Genealogy User Personas

Sarah Chen, 28

UX Designer | Seattle, WA
"I'm excited but overwhelmed. After getting a DNA test kit as a gift, I realized I know almost nothing about my family history. Where do I even start?"

Recently married and curious about her mixed Chinese-American heritage, Sarah received a DNA test kit as a wedding gift. The results sparked her interest in building her first family tree, but she finds genealogy terminology confusing and isn't sure which tools to use.

First-time researcher Tech-savvy Budget-conscious
🎯 Primary Needs
  • Simple, guided tree-building experience
  • Clear explanations of records and their stories
  • Basic research tutorials and getting started guides
🤝 Shared Features
  • Affordable subscription options with clear value proposition
  • Easy import from popular genealogy sites
  • Simple tools for recording family stories and memories
  • Mobile-friendly interface for research on the go

Michael Roberts, 45

Middle School Teacher | Chicago, IL
"I love genealogy but juggling multiple subscriptions is getting expensive. I need a more efficient way to manage my research without breaking the bank."

A dedicated weekend genealogist balancing family life, teaching, and his passion for family history. Michael has been researching for 5 years and is frustrated by having to maintain multiple subscriptions to access different records.

Budget-conscious Organized Time-constrained
🎯 Primary Needs
  • Access to genealogy community and collaboration tools
  • Seamless FamilySearch integration
  • Consolidated research platform to reduce costs
🤝 Shared Features
  • Competitive pricing with comprehensive record access
  • Rich storytelling and narrative features
  • Advanced newspaper research capabilities
  • Reliable GEDCOM handling for data portability

Barbara Wilson, 67

Retired Librarian | Charleston, SC
"Family history isn't just a hobby—it's my legacy. I need to ensure all my research and stories are preserved for future generations."

A passionate genealogist with 20+ years of experience, Barbara has extensive research data and family stories collected over decades. She's willing to invest in premium tools that help preserve and share her work.

Premium user Legacy focused Detail-oriented
🎯 Primary Needs
  • Access to unique and specialized record collections
  • Guaranteed long-term data preservation
  • Professional-quality book publishing tools
🤝 Shared Features
  • Advanced storytelling and narrative tools
  • Comprehensive newspaper archive access
  • Robust data import/export capabilities
  • Media preservation and sharing features
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Sarah Chen, 28

UX Designer | Seattle, WA
Newbie Mobile-first Needs guidance
"I'm excited but overwhelmed. After getting a DNA test kit as a gift, I realized I know almost nothing about my family history. Where do I even start?"
Background

Recently married and curious about her mixed Chinese-American heritage, Sarah received a DNA test kit as a wedding gift. The results sparked her interest in building her first family tree, but she finds genealogy terminology confusing and isn't sure which tools to use.

Guidance Level: Needs extensive hand-holding through the research process. Prefers step-by-step tutorials and clear explanations of genealogy concepts.
Current Tools & Usage
  • Ancestry.com (free trial, hesitant to commit)
  • 23andMe (gift)
  • FamilySearch (finds interface overwhelming)
  • YouTube tutorials and beginner guides
Research Patterns
  • Sporadic evening research sessions
  • 2-3 hours monthly
  • Primarily uses mobile devices
  • Relies heavily on automated hints
  • Frequent video tutorial usage
Primary Needs
  • Simple, guided tree-building experience
  • Clear explanations of records and their stories
  • Basic research tutorials and getting started guides
  • Mobile-friendly interface

Michael Roberts, 45

Middle School Teacher | Chicago, IL
Price-sensitive Weekend researcher Community-oriented
"I love genealogy but juggling multiple subscriptions is getting expensive. I need a more efficient way to manage my research without breaking the bank."
Background

A dedicated weekend genealogist balancing family life, teaching, and his passion for family history. Michael has been researching for 5 years and is frustrated by having to maintain multiple subscriptions to access different records. He's looking to consolidate his research tools while maintaining access to essential records.

Current Tools & Usage
  • Ancestry.com ($189/year)
  • Newspapers.com (basic subscription)
  • FamilySearch (free)
  • Rotating trials of other services
Research Patterns
  • Weekly dedicated research sessions
  • 8-10 hours monthly
  • Focused document gathering
  • Active in online communities
  • Intensive research during school breaks
Primary Needs
  • Consolidated record access at reasonable cost
  • Efficient organization tools
  • Community collaboration features
  • FamilySearch integration

Barbara Wilson, 67

Retired Librarian | Charleston, SC
Power user Legacy focused Premium subscriber
"Family history isn't just a hobby—it's my legacy. I need to ensure all my research and stories are preserved for future generations."
Background

A passionate genealogist with 20+ years of experience, Barbara has extensive research data and family stories collected over decades. She's willing to invest in premium tools that help preserve and share her work, focusing on creating a lasting legacy for future generations.

Current Tools & Usage
  • Ancestry.com (World Explorer subscription)
  • MyHeritage (Complete plan)
  • Newspapers.com (Publisher Extra)
  • Multiple DNA services
  • Professional archival software
Research Patterns
  • Daily dedicated research time
  • 20+ hours monthly
  • Deep archival research
  • Professional-level methodology
  • Regular archive visits
Primary Needs
  • Unique and premium record collections
  • Advanced search and research tools
  • Professional publishing capabilities
  • Guaranteed data preservation
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