Dee Dee, It is funny how you say that these firms come and go and just this week I was cleaning up old email from 2011 and found a message from such a company seeking to solicit professionals to work with their clients. The website no longer works and it looks like they don't exist anymore. They do indeed "come and go." When I was a transitional genealogist in the B.C. era (Before Computers) there was a company that advertised for clients in the _Genealogical Helper_ (the largest means of genealogical communication at the time). I worked for them on projects that they garnered. Communication with the client was a problem because of the middleman involved. Eventually as my own clientele and hourly rate grew I went past what I was getting paid from the broker firm, so we parted ways. So if you want to get a little experience, it could be an interesting way to gain clients. However there are problems with understanding what the client really wants (typically uninitiated clients who don't understand the realities of research) and communicating with them for clarification. Plus all the copyright and contract issues that Dee Dee brings up. Your business, your call. You can probably gain clients for yourself just by being helpful on email and Facebook groups and then someone contacting you from that. -- Elissa Elissa Scalise Powell, CG , CGL www.PowellGenealogy.com www.GRIPitt.org 25-30 June 2017 and 16-21 July 2017 in Pittsburgh, PA CG, CGL, and Certified Genealogical Lecturer are service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic evaluations. Certified Genealogist and the board name are trademarks registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. -----Original Message----- From: TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM [mailto:transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Dee Dee King, Certified Genealogist Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 11:28 AM To: TThompson@Braswell-Library.org; transitional-genealogists-forum@rootsweb.com; Jim Thornhill <jtcowman@cnextplus.com> Subject: Re: [TGF] TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM Digest, Vol 11, Issue 25 I think the problems you mention have been the problems with all of these types of services that come and go - from the first one, genealogy Lance to the original way Ancestry did their services to new services cropping up today. Having the middle man also creates issues and there needs to be clear understandings on things like copyright and client disputes. The contract with AncestorCloud will over-rule the terms of your contract with any client through that service. It may also limit the provider from doing any additional work for that client unless it is through the service so the service can collect its fee. best regards, Dee > On February 25, 2017 at 10:18 AM Jim Thornhill <jtcowman@cnextplus.com> wrote: > > > > Traci, > I have had one client with AncestorCloud, and it worked out very well. > Their staff is very helpful in explaining the process. They have a > messaging component, where you can work out any details and get any > questions answered before you actually submit a proposal with a fee. I > liked the fact that the client pays AncestorCloud before you begin the > work, and that AncestorCloud is insistent that if you perform the work > as specified, that you will get paid. They charge about 10% of your > fee for their service. If you decide to use them, I would be as > specific as possible in your proposal, listing exactly what you will > and will not do to earn the fee. The one downside I have noticed is > that most people requesting help don't seem to have any idea what they > really need or want, so there is a little "hand holding" involved. I > have also responded to two requests recently and have gotten no reply, > so I would suggest not putting any time into a project until you hear > back from them (yes, I did do that!). > Jim > > Message: 1 > > Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:43:29 +0000 > > From: Traci Thompson <TThompson@Braswell-Library.org> > > To: "transitional-genealogists-forum@rootsweb.com" > > <transitional-genealogists-forum@rootsweb.com> > > Subject: [TGF] Ancestor Cloud > > Message-ID: > > <39706835CA06F44D8889BA7656512FDD01B5BF98EA@2SPARKY.braswell-library > > .org> > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > > Today I received a request for research from AncestorCloud > > (www.ancestorcloud.com<http://www.ancestorcloud.com/>). I had never > > heard of them and don't know anything about this - I just read their > > FAQ - does anyone have experience with this service? Are there any > > legalities I should know about? > > > > Thanks for any info, > > > > Traci Thompson, MLIS, CG > > Local History/Genealogy Librarian > > Braswell Memorial Library > > 727 N Grace St > > Rocky Mount, NC 27804 > > 252-442-1951<tel:%28252%29%20442-1951> ext 247(voice) Opinions > > expressed are my own. > > > > CG and Certified Genealogist are proprietary service marks of the > > Board for Certification of Genealogists and are used under license > > by Board-certified genealogists after periodic genealogical > > competency evaluations. The Board name is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > > > -- > Create /Your/ Family's Legacy with Heroes of the Past > <http://www.heroesofthepast.com> Family History problems solved Record > Retrieval ** Individual Coaching (Dallas, TX) Speaking/Training ** > Photography > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the > message -- Dee Dee King, Certified Genealogist Forensic Genealogy Services LLC and Contract Genealogist, US Navy Casualty, POW/MIA Branch Mail address - PO Box 1085, Manvel TX 77578 Telephone/fax 281-595-3090 www.forensicgenealogyservices.com www.facebook.com/forensicgenealogist CG is a service mark and Certified Genealogist is a registered certification mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, used under license by board certificants after periodic competency evaluations, and the board name is registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TRANSITIONAL-GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message