You’re all familiar with the buzzwords social media, but what you’re probably wondering is what social media has to do with the funeral profession? However, with social media being the #1 activity on the Internet today, a better question might be how can you use social media to benefit your funeral business?

Who is using social media?

Now I know some of you are thinking “not in my community” or “not my client families”, but the truth is social media is all about connecting, interacting and sharing, which is what you do in your communities and with your client families on a daily basis. And don’t be fooled into thinking it’s only the younger generations using social media. A Pew Research Center study found that between April 2009 and May 2010, social networking use among Internet users ages 50-64 grew by 88%, and grew by 100% for users ages 65 and older. 

Still think social media is not relevant to the funeral profession?

Why older adults have turned to social media?

These older generations are becoming more and more Internet savvy and interacting through social networking sites. Now they can keep up with their grandkids and be a part of their daily lives through Facebook. They can reconnect with old colleagues and classmates through LinkedIn. They can join an online book club through Goodreads and write reviews or participate in discussion groups. The opportunities are endless.

A recent report published by eMarketer, finds the biggest draw for baby boomers using social media is creating and renewing personal connections online.

If you’re looking for a better way to connect with your client families, social media is the answer.

How can your funeral firm benefit from social media?

Now you have all this information about the who, what and why’s of using social media, but what you really care about is the how.

Funeral websites have come a long way in the last 10 years. Your funeral home website shouldn’t just be the place your client families go to find service information and obituaries, it should be the place they go to connect, interact and share. Imagine if your website featured a socially interactive memorial where friends and family could share their most memorable stories, upload their favorite pictures and send condolences with a virtual gift. With more than 3 billion photos uploaded to Facebook per month, it’s clear that we’re no longer in an age where people are skeptical about sharing their personal information online. Memorial websites give your client families a chance to socially interact with others, while preserving the legacy of their loved one forever. Connecting, interacting, sharing…maybe there is a way for social media to benefit your funeral business after all.

Kelly Murad

funeralOne

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