Are you considering starting your own, personal, genealogy blog for your family? One of the first things you need to decide is where that blog is going to go. Fortunately, there are several simple online resources that can help you get started. Here are a few good ones to choose from.
You’re ready to make a genealogy blog. The first thing you are going to need to do is figure out where online you want that blog to be. Here are some options to choose from.
One of the easiest ways to make a genealogy blog is to go with MyFamily.com. You can create your group in 30 seconds. If you have a good understanding about how to post blogs, photos, and videos onto Facebook, then you will probably have the necessary skill set to start a blog at MyFamily.com. It allows you to select privacy settings that will ensure that your blog is only seen by your family members. One potential disadvantage is that you cannot use MyFamily.com for free
LiveJournal is another option. It can be used for free, (with limitations). The Basic Account is an easy way to get started blogging. You can upload up to six photos to the blog. You are able to change the look of your blog. If you want to do more, there are a couple of paid account options available. This is a good starting point for genealogists who are brand new to blogging and fearful of accidentally doing something that will “mess up” their blog in a permanent way.
Tumblr is another blogging format that is easy to use. To start, all you need is an email address. Create a password and username, and you are ready to go. Tumblr can be used for free. You can use it to simply write a blog about a family story or an interesting detail from your genealogy research. It is possible to add photos to the blog. Many people also add links to information that is located on other websites into their blog, for reference.
Blogger is another option. It is free to use, and easily customizable. There are many different templates for you to choose from. You can easily change the fonts, and make things bold or italicized. It has a spell-check features, and it automatically saves what you wrote. You can add photos and video, as well as outside links. Those of you who know HTML can use it in a Blogger blog.
WordPress is my favorite. It is extremely versatile. You can create a blog, and select a template, for free. Just like that, you have gotten started! Those who want to can purchase more detailed templates, add plug-ins, and customize it to their heart’s content. Genealogists who know HTML can easily use it in a WordPress blog.
Image by Phil Oakley on Flickr