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Archiver > APG > 1999-01 > 0915478666


From: "Barbara J. Mathews" <>
Subject: Marketing Issues
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 14:37:46 -0500


Hi Everyone:

I would like some feedback on the issue of marketing genealogical services.
I pulled the short straw to organize a workshop on this topic at the Feb.
4th meeting of the Connecticut Professional Genealogists Council. I don't
know of any local specialist in this topic, so I figure I need to identify
the important issues and find some way to provoke discussion around them.
I'm sure that if you provided some feedback on this the presentation could
only improve!

Right now, I know of several places to market one's services:

1) by advertising in The Genealogical Helper or Heritage Quest, or even in a
local genealogy newsletter

2) by having your services listed by those libraries which put out lists of
researchers [in Connecticut, these are put out by the Connecticut State
Library (for which privilege one must pass a 4-8 hour test), the Connecticut
Historical Society, the Connecticut Ancestry Society, and CPGC's own
brochure]

3) by being listed in the APG Directory

4) by being listed in the BCG Directory

5) by word of mouth

6) by referrals from a lineage society [as I get jobs through Colonial
Dames]

How have these various approaches worked for you?

In addition, people describe their practices for others via:

1) a brochure

2) a web page

Both of these are used by a small handful of the CPGC members. For example,
I have a web page to which I can refer emailed requests as I use it to
explain my fees and policies. What are your experiences?

If someone were just starting out, what would you suggest? If someone were
looking to increase their workload significantly (and, hence, income), how
would you suggest they do so?

Does marketing vary by speciality? by region?

Yours, Barbara

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