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Join Forces With Your Matches

Work with others to discover your history!

 
DNA Testing is a wonderful tool, but it can only take most people so far in uncovering family history. 
 
The key to success is to connect with those you match and work together to unravel your common threads.
 
Here are some ideas that may help you as you try to find those you match, compare your paper trails, recruit targeted individuals for your project, and use your testing and your project to ensure success.
 
 
 
 
 

  • FTDNA will send you automated messages when you have a match (either with only your surname project members or to their internal "opted-in" database) - depending on your selection.  You can contact these individuals through their email addresses.
  • In addition, you can contact  the project administrator of the project to ask to be put in touch with the individual.   You will want to exchange information and compare your paper trails to find where you connect. 
  • Each time you receive an email that there are new results or pedigrees on your project's website, take a few minutes to see if you have a match or you recognize any of the ancestors. 

  • You will want to contact those whose pedigrees indicate that you share a common ancestor.  

  • When contacting your "matches" follow these guidelines: 
    • Tell them...
      • Who you are
      • How you match
      • Who specifically that you match
      • Your ancestry
    • Ask them
      • For their help
      • To define their ancestry
      • To work together
  • Recruit new participants.
  • Make use of the "Tell a Friend" feature in the left sidebar of the website to increase interest in your project.
  • Be polite when approaching New Testers
    • Know a few previous generations of their line.
    • Show desire to determine a specific relationship or crumble a brick wall. 
    • Ask if there is a family genealogist. 
    • Offer to check your database for your family. 
    • Refrain from mentioning DNA initially.  In fact, be prepared to have several conversations before mentioning DNA testing.
  • Post on message boards and forums such as GenForum. 
    (There are some good ways and some bad ways to do this.   Lauren Boyd posted a message:     "How to win friends and influence List Admins" on Genealogy-DNA-L that spells out appropriate ways to use the forums, boards & lists.)
  • Make personal contact with researchers you have met over the course of your traditional research.  Encourage every researcher you work with to contact their own circle of researchers - and to make the same requests ofthem to participate and to contact their circle of researchers.
  • Utilize your Family Historical Society, Family Reunion, or other organization of your family name to help you find interest, participants and support.  (If necessary, start one.)
  • Contact other researchers, family members, and family associations.
  • Encourage each participant to post his pedigree on the Pedigree Forum and to post his Earliest Known Ancestor at FTDNA.
  • Administer or co-administer the project if there is not already an administrator.
  • Target specific individuals to be tested who will help clarify the family lineages.
  • Use the Surname Forums at WFN Forums or the  Family Tree DNA Forum. It will be useful in providing updates to your participants and may help in your quest to reach more possible participants.   (Pick one Forum and concentrate all discussion.)


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