Homesteaders Blog

5 Things Funeral Professionals Wish the Public Knew About Them

Funeral professionals do much of their work in the background. Consequently, the public often has misconceptions about who they are and what they do. As someone who has worked closely with funeral professionals for almost 10 years, I feel compelled to share the real story of funeral professionals. So, on their behalf, here are five things that funeral professionals wish the public knew about them.

Understanding the Key Parts of a Funeral

When I share information about the components of funeral service, I like to start with a comment from Dr. Jason Troyer, a grief expert, author, former psychology professor and therapist who offers numerous services for the funeral profession. He provides a reminder that can help those of us who work in funeral service and the families we serve.

How to Select the Right Funeral Home CRM

Selecting a technology solution is a major step for any business. Introducing a new system requires careful planning and often a steep learning curve, so you want to be sure the option you choose is an ideal long-term fit for your funeralhome. This is especially true for your funeral home's customer relationship management (CRM) system.

5 Ways to Honor Veterans in Your Community

So many men and women have dedicated their lives to answering our nation’s call, and many ask for nothing in return. These individuals have proven their devotion to our country, and we owe them the same devotion and gratitude in return.

3 Common Missed Opportunities to Increase Preneed Sales

You provide exceptional service and support to each family you serve, but do you have what it takes to build the same meaningful connections with everyone in your community, and do you have the time to do so?

Funeral providers that have an active preneed program aim to generate quality leads by casting a wide net in their community. However, this process takes time, and you often need to nurture these individuals over a longer period until they feel ready to prearrange their own funeral. In fact, 29% of respondents to our 2021 policy owner survey reported that it took two years or more from the time they first learned about prearranging until they finalized and made their own arrangements.

Keep reading to discover three common opportunities funeral providers miss when trying to capture more preneed sales.

Simple Ways to Build Relationships with Funeral Home Client Families

A single interaction may be your only opportunity to earn business or a referral for a client family. As consumers continue to place high value on exceptional customer experiences, each chance to quickly build – and then maintain – relationships is incredibly valuable. Consider that a study by Salesforce indicated that 72% of customers will share their good experiences with others.

Build a Successful Funeral Home Social Media Strategy

At Homesteaders, we survey our policy owners every two years and ask how many funeral homes they considered when they made their prearrangements. In our latest survey, 74% of respondents indicated they considered just one funeral home. This response shows why brand-building funeral marketing efforts are so important for a funeral business. If you aren’t the first call a potential preneed client makes, chances are good you will miss out on that business entirely.

Today's Fundamentals for Marketing Your Funeral Home

The digital age has been in full swing for several years now, but it's different in 2021. We're all getting back down to business after the COVID-19 pandemic turned everything on its ear. Independent funeral homes find themselves reckoning with the most significant disruption event they've faced in years.

Helping Family Members Find Balance in Funeral Service

“I’m worried about my dad. He’s been pushing himself too hard and he won’t take a break,” said Tom.*

Tom was concerned about his father, Frank. I learned that Frank was 74 years old, a second-generation funeral director and owned the family firm. Despite having three younger family members working for the funeral home, Frank continued to work long hours and go for weeks without a day off.

How to Connect with More Preneed Families

There are more ways than ever to connect with preneed families. The challenge is to find the methods that are effective for your funeral home and community – and implement them well.