A Simple Answer to The Most Asked Social Media Question

Funeral Industry News Social Media August 13, 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.


A Simple Answer to The Most Asked Social Media Question

I think I have been complexing the social media game for funeral professionals. When asked the question of “why do I need social media for my funeral home” I believe I have been giving a way to complex multiple point answer.

What I should have been doing is answering the question with a question. I should be replying, “Are you on your customer’s A-list?”. It’s a simple question that defines the reason every business needs social media, but specifically funeral homes who rely so much on referral and repeat business.

There is no reason to rewrite a perfect explanation of why your funeral home needs social media, so I am not going to. Below is a portion of an article written by a Steve Goldner who is the senior director at MediaWhiz. I know what your thinking, “I not reading another article from some marketing guru who knows nothing about the funeral profession or how my business works”, I understand your thinking, but I am pleading with you to read the below 3 paragraphs and focus on how it can be applied to your business and perfectly answers the question, “why do I need social media for my funeral home”.

Excerpt from the article: Are you on your Customer’s A-list?:

 When it comes to business, who are the most important people in your circle? Hopefully you answered your customers, prospects, and employees. Do you spend enough time with them? Would you ever want your customers to say or think you are no longer on their A-List?

In the five years I have been involved in social media, probably the most frequent question/comment I have heard is, “How do you have time” or “I don’t have time for that.” What exactly is being referred to as “that?”

“That” is connecting and engaging with the people that pay your bills. Could there really be anything more important than “that?” Sure social media adds new complexity and time demands on a work world that is already in overload. But we are talking about connecting and being social with the people that are most important to your business. It is time to reassess and reprioritize your business operations and where you are spending time.

It is time to face the music. You no longer “own” your brand position the way you used to. The democratized social public can totally contradict your position on a whim. Can anyone really believe it is not important to be a social company in this day and age?

It’s that simple. You have to be where your client families are.

If you are interested in more information about social media strategy for funeral homes, please visit: http://www.disruptmg.com/funeral