I know that I have preaching this for some time, but besides the mere act of putting obituaries on your website, doing this will drive very targeted traffic – and they are the exact people who will want to by flowers, memorial jewelry and other remembrance items. Watch the video and you will see what I mean.
[Read more…] about Viral Marketing for Funeral Homes
Video Tutorials
How To Conduct (Remote) Website-Assisted Funeral Arrangements
With the current situation, funeral homes are faced with coming up with alternative ways of communicating with families including remotely over the phone and Internet. This process can be used by funeral directors either from the office or if they are working from home.
Please note that there are many ways to accomplish making arrangements remotely and this is just one way of accomplishing the task. I will be the first to admit that I don’t know everything, but what I have provided here will give you most or all of the information and tools that you will need to get started. The great thing is that since this is a process with supporting materials, you can tweak it and edit it to best suit your operations.
This “Website-Assisted” Funeral Arrangement process, has many benefits for both the funeral home and the client family.
For the funeral home, you will be able to guide them to information about all of your service offerings. For your client families, they will be more at ease as the will be more prepared and have more information before starting the actual arrangement – you may even see an increase in averages.
For details on our Funeral Home Resource websites – click here
SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for Website-Assisted Funeral Arrangements
Phase 1: Getting Set Up
- Create a web page called “Virtual Arrangement Process” or “Stay At Home Arrangement Process“
- Create a web page called “Funeral & Cremation Choices Worksheet“
- Create (edit) introductory email that will be sent to the client family before the arrangement conference
Phase 2: When the First Call Happens
- Answer the First Call and schedule a time for the remote / virtual arrangement. It’s best not to conduct the arrangements immediately have admin staff ask for the email address of the person who will be making the arrangements. Let them know that the funeral director will email them.
- Send the introductory email to the family / next of kin / person making arrangement immediately after receiving the First Call.
- Call the client family, conduct your usual pleasantries, follow the processes laid out in the Virtual Arrangement Process, Choices Worksheet and complete the arrangement.
- Family can upload photos for videos and drop off clothing at the door of the funeral home when able.
Resources for Website-Assisted Funeral Arrangements
Introductory Email
Subject: Information to review prior to our phone call
Dear ###,
Thank you for confirming your appointment with us to discuss the services that you want to have for your ###.
We like to let families know ahead of time the various items that will need to be discussed during the arrangements. We have created a web page specifically for client families like yours so that you have some insights into the process of funeral and / or cremation arrangements – this will serve as an agenda for our telephone call. You can access that web page here: [LINK TO YOUR PAGE]
Included on this page are a list of information and items that you may need to drop off at the funeral home or for us to pick up, discussion on some of the various decisions that you will need to make, and a listing of some of the newer service offerings that we have available that you may not be aware of.
Also at anytime – now or during the arrangements or after – we are always available to answer questions that you may have. My cell phone number is: (###) ###-####.
Sincerely,
Funeral Director
For details on our Funeral Home Resource websites – click here
Website Page: Virtual Arrangement Process
Thank you for the confidence that you have placed in [Company Name].
We want our client families to feel comfortable about making final arrangements in a time of illness or when unable to travel. We have created this website-assisted arrangement process. We can easily walk you the various steps over the phone and you can jump ahead and review or complete some of the steps if you feel comfortable. This page will serve as an agenda for the arrangement meeting.
There are various items that will need to be discussed during the time of the arrangements. We have categorized them into seven groups:
- Information Needed
- Statistical information
- Social Security Number
- Cemetery information
- Family Contact Information
- Click here for details: [VITAL STATS FORM LINK]
- Decisions You Will Have To Make
- Burial or Cremation
- Type of service and location
- Choosing a clergy or celebrant
- Music or other participants
- Location of reception
- Merchandise
- Click here for details: [CHOICES WORKSHEET LINK]
- Selections for the Service:
- Complete Packages: By phone, the Funeral Director can navigate you through the site to see options
- Service Offerings: [LINK]
- Cremation Merchandise: [LINK]
- Burial Merchandise: [LINK]
- Location of Reception: [LINK]
- Pay Online
- Click here to make a secure payment online: [PAYMENT CENTER LINK]
- Sign Forms
- Authorization for Cremation: [LINK]
- Authorization to Transfer: [LINK]
- Things You Need To Bring To Funeral Home
- Clothing (including any special instructions): [LINK]
- Photos for the video collage (can also be uploaded to us if you prefer): [LINK TO SAMPLE OR UPLOAD AREA]
- Veteran Discharge papers if applicable
- Introduction To New Services
- Complimentary Online Obituary – see current obituaries here: [LINK]
- Video DVD Tributes – see sample here at bottom of obituary: [LINK]
- Catering and Beverage Service – menu and photos here: [LINK]
- Flowers, Cremation Jewelry and other Memorialization: [LINK TO ONLINE STORE]
- Memorial Blankets & Keepsakes: [LINK TO ONLINE STORE]
- Fingerprint Jewelry: [LINK TO ONLINE STORE]
- Reception Center, Catering and Beer and Wine options: [LINK]
Note: The content of this page should be edited to fit the offerings of your funeral home. The key thing is to get this page up and running as soon as possible so that you can implement this strategy right away. You can always add to it or edit it in the future
For details on our Funeral Home Resource websites – click here
Website Page: Funeral & Cremation Choices Worksheet
Thank you for your interest in the funeral and cremation services that we offer.
We’ve created this web page specifically for people like you who are wanting to know the various choices that are needed to be made during a funeral or cremation arrangement process.
Use this page as a resource to come back to while you are in the decision-making process – if possible, it would be best to print off the PDF and discuss it with your family.
If it anytime you would like immediate access assistance call us at (###) ###-####.

For details on our Funeral Home Resource websites – click here
Video How Create & Announce Your COVID-19 (Coronavisus) Status
Here is a quick and timely “How To” on creating and promoting a statement about the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and how it is affecting your firm.
Here are the bullet points presented in the video.
Compose Your Statement
- Conduct research and consult with staff
- State current operational status
- Provide directives from governing bodies
- Announce additional measures taken by firm
- Offer additional services
- Provide links to health resources
Amended Service Offerings
- Offer Live Stream or On Demand video of funeral service
- Offer to make arrangements online or over the phone
- Offer to Sign Forms online
- Offer to provide Digital Identification of deceased
Post Statement on Website
- Create a post on Website Blog
- Add a Banner or Call Out
- Add a Slider on Homepage
- Add excerpt to all Obits
Promote Statement on Social Media
- Create a Google My Business post
- Create a Facebook post
- Create a LinkedIn post
- Create a Twitter tweet with a link to the post
Review and Revise Statement
- Stay abreast on news about COVID-19
- Monitor Government and Health directives and recommendations
- Be aware of what other companies are doing in your area and in funeral service
- Revise your Statement accordingly
Resource Links
- NFDA: https://nfda.org/covid-19
- WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
- US (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
- CDC (Funerals): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#funerals
- Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
Example Links
- McCall Garden’s statement: https://www.mccallgardens.com/2020/03/12/mccall-gardens-coronavirus-covid-19-update
- Whitney Murphy’s Hugs From Home: https://www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com/hugs-from-home/
- The Chapel of Peace’s statement: https://www.thechapelofpeace.com/covid-19-statement/
- Egan Funeral Home’s statement: https://www.eganfuneralhome.com/covid-19-update/
- Cremation Care of Florida: https://www.cremationcarefl.com/coronavirus-covid-19-precautionary-measures/
- Connelly-McKinley’s statement: https://www.connelly-mckinley.com/corona-virus-protocol/
2013 Virtual Marketing Calendar
Here is your free 2013 Virtual Marketing Calendar to help you plan out your funeral home or cemetery marketing and advertising topics for the year.
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9-dngjsz3c
Funeral-Social-Media-Marketing-Calendar-2013

How to share timely information on your blog and social media
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sAuURAk0ms
(feel free to share or embed this video if you find it helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sAuURAk0ms)
Thank you to Dr. Alan Wolfelt and the NFDA for making this valuable and timely resource available to the entire funeral community at no charge.
This is a step by step tutorial to show you how to share this valuable information on your website and your social media accounts. Please follow these steps in order for maximum effectiveness.
- Create a new blog post
- Add an introductory statement
- Upload the PDF and also an image of the letter
- Add a quote from the letter
- Give permission for others to share the resource as well
- Offer yourself as an additional resource (without any promotional connotation of any kind)
- See this link as an example: http://www.mccallbros.com/how-to-talk-to-children-about-the-newtown-tragedy/
- Share your new blog post on your Facebook page
- Select the image of the letter to use as a thumbnail
- Use a short comment like: “Please share this resource to anyone who may find it beneficial”
- Set the share setting to “Public”
- Share it on Twitter
- This may have automatically happened depending on how you have your Twitter account set up, but if not then,
- Make your tweet to the point, like: [Article] “How to talk to children about Newtown Tragedy” [SHORT LINK] Please share with anyone who may find it helpful #PrayforNewtown
- Don’t forget to include the link to the blog post – short link if possible
- Use hashtags sparingly – one is ok such as #PrayforNewtown, but don’t be like Kmart and add others
- Send an email to:
- Clergy, Teachers, Schools / PACs / PTAs, Community Groups and Churches
- See sample email below
Sample Blog Post:
TITLE: How to talk to children about the Newtown CT Tragedy
Dear Teachers, Clergy, Community Leaders and Parents,
During this pass week, many of you may have been faced with having to answer questions about the tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut.
Today we received an article from the National Funeral Directors Association that was written by renowned grief expert, Dr. Alan Wolfelt.
We feel that this article is a great resource for anyone dealing with children and teens.
You can download Dr. Wolfelt’s article here.
We thank Dr. Alan Wolfelt (www.CenterForLoss.com) and the NFDA (www.nfda.org) for making this resource available. If you need additional resources, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Funeral Home]
Sample Email:
SUBJECT: [ARTICLE] How to talk to children about the Newtown CT Tragedy
Dear Teachers, Clergy, Community Leaders and Parents,
During this pass week, many of you may have been faced with having to answer questions about the tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut.
Today we received an article from the National Funeral Directors Association that was written by renowned grief expert, Dr. Alan Wolfelt.
We feel that this article is a great resource for anyone dealing with children and teens.
You can download Dr. Wolfelt’s article here:
[LINK TO YOUR WEBSITE]We thank Dr. Alan Wolfelt and the NFDA for making this resource available. If you need additional resources, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Funeral Home]
General comments:
- Always give credit (attribution) where it is due – in this case to Dr. Alan Wolfelt (www.CenterForLoss.com) and the NFDA (www.nfda.org) – include links to their websites as well
- Make sure that there is absolutely no promotional connotations at all
Resources:
UPDATE: Response of thanks received from local school district: