A Seniors Guide to Genealogy
Virginia Grant
This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.
Genealogy is more than just a hobby—it’s a way to explore family history, uncover hidden stories, and preserve a legacy for future generations. For many, it also becomes an opportunity to turn years of research into something more.
This book is designed for seniors who want to dive into genealogy with purpose, whether as a personal passion, a meaningful retirement project, or a way to generate income. It covers essential research tools, strategies for tracing family history, and practical methods for organizing findings. It also explores various ways to share and monetize genealogy expertise, from offering research services to writing family history books, creating genealogy-related products, and teaching others.
With a friendly and conversational approach, this guide helps readers navigate the rewarding world of genealogy while balancing personal enjoyment with professional opportunities. Whether researching for family, teaching a new generation, or building a side business, this book provides the knowledge and confidence to move forward with purpose.
Duration - 6h 18m.
Author - Virginia Grant.
Narrator - Digital Voice Michelle G.
Published Date - Thursday, 23 January 2025.
Copyright - © 2025 SD ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Genealogy is more than just a hobby—it’s a way to explore family history, uncover hidden stories, and preserve a legacy for future generations. For many, it also becomes an opportunity to turn years of research into something more. This book is designed for seniors who want to dive into genealogy with purpose, whether as a personal passion, a meaningful retirement project, or a way to generate income. It covers essential research tools, strategies for tracing family history, and practical methods for organizing findings. It also explores various ways to share and monetize genealogy expertise, from offering research services to writing family history books, creating genealogy-related products, and teaching others. With a friendly and conversational approach, this guide helps readers navigate the rewarding world of genealogy while balancing personal enjoyment with professional opportunities. Whether researching for family, teaching a new generation, or building a side business, this book provides the knowledge and confidence to move forward with purpose. Duration - 6h 18m. Author - Virginia Grant. Narrator - Digital Voice Michelle G. Published Date - Thursday, 23 January 2025. Copyright - © 2025 SD ©.
Language:
English
Introduction
Duración:00:21:06
1. Understanding Genealogy
Duración:00:00:59
More Than Just a Family Tree
Duración:00:01:02
Why People Get Hooked on Genealogy
Duración:00:01:24
What Genealogy Is Not
Duración:00:01:07
The Emotional Side of Genealogy
Duración:00:01:01
The difference between genealogy and family history
Duración:00:01:33
Genealogy: The Foundation
Duración:00:01:17
Family History: The Storytelling
Duración:00:01:42
Why Both Matter
Duración:00:01:10
The Unexpected Twists
Duración:00:00:54
Common reasons people get into genealogy
Duración:00:01:03
Finding a Sense of Identity
Duración:00:01:20
Proving or Disproving Family Stories
Duración:00:01:27
Connecting with the Past
Duración:00:01:15
Building Something for Future Generations
Duración:00:01:03
The Thrill of the Hunt
Duración:00:01:12
A Hobby That Grows with You
Duración:00:00:40
2. Tools of the Trade
Duración:00:00:29
The Workhorse: A Reliable Computer
Duración:00:01:04
Capturing the Past: A Good Scanner
Duración:00:01:05
Staying Organized: Notebooks, Binders, and Digital Notes
Duración:00:01:02
The All-Important Research Log
Duración:00:00:56
A Comfortable Workspace
Duración:00:00:37
The Right Attitude: Patience and Curiosity
Duración:00:00:48
Keeping Everything Backed Up
Duración:00:00:52
Free vs. paid genealogy websites
Duración:00:00:53
The Allure of Free Genealogy Websites
Duración:00:03:15
When It Pays to Pay
Duración:00:03:08
How to Decide What’s Worth Paying For
Duración:00:01:04
DNA testing and its role in genealogy
Duración:00:01:17
The Different Types of DNA Tests
Duración:00:04:13
Choosing the Right DNA Testing Company
Duración:00:01:17
The Surprises—And Sometimes, the Secrets
Duración:00:00:59
Using DNA to Build a Better Family Tree
Duración:00:00:55
Best software for organizing research
Duración:00:01:15
Why Genealogy Software Matters
Duración:00:01:01
Family Tree Maker: The Longtime Favorite
Duración:00:01:47
Legacy Family Tree: The Researcher’s Power Tool
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Comparing the Two
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Other Notable Mentions
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3. Starting Your Family Tree
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Start with Yourself and Work Backward
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Gather Documents That Already Exist
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Talk to Family Members—While You Can
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Check Family Bibles, Scrapbooks, and Heirlooms
Duración:00:00:57
Compare Notes and Look for Gaps
Duración:00:00:58
Talking to relatives and collecting stories
Duración:00:00:47
Starting the Conversation
Duración:00:01:36
Tackling the “I Don’t Remember” Response
Duración:00:01:04
Sorting Fact from Family Folklore
Duración:00:01:02
Recording Stories Before They Disappear
Duración:00:01:11
Following Up and Filling in Gaps
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Organizing information
Duración:00:01:07
Starting Small: The Basic Structure of a Family Tree
Duración:00:00:57
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Duración:00:00:48
The Paper vs. Digital Debate
Duración:00:01:28
Keeping Track of Sources
Duración:00:00:53
Color Coding and Other Organization Hacks
Duración:00:01:21
Recognizing Patterns and Missing Pieces
Duración:00:00:34
Keeping track of sources
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Why Source Tracking Matters
Duración:00:01:02
What Counts as a Source?
Duración:00:01:23
Best Ways to Track Sources
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What to Do When a Source is Missing
Duración:00:00:44
4. Finding Records and Documents
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Where to Find Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates
Duración:00:02:21
Understanding Birth Certificates
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Finding Marriage Records
Duración:00:01:37
Finding Death Certificates
Duración:00:01:33
Census records and how to use them
Duración:00:01:12
Why Census Records Matter
Duración:00:00:57
Where to Find Census Records
Duración:00:01:05
Understanding Different U.S. Census Records
Duración:00:03:30
How to Use Census Records Effectively
Duración:00:02:10
Immigration and naturalization records
Duración:00:01:14
Understanding Immigration vs. Naturalization
Duración:00:00:51
Where to Find Immigration Records
Duración:00:01:34
Passenger Lists: Following the Journey
Duración:00:02:09
Naturalization Records: Becoming a Citizen
Duración:00:02:00
Alternative Immigration Records
Duración:00:00:55
Military records
Duración:00:01:10
Why Military Records Matter
Duración:00:00:57
Where to Find Military Records
Duración:00:01:38
Draft Registration Cards: The First Clue
Duración:00:01:38
Service Records: Tracking an Ancestor’s Military Career
Duración:00:00:59
Pension and Benefits Records: Hidden Family Details
Duración:00:00:57
Military Cemeteries and Headstones: Final Clues
Duración:00:00:35
Alternative Military Records
Duración:00:00:32
Newspapers and obituaries
Duración:00:00:43
Why Newspapers Matter in Genealogy
Duración:00:00:53
Where to Find Old Newspapers
Duración:00:01:25
How to Search Newspapers Effectively
Duración:00:01:21
Obituaries: More Than Just Death Notices
Duración:00:02:06
Beyond the Obituary: Other Newspaper Gems
Duración:00:00:58
How to Preserve Newspaper Finds
Duración:00:00:44
5. Monetizing Your Genealogy Skills
Duración:00:01:20
Becoming a Professional Genealogist
Duración:00:02:37
Teaching and Consulting
Duración:00:01:15
Writing and Publishing
Duración:00:01:23
Creating and Selling Genealogy Products
Duración:00:00:45
Forensic and Legal Genealogy
Duración:00:00:43
Turning Genealogy into a Business
Duración:00:00:44
Offering genealogy research services
Duración:00:01:00
What Does a Genealogy Researcher Do?
Duración:00:01:26
How to Set Up a Genealogy Research Business
Duración:00:05:31
Expanding Services Beyond Traditional Research
Duración:00:00:42
Writing family history books and biographies
Duración:00:01:02
Why Family History Books Matter
Duración:00:01:06
Types of Family History Books
Duración:00:01:01
Offering Family History Writing as a Paid Service
Duración:00:02:31
Structuring a Family History Book
Duración:00:01:09
Publishing and Selling Family History Books
Duración:00:01:05
Selling genealogy-related products
Duración:00:01:15
Why People Buy Genealogy Products
Duración:00:01:13
Types of Genealogy Products That Sell Well
Duración:00:02:30
How to Create and Sell Genealogy Products
Duración:00:03:12
Teaching genealogy classes
Duración:00:01:11
Why People Pay to Learn Genealogy
Duración:00:01:06
How to Get Started Teaching Genealogy
Duración:00:01:41
Finding Students for Genealogy Classes
Duración:00:01:27
What to Teach in a Genealogy Class
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Setting a Price for Genealogy Classes
Duración:00:00:57
Creating an Engaging Learning Experience
Duración:00:01:01
6. Becoming a Genealogy Researcher for Hire
Duración:00:01:12
Who Needs a Genealogy Researcher?
Duración:00:01:23
Where to Find Genealogy Clients
Duración:00:05:15
Setting Yourself Apart from the Competition
Duración:00:01:03
What services to offer
Duración:00:00:47
Different Levels of Genealogy Services
Duración:00:07:10
Offering Custom Packages
Duración:00:00:42
Setting prices for your services
Duración:00:00:42
The Challenges of Pricing Genealogy Services
Duración:00:01:19
Common Pricing Models for Genealogy Services
Duración:00:04:07
Additional Factors That Influence Pricing
Duración:00:01:49
How to Handle Pricing Conversations with Clients
Duración:00:00:49
How to present findings professionally
Duración:00:00:52
What Clients Expect in a Final Report
Duración:00:01:11
Choosing the Right Format for Presentation
Duración:00:02:52
Making Findings Understandable for Clients
Duración:00:00:59
Using Visuals to Enhance Reports
Duración:00:00:59
Organizing Supporting Documents
Duración:00:00:56
Communicating Findings to Clients
Duración:00:00:57
7. Writing and Publishing Family History Books
Duración:00:01:21
Finding the Best Structure for Your Family History Book
Duración:00:03:18
Sorting Through Research to Build the Narrative
Duración:00:03:02
Adding historical context
Duración:00:01:00
Why Historical Context Matters in Family History
Duración:00:00:45
Finding the Right Historical Context
Duración:00:05:22
Using photos and documents
Duración:00:01:03
Choosing the Right Photos and Documents to Include
Duración:00:02:38
Restoring and Enhancing Old Photos
Duración:00:00:57
Organizing Photos and Documents in a Family History Book
Duración:00:01:02
Telling a Story Through Photos and Documents
Duración:00:00:58
Handling Fragile or Unavailable Photos and Documents
Duración:00:00:58
Printing and Formatting Considerations
Duración:00:00:43
Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing
Duración:00:00:52
What Are You Hoping to Accomplish?
Duración:00:00:50
Traditional Publishing: The Pros and Cons
Duración:00:02:46
Self-Publishing: The Pros and Cons
Duración:00:01:21
Best Platforms for Self-Publishing a Family History Book
Duración:00:01:21
Choosing the Right Option for Your Book
Duración:00:00:32
Selling on Amazon, Etsy, and personal websites
Duración:00:01:10
Amazon: The Powerhouse of Online Book Sales
Duración:00:02:16
Etsy: A Unique Marketplace for Genealogy Books
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Selling Through a Personal Website: Full Control, More Work
Duración:00:01:42
Which Platform is Right for You?
Duración:00:00:23
8. Blogging and YouTube for Genealogy
Duración:00:01:06
Why Start a Genealogy Blog?
Duración:00:00:52
Setting Up a Genealogy Blog: The Basics
Duración:00:01:59
What to Write About? Finding Your Blogging Niche
Duración:00:02:11
How Blogging Attracts Clients for Genealogy Research
Duración:00:01:00
Turning Blog Posts into a YouTube Channel
Duración:00:00:37
Creating video tutorials on genealogy topics
Duración:00:01:06
Why Genealogy Videos Are So Effective
Duración:00:00:53
Getting Started: Choosing Your First Video Topics
Duración:00:01:15
What Equipment Do You Need?
Duración:00:01:00
Creating a Genealogy Video: A Simple Framework
Duración:00:02:04
Editing and Uploading Your Video
Duración:00:00:37
Growing an Audience for Your Genealogy Videos
Duración:00:00:36
Monetization options
Duración:00:00:50
Can You Make Money from Genealogy Content?
Duración:00:00:52
Advertising: Earning Money from Views
Duración:00:01:27
Affiliate Marketing: Earning Commissions on Products You Recommend
Duración:00:01:46
Sponsorships: Partnering with Genealogy Companies
Duración:00:01:11
Selling Your Own Products: The Best Long-Term Strategy
Duración:00:00:50
The Smart Way to Monetize Without Losing Your Audience’s Trust
Duración:00:00:40
Turning a Passion into a Profitable Hobby
Duración:00:00:37
Best platforms for building an audience
Duración:00:00:58
Where Do Genealogy Enthusiasts Hang Out?
Duración:00:00:46
1. Google (SEO for Blogs & Websites)
Duración:00:01:19
2. YouTube (Best for Video-Based Content)
Duración:00:01:07
3. Facebook Groups (Best for Community & Engagement)
Duración:00:01:15
4. Pinterest (Best for Driving Blog Traffic)
Duración:00:01:02
5. TikTok & Instagram (Best for Short, Engaging Content)
Duración:00:00:52
6. Reddit & Genealogy Forums (Best for Deep Discussions)
Duración:00:00:38
Which Platform is Best for You?
Duración:00:00:54
9. Joining the Genealogy Community
Duración:00:01:05
Where to Find Genealogy Communities
Duración:00:04:43
How to Make the Most of Genealogy Groups
Duración:00:02:41