Genealogy research often benefits from asking questions on multiple platforms, which can provide access to diverse expertise, broaden perspectives, and offer networking opportunities. However, to effectively utilize these platforms, researchers should conduct preliminary research, ask clear and specific questions, respect community guidelines, engage respectfully, and avoid pitfalls like overwhelming the community with too many questions, ignoring site etiquette, and neglecting their own research skills.
Genealogy research can get complicated, and seeking advice from different sources may be inevitable. While your primary genealogy website is a valuable resource, asking questions on other platforms can help you break that brick wall or determine the next step.
Asking questions across platforms may be beneficial, but you have to play by the rules of engagements. Different approaches provide different results, so you must study the best practices before you type your queries. Similarly, you must know the common pitfalls and how to avoid them to get the best response to your questions.
This guide explores the benefits of engaging with other family history research platforms, the best practices, and the potential pitfalls.
The Benefits of Engaging with Other Genealogy Sites
Besides finding the correct answers to your question, asking questions on other genealogy sites may offer the following benefits:
Access to Diverse Expertise
Genealogy sites have communities comprised of amateurs and experts specialized in specific historical periods and regions. For example, posting your query on sites like Genealogy.com and Ancestry can catch the attention of these experts and benefit immensely.
For instance, an expert who specializes in the 18th century German migration to America may help research your German ancestors’ migration to the US. These experts may also direct you to better resources and records for your custom research.
Broadened Perspective
Genealogy communities also have experts who focus on family history and other aspects related to the field. The experts can address your burning questions not only about your family history but also data interpretation or perusing historical data written in illegible scripts and dialects.
For example, forums such as FamilyTreeForum and RootsChat may have experts in paleography whose help in deciphering old handwriting may be indispensable. Such experts may help not only in understanding these complex scripts and handwritings but also guide users to the best resources to learn interpretation techniques.
Networking Opportunities
Participating on other genealogy sites also offers an opportunity to network with fellow researchers and simplify the process. Your question on the discussion on Facebook groups and discussion sites like Reddit’s r/Genealogy may be the first step to forging this network.
The network you create can be invaluable for sharing tips, tools, and resources crucial for expediting the research process. For example, your question on a genealogy site can help discover a distant cousin or a person interested in the same ancestor or research question who may have crucial documents you need.
Access to Records and Resources
Besides the communities, other genealogy sites may have exclusive resources and databases that are not available elsewhere. Posting your question there might lead you to records, images, or data relevant to your research. A simple connection made on a genealogy platform could be the gateway to a private family archive that can help break that brick wall in your research or make substantial progress.
Best Practices for Asking Questions on Other Family History Platforms
Even with the myriad of family history platforms where you can post your questions, you need to apply the following best practices to reap the benefits:
Do Your Homework First
Before posting your pressing questions, search the best sites for your case and those likely to offer positive feedback. For example, if you want to focus on Irish research, look for sites customed for Irish genealogy instead of relying on other international sites.
In the same way, study your chosen sites to see if your question has already been answered. Sites like Reddit and FamilySearch Community let you conduct a quick search about a record, region, or ancestor to view relevant queries.
Be Clear and Specific
Just like your research question should be specific and achievable, so should the queries you post on other genealogy sites. Avoid broad questions like “How can I complete my family tree?” Instead, provide as many details and specifics as possible, such as the research objective, crucial names, and their variations, dates, and locations.
A good example would be, “I need help tracing my great-grandfather, Mark Lewis Ludwig, who was born around 1850 in West Germany.”
Respect Community Guidelines
Genealogy sites have their own rules and guidelines that you need to adhere to benefit fully. For example, RootsWeb does not allow information about living persons, ads, or out-of-topic posts. Failure to read and understand your preferred site’s rules and guidelines could cause your account or questions to be removed.
Engage Respectfully
Respectful engagement is another best practice that has proven beneficial to members in the long run. Acknowledge people attempting to help answer your questions and respond to other requests that you may be well-versed in.
Potential Pitfalls to Avoid
Even with the mastery of the best practices, consulting other platforms also presents pitfalls that could sabotage your efforts. Below are the three most common pitfalls that you must avoid to benefit from other platforms:
Too Many Questions
Questions may be welcome, but overloading the community with dozens of them everyday can be overwhelming. It’s wise to limit your questions and maximize the responses you get from the few questions you ask. Instead of ten questions in a day, ask two and engage with every response if necessary.
Ignoring Site Etiquette
Besides the community guidelines, these platforms may have unwritten rules about how you interact with members or phrase your questions. Some users may view long messages and all caps as rude, hence the need to familiarize with the site’s etiquette.
Neglecting Your Own Research
Asking questions on other genealogy sites may adversely affect your research skills. Overreliance on other people for your research answers can obstruct you from exploring archives and records and seeking professional assistance, jeopardizing the accuracy, understanding, and credibility of your family history report.
The Bottom Line
Asking questions on other genealogy sites is appropriate and can be beneficial to your ancestry search. However, you need to master the best practices, respect community guidelines, and contribute to the community. Note that joining family history research is about collaboration, and your insights can also help other researchers.