Hepp to Speak at Kentucky State (FDAofKY) Convention
February 23, 2009
MEDIA RELEASE: 127th FDA of Kentucky Annual Convention – Robin Heppell presents: Technology is a Funeral Director’s Friend
Victoria, BC — Funeral Futurist, Robin Heppell has been secured to speak at the 2009 FDA Kentucky Annual Convention in Louisville, KY. The Funeral Futurist will give Funeral Directors insight on how certain technologies increase efficiency allowing cost effective funeral operations.
Robin Heppell and the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky have a similar purpose in terms of instructing funeral professionals. With a membership of 500 firms and associates, the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky assists funeral industry professionals to stay current with an increasingly complex profession for the purpose of serving families better. Heppell’s area of expertise provides Funeral Directors with knowledge and skills related to technology in order to improve the way they serve families.
Robin Heppell, funeral consultant and funeral web strategist, added, “I won’t be promoting one product, service or software over another, just trying to teach you how to use technology to your benefit.”
The objective of Heppell’s presentation is to empower Funeral directors to enhance the way they currently operate their businesses.
“I was really excited when Kim House, Convention Coordinator for the Kentucky Association asked if I would present at their Annual Convention. The funeral industry and technology are my two passions so the attendees will get a great presentation with a lot of practical advice and valuable, easy-to-use take-aways.” remarked Heppell. “Plus I will recording more interviews for the FuneralGurus.com website so make sure you jot down what specific service or offering that your firms provides that makes you different and unique.”
Addressing the lack of information and guidance on how to use technology in funeral homes, Heppell will discuss the following in his presentation:
- Commercial applications such as Excel, PowerPoint and Photoshop and how they can give Funeral Directors the competitive advantage
- The free resource of Google Applications and how they can be used within a funeral home
- A variety of options in creating video tributes
- Basic technologies including email, the Internet, and even wireless technology making businesses more efficient and also saving money
Within the funeral industry, Heppell has successfully presented internationally on several topics including technology and Internet strategies. “Rob’s knowledge of technology makes his presentations both unique and very beneficial for Funeral Directors and preneed consultants.” Sheila Nunn, Funeral Plans Canada.
For more information download Robin Heppell’s Speaker’s Kit at http://www.funeralfuturist.com/keynotes-workshops/
About Robin Heppell
Robin Heppell, CFSP, combines his expertise in technology and preneed, his formal business knowledge and his deep-rooted legacy in the funeral profession so that he can help funeral homes and cemeteries be more competitive, more profitable, and provide the best possible service for the families they serve. Through his consulting firm, FuneralFuturist.com in Victoria, British Columbia, he assists funeral directors and cemeterians throughout North America embrace and incorporate innovative strategies and technologies. His own websites include FuneralGurus.com and FuneralFuturist.com.
About FDA of Kentucky
As early as 1861, persons engaged in funeral service met informally to discuss issues of common interest. Mr. T. J. Danahy of Lexington had been in correspondence with the undertakers of the various towns and cities in Kentucky in an effort to organize a convention or association for the purpose of mutual assistance, information, and so forth for a year. Then in 1882, the formal organization of the Kentucky Undertaker’s Association was established statewide. With this humble, yet sturdy beginning, The Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky was born. It has continued to this day as a strong organization to promote professional ideas and public service.
Robin Heppell will deliver his presentation on Monday, June 22, 2009 from 12:30pm to 2:00PM. The Convention will be held starting June 22-24, 2009 located at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville, KY. For more information contact: Association Office 800-866-3211 or visit www.FDAofKY.com.
For media inquiries, please visit www.FuneralFuturist.com/media-room
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Obituary for Newspaper Obituaries
February 19, 2009
Click on the play button to listen to the sad news of the passing of the Newspaper Obituary
Funeral Futurist, Robin Heppell reports the sad news of the passing of the Newspaper Obituary…
Newspaper Obituary: 1831 – 2010
In the early years the Newspaper Obituary served its community well, disseminating the biographical and funeral service information about its community residents who died. Over the years, Newspaper Obituary became more profitable, sometimes 3 to 5 times more profitable than its cousins, Garage Sales and Used Cars. Eventually it was promoted to the front page of the classifieds and ended up with the honor of its own line item in the Index on the front page of the newspaper.
Many citizens started their day with Newspaper Obituary, fondly referring to it as Obits.
In the last 20 years, Newspaper Obituary became greedy, holding grieving families at ransom. This was the beginning of the end for Newspaper Obituary. It lost the respect of its customers even though they were forced to still use Newspaper Obituary’s services.
Newspaper Obituary’s long-time friend, the Funeral Director, its number one referrer of business, became disenchanted with Newspaper Obituary as the Funeral Director was often the barer of the bad news to the grieving families of Newspaper Obituary’s ever increasing rates.
Ironically, it was the this one-time friend, the Funeral Director who dealt Newspaper Obituary its fatal blow as the Funeral Director has a new friend – its name is Google, and together they can disseminate the same information faster and at virtually no cost to the family.
Good riddance Newspaper Obituary. No service by request. Donations may be made to your local newspaper’s survival fund.
Please share your thoughts below. Also, feel free to add this link to Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Digg, etc, by clicking on the little icons below. Thanks.
…Hepp
How To Spy On Your Funeral Competitors
February 8, 2009
For Your Eyes Only! Check out this video that I recorded for you.
It is true, the Internet is the Information Highway – so much information – and maybe some information that your competitors don’t want you to see.
This video is just a quick peak into what tools are out there for you to use to check out your competitors! You are probably using some of these tools already but no one has ever showed you how to use them – watch the video to find out how…
Warning – after watching this 18 minute video, you will probably spend the next 60 minutes (or more) turning over these virtual rocks of your competitors.
If you want to see a whole bunch more SPY TOOLS, register for my Funeral Home Internet Espionage seminar.
(Sorry, I have to charge for this one because I can’t have my competitors knowing all the stuff that I use on them – and I’m sure that you don’t want your free-loading competitors using this stuff on you – me neither!)
