50StatesClassifieds.com

This post is regarding our free classifieds website, 50 States Classifieds.  We thought it was worth cross-posting, since so many Green Web Design blog readers also use the site.

Some users may not be aware that there is an easier way to reach their ads.  This is just a quick note to let you know about some of the other ways you can find us.

We use these different website addresses when advertising, so that shoppers can easily find local ads in their state without remembering a  long, complicated URL.

For example: Telling people to go to AdvertiseWisconsin.com is so much easier than telling them to go to “http://www.50statesclassifieds.com/category.php?cid=87”   and expecting them to remember it!

50 States Free Classifieds

Use this easy reference list to find our free classifieds site quickly and easily according to which state you’re in:

Perhaps you are getting ready to plan a family reunion or other type of event, but don’t know how to find your long lost cousin earl or aunt sally so you can invite them.  Why wait til summer, when you can put these cold winter months to good use and try to track them down online!

The best place to start?

I recommend starting your people search by signing in at Facebook.com, Myspace.com, classmates.com, and other popular social networking websites.  Do a search for your relatives, and see if you can find them easily.  If so, offer up a thanks to the Internet and get back in touch.

Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy.

If you find several different pages of results for the name, and one or more doesn’t have a picture, here’s the general idea:

scroll through all of the results and see if the people with pictures are the person you’re seeking.

If not, take a second look at the list, this time looking more closely at those with no pictures, to see if you recognize them in the details – a mutual friend on their friends list, or perhaps you’ll find that they’ve become a fan or friend of the restaurant you used to meet at every tuesday afternoon at 1pm.

If you can’t find this type of helpful information in any of the profiles, and there are only a couple of results that you’re unsure of, it doesn’t hurt to send a quick message to a few of them.

Remember to state any other names (maiden name, married name, siblings, etc) that they might have known you by;  State any other names you knew them by;  thank them for their time, and wait for a reply.

Don’t be offended if you don’t hear back right away – many people only signed up because someone talked them into it initially, and they may not have been back to their profile in ages.

Next, go to Google. com type in their name and see what you come up with.  In most cases, you’ll get gazillions of results, none of them what you wanted.  You just need to know how to ask!

If you go to Google.com and search for john doe, you’ll get way too many results to find the one you’re looking for, in most cases.  Instead, search for “john doe” with quotation marks around it, or or john+doe+chicago with plus signs instead of spaces.  Keep it simple – by using the quotations, you’re telling google to look for that exact phrase, letter for letter, no ifs, ands or buts.  if your search criteria is too strict, and you add quotation marks around it,  you likely won’t get any results at all.  On the other hand, when using + signs, you’re searching for john AND doe in one page, but even if nothing matches exactly, you’ll still see some results.

Remember, even if you can’t find them the first time, that doesn’t mean they’re not out there, or that they won’t be some time in the future.  If you try again every 3-6 weeks, eventually, you may just find them!

If you don’t, why not give Family Heritage Consulting a try?  Ron Kolb is a professional Genealogy Researcher, whose skills can be just as valuable for finding the living!

Above all, Good Luck with your search!

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Jessica Franke is the owner of Green Web Design, a full service Website Design, Web Hosting, Domain Registrar, and Online Marketing firm.  She is also the owner of 50 States Classifieds, and has been providing Free Classifieds online since 2002.  For more articles written by Jessica Franke, visit her blog.

Do you have family research stumbling blocks in your Genealogy search? Or perhaps you’re just too busy to finish your family history quest? I’m here to help! I will research any and all family trees and lineages. Professional Genealogists can be a great help as you trace your family tree. I am extremely persistent. I tackle each family project as if they were my own, and I have never given up a search. will trace your family heritage and put it into a neat and presentable book that you can be proud to show off to your relatives and friends. A family history book would make a great gift!

My name is Ron, and I would love to help you discover your family history!

Do you have family research stumbling blocks in your Genealogy search? Or perhaps you’re just too busy to finish your family history quest? I’m here to help! I will research any and all family trees and lineages. Professional Genealogists can be a great help as you trace your family tree. I am extremely persistent. I tackle each family research project as if they were my own, and I have never given up a search.

I research all areas, and I accept brick wall projects.

Do you know someone who is interested in Genealogy? Is that person is a novice who who is having a hard time getting started? Perhaps your great aunt Marcy is a seasoned pro who has just hit a stumbling block. Or maybe you know someone who is interested in their family history, but they don’t currently have the time to pursue it. There are many times in their quest when your favorite Genealogist would probably love to have a little help!

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Although I specialize in Midwestern United States genealogy research, my experiences also include research in Germany, Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada, and the United States.