Pajama Genealogy System 2.0
3 Main Areas of Focus in the Pajama Genealogy System There are a lot materials, methods, and concepts for you to absorb in the Pajama Genealogy System. However, if you remember that there are three main areas, or categories, that most of the lessons fall under – it will help you to not be overwhelmed. These three areas are: Online Research: This is the thrill of the online hunt. You will take “Clues” from your personal genealogy information, and turn them into “Keywords.” Using them, you will do online research using the Google search engine, and also search online databases, including: Rootsweb WorldConnect, FamilySearch, GenForum, and the smaller surname databases. Online research can be fun and exciting when you know how to do it right, and know some special tricks along the way. Leverage: In the Pajama Genealogy System, “Leverage” is setting something up online (for free) that will work for you 24/7, on autopilot – bringing genealogy information about the surnames you are researching, to you! Here’s a dramatic example of Leverage: I’ve taught the Google search methods you are about to discover, for years. Once students understand how to use the symbols (Search Operators) with their Keywords, and do quality Google searches (Search Queries), they get excited. There is a “switch” that gets flipped in their minds and they become Google search experts. No doubt, this training alone is worth the price of admission. Then, Google comes out with “Google Alerts.” Now the Search Queries in Google become even more important. I literally did a “happy dance” when Google Alerts were available, because now, you can use your Search Queries to set up these email Google Alerts. You can get emails about your genealogy and surnames you are researching, once a day, or, as it happens! Other types of Leverage you will learn about, are how to take a small amount of your genealogy information (or, create a “Mini Special Package”) about the surnames you are researching), and set that information up on Blogger, Facebook, and GenForum. This small amount of effort will bring people who are also interested in your surnames – to you! Copyright 2012-2013 by Robert Ragan – All Rights Reserved
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Pajama Genealogy System 2.0
Store and Retrieve: You will learn about the “The Gather, Store, and Quick Find Method” and how to create “Storage Files” as you do your online research. As the amount of information you gather and dump into your Storage Files builds up, the more the Storage Files becomes a valuable resource to you. Your Storage Files will be one of the places you stop and search, and become part of your “Personal Research Blueprint.” Computer Helps: In order to do some of the unique methods in the Pajama Genealogy System, some of you may need a few “Computer Helps.” For example, creating “Storage Files” for the surnames you are researching won’t do you any good if you do not know how to make a “File Folder” on your computer to put your Storage File in. In this example, Lesson #16, “Computer File Management the Easy Way” will solve the problem. In fact, this lesson alone has helped give many people freedom over the mystery and confusion of their computer files. The small things make a difference. That’s why there are very basic “Computer Helps” about computer tasks that may be simple for some, but a complete show-stopper for others. As you look at the “Overview of Lessons” of the Pajama Genealogy System, remember that the lessons fall under these three areas of focus (with some additional help and tips with computer issues). Online Research Leverage Store and Retrieve Computer Helps Copyright 2012-2013 by Robert Ragan – All Rights Reserved
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Pajama Genealogy System 2.0
Overview of Lessons in the Pajama Genealogy System: Here is an overview of the lessons, or Table of Contents. The course is broken down into seventeen different segments. One of the reasons for this is for the ease of future updates. For example, when New FamilySearch is available for the public, there will be a major update in Lesson #14. Lesson #1: (Leverage) The Wildly Important 1st Step - Your “Google Account” Do You Want to Use a Google “Gmail” Email Address? You Have One More Important Decision to Make: Paper or Genealogy Software? Lesson #2: 3 Main Areas of Focus in the Pajama Genealogy System Overview of Lessons in the Pajama Genealogy System Copyright Stuff Lesson #3: (Online Research) CLUES = KEYWORDS How to Find the Clues in Your Genealogy Stuff Four Main Groups of CLUES that You Will Look at to Find KEY WORDS to Use Examples of Turning Clues into Keywords
Copyright 2012-2013 by Robert Ragan – All Rights Reserved
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Pajama Genealogy System 2.0
Lesson #4: (Online Research) BASIC “Search Operators” to Use with Keywords in Google “Fine-Tuning Research Process” EXAMPLES and NOTES: You can use all these Search Operators together in Search Queries Exercises for You to Try with Your Personal Genealogy Information: ADVANCED Search Operators What You Should Remember About Google Searches Lesson #5: (Leverage) Google Alerts Different Kinds of Google Alerts Examples of Good and Bad Google Alerts Lesson #6: (Store and Retrieve) The Gather, Store, and Quick Find Method Step-By-Step Overview of How It Works Your Storage Files Using Google Docs as Storage Files
Copyright 2012-2013 by Robert Ragan – All Rights Reserved
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Pajama Genealogy System 2.0
Lesson #7: (Computer Helps) How to Use the Key Word Search Feature on Your Web Browser How to Use the Key Word Search Feature on Your Word Processor How to Use the Key Word Search Feature in E-mail Programs The Small Stuff Makes a Difference How to Move That Window Out of Your Way How to Save Pictures Off the Internet How to Make a Favorite (or Bookmark) How to Organize Your Internet Favorites Lesson #8: (Leverage) The Special Package that Got a 25% Response in 30 Days, and Eventually Got Over 50% Response Overcoming Your Greatest Obstacle: Human Nature 11 KEYS to MOTIVATION Lesson #9: (Leverage) How to Develop Your “Reader’s Digest” Headline Mentality The Headlines, Content, and Queries Workshop
Copyright 2012-2013 by Robert Ragan – All Rights Reserved
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Pajama Genealogy System 2.0
Lesson #10: (Leverage) Blogger (aka Blogspot) Blogs = Big LEVERAGE The Blogger / Blogspot Mystery Having Blogger Surname Blogs Gives You Leverage Here’s How Easy It s to Create Your Blogger Blogs Lesson #11: (Leverage) Facebook = More Big LEVERAGE Facebook – Bah Humbug! What’s the Point? The Big Secret to Facebook – and Your Genealogy How to “Create a Group” on Facebook Lesson #12: (Online Research) (Leverage) GenForum: Leverage and a Great Online Database GenForum Title/Headline Search Tip Lesson #13: (Online Research) RootsWeb WorldConnect Database: Over 575 Million Names Here’s What the Different ICONS Mean: For More Advanced Users
Copyright 2012-2013 by Robert Ragan – All Rights Reserved
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Pajama Genealogy System 2.0
Lesson #14: (Online Research) The World’s Largest Collection of Genealogy Records FamilySearch (the original) FamilySearch Record Search BETA FamilySearch New FamilySearch FamilySearch – Here’s Where You Want to Focus Ancestral File How to Do a Search in Ancestral File How to Find the Submitters Names and Addresses in Ancestral File How to Do a Search in the IGI How to Search the Family History Library Catalog Family History Centers – A Great OFFLINE Resource Lesson #15: (Online Research) How to Find the Smaller, Personal, On-line Surname Databases
Copyright 2012-2013 by Robert Ragan – All Rights Reserved
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Pajama Genealogy System 2.0
Lesson #16: (Computer Helps) You Can’t Run Away From Computer File Management Any Longer Computer File Management the Easy Way Looking at Files on Your Hard Drive Making Folders INSIDE of Folders How to handle the "Windows" in Microsoft Windows How to Find Your Files Some Common Types of Files You May Come Across Lesson #17: Your “Personal Research Blueprint” The Pajama Genealogy System - Copyright Stuff Here’s the legal mumbo-jumbo version: Copyright 2011-2013 by Robert Ragan – All rights reserved: Any unauthorized use, sharing, reproduction or distribution of these materials by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise is prohibited. No portion of these materials may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever, without consent of Robert Ragan.
Here’s my personal version (and guys, I am so sorry to have to add this): 99.9% of the people in the genealogy world are honest and wonderful. As for the other fraction of one percent…well, they have caused me a lot of problems over the years. I will spare you horror stories of copyright infringement, outright theft, and unbelievable dishonesty. The materials in this course are for your personal use only. Print it out and USE it. However, you do NOT have permission to put it on your Web sites, blogs, emails, newsletters, etc. If you do, you are literally taking food out of my children’s mouths, and that makes Papa Bear angry! I have had to have people’s sites shut down. I know how to do it – and I know how to find you. Grrrrrrrrr! Copyright 2012-2013 by Robert Ragan – All Rights Reserved
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