Marketing Over Coffee: I listen to this podcast religiously. Christopher Penn and John Wall will keep you up to date in marketing with “New Media” and the featured post is where they talk briefly about New Media and funeral service. You will also get tips on Search Engine Optimization, Email Marketing, Blogging, and Podcasting – I mean “Online Radio” Click Here
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Free Demo of PreneedReferrals.com: Weds., April 9
Preneed Referrals is a funeral-specific website that I have created as a resource for funeral directors and cemeterians to put the power of “Send Out Cards” into your preneed marketing and family follow-up – after care – programs.
“Get Preneed Leads”
Send Out Cards is a service that allows you to send greeting cards via the mail – these are physical greeting cards that are placed in a bright, white envelope, and a postage stamp. Even though you do not touch these cards, they are written in your own hand writing and with your own signature. Sound too good to be true?
See The Replay:
Preneed Leads with Preneed Referrals
What will be covered in the demo:
For Funeral Homes:
- Create multi card campaigns to get referrals from preneed clients
- Create multi card campaigns to follow up with at-need families “Greeting Card After Care”
- Send bulk (but personalized) invitations for preneed seminars or holiday memorial services
For Cemeteries:
- Send follow up card with families after monument has been installed
- Send seasonal and holiday reminders to subtly promote floral sales
- Create multi card campaigns to get referrals from preneed clients
- Send anniversary card
For Vendors and Associations:
- Promote upcoming events or new products or services
- Send thank you cards to clients and support staff
- Send cards of congratulations for clients and members
Plus there are many other general uses for this system. I look forward to having you attend the online seminar. Leave a comment below or email me if you have any questions.
Proactive Funeral Director, Jan Nichols of Bay Gardens Funeral Homes in Burlington and Hamilton, Ontario says:
Using Send Out Cards for my Funeral Home is part of my Best Practices! I use it to follow up with families, to send thank you cards, and I send a card to every job applicant following the interview.
NOTE: This online seminar is a 2 step process:
- Log on via the Internet to watch the demonstration
- Call the phone number to listen
Preneed Leads with Preneed Referrals
Watch the Demo
Case Study – Online Video for Funeral & Cemetery Promotion
In preparation for my presentation at the ICCFA Annual Convention in San Diego, I am conducting a live Case Study on how to use online videos to promote your services and your website. I have selected three terms to rank for – two are geo-targeted, one for a funeral home and one for a cemetery – both in my home town. The third is for a more general term for my new service, Preneed Referrals. I have created images for the search terms so that the text doesn’t get picked up by the search terms and skew the results.
Sites uploaded to:
|
|||
Date |
Search Engine Results in: |
Search Engine Results in: |
Search Engine Results in: |
March 16, 2008 |
none | none | 12 |
Videos Uploaded via Traffic Geyser on March 16, 2008 at 12:30 pm |
|||
March 17, 2008 |
1, 3 | 1* | 12 |
March 20, 2008 |
1, 2 |
1* |
6 |
March 23, 2008 |
1, 2, 3 |
1* |
6 |
May 5, 2008 |
1, 2, 3, 5, 7 |
1*, 7 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
* denotes graphical image of the video
Sites uploaded to:
|
|||
Date |
Search Engine Results in: |
Search Engine Results in: |
Search Engine Results in: |
March 16, 2008 |
1, 2 |
2, 4 |
1, 2 |
Videos Uploaded via Traffic Geyser on March 16, 2008 at 12:30 pm |
|||
March 17, 2008 |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
2, 4*, 5 |
1, 2 |
March 20, 2008 |
1, 3, 4, 6 |
2, 4*, 5 |
1, 2 |
March 23, 2008 |
1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10 |
2, 4*, 5 |
1, 2 |
May 5, 2008 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10 |
2*, 3, 4, 7, 9 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 |
* denotes graphical image of the video
Sites uploaded to:
|
|||
Date |
Search Engine Results in: |
Search Engine Results in: |
Search Engine Results in: |
March 16, 2008 |
none |
none |
none |
Videos Uploaded via Traffic Geyser on March 16, 2008 at 12:30 pm |
|||
March 17, 2008 |
2, 6 |
4* |
none |
March 20, 2008 |
3, 4, 6 |
4* |
4 |
March 23, 2008 |
1, 3, 4, 8 |
4* |
4 |
May 5, 2008 |
2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 |
1, 3*, 4, 8, 9, 10 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 |
* denotes graphical image of the video
Notes and commentary
March 16, 2008: Within 6 hours Revver videos were ranking very high in Google and Blip TV was in the middle of the pack for P.L. on the 1st page:
- B.P. in Vic: # 1 Revver
- F.P. in Vic: # 1 Revver
- P .L.: # 3 Revver; # 6 Blip
March 17, 2008: Yahoo videos appeared on Yahoo near the top. AOL Videos (not sure how they got their hands on the videos) but who cares as they started ranking in the middle of the first page. Still no sign of YouTube & Google Video and the search spiders must sleeping at MSN.
March 20, 2008: Revver fell as quickly as it rose. AOL videos are in their place. Interesting that the destination website pages are climbing in MSN but not the videos. I guess they accept the link power from the descriptions in the videos – Always remember to use http:// with your URL.
March 23, 2008: Still no sign of YouTube, but Google Video is starting to appear. MSN Live Search seems to be hard to crack – good thing that over half the people use Google. Speaking of Google, in all cases, videos gradually climbed up the ranks into the Top 10. I will leave the final date open for awhile and then see how long the videos stayed in the top SERPs.
May 5, 2008: YouTube has not only arrived, but it is at or near the top on the first page on Google. Also, all three search engines filled out over the month especially MSN’s Live Search. All three search terms dominate the first page of Google with at least 50% of the results. In particular, McCall’s has 70% of the “Funeral Planning in Victoria BC” results including #1 through #4.
June 30, 2008: A few results have slipped, but YouTube is dominant. One thing that I noticed was other Funeral-Related videos that I have uploaded to my accounts were becoming the “Indented Result” which could be the cause for some of the results being pushed down. Time to upload a second set of related videos – check back soon!
Please ask your questions or leave your comments below about this case study. Is there another topic that you would like me to tackle?
Marketing Guru offers Free Networking Seminar
Michael Port, the author of “Book Yourself Solid” is offering a FREE Networking Seminar!
Called a “marketing guru” by the Wall Street Journal, Michael Port has lectured, trained, inspired, and provided coaching and consulting services to over 20,000 business owners in the last two years alone. As a speaker, he has headlined events with leaders like Tim Sanders, Carly Fiorina, and Tony Robbins.
eSeminar: Want to connect with top authors and with the most successful leaders in your community?
Join Michael Port and Elizabeth Marshall for a webinar in which you will learn:
- The best way to build relationships with business leaders, authors and top experts
- How to spread your message and attract more clients
Michael’s 2nd daily networking strategy is one that you can do in less than 10 minutes a day. Come learn exactly what you need to do in that 10 minutes to transform your network and your business.
Even though this is not a funeral-specific seminar, I am positive that you will gain some great pointers for networking seminar – I will be attending the seminar for sure!
This is what Funeral Marketing Expert, Kim Stacey has to say about Michael Port:
“Michael Port has the expertise every entrepreneur and business owner can use, and powerful communication skills. You’ll enjoy every minute you spend in a teleseminar with him – and I guarantee you’ll come away knowing more than you did before you came on the line.“There’s more than that, however; you’ll have a greater belief in yourself, and the potential you hold within to grow your business. Apply just one or two of Michael’s suggestions, and watch the good things start to happen!”
Sign Up for the Reply! >>
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Buying Limos and Hearses on eBay
Is it time to replace that 80’s Funeral Coach that would give a Hummer a run for its money in a game of chicken? I have been asked by a lot of funeral directors how does eBay work and can you really buy vehicles online?
Well, this process is not for everyone and I would suggest that you first check to see what your current dealer has to offer. I would also recommend that you check to see what is online.
As always “Buyer Beware” so you will need to do a little homework such as check the Seller’s Rating and look into a Vehicle History Report.
At eBay Motors, the have a “How to Buy a Vehicle” section that you should go through or perform a search on Google – “How to Buy a Vehicle on eBay” and you will find many articles and case studies.