Genealogy

At the starting block: I found ancestry.com works well for building up your family tree. You can download a gedcom file from it that will have all your research tho not pictures. You can then use that file on a familytree program to make your charts and have a permanent copy on your computer (and add the photos) Gather low hanging fruit-
 * ancestry.com.au to find common family trees. Sometimes can save alot of work. Enables collaboration.
 * When reviewing family trees watch out for vain attempts by amateurs - children born before marriage (unlikely in 18th and 19th century), children born before parents, age 40 years at marriage, women having children after 40 years, deaths more than 90 years old. Maiden name used after marriage/Married name at birth/Father's surname different from maiden name/husband's surname same as maiden name.
 * http://rootsweb.ancestry.com/ is an attempt to produce a family tree that connects everyone. Fewer amateur efforts.
 * Search for census, birth, baptism, marriage, death, probate records. Cross reference.
 * Census gives most info in one hit. Easiest to be sure it is right as the parents/children stay the same. There are cases of same named husband and wives. Lots of transcription errors - check original image, note occupation as comment. People do change their name...
 * Baptisms and probate records often have other relatives listed, check originals.
 * findmypast.com can have records that ancestry doesn't. Easier searches for things like searching across time periods, all baptism records with parents x&y, specifying search criteria to reduce results.
 * These record the registration office not actual place of birth/death.
 * Ask family what they remember
 * Order marriage certificates to confirm. These list parents, occupation etc. Birth certificates for mother's maiden name.

Further research
 * Ancestry.com collaboration
 * Visiting churches in family hotspots
 * Photos
 * Family stories

Make up Family profiles
 * Hour glass charts
 * Copies of documents