Ready for RootsTech Connect: The wondrous website

Today the RootsTech Connect ambassadors from all around the world met up on Zoom for a briefing. Usually, we meet up in a room at the Salt Palace and it is a cacophony of laughter and chatting as we catch up with friends that we may not have seen since the previous RootsTech conference.

The wondrous website

One of the topics presented was the wondrous RootsTech website so today I am going to share some of the details that will help get you ready for Rootstech Connect.

The Web Address

Once RootsTech starts everything will be located at the www.rootstech.org website. If you go there now you will still see the sign-up form and the links to the previous conferences. For the period of the conference, the website will be your access to the Rootstech conference. (The latest information on RootsTech is available at the following link: FamilySearch/RootsTech.)

The Main Stage

The current website home page will become the Main Stage. It is the new home page for RootsTech during the conference. This is where you can watch live keynote speakers, get messages or help and access the other functionality of the website.

Make sure you scroll down the Main Stage page or you will miss links to things like the Relatives at RootsTech. Watch out for a post on this later in the Get Ready for RootsTech series. Some of the other sections down the page are Discovery, Song Contest and add a family photo.

The Expo Hall

One of the main features of a RootsTech conference is the Exhibition Hall. Here you get to connect with a wide selection of vendors, see demos and presentations, find discounts and specials, discover new products and industry innovation. Plus get personalised help with your family history by talking to the staff on the stands. It is one of my favourite places for freebies, collecting ribbons, using different websites, demos, competitions, games, books, meeting new people and loads more.

How can this be done virtually?

For RootsTech Connect the virtual Expo Hall is offering a similar experience because this is a  very popular part of RootsTech and it just would not be the same without the Expo Hall. Therefore a fully-featured Expo Hall is available within the wonderous website that will deliver most of the regular expo experience (no free pens) however to so many more people that can now attend virtually.  The built-in contact functionality even makes personal interaction with sponsors and vendors possible. From what I saw at the demo today there will be 72 exhibitors and 20 sponsors giving a total of 92 booths.

Talking about connecting, communicating…

The website comes with chat that automatically adapts depending on the section you are viewing at the time. For example, when watching a session the chatroom is at the top. In the Expo Hall, when virtually visiting a vendor you can chat with one of their experts.

The website comes with chat that automatically adapts depending on the section you are viewing at the time. For example, when watching a session the chatroom is at the top. In the Expo Hall, when virtually visiting a vendor you can chat with one of their experts.

There are chat rooms you can join or even set up your own chat room. You can direct message friends.  You can contact people you have found using the find a relative feature.

What next?

Tomorrow the getting ready for RootsTech blog post will be covering the Sessions, Guide Me and Playlist parts of the website.

Today’s homework

Check out you can log onto your FamilySearch account or if you do not have one, create a free a FamilySearch account now. To get the most out of all the website functionality such as setting up a playlist to track the sessions you are interested in viewing.

Have registered for the conference at RootsTech.org for free?