As one who reads message boards with the intent of providing responses to people with queries in my research field, George Morgan's "Message Board Postings That Never Get Answered" was right on target and applies to more than just a few postings. To his suggestions I would add:

1. State your question up front, if you have one, or please note that the posting is for info only. That way the reader has a context for reviewing the rest of the posting.

2. Clearly indicate whether you are searching for ancestors or descendants.

I frequently have to ask, so I don't waste time in the wrong part of my files trying to see if I have an answer.

3. When someone does answer, let them know you have received it (either on the message board or direct to their email). I certainly like to know if my answers helped at all and suspect others do too.

And most important, if you don't already scan the message board postings, you might think about starting. Keep in mind that many offerings in answer to postings are a two-way street. I regularly get new info back that adds to my research in exchange for taking a little time to share what I have in my files with others.

Thanks to David G. Ball of North Vancouver, BC, Canada, for today's Quick Tip! If you have a tip you would like to share with researchers, you can send it to ADNeditor@ancestry.com.

Quick Tips may be reprinted, with credit to the submitter, in other Ancestry publications, so if you do not want your tip included in a publication other than the Ancestry Daily News and Ancestry Weekly Digest, please state so clearly in your message.