Make the Most of Your AncestryDNA Results – The Ultimate Checklist

I just launched my newest video with seven things that you can do to make cousin connections at Ancestry. You can watch it HERE. While I make no guarantees, I’m pretty sure it will give you a better chance at connections. If you read to the bottom of this blog, I’ll give you one other suggestion that I didn’t put in the video.

Step 1 – Review and verify your test settings

• Ensure that your DNA results are connected to a tree. It doesn’t have to be your working tree; it can be a direct line tree.

Step 2 – Expand your tree

• Add at least 3-4 generations. This will usually get you past the living people. As you can see in my video, having a tree made up of living people isn’t very helpful to your cousin if they are trying to figure out how you’re connected.

Step 3 – Add a DNA Match Note System

• Use Ancestry’s Notes field to remind you of the work and findings you’ve already discovered about your DNA match.
• One of my newer approaches is to date each discovery so I know when things happened.

Step 4 – Use AncestryDNA Colored Dots

• Color-code groups for cluster organization
• Colored dots can be used for surnames, places, mysteries, and more research. With so many dots, you can use them for more than just surnames. Don’t be afraid to ditch your current dot thinking and change it up.
• Here’s a link to more info about Ancestry’s dots system.

Step 5 – Communicate Strategically

• Send a warm, personal message to promising matches (provide a bit of detail like locations or surnames)
• If you have a mystery in your tree, then explain why they might not see the names expected in the tree. You can’t put names if you don’t know. For example, if I don’t know the name of William Beaton’s parents, I won’t put the name of his adoptive parents. I have a separate tree for them.
• Ask open-ended questions to increase your chances of getting a response.

Step 6 – Collaborate and Cross-Reference

• Download your raw DNA data from your account and upload it to FTDNA or LivingDNA.
• Test at other sites such as MyHeritage and 23andMe
• By doing these things, you are fishing in all the ponds, which is especially important if you have a mystery in your tree, because you never know where your cousin has tested.

Step 7 – Keep a research log

• I keep a correspondence log that lists all the pertinent information about my correspondence, in case my DNA connection responds and I need to recall what I initially posted to them.
• This log includes the following: Name, DNA company, Kit (because I am responsible for other family members’ kits), amount of DNA shared, my message, and any other info I think is essential.
• You can download my file for free HERE.

So here’s my BONUS suggestion. Consider adding information to your Ancestry profile. Mine states that I have a mystery in my family. Here’s what my profile looks like.

I hope you try at least a few of my suggestions and let me know if you think you’ll make better connections. Be sure to check out my correspondence log.

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