How to Build a Free Family Tree Site
A family tree website allows you the ability to connect with family members no matter how far along the branches they may be. When you build a free family tree site, you can invite your family to add information, expanding the branches with each birth or wedding. Members of your site also can add photos or stories to pass along to future generations. You may want members to update information to notify family when a death or a divorce occurs.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Find a company to host your free family tree site. There are many options available, including MyHeritage.com and TribalPages.com, but the features vary from host to host. Some hosting websites may provide free software, but it may come with pop-up ads. Others may provide limited space for free and charge to upgrade to a larger storage capacity.
-
2
Evaluate your web skills. If you know how to use Hypertext Markup Language, you can use any host, but you may want to look for one that allows you the opportunity to customize the page. If you don't know how to use HTML, you might want to build a free family tree site using a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editor, which allows you to compose the website using templates and preprogrammed codes.
-
-
3
Enter your family information. You may want to download free software to help make it easier to format your family tree. Start with the oldest family member you know in order to branch out correctly. Most software programs allow you to enter the information into fields, and they will convert it into the correct format. Don't forget to add photos with tags.
-
4
Include relevant information. Some families like to include the dates of important events. At a minimum, you may want to include the birth and death date for family members who have passed away.
-
5
Determine how you want to handle divorce on your family tree. Some hosting sites allow you to branch off an existing name to indicate a divorce or remarriage along with any children from the new marriage.
-
6
Consider security for your family tree website. If you fail to require a login and password, the information you publish on your site is available for anyone to see. If you prefer to provide access to family members only, you will need to find a host that offers this option.
-
7
Upload your pages to your website. Most free family tree sites allow you the option of posting the page to the site once you like what you see. In some cases, you may need to import the pages for the website or use a file transfer protocol to upload the site.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You may want to include the medical history for family members to make it easier for future generations to know potential health risks.
If you use a free hosting service, you won't have full control over the site; the company may place ads on your page or decide to start charging a fee to host the site.
