We want to let you in on a famous funeralOne secret of ours… When it comes to the success of a funeral home website, you can tell whether or not a website is of value to families just by looking at one page. No, it’s not the pricing page, the products page, or even the […] Continue reading 5 Must-Haves For A Successful Funeral Home ‘About Us’ Page on funeralOne Blog. 5 Must-Haves For A Successful Funeral Home ‘About Us’ Page published first on YouTube via Tumblr 5 Must-Haves For A Successful Funeral Home ‘About Us’ Page
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Originally Published on the ASD Blog ASD is pleased to share our new recruitment video that highlights many of the reasons our employees find working here rewarding. Walking in to ASD’s Operations Center, it is obvious that our company is much more than a Call Center. We are truly a family. As this video explains, the strong rapport and enduring friendships between our employees is supported by ASD’s positive workplace culture. We are proud to offer our employees the opportunities to grow within our company and to help them achieve their goals. As a family-owned company, we understand that reliable employees are not replaceable. Our team is comprised of experienced staff who have worked at ASD for an average of six years. Most of our videos and blog posts feature stories about ASD’s advanced technology and patented tools. However, we recognize that it is our employees first and foremost that allow ASD to excel. Their expertise and skills have helped us to grow and evolve into the company we are today. A Inside Look at the Funeral Profession’s Largest Answering Service published first on YouTube via Tumblr A Inside Look at the Funeral Profession’s Largest Answering Service LEXINGTON, KY – Mesoloft, a Kentucky-based company launching cremated remains into the atmosphere, is introducing a 360-degree camera to capture the scattering of ashes like never before. Customers will now be able to experience an immersive, 360-degree panoramic view as the ashes of a loved one or pet are gently lifted almost 15 miles above Earth’s surface, before being released into the atmosphere, where the Earth’s winds will carry and scatter the remains across the globe. The videos can then be uploaded to Facebook and YouTube for customers to share “To be able to offer a more personal and interactive experience to our customers is incredible,” says Co-Founder Alex Clements. “Our hope is that customers will feel like they are up there with their loved one for one last journey.” Customers will also receive a custom-branded Google Cardboard headset to experience the 360-degree videos as virtual reality. Mesoloft is currently preparing for its Summer Launch Campaign, with multiple launches scheduled in the Bend, Oregon area this August. The company plans to release new content from its summer launches on its website as well as on Facebook. To learn more about Mesoloft visit www.mesoloft.com. Mesoloft Scatters Ashes at the Edge of Space published first on YouTube via Tumblr Mesoloft Scatters Ashes at the Edge of Space Social media has taken every industry and profession by storm. But it’s not like it came quietly, we have been talking about it for years. Everyone saw it coming, but no one in the death care space was prepared. Now that social media is here to stay, and it isn’t going away (yeah, some of you still think it’s a fad), the question becomes how do funeral homes become relevant in their social media presence? Creating meaningful content to publish on Facebook isn’t a simple task; it’s time-consuming and challenging. Staying afloat is one of the hardest demands in today’s social media-enthralled world. We have compiled a simple list of dos and don’ts to help funeral homes establish and maintain their social media presence. Let’s start with the DON’TS: Don’t give an employee full admin access to your business Facebook page.Say you don’t have a personal Facebook page, but one of your staff does. The simple thing would be just to have them create your business Facebook page since they already know the ins and outs of Facebook, right? WRONG. What happens if this employee decides to quit or is fired? They may become upset or angry, and they have complete access to the Facebook page, meaning they could delete the page. If the disgruntled staff member wants to play hardball they can. There is virtually no way for you to gain admin access at this point. Avoid all of this trouble and headache by simply becoming the admin of your Facebook page. If you don’t have a personal Facebook page, just make one that is private for the sole use of becoming the admin, or join the 21st century and connect with friends, family and your community on Facebook. Your choice! Don’t post obituaries on your Facebook page.Obituaries are not good content. They clog up newsfeeds and aren’t engaging. Facebook shows posts that people engage with; if you are constantly posting obituary after obituary, and they don’t get many interactions, Facebook won’t give your posts top priority. So, when you do post something engaging the likelihood of anyone seeing it in their newsfeed is pretty low. The bottom line is obituaries clog your feed and people aren’t going to interact with them, so don’t post them to your Facebook page. *If you live in a small market (under 20,000 people) obituaries can be valuable content because everyone knows everyone. We still do not recommend these all live in the Newsfeed but through an app on your Page. Don’t ignore consumer interactions on your Facebook page.The funeral profession is a relationship-based business. If someone leaves a review or comments on a post, regardless of good or bad, someone on your end needs to respond to their remarks. The funeral home can even just use a few generic responses; anything is better than nothing. Establishing relationships online is just as valuable as building relationships in person. A virtual handshake is worth just the same. We’ll end on a more positive note by introducing the DOS: Facebook is still king. Use it.Of all the social media platforms available today, Facebook has the most users. Facebook hits the exact (45-65+ Female) demographic funeral homes want to engage with. Take advantage of Facebook and all of its features. Sharable content: educational and entertaining.Create content that consumers will be interested in, not something they just scroll past. Catch their attention with images and videos. Shareable content would be things like contests or Mother’s Day and Father’s Day videos. These things increase your following and make users more interested in your page. That’s the whole point of online marketing – bringing attention to your business and attracting consumers. Post those videos.Videos grab consumers’ attention and draw them in. Consumers would much rather watch a short video than reading a long written post. Do yourself a favor and adhere to their interests. Facebook gives priority to video in the newsfeeed, meaning that video with organically reach more users than any other type of content. Video also receives 75% more engagement than any other type of content. Ads and boosted content on Facebook.Facebook is the way to go when it comes to promoting your funeral home or death care company on social media. Facebook allows you to create ads and boost your content, both of which you have to pay for. When you boost a post, you can decide how many people will see the post and how long the boost runs for. It’s not expensive to market on Facebook, and it’s especially worth it since you can decide how many people you want your posts to reach. This investment is more valuable than other advertising platforms. We cover Facebook advertising in depth in this article: http://disruptmedia.co/facebook-advertising-cost-everything-funeral-homes-need-to-know/ Start exploring Instagram.Instagram is a visual-based social media platform owned by Facebook. Users can post pictures with captions, and it has a story feature where users can post multiple pictures and videos throughout a 24 hour period. It’s a great way to engage with consumers because it’s what consumers love – pictures and videos. The best thing is that visual elements, like the ones posted on Instagram, are easy to produce. Take a simple picture, write a witty caption and wait for the likes to roll in. It’s a low maintenance platform that is definitely worth the small amount of time needed to keep your profile up to date. These are great guidelines to keep in mind going forward when spending time on your funeral home’s Facebook page. All of these pieces of advice can be found on DISRUPTu! And FUNERAL Nation episodes, so be sure to check them out to stay on top of the game. Co-authored by Maddie Ashby in the perspective and guidance of Ryan Thogmartin.8 Facebook Marketing Dos and Don’ts for Funeral Homes published first on YouTube via Tumblr 8 Facebook Marketing Dos and Don’ts for Funeral Homes Detroit, MI — July 20, 2017 — Nine months ago, Everdays launched the first and only turnkey service designed to replace newspaper obituaries. Now, more than 1,000 funeral homes are actively using the company’s fully digital, cloud-based platform to create memorial announcements as a complimentary service for their client families. Those families then easily and securely broadcast the announcements to their community using the free Everdays mobile app. “We couldn’t be happier with the feedback we’ve received from funeral directors and client families,” said Mark Alhermizi, founder and CEO of Everdays. “On one hand, the growth we’ve seen is staggering. But really, it reflects the overwhelming need for a modern update to the unnecessary expense of buying newspaper obituaries. Everdays provides that alternative, and it does all this for free — not just for funeral homes, but for their families as well.” Everdays leverages the power of mobile technology to send important updates to a family’s contacts and ensure the news of a passing goes viral. And because each announcement carries a funeral home’s information and direct link back to their website, each share leads to greater brand awareness, increased web traffic, and improved event attendance. Furthermore, Everdays has been instrumental in reinforcing the client-director relationship. “By bringing more people into our network of fourteen homes, Everdays has elevated the value of our funeral service to our current and prospective clients,” said Randy Schoedinger, CEO of Schoedinger Funeral & Cremation Services. “Every one of our forty-two staff members has been trained to use Everdays for their client families, and we’ve heard nothing but good things from our clients about their experience using Everdays.” At the core of Everdays is the Partner Dashboard, a robust platform that gives funeral directors the power to create, manage, and update announcements on behalf of their client families. According to Antonio Green, president and CEO of James H. Cole Home for Funerals, “Everdays is clean, simple, and easy to navigate. It only takes a few minutes to create an announcement on the Partner Dashboard, and we do it for every family on every case.” By providing funeral homes with a smarter model for building their business and fostering better relationships with their clients, Everdays is poised to become the new standard for how the world communicates around death. “No other notification method provides peace of mind to homes and their families,” said Alhermizi. “But we’re also the only company creating a natural space for the profession to connect with a larger community receptive to their message — and I believe that this is why you will see Everdays continue to grow.” For more information on Everdays, visit everdays.com. Everdays is available in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. Over 1,000 Homes Actively Using Everdays Only Nine Months After Launch published first on YouTube via Tumblr Over 1,000 Homes Actively Using Everdays Only Nine Months After Launch Cataudella Funeral Home is looking for a Funeral Director/Embalmer to join our team in Methuen, MA! Join a team with a long-standing tradition of serving the Lawrence/Methuen area. Our directors work with client families to arrange memorial services, presenting all options and ensuring experiences of the highest quality. We count on our directors to exemplify our core values, providing the most professional and ethical service possible.
Requirements
Qualified candidates can email resumes to [email protected] Funeral Director/Embalmer – Methuen, MA published first on YouTube via Tumblr Funeral Director/Embalmer – Methuen, MA Thacker Caskets Honors Bucky Stevens As 2016 Salesperson of the Year at National Sales Meeting7/25/2017 CLINTON, MD – From July 10th through July 13th, Thacker Caskets held its 2017 National Sales Meeting in Frederick, Maryland. During the meeting, Thacker honored various Sales Consultants, but awarded its Virginia Sales Consultant, Bucky Stevens, 2016 Salesperson of the Year. The Sales Meeting featured not only educational training presentations from Thacker presenters, but also a keynote presentation from industry expert, Dan Isard of The Foresight Companies. In addition, Thacker Sales Consultants had the opportunity for a question & answer session with two local funeral directors and participated in a tour of Stauffer Funeral Home of Frederick, Maryland. The Thacker Team had some fun with a company BBQ picnic on Monday night and then the following night participated in an Escape Room experience. On Wednesday, July 12th, Thacker held its Honors Dinner at The Wine Kitchen in Frederick, MD. During the Honors Dinner, Thacker presented five Sales Consultants awards. Bucky Stevens was awarded Thacker Salesperson of the Year for 2016. “Bucky has been the definition of hard work since he came on board with Thacker in September 2015 – he has increased Thacker’s market share in Virginia substantially. Bucky has also made a point to quickly and diligently learn what is important to the funeral homes he serves and to continually educate himself on the industry and the issues his customers face every day,” says VP of Sales & Marketing, Danielle Thacker. She adds, “The customers of Virginia are lucky to have Bucky serving their funeral homes.” Bucky added, “I am humbled to be named as Salesperson of the Year for Thacker. I would not be here without the support of my loyal and committed customers. I am also grateful for the hard work of the internal customer service team as well as the insight of my Sales Consultant counterparts – teamwork makes the dream work!” In addition to the Salesperson of the Year award, Thacker also honored Bob Cullen for his 25 years of service as a Sales Consultant to funeral homes in the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York region. Bob started with the company in 1991, and 2016 marks his 25th year with the company. “At Thacker, every Sales Consultant is part of the Thacker family, but Bob is the patriarch of the family. Bob is not only committed to his customers, but also provides valuable insight and mentorship to the other Sales Consultants on the Thacker team,” said CEO of Thacker, CJ Thacker. There were three other Sales Consultants awarded for their performance during the year of 2016. Brittney Harris of Eastern Tennessee, Laura Rosen of Eastern Michigan and Lori Anderson-Gordon of South Georgia were all awarded Thacker’s “Top Performer” awards for their consistent territory growth for the year of 2016. CJ Thacker concluded, “I am proud to say that Thacker has grown tremendously over the years, and 2016 only continued that trajectory of growth. The dedication, commitment and hard work of our entire sales team, but specifically the ones honored have fueled Thacker’s continued success.” Thacker Caskets is the funeral industry’s leading family owned funeral supply company since 1939. For more information about the company, please contact 800.637.8891 or visit the website at www.thackercaskets.com. Thacker Caskets Honors Bucky Stevens As 2016 Salesperson of the Year at National Sales Meeting published first on YouTube via Tumblr Thacker Caskets Honors Bucky Stevens As 2016 Salesperson of the Year at National Sales Meeting Competition between funeral homes in most markets is pretty fierce. Setting your business apart from the rest is difficult, without a doubt, as most funeral directors are not marketers and they are reluctant to pay for one. These funeral homes went outside the norm (or the box) with their ads in hopes of grabbing the attention of consumers. Having a sense of humor in this business is what keeps many people sane. Some may consider this kind of humor offensive, especially as advertisements. Others understand that it is all in fun and clearly for publicity. Regardless of your take on these sorts of ads, everyone can agree they are pretty off-the-wall. Having a sense of humor in this business is what keeps many people sane. Some may consider this kind of humor offensive or undignified, especially as advertisements. Others understand that it is all in fun and clearly for publicity. Regardless of your take on these sorts of ads, everyone can agree they are pretty off-the-wall. So you be the judge: Are these ads cringe-worthy or are they brilliant? Texting and driving is illegal in 46 states, but this funeral home encourages breaking the law to increase their body count.*Note: This was NOT a real funeral home ad but it went crazy viral! In a similar fashion, this business is advertising to instill bad habits in consumers. At least the family will know where to take their loved one when their smoking habit has taken its toll.This funeral home is saying what you all are thinking. Pre-planning, pre-planning, pre-planning.Well, it may not be the most romantic gesture, but at least it shows he cares…?
Now, you have to admit that this is creative. They chose to advertise in the subway by enticing readers to “come a little closer”, ultimately landing them onto the tracks.They’re so good you’ll come back from the dead to tell everyone about it!*Note: This was drawn by a child and part of a contest put on by a school. Brilliant!! The best of both worlds, luxurious and cheap; it doesn’t get much better than that.What did we miss? Have you witnessed other funeral home ads that could be considered cringe-worthy or brilliant? Share them in the comments! 7 Cringe Worthy Funeral Home Advertisements or Are They Brilliant? published first on YouTube via Tumblr 7 Cringe Worthy Funeral Home Advertisements or Are They Brilliant? A Super Bowl Champ. Dinner with the Experts. Great Big Giveaway. Five pre-convention seminars. The best education sessions in the profession. The world’s largest expo. The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) International Convention & Expo is going big in 2017 so that you can take your business to new levels of success. Join your colleagues October 29 through November 1 in Boston, Mass., for this game-changing conference. Keynote Speakers Bring Big-time Inspiration John Maxwell, Everyone Communicates Few Connect – General Session, Monday, October 30, 9:45-11:45 a.m. John C. Maxwell has been hailed as America’s premier leadership expert. In 2014, he was at the top of Inc. Magazine’s top 50 Leadership and Management Experts. Each year, he speaks in person to hundreds of thousands of people, and his bestselling books impact millions more around the globe. During Monday’s General Session, Maxwell will reveal how to identify with people and relate to others in a way that increases influence with them. As a leader, it’s not enough just to work hard or do a great job. To be successful, leaders need to learn how to communicate in a way that connects with others. Maxwell will masterfully underscore principles and practices to help attendees communicate at a level that runs far deeper than words. Troy Aikman, Developing Your Inner Champion – General Session, Wednesday, November 1, 1-2 p.m. Three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Troy Aikman has harnessed the drive and dedication that defined his football career with the Dallas Cowboys into numerous successful business ventures since retiring from the game. Through broadcasting, real estate and The Troy Aikman Foundation, he discovered ways to keep himself occupied in “retirement.” After leaving the playing field, Aikman joined the NFL on FOX full-time as a game analyst. He quickly displayed the accuracy and work ethic that marked his playing career and moved up to FOX’s number-one broadcast crew prior to the 2002 season. He’s received three Emmy nominations for his broadcasting efforts and has broadcast four Super Bowls (XXXIX, XLII, XLV and LI). During Aikman’s 12-year playing career, he set 45 Cowboys passing records and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February 2006. Witness Aikman’s natural leadership ability, innate talent and charisma during this engaging general session, in which he will share how attendees can develop their inner champion. The General Session with Aikman is included with full and one-day Convention registration. Attendees can add lunch (from noon to 1 p.m.) and preferred seating for the Wednesday General Session to their registration for just $25 ($30 after September 22). Attendees won’t want to miss the Great Big Giveaway during the Wednesday General Session. On Wednesday morning during Expo Hall hours, NFDA’s valued sponsors will be handing out tickets for a chance to win a variety of fabulous prizes – attendees must be present to win! Winners will be announced during the Wednesday General Session but everyone’s luck begins in the Expo hall. Unmatched Education Sessions Tackle Key Issues The education funeral professionals need to build thriving businesses that exceed the expectations of the families and communities they serve can only be found at the 2017 NFDA Convention.Engaging workshops will address technical skills, business management, the value of ceremony, marketing and community outreach. Education sessions include:
Innovation Flourishes in the Expo Hall The NFDA Convention features the world’s largest funeral service trade show, offering the newest and most exciting products, services and innovations from around the world. Many exhibitors plan to introduce new and inventive products and services to the profession during the convention. The Expo Hall will be open October 30 and 31 from noon to 5 p.m.; and November 1 from 9 a.m. to noon. Attendees will want to experience the new Campfire Exchange in the Expo Hall where they can enjoy intimate, 20-minute speaker-led sessions in a relaxed atmosphere complete with campfire treats. Campfire Sessions will take place during Expo Hall hours. Near the Campfire Exchange, attendees can take a “Walk through NFDA History,” a multimedia, interactive experience highlighting the rich history of NFDA Conventions, from the origin of the Association to the present. Creating Lifelong Memories in Boston A lot of networking happens during workshops and in the Expo Hall, but NFDA’s exclusive social events will give attendees an opportunity to cement new friendships and renew old ones. Special events, planned exclusively for NFDA Convention attendees, will show why Boston remains one of America’s favorite cities to live, work and play. Boston is a mecca of colleges and universities, providing higher education to students from around the world. Celebrate the education you’ll gain this week while reconnecting with old friends (and making new ones!) at NFDA’s collegiate-inspired Welcome Party on Sunday, October 29 (included with registration). Attendees are encouraged to don attire from their favorite college or university for the Welcome Party. Before heading to the Welcome Party, those who are attending the convention for the very first time should stop by the new First-time Attendee Reception. There, they can meet other first-time attendees and NFDA staff – and enjoy a cocktail – before the main event. Not to be missed: the annual Habitat for Humanity project on Saturday, October 28; the 17th annual Golf Classic to benefit the Funeral Service Foundation at Stow Acres Country Club in Stow, Mass., on Sunday October 29 (separate registration required); and a night of giggles, chuckles, hoots and guffaws during the Funeral Directors Under 40 Party at Laugh Boston on Tuesday, October 31 (ticket required). Cast off with friends and colleagues aboard the Spirit of Boston for a dinner cruise, the closing celebration for the 2017 NFDA Convention. Enjoy breathtaking views, satisfying beverages, a delicious dinner, music and dancing while sailing around Boston’s famous harbor on Wednesday, November 1 (ticket required). Break bread at a local Boston eatery with an intimate group of fellow attendees and one of this year’s Convention speakers. On Monday, October 30, you could dine with embalming expert Vernie Fountain or consumer behavior experts Georganne Bender and Rich Kizer. On Tuesday, you could share a meal with embalming expert Wally Hooker. Attendees who are interested in participating in this “dutch treat” dinner should sign up early – seats will fill up quickly. Celebrate the shining stars of funeral service during the All-Star Recognition Ceremony on Monday, October 30. NFDA will recognize funeral professionals who are NFDA Certified Crematory Operators, NFDA Certified Preplanning Consultants, recipients of the International Professional Achievement Certificate, or APFSP Certified Funeral Service Practitioners. NFDA will also recognize funeral homes that have earned an NFDA Green Funeral Practice Certificate or a 2017 NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Award. In 2013, people of all faiths came together to help their city heal following the Boston Marathon bombing. In this same spirit of unity, this year’s NFDA Service of Remembrance, taking place onTuesday, October 31, will highlight the United States’ rich Judeo-Christian heritage. The service will both explain and demonstrate the meaning behind various religious rituals and traditions through which generations have found comfort and strength to cope in times of loss. Through this educational and meaningful Service of Remembrance, attendees will come to better understand the role faith and religion play in funeral service and be better prepared to help those they serve in their own communities. As is NFDA’s tradition, attendees will also honor the memory of colleagues and friends who have died during the last year. Up-to-the minute information about the 2017 NFDA International Convention & Expo, including information on how to register and make hotel reservations through the NFDA housing bureau, is available at www.nfda.org/boston2017. NFDA thanks its 2017 International Convention & Expo sponsors for their continued support:
About NFDA NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving 19,700 individual members who represent more than 10,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.nfda.org. NFDA Goes Big in Boston for 2017 Convention published first on YouTube via Tumblr NFDA Goes Big in Boston for 2017 Convention West Des Moines, Iowa — Milliman has recognized Homesteaders Life Company for being among the top 20 Midwest Region companies of their “Best in Benefits” award program. According to Milliman, “The Best in Benefits award recognizes employers who offer the best benefits plans relative to their peers.” Analyzing benefit plan designs, premiums and employer contributions provided via a benchmarking study, Milliman calculates the benefit value and cost of each company plan. Companies are ranked by a “lowest cost-highest benefit” metric to determine the Best in Benefits awards. “Homesteaders has always focused on taking good care of our employees,” says Judy RalstonHansen, Executive VP-HR. “Our benefits program is part of a robust compensation package that is designed to help us attract and retain top talent to the organization, which ultimately benefits our funeral home customers, marketing partners and policy owners.” Homesteaders was also recently recognized as a Top Iowa Workplace, a distinction for which benefits, compensation and work-life balance figure prominently. Milliman’s Best in Benefits program is conducted annually on employee benefits including medical, dental, life, voluntary benefits and leave policies. The Midwest Region survey included data from 343 companies representing 117,211 employees. Milliman is among the world’s largest providers of actuarial and related products and services. The firm has consulting practices in healthcare, property and casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services, and employee benefits. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities round the globe. Homesteaders Life Company, a 110-year-old mutual company, is a national leader providing life insurance products and services to promote and support the funding of advance funeral planning and end-of-life expenses. Visit homesteaderslife.com to learn more. Homesteaders Recognized Among Milliman’s “Best in Benefits” published first on YouTube via Tumblr Homesteaders Recognized Among Milliman’s “Best in Benefits” |
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