The Bloggers' Geneameme

Inspired by Geniaus, I thought I'd share a little bit about myself and this blog for those who might be stopping by to check out what I'm writing. 

What are the titles and URLs of your genealogy blog/s? 

Know Their Stories: www.knowtheirstories.blogspot.com

Do you have a wonderful "Cousin Bait" blog story? A link to a previous blog post might answer this question. 

I wrote about a stranger sending me an original Civil War photo of an ancestor after reading something I wrote online.  The story is here: Wallace Partridge, Civil War Soldier

Why did you start blogging? Is there someone who inspired you to start blogging?

I was inspired by my late grandmother, who passed away last year at the age of 93.  We worked together on family history for several years, and she left me a treasure trove of photos and documents.  I promised her I would get it all organized and share it with our relatives, so this blog is my attempt to do just that.

How did you decide on your blog/s title/s?

I thought about what I really wanted the blog to accomplish, and that was for my family members to know the stories of those who came before them.  So... Know Their Stories. 

Do you ever blog from mobile devices? What are they?

Not yet, but I'm sure I will in the future.

How do you let others know when you have published a new post?

Right now, I simply link to the post on Facebook and tag family members I know will be interested.  I don't do it with every post, though.  I might promote my posts more aggressively in the future, but I'm new to this and want to make sure I'm writing something interesting before I start worrying about readership.

How long have you been blogging?

Um..... two months.  I'm not going anywhere, though.  I've got tons of material to share, and I feel a real duty to do it.  Plus, I love to write.

What widgets or elements do you consider essential on a genealogy blog? 

Great question.  I am definitely still learning as I go in terms of layout and interactive elements.  Personally, I like a "follow me" button for Feedly, because it just makes it easier to add a blog to my reader.  A good "about me" page is also essential.

What is the purpose of your blog/s? Who is your intended audience?

My blog exists to share family photos and stories about my ancestors.  I'm writing it for my immediate family members (my siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles), but I also hope that others would find the stories compelling enough to read along.  I'm not reaching out to a huge audience, I'm just trying to write quality posts with meaningful content.

Which of your posts are you particularly proud of?

I think my recent post about my Grandma's birthday is the most meaningful, thus far.  Happy Birthday, Grandma. 

How do you keep up with your blog reading?

I use Feedly.  However, I don't have a lot of time to keep up with blog reading right now.  I have two small children (ages 5 and 9 months) and a job, so my reading time is limited.  Probably twice a week, I scroll through Feedly and check out everything new, but I have not had time to go to each blog and leave meaningful comments yet.  It's definitely something I want to do. 

What platform do you use for publishing your blog/s?

Blogger.  Because it's easy and I'm a newbie.

Which of your posts has been the most popular with readers?

Apparently, it's the post about my great-grandfather's multiple marriages.  How Many Times Was George Beck Married?  Perhaps it's because I have a lot of cousins on that side of the family.

Are you a sole blogger or do you contribute to a shared blog?

Sole blogger.

How do you compose your blog posts?

Sometimes I write them directly into Blogger, and sometimes I write them in Word and copy them into Blogger.  This is why my font isn't uniform, and it's driving me nuts.  I will fix it.

Have you listed your blog/s at Geneabloggers?

Yes.  A friend who blogs said this was essential, and I must agree.

What advice would you give to a new Geneablogger?

I am a new Geneablogger, so I'll be eagerly reading the advice given by others.

I would also like to say that I welcome feedback from other bloggers.  If you have thoughts on my content or format, I'd love to hear about it.  I'm totally open to comments on how I could be doing things better/ differently, etc.  I do strive to make this little blog the best it can be.