We waited until everyone returned to work from the long Memorial Day weekend to post this contemplative show. The weekend is over, but our freedom continues. Please watch our tribute show, you’ll be glad you did. THE IMPORTANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY | FUNERAL nation 078 published first on YouTube via Tumblr THE IMPORTANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY | FUNERAL nation 078
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Now that the Memorial Day Weekend festivities have officially come to a close and June is nearly upon us, that can only mean one thing — the summer season is practically here. Let’s face it… there is nothing quite like a beautiful summer day or a long, celebratory holiday weekend to bring light and cheerfulness […] Continue reading 4 Ways To Welcome Summer Into Your Funeral Home on funeralOne Blog. 4 Ways To Welcome Summer Into Your Funeral Home published first on YouTube via Tumblr 4 Ways To Welcome Summer Into Your Funeral Home ABILENE, TX – MAY 30, 2017 – Passare®, Inc. is pleased to announce an integration with Frazer Consultants, a web design company that offers cutting-edge personalization and technology products to funeral professionals. “Frazer Consultants has worked closely with us at Passare to develop a one-of-a-kind integration that is helping our mutual clients save time and gain efficiency by eliminating redundant data entry,” said Chris Baber, Vice President and Chief Product Officer for Passare. “Our goal is to make the funeral planning process as simple and as seamless as possible for both funeral professionals and the families they serve, and this integration helps us provide that seamless experience.” Passare offers the only collaboration software in the funeral profession, which allows for real-time communication between funeral directors and family members. Passare’s cloud-based platform is accessible anytime, anywhere, from any Internet-connected device. This platform allows funeral professionals to manage cases and stay in close contact with the families that they serve. With Passare’s integration with Frazer Consultants, funeral directors can send the data gathered on a case such as the obituary, vital statistics, friends & family, and much more straight to the funeral home’s Frazer website and Tribute Center with just the click of a button. The integration will save time spent on duplicate data entry and reduce errors for funeral home clients. “Frazer Consultants is excited to partner with Passare to provide funeral professionals and the families they serve with meaningful experiences,” said Matt Frazer, president of Frazer Consultants. “Both Frazer and Passare share a common goal of making the funeral planning process as efficient as possible for funeral professionals while providing more value to families, and this partnership is just one more way that we can do that.” “Frazer was great to work with,” added Baber. “They went above and beyond to make this the best integration of its kind.” About Passare Passare is helping funeral professionals all over the nation reimagine the funeral experience. Passare is the industry’s only collaboration system with integrated case management. Only Passare allows families and funeral directors to collaborate on arrangements anytime, anywhere, from any Internet-connected device. Passare helps families and funeral directors communicate better throughout the funeral planning process, leading to increased customer engagement, higher levels of satisfaction, and a better overall experience for funeral professionals and families alike. To learn more, contact us at [email protected] or visit us online at provider.passare.com. About Frazer Consultants Launched by Matt Frazer in 2003, Frazer Consultants designs fully custom websites for funeral homes and offers personalized stationary, DVD video tributes, holiday ornaments, temporary grave markers, webcasting, and other products and services. With innovative technological solutions, Frazer assists funeral homes in offering the highest quality service to their families. Their staff is made up of highly skilled professionals who are dedicated to making things easier on funeral professionals and the families they serve. Passare Announces Integration with Frazer Consultants published first on YouTube via Tumblr Passare Announces Integration with Frazer Consultants Alicia Silverstone showing up to a screening of her own movie to surprise all of her biggest fans? As if! That’s exactly what the “Clueless” star did Sunday night at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The screening drew a huge crowd … and everyone was treated to a visit from Cher herself. The movie also starred Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd and Donald Faison. Breckin Meyer — who played the small role of Travis in the 1995 film before going on to bigger things — was also there. Hollywood Forever Cemetery Knows How to Throw a Party published first on YouTube via Tumblr Hollywood Forever Cemetery Knows How to Throw a Party Alicia Silverstone showing up to a screening of her own movie to surprise all of her biggest fans? As if! That’s exactly what the “Clueless” star did Sunday night at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The screening drew a huge crowd … and everyone was treated to a visit from Cher herself. The movie also starred Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd and Donald Faison. Breckin Meyer — who played the small role of Travis in the 1995 film before going on to bigger things — was also there. Hollywood Forever Cemetery Knows How to Throw a Party published first on YouTube via Tumblr Hollywood Forever Cemetery Knows How to Throw a Party Originally Published on funeralOne Blog There are few things in the funeral profession that are less forgivable than a bad funeral home website. Scary black fonts, cheesy funeral director photos, confusing service descriptions… they might as well be a unique form of funeral service sin that prevent even the most talented funeral professionals from gaining salvation amongst families. So today, we’re doing what all people do when the commit a sin of epic proportions… confessing. Here are seven confessions as to why bad funeral websites should be one of the seven deadly sins, along with some advice on how funeral professionals can turn their websites around into a holy grail resource for the families in their communities. Enjoy! 1. Bad websites make a horrible first impression that never goes awayYou know how the popular saying goes — you never get a second chance to make a first impression. And in today’s “Google first, call second” society, this is never more true than when it comes to the first impression that families get when they visit your funeral home website. The hard truth is that you typically only have around 59 seconds to attract a web user’s attention before you’ve lost them and they’ve clicked off your site. So if your funeral home website is not capturing families’ attention right away, appealing to their needs and showcasing your value (all in under a minute), you can bet that their interest will be long gone and they’ll be clicking away to one of your competitor’s sites before you know it. 2. Bad websites take away your credibilityYour website is the best tool out there to convince families why they should trust you with such an important event in their life. So if they click on your website and see outdated event dates, obituary pages that haven’t been updated in months, or spelling errors all throughout your web content, do you really think that they are going to trust you to carry out the intricate, important details of their loved one’s funeral service? On your funeral website more than ever, take the time to make sure that you are presenting a professional front… and if you can, use raving family testimonials and reviews on your website to back up your credibility. 3. Bad websites ignore the why of what you doToo many funeral home websites put the focus on the background and biography of the people who work at their funeral home, and not enough on why they work there in the first place. But that’s what families truly care about. Why are you the right person to arrange a meaningful, valuable send off for their loved one? How can you help them through their time of confusion and grief? The answer isn’t because you are a 3rd generation funeral director… it’s because you have a passion for helping people celebrate the moments that matter in life. So make sure that the “wh” of what you do comes through on your website. 4. Bad websites cause families to write you off before they even meet youHere’s a statement that will surely shock some people: it’s better to have no website at all than to have a bad funeral home website. Why? Because if you have no website, families may still make an effort to call you to learn about your services, or will stop into your location to see your facilities. But if they jump online to see an outdated, dark, dreary, gloomy, black funeral home website, they aren’t even going to bother to call you to learn more. They are going to feel all of those same feelings that your website portrays — dark, gloomy, sad — and immediately leave in search of a welcoming website that speaks to them, makes them feel comfortable, and transitions their thinking from loss to celebrating life. CALL OUT: Are you ready to retire your outdated funeral home website and upgrade to one that actually attracts and excites families? Click here to talk to one of our funeralOne website success specialists today! 5. Bad websites make you spend more money than you need toOne of the most common reasons that funeral homes often give for not updating their website is cost. “New, modern websites are way too expensive” or “My marketing website is already spent.” But when you look at the impression that your website makes the families who are visiting it, or even the amount of money that you could be losing with an outdated, unprofessional website, your website is one of the single best investments that you can make. So do yourself a favor and put the money that you are spending in weekly newspaper ads or commercials into a marketing tool that will actually improve your bottom line… your website. 6. Bad websites cut you off from future familiesDid you know that 81% of shoppers conduct online research before they make a purchase? That means that even if you do not sell products on your funeral home website, families are seeking you out to learn more about your value, your services and your prices so they can compare it to other funeral homes in the area and make a purchasing decision. And if you don’t offer families this information right on your website? Chances are you will be cut off from the equation. 7. Bad websites leave a bad taste in families’ mouthsAt the end of the day, your funeral home website is an extension of your relationship with your families, in the same way that your employees or your answering service are. In fact, it’s one of the strongest, most frequent relationships that you have with your families, because it is accessible to them 24/7/364 in a way that your employees or answering service could never be. So if that’s the case, why would you be comfortable delivering a sub-par relationship to families who are turning to you for help… especially when they may not be able to get through to you in any other way? Look at your website through the eyes of a family member who needs help and answers at 2am… would you feel comforted and reassured by your website? If not, it’s time to make a change. 7 Reasons Why Bad Funeral Websites Should Be 1 Of The 7 Deadly Sins published first on YouTube via Tumblr 7 Reasons Why Bad Funeral Websites Should Be 1 Of The 7 Deadly Sins ICCFA Executive Director Robert M. Fells Retires; Nadira Baddeliyanage Named Executive Director5/30/2017 STERLING, VA (May 25, 2017) – With deep gratitude for his leadership and vision, the Board and staff of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) announce the upcoming retirement of its Executive Director and General Counsel, Robert M. “Bob” Fells, Esq. Fells will be retiring as Executive Director effective July 1, 2017, but will continue in his role as General Counsel. Nadira Baddeliyanage, ICCFA’s Director of Operations, has been named Executive Director. Fells’ retirement and the appointment of Nadira Baddeliyanage to Executive Director was approved by the ICCFA incoming and outgoing Executive Committees on April 5, during the association’s 2017 Annual Convention & Exposition in Nashville, TN. Fells has worked on behalf of the cemetery and funeral service profession on legal and legislative issues since 1975 and joined the ICCFA staff in 1983. He will continue to focus on the government relations activities of the Association including as staff liaison to the Government and Legal Affairs Committee, and responding to inquiries from the news media, government agencies, Congressional offices, and the public. Fells also continues writing the “Washington Report” column for ICCFA Magazine and as contributing editor of the ICCFA Wireless, a bi-weekly electronic newsletter that alerts members to legal, regulatory and industry news affecting their businesses. In addition, Fells served as President and General Counsel of the ICCFA Service Bureau, a for-profit subsidiary of the association which administered the Credit Exchange Plan, and continues to serve in a volunteer capacity as Secretary of the ICCFA Educational Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable organization. In 2011, Fells was inducted into the ICCFA Hall of Fame for his contributions to the cemetery, cremation and funeral service profession. Baddeliyanage has a background in finance and has worked for the ICCFA since 1996. Before being appointed Director of Operations in 2011, she served in a variety of capacities within the association, where she acquired experience in meetings management, accounting, advertising and exhibit sales, and database maintenance. “On behalf of ICCFA’s entire Board of Directors and its membership, I would like to recognize Bob for his leadership and insight over the years and wish him all the best,” said ICCFA President Scott Sells. “Bob’s retirement is our loss, but a well-deserved respite for him to enjoy time with his family. We look forward to the association’s continued success under Nadira’s guidance, congratulate her on her professional accomplishments and know that her progressive leadership will continue to keep the ICCFA at the forefront of our profession.” Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral and memorialization profession. Its membership is composed of more than 9,100 rooftop locations and 20,000 professionals in the cemetery, funeral home and crematory industries, as well as supplier and related businesses worldwide. ICCFA Executive Director Robert M. Fells Retires; Nadira Baddeliyanage Named Executive Director published first on YouTube via Tumblr ICCFA Executive Director Robert M. Fells Retires; Nadira Baddeliyanage Named Executive Director Consolidated Funeral Services announced today a partnership with Aftercare.com, offering their funeral homes an effortless aftercare program. Funeral homes know they need to keep in touch with their families after the services are over, but often find it difficult and time-consuming. While serving at-need families and running day to day operations, many funeral directors simply don’t have the time. Aftercare.com offers their popular Aftercare Card Program which sends out four cards and a survey to the family during the first year following their loss. The cards are personalized for the funeral home with their logo, signature and custom message, and sent out automatically by Aftercare.com. The family receives a sympathy card, a card on the birthday of their loved one, a holiday card and finally, a card marking the anniversary of the loss. The family also receives a follow up survey which provides the funeral home with important feedback as well as preneed leads. Starting today, funeral homes can quickly and easily enroll families in the program directly from their CFS website for only $20 per family with no contracts or commitments. Directors Advantage, a technology and marketing partner to funeral homes, launched Aftercare.com after witnessing how difficult it was for funeral homes to keep up with aftercare. Aftercare.com is solely focused on helping funeral homes stay in touch with their families and continuing those relationships. Founded in 2008 and The Official Technology Partner of Dodge since 2009, CFS pioneered fully-integrated e-commerce within funeral home websites. Serving over 3,600 funeral homes, they continue to lead by building and maintaining custom websites with 24/7 support — all for zero cost. CFS does this by working directly with local florists, providing revenue for the funeral home by eliminating the need for wire services. CFS has a long history of strong partnerships, continuously adding technology to their sites from premiere service providers such as Tukios, ASD, Messenger, Passare, and now, Aftercare.com. Both companies are excited to bring this unique offering to busy funeral homes, allowing them to serve their families during a time of need and continuing to remember them on difficult days. CFS Partners With Aftercare.com to Offer Funeral Homes an Innovative Aftercare Solution published first on YouTube via Tumblr CFS Partners With Aftercare.com to Offer Funeral Homes an Innovative Aftercare Solution For Memorial Day 2017, Sunset Memorial Park here in Albuquerque, New Mexico hosted a unique storytelling event honoring those U.S. servicemen and women who died in wars. The storytellers were actors who looked like green toy soldiers. “On a day like today, for many of us it’s a day off, it’s barbecues, it’s time for family, […] via Tumblr Memorial Day Stories at Sunset Memorial Park There are few things in the funeral profession that are less forgivable than a bad funeral home website. Scary black fonts, cheesy funeral director photos, confusing service descriptions… they might as well be a unique form of funeral service sin that prevent even the most talented funeral professionals from gaining salvation amongst families. So today, […] Continue reading 7 Reasons Why Bad Funeral Websites Should Be 1 Of The 7 Deadly Sins on funeralOne Blog. 7 Reasons Why Bad Funeral Websites Should Be 1 Of The 7 Deadly Sins published first on YouTube via Tumblr 7 Reasons Why Bad Funeral Websites Should Be 1 Of The 7 Deadly Sins |
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