Join a Genealogy Forum

If your interest in family history has been piqued but your tree is looking a little bare, a good next step is to join one of the many genealogy forums available online. You can ask a specific question about an ancestor or a product used in family history research in a genealogical forum. It is beneficial to post questions in the area related to a specific discussion, or community members can start a new discussion related to their query.

You must also learn the rules as a forum member. For example, some forums allow attachments while others do not, and advertising products or spamming forum users is not appropriate in a forum post. That is a sure way to get kicked off a forum. Respondents to posts may be professional genealogists or enthusiasts with extensive knowledge of the subject. Both RootsWeb and Ancestry.com have active message boards where you can acquire advice and information from fellow genealogists, both professional and amateur.