Learn 5 Fast steps on how to increase your Google Maps (now Google Places) listing.

Hepp’s Done For You Package!

If you order before August 29, 2010, you will save $200!

Order your Google Places Optimization Package TODAY for only $297 and also receive Your Funeral Home Web Market Analysis 10 page report ($497 value) absolutely FREE – but you need to order today.

DOUBLE GUARANTEE: We will optimize your Google Places listing within 2 Business Days and I guarantee that your rankings will improve in the Google Listings or I will give you 100% of your money back.

If you are on Facebook, you should do this now! This 2:29 video shows you how to claim your Vanity URL for your Facebook page.

Here is a 9:35 minute video about how you can use Facebook Ads to “Narrow-Cast” – opposite of Broadcast – to connect with specific markets.  Just to let you know, if you are interested getting more training about Facebook Ads at the end of the video I recommend that you register for Ryan Deiss’ Facebook Ad Power program.  Even if you don’t register for his program, you will get some great gems from both my video and his.

www.FuneralFuturist.com/Facebook-Ad-Power

Disclosure: If you register for Ryan’s program through the link above, I will receive a referral fee – but also you will receive free admission to my Funeral Facebook Ads Workshop in March.

Still have questions about Facebook Ads?

Let me know if you have any questions about Facebook Ads, please email them to me at robin@funeralfuturist.com OR leave a comment below…

Thanks.

…Hepp

JUST RELEASED! John Callaghan’s 2010 Edition of his Strategic Marketing Plan

You’ve heard of John Callaghan, haven’t you?

To refresh your memory, he’s one of the industry’s top speakers on funeral home marketing.

In his book, “Strategic Marketing Plan for Funeral Service Professionals” he reveals how funeral homes should market in during tough economic times.

Why am I telling you this?

Recently I convinced John to allow me to grill him during a LIVE 120-minute teleseminar!

It actually went for 2 1/2 hours.

We talked for just over an hour about his book and then we tackled dozens of questions that the attendees submitted.

You can read a partial list of questions below.

Now you can get the Book, Transcripts of the Interview, and the Recordings INSTANTLY – in download format!

89 Pages of Funeral-Specific Marketing Advice

and over 2.5 hours of recordings

(delivered immediately after you purchase below)

$147.00 Now Only $97

Save $50.00

Still Undecided? Have a Free Sample…

Here is the First Chapter of the Book

Click Here for the PDF Sample

Here is a sample of the Interview

$147.00 Now Only $97

Save $50.00

• Partial List of Questions that are answered on the Recordings

  • Could you discuss the use of tasteful humor in funeral home marketing?
  • Telephones, yellow page ads – How do you set yourself apart?
  • How do I market my firm against the “low price firm” in the market place?
  • What are your thoughts on marketing during tough economic times? Is it actually a time when you can get more bang for your buck, attract a wider audience etc?
  • How do we use permission marketing in funeral service, especially with the increasing use of online guest books and internet communications with our customers?
  • With a downtown location and smaller parking area, how do you compete with funeral home not downtown and more parking area?
  • What is the most effective advertising in a small rural community? Should we sponsoring and attending community events, sponsor information seminars, weekly newspaper ads, local magazines etc?
  • Are there new words in the death care language that are more acceptable to the public?
  • What kind of ad and or marketing should a funeral home do in response to a cremation society’s direct mailing piece that they continue to do in our community?
  • When asked why our funeral home was chosen, my family follow up surveys reflect that I receive 0 calls from advertising. How should I interpret this?
  • How do you get the message out to Hospice that there are many more options for a family other than direct cremation?
  • What would the best way to market a second location in the next city with two corporate competitors presently operate there?
  • How do you determine what are the most effective strategies?
  • When conducting market research in my area, what are some good sources for Secondary data or information regarding the opinions and buying preferences of ANY of my target markets?
  • I’m in a small market. How do I attract more calls, when it appears, my competitor has more money for unlimited advertising?
  • How can I get people out of the mindset that cremation means no viewing?
  • I’m losing market share to a new funeral home, How can I combat an upstate with a better location?
  • If we have a web site, what are the best strategies to make certain that someone using a search engine, such as Google, will see our listing at the top of the results list? Are there other techniques that can be used in addition to the “keywords” that are embedded into the pages of the site?
  • What is the best way to counteract, “I want the cheapest funeral?
  • I am an independent operated firm in my town with two other firms who are corporate run, what can I do in ads to beat them as competitors?
  • What medium is the best advertising in a conservative area?

I get a lot of questions from funeral home owners about how they should advertise their funeral homes. The main reason why these questions come my way is that they are dissatisfied with the results they get from their current advertising. Most of the time the reason why they are not getting the results that they want is that they are advertising like they are a huge, national company (because those are the ads that we see everyday).

Nike estimates that it has spent $ 1 Billion on creating its brand. When small businesses like small to medium sized, family-owned funeral homes advertise – who don’t have a Nike-sized marketing budget – it is better for you to focus on building and nurturing relationships, than to try to build an inanimate brand.

When someone dies, the family is going to think of people who can help them – not just a logo.

Since marketing companies in Funeral Service generally help large funeral homes “brand” their businesses, there is a lack of information and advice on what is the best way for smaller funeral homes (500 calls and under) to market their businesses. Because of this, in 2010 I am going to help these small to medium sized, family-owned funeral homes market their businesses in the most effective way possible.

To do this, I am going to use real examples from funeral homes and identify the good points and also make suggestions on how the marketing can be improved.  This is where the contest comes in…

I will be giving away:

• 1 of 10 copies of Bill Glazer’s best selling book “OUTRAGEOUS Advertising”
• 2 tickets to Bill Glazer’s Outrageous Academy & Workshop event in Orlando in January (See Details Below)
• Bonus: For the 1st 30 entries, you will receive a free, 30 minute, private, one-on-one consultation with me to discuss any funeral-related topic you choose.

To Enter the Funeral Home Advertising Contest, submit 1 advertising example from each of the following categories:

• Yellow page ad (scanned and added as an attachment)
• Print ad – from church bulletin or newspaper (scanned and added as an attachment)
• Website (include your URL to your funeral home’s website)
• Optional: Other online advertising – Facebook Fan Page Facebook ad, Google Adwords PPC ad, banner ad for online newspaper (please scan or recreate if PPC of Facebook ad and then add as an attachment)

ENTER FUNERAL HOME ADVERTISING CONTEST HERE
(if email link doesn’t work, email your submission to robin@funeralfuturist.com with the subject: Funeral Home Advertising Contest)

Conditions: This contest is eligible for family-owned funeral homes only. By submitting your advertising samples you are giving me permission to use them in my upcoming courses and training materials. Prize winners will be selected randomly. The submission deadline is December 24, 2009.  Submissions received after the 24th will not be eligible for prizes. This contest is void where prohibited by law. The winner of the 2 tickets to the OUTRAGEOUS Academy & Workshop is responsible for their own travel, lodging, and other expenses.

“The OUTRAGEOUS Academy & Workshop” – January 15-17, 2010 – Orlando, FL

• BILL GLAZER teaching a FULL DAY OUTRAGEOUS Workshop
• BOB PARSONS (from Go Daddy) showing his OUTRAGEOUS TV Ads that made Go Daddy the #1 domain register worldwide
• YANIK SILVER “How To Create an OUTRAGEOUSLY, Ridiculous Advantage in Your Market Place to Truly Dominate Your Customers Wallets and Mindshare “
• DR. GREG NIELSEN “The Reclusive ‘Backwoods Doctor’ Shares His Most OUTRAGEOUS Marketing Secrets Regardless Of The Business Your In”
• PAUL HARTUNIAN “OUTRAGEOUS Publicity = OUTRAGEOUS Sales = An OUTRAGEOUS Life “
• SCOTT STRATTEN “OUTRAGEOUS Viral Marketing”
• MIKE CAPUZZI “OUTRAGEOUS Copywriting Cosmetics for OUTRAGEOUSLY Profitable Response”
• Special Guest Appearance: DAN KENNEDY presenting “The 10 Most OUTRAGEOUS Marketing Strategies I’ve Ever Used”

I will be presenting at the Kates-Boylston’s 4th Annual Funeral Service Business Plan Conference being held Nov. 19-20 in Clearwater Beach, Fla.

Here is a 15:53 minute video where I pull back the curtain and show you my planning and brainstorming process when I create a presentation. This video also details what you will learn during my presentation.

If you haven’t heard of the “Business Plan” conference it is guaranteed to boost your operating profit. Along with the other speakers, I intend on helping you develop a strategic plan that’s actionable, concise and achievable. You’ll come with ideas, and leave with a plan.

Along with all the learning, there will also be plenty of time for networking and fun. On Nov. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. (just after you’ve checked in and had a bit of time to unwind), you’ll enjoy a tour of one of Anderson-McQueen’s locations – Bill and John are leaders in innovation (and implementation) is funeral service. While there, you’ll enjoy light refreshments and time with fellow attendees. There will also be cocktail hours along with breakfasts and lunches. This is one event you won’t want to miss.

Use the order form below to register, and if you tell them “Hepp says $50 off” then you will receive $50 off of the registration fee. I hope to see you Florida!

It could be you!

I received a call today from Lucky Dog Films looking for a Funeral Director to star in their new Reality TV Show.  Here are the details:

Do you think your family business and the business of running your family might make for compelling TV? We are looking for an ordinary family with an extraordinary lifestyle that is willing to let cameras into their world and to share their everyday lives with us – imagine, the real life “Six Feet Under”!

Lucky Dog Films is developing a new series for TLC and we are looking for a family made up of eccentric, fun and interesting characters. If you think we are describing you, please send a small tape introducing your family and showing us your home and funeral home. No more than 5 minutes please.

Send your submissions by July 1, 2009 to:
Lucky Dog Films, LLC
7600 Wisconsin Avenue
7th Floor
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
Info@luckydogfilm.com

We will not be able to return any submissions sent to us.

Hey, if you make it – don’t forget good ol’ Hepp!

Funeral Industry Technology: As a follow up to the Funeral Facebook Formula class in May, I showcased my “Information Gathering Dashboard” and I promised that I would make a video on how you can create one for yourself – here it is…

If you are having problems viewing the video,
click here to watch it on my “Live Video” account

If you have any resources to share about the funeral industry and technology, please share your thoughts comments below!

…Hepp

PS: To put this information into action, visit www.FuneralFuturistU.com for more training!

When I was young and visiting my Grandparents at the family funeral home – EganFuneralHome.com in Bolton, Ontario – I would spend a lot of time with him walking into town, going to the post office and running other errands.  I was always amazed about how many people knew him and that he knew them.  His success – just like other past generation Funeral Directors – could be attributed to being a helpful member of community, whether professionally or in other activities. They knew, they liked him, and when they needed his services, they could trust him.

Since life is different nowadays and there are a lot less people in the “social hubs” than there was 50 years ago, it doesn’t mean that you have to go to the same places that Gramps hung out – he was where the people were.  You should apply the same philosophy – Go To Where The People in Your Community Are!

Now, I’m not saying quit all of the groups that you are currently involved with – but you should take some quick inventory on your time invested vs. the exposure and reach that you get.

If you think that I am just pushing this Facebook stuff on you because I am a bit of a techie – you’re wrong.  I’m trying to tell you that it is probably one of the biggest networks in your town and you need to be there!

Do you know how many people in your market are on Facebook? Would you be surprised that I could tell you exactly how many to the individual, gender, age? It’s easy to find out – and also you can advertise so directly it would blow you away!

But before we get into my Funeral – Facebook Formula, you have to make sure that you have the basic foundation of Facebook Profiles and Pages.  So we are going to build off of the 7 Mistakes Funeral Directors make with Facebook article, I want to outline what the Best Practices are for Funeral Directors for using Facebook.

The purpose of this “Best Practices” is to cut through all of the noise and give you the straight goods and short-cut the learning process for you as I teach you to nurture your online relationships to build your community, increase your credibility and visibility because people want to do business with people that they Know, Like, and Trust – Facebook can help you achieve that!

I don’t want Facebook to be a new time-waster although I must warn you: if you are new to Facebook, it is easy to get sucked in, connecting with old friends, checking photos, playing games, taking quizzes, etc. Anyway, after the initial rush wears off, it will be back to business – relationship building business that is!

This Best Practices is really going to get you up and running, but when you want to kick it into hi-gear, you should check out my Funeral – Facebook Formula seminar <– Click for more information

Before we get into the Nuts & Bolts, we need to know the difference between Profiles and Pages.

Facebook Profile Pros

• You can have one-on-one interaction
• You create a feeling of a more personal connection
• You gain “perceived” credibility with more Friends
• Your Friends can message you (pro from their perspective)
• You can be Tagged in photos and videos and appear automatically (sometimes good)

Facebook Profile Cons

• You need to have mutual agreement for friending
• People must be Facebook members and logged in to view
• You can’t message all friends  at once or you could get banned
• You are limited to 5,000 friends
• You could get inundated with messages in your Inbox
• You can be Tagged in photos and videos and appear automatically (sometimes bad)

Facebook Fan Page Pros

• You can have an unlimited number of fans
• You have the ability to message an entire group
• Your page can be accessed by the public (no Facebook login required + it can be indexed by Google (see naming below)
• Your Page appears in homepage stream which is a great way to remind your Friends about updates and new content
• People have opted in to hear updates about your business, unlike your profile

Facebook Fan Page Cons

• It is sometimes hard to get people to become Fans
• The term “Fan” is a little weird, especially when applied to a Funeral Home
• Doesn’t feel like a personal connection
• You don’t have the same personal relationship as you only post as the “Business” not as yourself

Ok, now that we know some of the differences, let’s build both a Profile and a Page – leveraging the Pros to our advantage.

Profile Set Up – Phase 1 (1 hour):

1. Select an appropriate photo: one that best connects you to your audience
2. Upload Contacts from Email Accounts / Outlook: (I skip the “Invite Others To Facebook”)
3. Complete the Profile information: make it as complete as possible but keep within your comfort level.
4. Complete Education and Work Profile Information: this makes it easier for your old contacts to find you
5. List all of your websites under contact information
6. Create Memorable Web Address
7. Upload Contacts from Email Accounts / Outlook

Profile Set Up – Phase 2 (1 to 2 hours + ongoing):

1. Search Friends’ Friends List
2. Search Groups and Fan Pages for possible contacts: You don’t even have to join the group – just see who the members are. But join if you think that it would be valuable
3. Search Your Competitor’s Friends: click on the View Friends link and add any friends that you think would be appropriate to friend

Notes: When entering a website address (URL) make sure that you use the “http://” before the www… as that will make the link clickable.

Fan Page Set Up – Phase 1

1. Choose the Category > Local > Event Planning Service OR Professional Service
2. Choosing the Right Name – Place Important Keywords together with your company’s name such as ‘Your Town’ Funeral Homes (unless that is a competitor’s name) | Your Funeral Chapel (see McCall’s example)
3. Upload your logo or an appropriate photo – make sure that it is recognizable and if possible, have some personality
4. Complete the Edit Information
5. Upload Photos and Tag yourself or staff members if appropriate
6. Upload Videos – How To and FAQ videos would be preferred over commercials – again you are trying to build a relationship, not to sell anything (don’t exclude commercials – just limit them)
7. Add Links to helpful information from your website
8. Suggest To Friends – Be selective to who you invite at the beginning until you really have your page “super-charged”

Please remember, Facebook Pages and How Funeral Homes Can Use Facebook are a Work in Progress, these are some general best practices (for now). Here are some examples of Facebook Pages that you can use as a guide to creating your Page:

• http://companies.to/mccallbros
• http://companies.to/rmdfuneralhome
• http://companies.to/maquoketaareaobituaries
• http://companies.to/johnsonconsulting
• http://companies.to/funeralfuturist

There are others that I would have like to list but they haven’t used the “Memorable Page” application.

If you are interested in learning how to USE Facebook for your funeral business, I know you will get a lot out of my Funeral Home – Facebook Formula seminar that is going to be held Thursday, May 28. Replays will be available if you can’t make it.  This seminar is going to be the first of my monthly training course called: FuneralFuturistU – Internet Marketing for Funeral Professionals.  For more information and registration details visit: www.FuneralFacebookFormula.com.