Do Your Genealogy Queries Get Ignored?

Social media pages such as those on Facebook can be a great way to get free help with your family tree. I am a fan of a number of genealogy pages on Facebook. I enjoy browsing through them and reading the posts and will often try to help someone if I can. Deciding whether to try to help depends on one key point - easily understanding what information or help the person is looking for.

When posting a query online we all hope for a quick response to receive helpful information or suggestions on what to do next. There is a great wealth of knowledge in the online genealogy community just waiting to be accessed. People like to share their experiences and are happy to explain how they found their answers. But unfortunately, I see so many queries that never get acknowledged and go unanswered. The reason? Readers have no idea what the person is looking for.

A query a such as "Looking for information on John Smith" will likely be skipped right over because it is such a broad question. It tells nothing about John Smith to give anyone a starting point to try and help. With a little thought and effort, an effective and clear query can be written.

First, take a few minutes to research which Facebook page is the most appropriate place to post the query. A query placed in the wrong community will generally bring no response.

The most important thing is determining one question are you trying to answer. A response is more likely when the query is narrowly focused. Too many names or questions in a query can be confusing to someone that does not know your family line. Asking a simple question regarding one individual will likely get a response.

It is easy to draft a good query. Be as brief as possible but include helpful details. Give the name of the full name of the person and some basic data such as b/m/d dates, place of residence, and spouse's or children's names. Try to provide a time frame and location. If the exact date or place is not know try to give a good estimate.

"Need parents of" or "What is the maiden name of" are good examples of how to begin your query. It tells the reader up front exactly what you are looking for. Make sure the reader can easily contact you.

Be patient and don't get discouraged if you do not get an immediate response. Someone may read your query a week or more later and have just the information you are looking for. If a volunteer tries to help but fails to get the information you need, be sure to thank them anyway for their efforts. They will appreciate the acknowledgement.

Kindness like a smile can be contagious. Grandpa often said, "Remember, one good turn deserves another." Much of the genealogy community runs on volunteers and their willingness to share their family information, knowledge and skills to help others.

Are you willing to share your data? Are you willing to help? If you are lucky enough to benefit from the genealogical kindness of strangers, consider a doing a random act of kindness of your own. Pass it on to others and pay it forward.