Presented by Elizabeth O’Neal on 4 Aug 2020.

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If you think your business doesn’t need a website, then think again. Potential clients will most likely do an internet search before choosing a professional genealogist, and if they can’t find your website, they can’t find YOU. Learn how to get your business website up and running quickly and easily.

Elizabeth O’Neal is a professional genealogist who writes, lectures, and consults on a variety of topics. Her passion is using technology and social media to enrich the experience of genealogy research and family history storytelling.

Elizabeth has been researching her own family history for more than thirty years and writing and blogging about genealogy for the past twelve years. A frequent contributor to the Federation of Genealogical Societies' FORUM magazine, Elizabeth writes the regular "Before You Go" column, as well as book and software reviews and featured articles about technology. She is the author of the award-winning family history blog My Descendant’s Ancestors and is a regular contributor to many online genealogy publications.

Professional memberships include the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and she is an active member of the public speaking club Toastmasters International. Elizabeth currently serves as President of the Second Life Virtual Genealogical Society, 1st Vice President – Programs of the Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society, Vice President of the GeneaBloggers Organization, and coordinator of the NGSQ Study Groups. She is a member of numerous lineage societies, including the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United States Daughters of 1812.

Presented by David Ryan, MA, DipGen on 1 Sep 2020.

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The advent of digital marketing has changed how we connect with potential clients and other professionals. But how many of us can offer a firm explanation for what digital marketing is? How often do we let ourselves get confused and bewildered by all the jargon and terminology? What effective strategies are there for making the most of digital marketing resources such as websites, social media and search engines? The purpose of this paper is to examine just how digital technologies have changed our approach to marketing and how we can take advantage of this without breaking the bank.

David Ryan, MA, DipGen, is a professional genealogist and oral historian based just outside of Cork city, Ireland. He has worked as professional genealogist for the past six years. He is currently a researcher with the Cork Folklore Project, a community based oral history project in Cork City.

David is a graduate of University College Cork. He has an MA in Medieval History and a Diploma in Genealogy. He is also an alumnus of ProGen Study Group 39.

Presented by Zachary Hamilton on 3 Nov 2020.

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Becoming a better genealogist is all about education and learning. But with so many options and paths, where do you start and how do you build a education plan for your goals? Compare and contrast different types of genealogical education and their value in your personal and professional genealogy path.

Zachary Hamilton is the owner of The Millennial Genealogist. A specialist in Southern US research and military records, Zachary has worked for and contracted with some of the leading genealogy companies in the world, including Ancestry.com and The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Zachary has also been a contributing researcher to the Emmy-nominated television series, Who Do You Think You Are?

In addition to his research experience, Zachary is a lecturer at regional conferences across the country, including RootsTech and has been a guest speaker for genealogy courses at Brigham Young University - Idaho and at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

Zachary currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Utah Genealogical Association and on the Committee for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.

Presented by Cara Jones on 1 Dec 2020.

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Many genealogists struggle to run a profitable business while maintaining long-term, happy clients. The presenter will explore this difficult balance and offer unique techniques to aid in professional success. A three-pronged approach will be examined – Fostering Client Relationships, Cultivating Time Management Skills and Executing Proficient Report Writing.

Cara graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Family History and a Master’s Degree in American History. She particularly enjoys researching in military records and the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. Cara is a member of the Utah Genealogical Association and is employed as a research specialist on the VIP Team at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. More information on Cara can be found at her FamilySearch Wiki page.