It’s 2017. Are you still marketing your funeral business like it’s 1979 (I know most of you are)? Are you spending the bulk of your advertising dollars on old school methods that are expensive and ineffective? There is a major problem in this profession where funeral directors think they can be guarded from change - like you're untouchable from what the market (consumer) demands or wants. Regardless of what you do or how you market, you think families you have served in the past are always going to come back to you, this is just not true. Yet, we (the profession) continue to do things the same way we always have. The market doesn't owe you anything. Every family is fair game and the funeral home that gets their attention is the funeral home that will win.

Coming at you with fire. We get very practical on this episode.

I talk with numerous funeral directors every week. When we discuss how they are currently marketing their business, they list the usual methods: radio, newspaper, television, Yellow Pages, direct mail, and…word of mouth (WOM). Almost always they will comment that word of mouth marketing is, by far, the most effective.

Whether you love him or…not so much, there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Donald Trump’s defeat of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential campaign was a total surprise. The extreme organization of the Democratic National Committee in Clinton’s campaign, with it’s massive funding and full-bore media blitz, was touted as almost unassailable. Almost everyone got it wrong.

Yes, it’s a strong claim to make, but there are too many examples of funeral related businesses whose Facebook pages ARE working to deny the truth…when you do it right, your page will generate a lot of attention, engagement and leads (yes, real leads from families in your community).

Hires agency to help funeral home “stand out” from the competition

Looking for digital marketing help in a very sensitive profession, Music Funeral Services has selected DISRUPT Media to coordinate its social media strategy and content management. Using their proprietary FUNERAL Social Design Process, DISRUPT Media is helping Music Funeral Services reach its goal of standing out from the competition.
“For months, I heard folks say that if you’re not on Facebook, you’re missing the boat,” commented Casey Music, manager of the Valdosta, GA location. “After setting up our Facebook page, I soon found that it’s tough to run a funeral home and do social media well. That’s when I contacted Ryan and began working with DISRUPT.”

Some things you like, and some things you don’t like. With the things you don’t like, some of them you can ignore. Some you can’t ignore. Some things, no matter whether you ignore them or not, will never go away.

There is no doubt that Facebook is the perfect social media platform for funeral homes to use when trying to reach today’s mobile public. The capability of targeting your audience, the ability to post attractive photos and videos, the opportunity to carry on two-way conversations, and the ubiquitous nature of the platform all work together to put Facebook at the top of the “must have” social media outlets for funeral homes.

After a great talk in beautiful Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ryan takes a few mins to talk about NOW and why you need to change your perspectives and open up to different marketing mediums. Don't get left behind thinking you'll be able to catch another train to the future, tomorrow is here today (Now).