A Little Of This, A Little Of That and More Of That Over There!

Amy Coffin over at WeTree likes to see what people are searching for when they end up on her blog because of that search. The search phrases or words seem pretty sane and to the point. In the examples she shows, it is very obvious that they are looking for her in particular.

I should only be so lucky.

I have, on occasion, conducted the same exercise as Amy. My results are a little different. Here are the Top 10 search words or phrases (according to Google Analytics) that real people have used and ended up on my blog whether they wanted to be there or not :

#10 - "Name that means educated"


#9 - "Baby your Santa"


#8 - "A Girl can only dream"


#7 - "Rabbit Cartoon"


#6 - "Week day name creator"


#5 - "Polish dance heel toe and away we go"


#4 - "Slurpee Outfit"


#3 - "A Catholic Nun thing"


#2 - "Fairy and Hillbilly games"


#1 - "Nuns with guns"

Not even close to my name or the name of my blog. Sigh.

The May 2010 Family Tree Magazine celebrated this phenomenon with the Family Tree 40, forty genealogy blogs that you all nominated and voted on as the best genealogy blogs. (You can see the 2010 Family Tree 40 list in our free online article.)

They are doing it again for 2011. You can nominate your favorite genealogy blogs using our online form now through Tuesday, Nov. 30.

When you nominate a blog, you’ll give them the title and URL, optionally tell them why you’re nominating it, and put it into one of these eight categories (a few have changed from last year’s Family Tree 40):

• Local/regional history and genealogy: blogs focusing on research in a specific county, state or region. Most library and archive blogs, as well as many local historical and genealogical society blogs, would go here.

• Heritage groups: Blogs focusing on the family history of a specific ethnic, religious or national background (such as African-American, Jewish, Polish, etc.)

• Research advice and how-to: Blogs that primarily explain how to research, analyze photos or perform various family history tasks. The blogger offers tips, strategies and examples; explains genealogical concepts; and writes about how to use new resources.

• Cemeteries: These blogs feature content primarily about cemetery research and visiting cemeteries. Many feature tombstone photos and transcriptions, with information about those interred.

• “My Family History”: Blogs about the blogger’s own roots, including accounts of personal research, their own family photos and heirlooms, stories, recipes, etc.

• “Everything” blogs: Blogs that cover it all—genealogy news, research advice, opinions, local history, family stories, etc.—go here.

• New blogs: Was the blog you’re nominating launched during the past year? Categorize it here, even if it would also fit into another category.

• Technology: Blogs focusing on genealogy websites, software, DNA testing or other aspects of technology as it relates to genealogy.

Visit The Genealogy Insider to get all the details.

Last year I was voted one of the "Fab 40." Still love me? Then get over to the Blog Nomination Form and let them know!