Click to Download 2012 Calendar

If you think that I have missed any special days, please let me know – leave a comment below.

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QR Codes are the Quickest Path from Print to the Web

As I have stated many times… Technology is a tool – it is not the answer – in funeral service – as well as in most service-based, person-to-person industries. QR Codes are no different. They aren’t going to change (or save) the funeral industry, but they are useful tools that you can easily incorporate into your funeral marketing strategy.

That said, you should know how to best use the tools in your funeral marketing toolbox – or else they are just over-hyped and improperly-used clutter that can distract you from your top goals of serving more families and serving all of those families better!

In this article I will identify why and how you should use these black and white, pixilated boxes to help you take a small step closer to those goals.

QR Codes 101 – QR (Quick Response) Codes

QR Codes are barcodes that can be scanned using most smartphones – a QR Code Scanner App would need to be installed (many are available fore free). Once the code is scanned it directs the phone to a website URL, displays a message or opens up a contact (business) card that can be saved to the phone.

Just think of QR Codes as “mobile shortcuts” where a static medium suddenly becomes an interactive one.

Another great thing about using QR Codes is that there is no additional cost to incorporate them in your current and future marketing. Plus you can track the effectiveness of your QR Codes as they can be easily be measured with Google Analytics (wouldn’t you like to know which 50% of your marketing works?).

Here are the 10 Top Ways Funeral Homes can use QR Codes – I have broken them down into 3 categories.

Memorialization:

1. Online Obituaries

• Have the QR code for the online obit visible on that page.
• Use this wording to educate visitors what the QR Code is for:  “QR Code for this Obituary: Use your Smartphone to scan the QR Code to access and save this page to your phone.”
• Example: http://www.mayfieldkiserfuneralhome.com/obits/dalton-grisham/

2. Memorial Folder

• Use the QR Code for the deceased’s online obit and add the image to the printed memorial folder that will take the person to the online obit where they can read the obit, leave a condolence or even watch the video tribute.
• This can be placed on the back of the folder (or somewhere else) discreetly yet still large enough that the code isn’t blurred.  At 150 DPI printing, a 1-inch by 1-inch QR code should still be legible.

User Convenience:

3. Directions to Funeral Home / Cemetery

• Have the QR Code on the Directions page of your website but it should take the visitor to your Google Places (Maps) listing so that they get the directions right on their phone and they can then use their built-in GPS / Map to find where your firm is located.
• Example: http://www.eganfuneralhome.com/bolton/bolton-directions/

4. Directions to Reception or Cemetery

• This is similar to the one above – linking the QR Code to the Google Places listing – but in this instance the QR Code can be printed on the memorial folders or on a map / directions sheet to be handed out after the service.

5. Request a Review  (Testimonial) from Client Family on Google Places

• This is a two-fold, stealth strategy to target the most-likely people to leave a Review on your Google Places page (or Yelp or Foursquare).
• If you provide Client Families with a post-service survey or meet with them in an After Care arrangement, hand them the survey or a sheet that subtly asks them to provide a review.
• People with smartphones are probably more adapt to leaving reviews online and by using a QR Code, you are making it easier for them to do so.

Advertising:

6. Direct Mail (Especially for Preneed Seminar Registration)

• For anything that you have a registration form for such as a Preneed / Estate Planning Seminar, a Clergy Breakfast or even your Holiday Memorial Service, you can include a QR Code to the right of the form so that it can be scanned and the attendee can immediately register on your website via their phone.
• No handwriting out the form, no stuffing envelopes, and no recording the registration manually on your end once it is received.

7. Business Cards

• The receiver of the business card can quickly scan the card and have all the details added to their phone. I would recommend that for funeral homes and cemeteries, the QR Code be placed on the back of the card as probably only 10% of the people that you give it to would know what to do with it.
• Example: This is my new business card and I have mine on the front as the majority of my target market is tech savvy like yourself…

8. Yellow Pages

• A QR Code in ad can direct a person to a landing page created specifically for who are shopping for funeral homes.
• Have a short video with additional info that educates them on what makes you different than your competitors.
• You can showcase your technology offerings more on this page as you know the visitors are going to more tech savvy than most.

9. Print Ads

• Whether it’s newspaper ads, ads in church bulletins, or ads in a community program, you can use QR Codes to drive people to a specific webpage.
• As stated above, make sure that the landing page is relevant to the audience seeing the ad and that it is mobile friendly.  If you advertised in a church bulletin for a Baptist Church, you would want to make sure that the landing page was speaking directly to people of that denomination.
• Also, you wouldn’t want to send them to a pre-planning page with 50 fields on it that would be way more difficult to fill out on a smart phone than it would be to complete on a regular computer.

10. Email Signature

• Similar to the business card QR Code, you can direct people to a listing of your contact information or fill out a simple newsletter subscription form.
• This is my email signature…

NOTE: QR Codes Are Not For Headstones! Technology moves fast and granite is forever. Who knows what types are codes will be used in 5 or 10 years, but that memorial will last a lifetime.  If over time, the QR code on a headstone is ever damaged or if the QR Code Generator goes out of business, not only is the code then useless, but it will be useless forever (and even a couple of days longer).

QR Code Best Practices

Landing Pages must have a purpose and be Mobile Friendly:

• Don’t send people to just to your Home Page, engage them with a page that relates to origin of where the Code was found.
• Also, make sure that the page can be easily read on a smartphone – you ‘ve got their interest because they’ve scanned the code – don’t tick them off once they arrive to the destination.

Test Your QR Codes:

• Once you have created your QR Code, test it. Test it on the computer screen,. Print it off and test it. Test with an iPhone, Blackberry and Android – even multiple apps on the same phone – ESPECIALLY if you are using the QR Code in Print Media!

Have multiple ways to access the Destination Page

• Include other ways to access the destination page like including a (short) URL beneath the code
• If the code is online, make it “clickable” for those who don’t have a smartphone handy so they can access the page with a click of the mouse

Include Instructions on how to use the QR Code

• Don’t assume that everyone knows how to use QR Codes, let alone what they even are.

Please remember that QR Codes are NOT game-changers, but they can help accent the services and advertising that you are currently doing.

How to Create QR Codes

There are many free services available to generate QR Codes like Kaywa , QuikQR.com and http://in4.ca (which I own), but I am a big believer in not relying too much on other people’s proprietary systems, so that is why I recommend using Google’s manual method of creating QR Codes (the unfortunate reality is that Google will probably last longer in the future than FuneralFuturist – “say it isn’t so”).

Here is how to instantly create a QR Code:

1. Go to this URL: https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=150×150&cht=qr&chl=

• (For short: http://in4.ca/googleqr)

2. Append the URL that you want the QR code for immediately after the “=” and make sure to use the http://

• Example: https://chart.googleapis.com/chart?chs=150×150&cht=qr&chl=http://funeralmarketdomination.com
• There are other items that you can have QR for such as Text, Telephone Numbers and SMS Numbers
• For all of the information on how to use this URL to create QR Codes, read this article: http://code.google.com/apis/chart/infographics/docs/overview.html

3. After inserting the URL, hit ENTER and the QR Code will update on the page.

• Then right-click over the image and “Save As” or “Save Image As” and then download the PNG file to your computer.
• I suggest renaming the image filename immediately or else you will have a bunch of files on your computer named: chart.png.

4. Your image is ready to add to your print ads or on to your funeral home website pages

If you want a more automated method, go watch these videos where I demonstrate a couple of ways that they can be created.

• QR Codes for Directions: http://youtu.be/ZNn7JZMrMKk
• QR Code & URL Shortener:  http://youtu.be/G1H8OsUedjI
• Tracking QR Codes’ Effectiveness: http://youtu.be/fxrcr-QVDEA

There are other uses for QR Codes outside of Funeral Service but I have elected not to sway from the subject of how you can use them for your funeral home or cemetery.  If you have been using QR Codes in other ways (or even similar ways), please share your thoughts, results and feedback below.

…Hepp

If you liked this post, you may like...

• John Callaghan: 2010 Strategic Marketing Plan
• 3 X 5 Free Social Media Resources for Funeral Homes & Cemeteries
• Get Your 2010 Virtual Marketing Plan
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Imagine how well this could work in YOUR funeral home.

I’m betting you could start getting more calls from your competitor with by just applying half of the items that I have shared in this video.

In fact, with the last strategy, you will be able to pick off calls from your competitors.

If you found this video helpful but you would like to learn more of the How-To steps so that you can build your virtual marketing platform and dominate your market, I would like to invite you to a webinar that I am hosting next week.

Also,please leave your comment below on the blog and let me know your thoughts. Thanks for watching.

CLICK HERE TO GET ACCESS TO THE WEBINAR

Other Funeral Related Posts

• Part 2 – Social Networks: Relationship Marketing for Funeral Homes
• Funeral Home Radio
• Funeral Home Marketing: John Callaghan on the Hot Seat
• 10 Golden Rules gets 10 out of 10
• Compete Internally & Never Worry about your Competition

This is the presentation that I made at Social Media Camp Victoria, 2011 called Creating Your Virtual Marketing Platform. This was given to non-funeral people although I made sure that I maintain the reverence and dignity of the funeral profession.

Video Replay: 39:19 minutes

PowerPoint Presentation via SlideShare

I am stoked to be presenting again at the Social Media Camp in Victoria on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 11 am.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/robinheppell
Linkedin: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/heppell (robin@funeralfuturist.com)
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/funeralfuturist
Twitter: http://twitter.com/funeralfuturist
Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/funeralfuturist

Other Funeral Related Posts

• Newsletter – February 2008
• Case Study – Online Video for Funeral & Cemetery Promotion
• Buying Limos and Hearses on eBay
• Funeral Futurist Predictions for 2010
• Association Tip: Live Online CEU Events for Funeral Directors & Embalmers

In this video, I show you how to efficiently gather and share information so that you can be seen as the funeral expert in your market.

Part 1 9:25 mins.

Part 2 10:01 mins.

Sites referenced in this video:

• Funeral Futurist Twitter Account
• Funeral Futurist YouTube Account
• Ping.FM
• Hootsuite

Please leave a comment or suggestion below.

…Hepp

Other Funeral Related Posts

• John Callaghan: 2010 Strategic Marketing Plan
• Hepp’s Internet Marketing Tips for Funeral Service
• 2012 Virtual Marketing Calendar
• From Google to Preneed Leads: Mapping the Information Highway to the Funeral Home
• Funeral Futurist Launches new Website powered by WordPress

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

Hepp’s Done For You Package!

Order your Google Places Optimization Package TODAY for only $497 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.

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• Steal Online Price Shoppers from Your Competitors
• Create Your Own Wire Service
• Obituary for Newspaper Obituaries
• Does Google Know that You Have Online Obits?

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.

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Here is the resource list from the seminar, 6 Free Productivity Tools & Tips for Funeral Associations:

• Communications
  • Skype
  • JingProject
• Internet Browsing / Surfing
  • FireFox
• Free Image and Video Software
  • Format Factory
  • Gimp Image Editor
• Information Gathering & Research
  • Google Alerts
  • iGoogle Dashboard
  • Google Reader
• Collaboration
  • Google Docs
• Online File Resources
  • YouConvertIt
  • YouSendIt
• Scheduling
  • WhenIsGood
  • Google Calendar

If you are interested about receiving free articles for your newsletters, please email articles@funeralfuturist.com

If you are interested to co-hosting Online CEU Event, please email onlineceus@funeralfuturist.com

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• Association Tip: Communicate with Skype
• Association Tip: Using Jing
• Association Tip: Browsing with Firefox
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• Association Tip: Live Online CEU Events for Funeral Directors & Embalmers

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

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• Recap of Funeral Social Media Week
• 3 X 5 Free Social Media Resources for Funeral Homes & Cemeteries
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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?

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• 10 Ways Funeral Homes Can Use QR Codes
• 3 X 5 Free Social Media Resources for Funeral Homes & Cemeteries
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