Want to your tree to grow?  Some suggestions:

• Links: Use the Links section at the bottom of each person's record.  These link to common genealogy sites, linking directly to relevant search results.  If you consider each page linked here, multiplied by each person in your tree, and revisiting each periodically to catch newer updates, it is an impossible task if you search each site by retyping someone's name manually.  This helps to speed up the process.
   
  
• Email-a-Friend:  Do you know relatives or other researchers who might have information that relates to yours?  Use the Email-a-Friend button to email them a direct link to your person's page.  More visitors will mean more information to add onto your branches.
   
  
• Surname and Place Resources: Each surname and each location has countless websites and other online resources that may be able to help.  You can find links to some of these by going to the Surname Resources page, or the State & County Resources page.  If you have other good resources to share, you can add them yourself on each page.
  
  
• Counties: Where possible, include the county name in the event places.  Having this in there means that the person will be counted in county maps, will show on county information pages, and thus will be more likely found by someone browsing through the site.
   
• Pictures: Post a picture of someone, or their grave, or where they lived.  Having a picture attached will boost their likelihood of being displayed on the Surnames page, and will get them in the mix for showing on everyone's home dashboard page.  Then others are more likely to click into your records.
  
  
• Posting:  Try replying to genealogy listservs and message boards where others are posting about ancestors you have, and include there a link back here to the relevant leaves of your branch.

Updated: 3-10-2009