Tech Tuesday: Twylah Brings Down the Barriers Between Us

Two of my favorite things to do are catching up with my friends on social media and finding new technology that helps me do what I do more efficiently.  Last night while on Twitter, I was able to do both, and it has been a while so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I use Twitter, Facebook, and G+ but I have to admit that my preference is Twitter.  Twitter is the place to learn firsthand about everything that is important to me that is related to genealogy and technology.  It is the place where my most "rabid" genealogist friends and tech buddies congregate.  I am following 1,102 people on Twitter, and I know I would be hard pressed at this point in time to find that many like-minded people on other platforms.  Do not get me wrong; I like G+ and Facebook, but when I want a focused dialog, Twitter is the place for me.

We do not have trouble jumping into a discussion anytime of the day or night on Twitter.  Yes, there is a character limit, but we seem to be able to have conversations without restraint.  I was really excited when I heard the news about Twitter brand pages being released last week, and I literally scoured the internet to learn  more about them.

While I was searching, I came across Twylah which is currently in beta.  They professed to bring followers a more enriched experience in a less chaotic fashion than Twitter.  I have a bit of a sixth sense when it comes to this type of thing, and my instincts did not fail me this time either.

@SavingStories on Twylah

I requested an invite, and after a short time Kelly Kim, Co-founder of Twylah, followed me on Twitter.  After a couple of days I received an email notifying me that my Twylah page was ready.  After only one click, I instantly fell in love with it. I have not seen any product provide so much clarity around  who I am and what I find important.

My readers can engage the moment they land on the page, and I feel like my tweets will live on a little longer instead of falling into TweetDeck oblivion at the bottom of the screen. I am excited that I can share the page link across G+, and Facebook.  Yes, I said it!

Why would I only hang out on one platform and leave out my friends in other places?  That is akin to only visiting one set of relatives because I do not like the neighborhood where the others live.  It is the relationships that are most important to me, not the media.  Thank you, Twylah, for figuring out a way to climb the fences.  Submit your request today!

Here is a great overview of the features of Twylah and how it can extend the life of your tweets and your reach:

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24. Friday Follow: Finding genspiration, what goes around comes around.

One of the greatest things that happen out on Twitter is that you are able to find people to connect with who become a great source of inspiration to you. From the moment I started following @SusanAnnBlakley, she has uplifted me with her tweets.  She also usually answers the question:  "What is happening?" where she has been keeping her followers up to date about the efforts she is putting forth to compile her family history.

Twitter helps us all in the genealogy community to satisfy two very strong desires:

1.  To find our own voice and to be heard.

2.  To help others and become a part of something bigger than ourselves.

There are so many great communities out there.  I follow some of the best people I know.  I am learning a lot.  I am stretching and drawing closer to others who are doing the same. It feels so good to make these connections and to be learning so much.  

Because of the way that I have been excepted and helped by those I follow, and because I have been given the opportunities to be of service too, I feel a strong desire to share on a bigger scale.  As everyone probably knows, African American research has been in the past ever so challenging.  I can remember that it was not so long ago that I thought it was impossible for me to even find my great great grandparents.  

I have been fortunate to have found access to some of the best resources like FamilySearch resources.  Now this industry leader and others are collaborating to make resources available to us that would have taken a great deal of time and a lot of money to access. These leaders are encouraging us to collaborate and share what we know on sites like FamilySearch Forums and FamilySearch Wiki.

I feel the strong need to reach out and help others who are just starting and have to follow the same trail of records to document their ancestors.  That is why I started the African American Resources webring where members can share and and ask for free help in locating resources.  The resources that we know about and discover will be added to FamilySearch Wiki where others can find access to historical documentation that will get them past those brick walls.  I hope they will be able to at least accomplish what I have been able to accomplish.  

Below is my traveling family history display that I use at family reunions and family history workshops.  I almost had forgotten how difficult it is when you do not know where to look for resources.  One of the African American participants at a recent workshop said, "You know, I had almost given up....until I saw this!"

My Southern Family Archive (Chick-Tucker, Johnson-Vance and extended families!)

  In this close knit group, we will also help each other keep up with the technology useful within the various communities and in showcasing our work on blogs and websites.  I began this post telling you about @SusanAnnBlakley and the great genspiration she has been to me.  Well, this week I was able to find out a little more about how awesome she is.  

She was the first person to register her blog at African American Resources.  I had not actually been to her site.  I am totally amazed by what she has been able to find and present.  I am so fortunate she has been able to see the vision of what we want to accomplish.  I am now following her blog, and I know she will be a source of great inspiration to many others.  

Just browsing her site makes me want to find a possible connection to my family :),  but all the surnames are different....so far.  

Click here  to visit. Don't forget to follow!

So there's the power of a #FF!  Finding and connecting with others increases our capacity to do good.  Thanks, Susan! 

If you know anyone who feels like giving up or wants to know how to get started blogging or twittering, please help them by sharing the following link:

Join African American Resources

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