Facebook COO Talks About The Surprising Interaction Users Have With Posted Obituaries

Funeral Industry News Social Media April 30, 2012
Ryan Thogmartin

Ryan Thogmartin is the Founder and CEO of DISRUPT Media, a Funeral Home Marketing Company specializing in social media. Ryan is also a deathcare entrepreneur who has launched; DeathCareJobs.com, PriceMyFuneral.com and Funeral Nation TV.


Facebook COO Talks About The Surprising Interaction Users Have With Posted Obituaries

There are thousands if not millions of obituaries posted privately and publicly on Facebook everyday. Are people really interacting with these obituaries? I believe so, and I have been a big advocate for funeral homes embracing social media and streaming obituaries through their social media channels. Anytime there is change involved in a funeral home marketing concept there will be pushback, I hear it everyday. But what if the idea that people ARE interacting with obituaries and the topic of “death” on Facebook could be validated by Facebook themselves? Would that make you a believer? Keep reading, I dare you!

In a recent interview with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg she was asked what she is most excited about right not at Facebook. Her reply, “the impact we are having on people’s lives.” For an example to prove her statement Sheryl talks about the surprising interaction with Obituary postings.
Jesse Draper, whose kookified online interview show, “The Valley Girl Show,” recorded this interview with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. This is a portion of the interview when Sheryl talks about the death of her grandmother and the surprising realization she had about the impact Facebook is having on people’s lives.