Your Content Calendar is Essential for Connecting With the Genealogy Community

A social media content calendar helps genealogy-focused individuals and organizations in several ways:

• Consistency: Posting regularly builds trust and engagement with your audience.

• Efficiency: Having a plan in place saves time and reduces last-minute scrambling for ideas.

• Engagement: Thoughtfully planned content encourages audience interaction.

• Diversity of Topics: A calendar ensures you cover a range of subjects rather than repeating the same themes.

Now, let’s explore prompts that will help you fill your monthly content calendar with valuable and compelling posts.

Monthly Content Prompts for Genealogists and History Enthusiasts

Weekly Themed Prompts

Using themes for different days of the week can help structure your content and create anticipation among your audience. Here are a few ideas:

• Memory Monday: Share a family photo, an ancestor’s story, or a personal memory related to genealogy.

• Tombstone Tuesday: Highlight gravestone symbolism, share cemetery research tips, or showcase interesting headstones.

• Where They Lived Wednesday: Feature a historical location where your ancestors lived or share maps and land records.

• Throwback Thursday: Post vintage family photos, old newspaper clippings, or historical events tied to family history.

• Family Recipe Friday: Share historical family recipes and their cultural significance.

• Storytelling Saturday: Encourage followers to share their own family stories.

• Sunday Spotlight: Highlight a notable ancestor, local history, or an artifact in your collection.

Seasonal and Holiday Prompts

Align your content with seasons, holidays, and observances to keep it timely and relevant:

• New Year’s Genealogy Goals (January): Encourage followers to set research goals for the year.

• Black History Month (February): Feature African American genealogy resources or highlight Black historical figures.

• Women’s History Month (March): Share the stories of influential women in family history.

• Preservation Week (April): Provide tips on preserving old documents, photos, and heirlooms.

• Memorial Day (May): Honor ancestors who served in the military.

• Back to School (September): Discuss genealogy research tools available in libraries and archives.

• Holiday Traditions (November-December): Explore the cultural traditions of ancestors and share festive family stories.

Research and Education Prompts

Help your audience improve their genealogy skills with educational content:

• “What’s one genealogy brick wall you’ve hit? Let’s troubleshoot together!”

• “Here’s a step-by-step guide to using census records for family research.”

• “Did you know about these free genealogy resources? Let’s explore them together.”

• “How do you organize your family tree research? Share your best tips!”

• “What’s the most surprising discovery you’ve made about an ancestor?”

Engagement and Community Prompts

Encourage interaction by inviting your audience to share their experiences:

• “If you could have dinner with one ancestor, who would it be and why?”

• “What’s a family heirloom that means the most to you? Share a picture!”

• “Genealogy myths: What’s a family legend you’re trying to prove or debunk?”

• “Describe your genealogy journey in three words.”

• “What’s one genealogy tool or website you can’t live without?”

Behind-the-Scenes and Organizational Highlights

For historical societies, libraries, and museums, showcasing what happens behind the scenes can build interest and awareness:

• “Meet the team! Introducing one of our staff members and their favorite part of genealogy.”

• “A day in the archives: Here’s a look at what we’re working on.”

• “Artifact spotlight: Today, we’re featuring a unique item from our collection.”

• “Did you know? Fun facts about our museum/library’s history.”

• “Join us for an upcoming genealogy workshop—here’s what you can expect!”

Example Content Calendar Using These Prompts

Here’s a sample content calendar for a historical society’s social media:

Making Your Content Calendar Work for You

Planning a monthly content calendar doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By using prompts as inspiration, you can create engaging, informative, and interactive posts that keep your genealogy community connected. Whether you focus on family stories, historical research, or community engagement, these prompts provide a foundation to make your content strategy easier and more effective.

Now it’s your turn—what prompts will you use for your genealogy content this month? Let’s get planning! Share one of the above prompts that you plan to implement into your monthly posting below.