How I became hooked on Evernote for genealogy

As genealogists, it is incredible how we are always increasing our technical skills. Gone are the days when the only technical skills required were knowing how to use microfilm and microfiche readers. Now, I seem to spend a good part of my week learning about blogging, tweeting, and other social media and improving my computer and photoshopping skills — all to help find my elusive ancestors, learn and share.

Several months ago, my friends and I dove into the Evernote world — and now I cannot do without it. I wanted to find a way to keep on top of all the online articles I find and better organize my research notes and to-do lists. (I also figured I would appear to be a better genealogist if I knew how to use Evernote, although I’m not sure how well that’s working for me.)

Here is the path I took to become somewhat savvy about Evernote — or Devernote as my sassie friend likes to call it. By last December, I had even learned how to simplify my Christmas shopping using Evernote.

1. To get started, I invited a couple of friends over for lunch so we could learn to install Evernote together. I figured what one may not understand, the other would. Two of us brought our laptops and the other brought an iPad. After much laughter — and some wine, I think — we sort of figured it out.

2. Then, I signed up as a premium member on Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems. It was well worth the price of admission. There, I watched six of the eight how-to videos, including the first one where Ms. Cooke walked me through the installation step by step. Soon, I plan to watch the latest two videos, How to Organize Your Research with Evernote and Making Evernote Effortless.

3. Next, I watched Caroline Pointer’s free video, Evernote for Genealogy Organization, that includes free templates.

4. Yesterday I learned that Cyndi Ingles of Cyndi’s List fame has started a new blog, Evernote was Made for Genealogy. The Devernote world is getting better.

So, yep, I’m hooked.