Help:Starting a Project
Categories: WikiTree Help | Projects | Project Leader Help
Starting a project is easy and instant: create a free-space project. If you want to start a top-level project, sub-project, or project team see Help:Project FAQ and the questions here to get started.
Question #1: Do you want to start it right now?
If you want to get started immediately, simply create a free-space project profile now.
Projects can start as a free-space projects and later become more formal when they're more organized and have more members.
If you don't mind waiting, go on to the next question.
Question #2: Does your idea relate to an existing project?
Browse the projects list. Which projects are the closest to what you're envisioning?
If your idea might logically fit under the umbrella of an existing project it might make sense to launch your idea as a project team. This is much easier and faster than setting up a new top-level project. Simply get in touch with the leader(s) of the project and coordinate with them.
If the members of the top-level project don't support your idea or won't respond, contact the Project Manager and they will help.
If there is no existing project that relates to your idea, go on to the next question.
Question #3: Are you currently a "Project Leader"?
WikiTree has a member permissions status called "Project Leader." Leaders can assign project badges, edit project pages, designate project-protect profiles, etc. It's necessary for someone involved in a top-level project to have these permissions.
Sub-projects and project teams can be led by any member. We call these Project Coordinators and Team Leaders. The leaders of the top-level project then help with some of the administration.
If you are not a Project Leader but your idea doesn't fit within an existing project, contact the Project Manager. They will talk to Leaders to see if some are willing to join your project or assist with it. In some cases it may make sense to create a new top-level project to encompass your idea. For example, if you wanted to create a China project there may be Leaders who have already been considering an Asia project and your energy would be the catalyst that makes it happen.
If you are a Project Leader and your idea doesn't fit within an existing project, proceed to the next question.
Question #4: Do you have a mission statement and task list?
You may already have a good idea of what your project will be all about. Have you written it out yet?
See the projects list and click to project pages for examples. You may want to create a free-space project page to hold your draft.
Once you have a draft of a mission statement and task list for your project, go on to the next question.
Question #5: Do you have four other members?
Free-space projects, project teams and sub-projects don't have minimum membership levels. Top-level projects need five active members and at least two Project Leaders.
If you don't have four others yet, you'll want to create a free-space project page as a placeholder to start organizing. Then post to G2G. Simply say what you're thinking about, link to the free-space project page, and ask if anyone would be interested in joining you or if they have any suggestions. Be sure to tag the post with projects.
Mention it on the Leaders e-mail list too, with a link to the G2G post. It also doesn't hurt to mention your idea anywhere that genealogists with an interest in the topic gather. For example, if you were thinking about a project on Texas genealogy you might reach out to historical societies, forums, or e-mail lists for Texan genealogists. A Google search for Texas genealogy might turn up some you didn't know about. You may find other WikiTreers in these forums, or genealogists who would join WikiTree if there was a Texas project. Of course, you want to be respectful of the rules of these communities. Usually if you make clear that you're a genealogist with the same interests your message will be welcome.
Once you have five members, move on to question #6.
Question #6: Have you contacted the Project Manager?
Contact the Project Manager with the information you've gathered in the steps above, including:
- Even though your idea wouldn't fit within an existing project, what are the closest related or similar projects?
- What mission statement and task list do you have in mind? Just point her to the draft free-space project page if you've created one.
- How many members are on board already?
The Team will then consider whether or not to move forward with a new top-level project. Badges are created judiciously so even though a project may meet all the top-level requirements it may not necessarily automatically become one.
Once determined, the Project Manager will either help you set up a top-level project page, choose a G2G tag and get a badge or help figure out where the project will best fit. They may also:
- Help create your Project Account.
- Help you coordinate with the Categorization Project to set up appropriate categories and talk about choosing a person from your project to help in making decisions regarding categories that affect that project (Categorization calls them "project monitors")
- Help you coordinate with the Template Project to create a Project Box for Project-Managed Profiles.
- Discuss the Example Profile for your project.
This page was last modified 14:48, 19 May 2022. This page has been accessed 9,281 times.