We talk a lot about leads — why you want them, how to get them, and how we can help you find them. But do you really understand what a true “lead” is when it comes to your marketing efforts? 

When the calendar turned over into 2019, did you make any resolutions regarding your organization’s marketing plan? If not, it’s still not too late to make at least this one:

Stop wasting 95% of your marketing budget!!

If you’re investing your money in billboards, newspaper ads, and television/radio commercials, just stop. Now. There are two reasons these traditional methods aren’t working for you anymore:

1. Billboards don’t build relationships
2. You’re ignoring your target audience

Building relationships

Let’s face it: people don’t pick a funeral home based on an advertisement they see in the Sunday paper. They choose you because they understand what your organization is all about. Maybe they’ve worked with you before to plan a family member’s services, or they’ve attended a viewing at your facility. Either way, they’ve had the opportunity to meet your staff, take a look around your funeral home, and see how you do things. If they liked that experience, they’re probably planning to turn to you for their own needs.

So how do you let others — those who’ve never set foot in your facility — know what you’re really like? The answer is by telling your story. Share your “why” — why you’re the team who will truly care for them and their loved ones when the time comes. Win their trust by sharing your expertise and demonstrating your level of professionalism.

You can’t do this in a 30-second radio ad. But you CAN do this on Facebook. Create your own videos of your staff sharing their thoughts, beliefs, and advice. Post photos of your new chapel. Share a blog post about how cremation works. And keep doing it. Very few people are going to make an important decision like who will provide their funeral services based on a one-off encounter.

Social media is 'marketing.' It's not the new marketing, it's the current state of marketing, and funeral homes and deathcare companies can no longer afford to ignore it. There are so many reasons why deathcare companies need to get their heads out of the sand and start engaging on the platform used by over 75% of all Americans over the age of 45.

I am privileged to speak at many state, national, and even international funeral conventions each year. This allows me the opportunity to talk with hundreds of funeral professionals and to answer thousands of social media questions. In some cases, funeral professionals try to explain to me why they don’t need to market on Facebook or how they have mastered Facebook marketing because they have a young staff member. 

All DISRUPT Media clients now get free access to Domani for Grief

Disclaimer: This is 5-minute read. If you would prefer not to read, there is a video that covers this topic embedded at the end of the article.

 

Many of my followers and friends have asked how I got into the death care space. Now is the time to share. This is my story. Definitely, the most open and transparent I have ever been. Would love to read your thoughts below.

 

A Gauntlet type week! FUNERAL hustle explores a thriving business in Charleston, SC filled with very talented and ambitious employees and owner. The rest of the week is filled with on the road meeting and in office meetings all before making the journey out West to Spokane, Washington for the Washington Funeral Directors Association conference!

 

What is an unofficial Facebook page? We answered this question in an earlier blog but to review; an unofficial page is a Facebook business page that is created when someone “checks in” to your business with their smart phone. It’s so common for people to check in that, more often than not, your business has a Facebook page – one that you didn’t create and one about which you may be totally unaware. Think of it as a billboard for your funeral home that you didn't create and you don't know what it is on it and your entire community is viewing it and talking about it.

 

So many funeral homes we come in contact with say they are 'leveraging Facebook' for their funeral home, but it is not working. When we start digging into it, we discover that they are just buying generic content and posting to their Facebook. This is a complete waste of money. In this episode, Ryan, explains why and what you should do about it.