Tips For Writing A Great Genealogy Blog

Now that you’ve decided to start your genealogy blog (see why you should start your own genealogy blog here), you’ll need some good ideas to keep you going and to keep your readers — especially your family readers — coming back for more.

Here are a few tips on writing a blog people are sure to visit again and again:

1. Include Photos and Videos

Be sure to use photos and/or videos every chance you get. Every single post you write may not call for one, but try to include them as often as possible. Your readers like visuals which tends to keep them focused and interested. Ideally, the photos and videos you use will be your own family photos, relevant to your stories that help the details come to life. For example, if you’ve traveled to the spot where your family originated or put down roots, include photos and videos from your trip. Or the time you interviewed Great Aunt Sally, include any footage and photos pertaining to that. However, if you would like to keep those treasures private, you can find stock photos and videos available online for purchase that can do the trick.

2. Keep it Organized

Nothing will drive away readers like an unorganized blog. Using categories as you blog will help keep things incredibly organized and topics can easily be searched or looked up. Categories could include but are certainly not limited to, last names, locations, recipes, photos, traditions, weddings, deaths, births, etc. Depending on your post and the topic, it could include one or more categories.

3. Use Links to Other Genealogy Blogs

Blogs can easily be customized to whatever you want. If you have a list of favorite genealogy blogs you like to visit, include that list on your sidebar. Chances are your readers would be interested in those, too. It could also lead to other blogs linking back to your blog for more exposure (if that is something you want).

4. Cite Those Sources

It is important to cite your sources when using someone else’s information or research findings. This includes other bloggers, books, websites, etc. Keep a clean reputation and give credit where credit is due.

5. Get Permission

Along with citing your sources, it is good form to get permission from a blog owner if you would like to use a large portion of their work. A good rule of thumb is if it’s more than a paragraph, reach out to the owner to get the all clear prior to posting.

6. Make It Interesting

If you’re experienced when it comes to the genealogy world, it’s easy to keep things to the point and incredibly educational. While including the facts and being educational is important, you need to keep your posts interesting and entertaining if you want to keep your readers engaged.

7. Engage with Your Readers

If you’ve decided to enable comments on your blog, you should always reply to any comments you receive in a timely manner. Especially if they have questions that you can answer. This will help increase your blog’s popularity.