Geni is a private family network website about 2 weeks old. Unlike linked-in or other social websites, only you and your family members (whom you invite) can join. What makes it addictive is that it focuses on the building of the tree first, unlike other genealogy sites. For example, I started my tree by starting with me, then clicking up arrow to add my dad. Clicked right arrow on my dad and added my mom. Clicked on my mom and added her brothers. It is very addicting. If you click on an individual you can add details about them such as school, address, number, etc.
I have tried other sites before and never got past adding my sibling and maybe an uncle or two. The great thing is that once you add someone, you can add their email address to invite them. When they login, they can expand their tree which is connected to you. So now you can say "oh Tom, yeah he's my cousin Jack's grandmother's aunt's grand-daughter."
The founder of the site knows a little about websites. It was started by the former run away hit website PayPal COO David O. Sacks. If the name sounds familiar you may have seen his name in the credits of "Thank you for Smoking" as the producer.
Like most good websites, the site is getting tremendous traffic and is getting popular fast. I have no doubt the founder will be able to cope with the growth. There are tremendous opportunities here for monetization such as selling picture prints, perhaps a tie-up with Flickr, and of course the big ads goldmine. With so much information, both demographic, and relational its going to be an advertiser heaven. This website is a home-run for users as well as the company in terms of potential profits. It should be around for sometime to come.
Build your family network now at geni.com. I highly recommend it.
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