Ancestry.com Launches New ‘My Story’ Advertising Campaign

2 July 2009 by Libbi.

Leading Family History Web Site Spotlights Members Who Have Discovered Family Connections in Five National Television Ads

PROVO, Utah  /PRNewswire/ — Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online resource for family history, will showcase the stories of five Americans who have made amazing family history discoveries through its Web site in My Story, a new advertising campaign launching today. Tapping into the powerful tradition of storytelling, the new campaign seeks to convey the possibilities of discovering yourself through family history and inspire Americans everywhere to dig deeper into their own heritage.

The new campaign will run for at least the next 12 months. The five 15, 30 and 60 second television ads will spotlight Ancestry.com members from across the country and their heartwarming family history connections, including a New Yorker who found answers about a father he wanted to better understand and a woman from Chicago who is opening up a restaurant with a cousin after exploring how far the cooking talent extended in her family tree. The TV spots will appear on popular cable networks and channels such as AMC, CNN, Fox News, History Channel, Lifetime Movie Network and Hallmark, among others.

Each member’s story and TV commercial will be available at Ancestry.com beginning today, and an online campaign featuring a variety of “Who Will You Discover?” banner ads will begin on June 29.

“What is truly amazing is that these miraculous discoveries are happening every day,” said Cheyenne Richards, vice president of marketing, Ancestry.com. “We literally went through thousands of incredible member-submitted stories before we chose these five. That’s the inspiration behind our new My Story campaign - to convey how life-changing a family history discovery can be.”

The new My Story campaign was designed to resonate with all adults, particularly those ages 45 and older. “One’s motivation to discover their heritage tends to grow over time, but curiosity about family history is a basic human desire,” continued Richards. “We expect these new ad spots will inspire people of all ages to learn more about their heritage. It’s very important to us to help people understand how easy it can be to have such a meaningful experience.”

My Story Television Spots

Ancestry.com Creative Director Shawn Perkins worked closely with Director Jeffrey DeChausse at Boxer Films (Los Angeles) to create the five spots. The new television spots feature the following stories:

* A New Yorker Finds Answers about His Father - Alton Woodman (White Plains, N.Y.) never knew much about his dad, who passed away when Alton was just 14 years old. Turning to Ancestry.com, Alton found his father in a 1920 census record as a 14-year-old himself, and discovered that he was attending an orphanage. To help connect the dots, Alton got in touch with a representative from the orphanage and received a package that offered a more complete picture of his father’s childhood.
* One Man Discovers His Great Grandfather was a War Hero - Cary Christopher (Pittsburgh and San Diego) always wondered about his German great grandfather, who disappeared after a short-lived marriage to Cary’s great grandmother ended in divorce. After 40 years of futile searching, Cary discovered his great grandfather in a World War I draft registration card on Ancestry.com. It turned out his great grandfather had immigrated to the United States before World War I, became a U.S. citizen and rose to the rank of Captain in the U.S. Merchant Marines, where he was killed by a torpedo fired by a German submarine during World War II.
* South Florida Man Connects Father to His Own Mother - Jim Lane’s (Key Biscayne, Fla.) father never knew his mother, who died when he was an infant. Through historical records and member connection services on Ancestry.com, Jim discovered relatives who sent him pictures of his grandmother, and for the first time, Jim’s father was able to see a photograph of his mother.
* Chicago Cook Meets Like-Minded Cousin - When caterer Peggy McDowell (Chicago) began researching the cooking talent in her family tree, she had no idea she would end up going into business with a long-lost cousin. Through searching records on Ancestry.com, she connected with her cousin, who also shares her passion for cooking. Together, they’re opening a soul food restaurant in Chicago’s Hyde Park.
* Washington Woman Confirms Father’s Passing - Cathryn Darling (Olympia, Wash.) had many unanswered questions about her father, who had disappeared when she was eight years old after her parent’s divorce. After searching obituary records on Ancestry.com, Cathryn learned her father died as a fisherman while at sea in Oregon in 1970, and she recently held a memorial service in his honor.

Ancestry.com recently announced that its members have added more than 1 billion people to more than 10 million user-generated family trees on the site since the tree-building and -sharing tools debuted in July 2006. For more information, or to build your family tree, visit www.ancestry.com.

About Ancestry.com and The Generations Network

The Generations Network, Inc., through its flagship Ancestry.com property, is the world’s leading resource for online family history. Ancestry.com has localized sites directed at nine countries. Since July 2006, Ancestry.com users have created 10 million family trees containing 1 billion profiles and 20 million photographs and stories. The Generations Network also includes myfamily.com, Genealogy.com, Rootsweb.ancestry.com, MyCanvas.com, dna.ancestry.com, Family Tree Maker and Ancestry Magazine. More than 8.7 million unique visitors spent over 4.2 million hours on a TGN website in April 2009 (comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide).

Web sites:

http://www.ancestry.com/

http://www.myfamily.com/

http://www.genealogy.com/

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

http://www.mycanvas.com/

http://www.dna.ancestry.com/

http://www.familytreemaker.com/

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GeneTree Named Among Top 10 Web Sites for Storing and Sharing by Family Tree Magazine

1 July 2009 by Libbi.

• Dynamic Family History-Sharing Site Included in Popular Genealogy Magazine’s list of 101 Best Family History Web Sites for Second Year in a Row
• Site Provides World’s Largest Correlated Genetic Genealogy Database to Enable Users to Uniquely Explore Genealogical Roots and Connect with Family Members

SALT LAKE CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GeneTree has been named by Family Tree Magazine to its annual list of the 101 best family history Web sites for the second year in a row. This DNA-enabled family history-sharing site is listed among the 10 best Web sites for storing and sharing. GeneTree’s unique approach to family history provides users with access to the world’s largest correlated genetic genealogy database.

Family Tree Magazine is the largest-circulation genealogy magazine in the United States and is written for a growing consumer audience. Ancestry research is among the most popular online activities and much of it is taking place on an estimated 300,000 genealogy Web sites.

“It is exciting to be a part of this prestigious list for the second year in a row,” said Matt Cupal, GeneTree president and COO. “Since our launch, GeneTree has received a remarkably positive response as novice and avid genealogists use our tools to discover additional family lines and connect with family members from around the globe. As we continue to innovate new ways to share genealogy information, the possibilities the Web site provides to reach relatives—both past and present—are truly endless.”

GeneTree takes family history research to the next level by allowing users to have their DNA tested and then mapping those results with the Web site’s worldwide genetic genealogy collection. Through this technology, even novice genealogists can discover portions of their deep ancestral histories that predate written records. Those who elect to have genetic analysis done may choose from several types of DNA tests.

The GeneTree Web site also applies rich media technologies and collaboration tools to genetic genealogy, giving users innovative ways to map, assemble, record and share their family histories. Participants may work together to build new connections with previously unknown living relatives.

About GeneTree

GeneTree (www.genetree.com) is mapping the world’s DNA using genetic genealogy. The Web site allows easy connection to genetic cousins, collaboration on family trees, and sharing of photos. By tapping into the world’s most extensive correlated genetic genealogy database, GeneTree allows members to integrate their DNA profiles into their family history research, creating a scientific looking glass to find living and deceased relatives for whom no paper records exist.

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Vital stats

23 June 2009 by Libbi.

It’s my daughter’s birthday. She was born on my paternal grandmother’s birthday, just continuing the trend of vital stats on special days.

• My parents were married Christmas Day 1946
• My oldest brother was born July 4 1948
• My other brother was born on Thanksgiving 1952
• I was born on my father’s birthday
• My sister was born on my mother’s brother’s birthday
• We married April 1, 1978

Is there a pattern to your family’s vital stats?

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We’re Related press release

22 June 2009 by Libbi.

PROVO, Utah, June 19 /PRNewswire/ — We’re Related on Facebook, already the number four most popular application and the number one social application for families, launched its first commerce-related social marketing campaign, which drove more than 122,000 unique visitors to its commerce destination and generated hundreds of sales and online tributes to fathers in a single day.

We’re Related has an audience of more than 40 million people who have defined nearly 200 million family relationships using the application. This creates a perfect user base for a targeted and timely reminder that Father’s Day is just around the corner. Leveraging the huge existing base of users, FamilyLink launched its first commerce-related cross marketing campaign today.

A link with an invitation to “take a few minutes and share a photo with your dad to show him you love him” was included as part of a notification related to Father’s Day, which drove traffic to a “Dadtastic” store front that allowed users to purchase a t-shirt or just upload a favorite image or t-shirt design as a tribute to their fathers.

The campaign provided a new channel for users to interact while at the same time helping FamilyLink acquire new users as fans spread the word about the Dadtastic campaign to their network of friends and family.

“We are excited to see this unobtrusive, highly targeted marketing campaign result in such positive commerce and viral traffic. The ability to promote a Father’s Day commerce campaign directly to our strong and active user base is key. The relevance of the message is crucial for a successful campaign. FamilyLink believes users do not mind the interruption, they mind the irrelevance,” said

Jim Ericson, VP of marketing.
About FamilyLink.com, Inc. FamilyLink.com, Inc. seeks to become the world’s leading social networking company for families. Through their Facebook application, We’re Related, FamilyLink helps individuals stay in touch with their families by connecting them to their possible relatives, and also by sharing photos, news events, links, favorites lists, and more.

The company also operates several genealogy websites and has popular applications on Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Hi5, and Friendster. FamilyLink.com, Inc. also operates the AdMazing ad network that helps high traffic social applications and sites related to family history and heritage monetize their audiences.

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VitalSearch updates

19 June 2009 by Libbi.

Database completions and developments since last newsletter:

• June 16, 2009: 1888-1937 New York City Grooms: HERE
  • 1937 (sample) - Manhattan,Brooklyn,Bronx,Queens,Richmond(Staten Island): sample image
• May 12, 2009: 1880-1920 California State Vital Records Search Results:
  • Premium Search Members^* can view Here (Virtual-Film). All viewers can see a sample image.

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Family Search pilot adds records –Press Release

18 June 2009 by Libbi.

Six million new records were added to the FamilySearch Record Search pilot this week. The much anticipated Louisiana and Idaho death records are now available. The states of Delaware, District of Columbia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, and New Mexico were added to the 1920 U.S. Census collection. Digital images of church records were also added for Mexico (Baja California, and Baja California Sur).
These collections can be searched for free at the FamilySearch.org Record Search pilot (click Search Records, and then click Record Search pilot).
Special thanks to the FamilySearch volunteers who help make these collections freely available.
Collection Name - Indexed Records-  Digital Images-  Comments

•  1920 US Census - 5,477,143-   Added Delaware, District of Columbia, New Mexico, Michigan, Nevada, and New Hampshire) -Note: Images will be added at a later date when additional features are available.

•  Louisiana Deaths 1850–1875; 1894–1954 - 664,511 -  Note: Images will be added at a later date when additional features are available.

•  Idaho Deaths 1911–1937-  106,484

•  Mexico, Baja California and Baja California Sur, Church Records 1750–1983 - 29,063-  Browsable images only—no index.

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Wordless Wednesday: Father’s Day

17 June 2009 by Libbi.

Posted in Genealogy | Print | 1 Comment »

Tombstone Tuesday: More from Holley, FL

16 June 2009 by Libbi.

Veteran at Harper Cemetery:Sidney S. Crabtree Spanish American War.

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June 12

12 June 2009 by Libbi.

It’s Miss Frances’ birthday. She would have been 83 today.

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MyHeritage launches a new version of its photo service

11 June 2009 by Libbi.

New features include photo uploads from mobile devices, a new and improved interface for  automatic photo tagging and new photo slideshows
Tel Aviv, Israel  June 10, 2009  MyHeritage, one of the world’s most popular family Web sites, today announced a new version of its innovative photo offering, making it even easier for families to share, organize and present their photos online. MyHeritage is a network of 32 million family members worldwide, more than 350 million profiles, 7 million family Web sites and 50 million photos. People upload more than 2.5 million family photos to MyHeritage every month, which is more than for all of its competitors combined.

In the new version of its photo service, MyHeritage improves its photo offering by letting consumers
share family photos from mobile devices or by email. This allows them to capture family moments
and share them as they happen. The groundbreaking photo tagging technology developed by
MyHeritage became much faster in the new version and received a brand new interface. A variety of
slideshow formats were added to make the best display for family photos and offer beautiful new ways of sharing them with family members. The innovative MyHeritage “Ken Burns” slideshow, for example, is intelligently human-aware and automatically zooms in on people in photos.

“Sharing and presenting digital photos is very important to families all over the world, so we are constantly looking for ways to make this even easier and more fun to use,” said Mario Ruckh, Director of Marketing at MyHeritage. “Now you can simply attach photos and videos to an email and send them directly to your family site. They are safely stored, easily accessible to your loved ones and don’t clog up any email inbox. Best of all, the email upload also works from any mobile device. Everybody in the family knows how to use email.”

Founded by CEO Gilad Japhet, MyHeritage helps people around the world discover, connect and communicate with their extended family network and easily research their family history. The service is unique in its international reach, currently translated into 34 languages. Its impressive growth is based on an increasing desire of families to stay closely connected and learn more about each other. MyHeritage can be accessed through the Web site or by downloading a simple piece of software called Family Tree Builder, which is free of charge.
About MyHeritage
MyHeritage was founded by a team of people who combine their passion for family history with the development of innovative technology. It is now one of the world’s leading online networks for families, and the second largest family history website. MyHeritage is available in 34 languages and home to 32 million family members and 350 million profiles. The company is based in Bnei Atarot, near Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, visit www.myheritage.com.

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