - Join Grave Mappers—we're creating our own interactive cemetery maps!

Greta's Genealogy Blog - Seriously obsessed with family research since 2005

Logan County Genealogy - Logan County, Illinois, Genealogy -- Solving the Mystery of our History

Miles' Genealogy Tips

Nana's Diggins - My Notes and Thoughts, Photos and Documents About My Genealogical Research

Random Relatives - Let's face it, true genealogists don't want anything to be "random" about their relatives!!

If you can, please welcome these new blogs and their owners to the genea-blogosphere, follow them on Blogger, add them to your reader as well as to Networked Blogs on Facebook!

Creating A Banner Image

Recently when I switched back from my Christmas-themed template to my standard template over at Destination: Austin Family, I forgot to add my banner image. Luckily Kathryn Doyle of California Genealogical Society and Library blog pointed this out to me while she was investigating ways to create and install images in your Blogger banner.

I leveraged Microsoft PowerPoint to create my image since I feel that my Adobe Photoshop Elements skills are not where they should be. Many people forget that once you create a page in PowerPoint you can save the slide as a PNG, BMP or JPG format file for use in other programs.

Here's how I created this image:



1. Open Microsoft PowerPoint and create a blank presentation.



2.  On the Insert menu, select Shapes, Rectangle and draw a rectangle the width of the presentation slide and about two inches high.



3. Right-click over the rectangle and select Format Shape.  Use the various options in the Format Shape dialog to select the desired Fill Color and to add or remove the line around the rectangle.  Click Close when finished.



4. You should now have a background upon which to insert your banner text.



5. On the Insert menu select Text Box and draw a text box the length of the banner.  Format the text to be centered, with a large font size (48 points or larger) and your desired font style.



6.  On the Insert menu select Pictures and locate various photos to insert on the banner.  Once a photo is inserted, you will need to resize it to fit and then align it with other photos on the banner.



7. Once the banner is complete, save the presentation in the Powerpoint format (ppt or pptx) for safekeeping.



8. To export the banner to a picture file format, on the File menu select Save As.  In the Save As dialog, locate the Save as type drop-down list and select TIF (a format which creates a very high resolution image).  Specify a location and click Save.



9. Next, when prompted, select Current Slide Only to save the presentation as a picture.



10. Open the TIF file in your photo management software.  I use Microsoft Picture Manager as shown below.  Use the Crop feature to crop out the "white space" above and below the banner, leaving only the image.



11. Export the file to the PNG or JPG formats which will reduce the file size and make it easier to upload to Blogger.



12. Go to the Dashboard for your blog in Blogger.  Select Layout and locate the Picture widget.  Click Edit.



13. In the Configure Image dialog, select Choose File and locate the PNG or JPG image which was just exported.  Also click Shrink To Fit.



14. The image will appear in the dialog.  Click Save.

Note:  This method of adding a large banner image will not work with all templates especially those that are not included in Blogger's standard set of templates.