Podcasting for Funeral Homes

Funeral Home Radio - Host Your Own Radio Show through Podcasting

As a supplement to the November article in Mortuary Management magazine, this is a list for funeral homes wanting to take advantage of creating their own Internet Radio Show (Podcast).

Podcast Tutorial Websites

• How To Podcast Tutorial - Jason Van Orden
• How to Create Your Own Podcast - Corey Deitz
• Other Podcasting Tutorials - Podcast & New Media Expo website

Podcast Hosting Options

• BlogTalkRadio.com
• Talkshoe.com
• MyPodcast.com

Audio Software

• Audacity - Cross Platform Sound Editor
• iTunes - to convert to MP3
  

Sample 12 Month Schedule

• Rabbi on what non-Jewish people should know about attending a Jewish funeral service
• Hospice Counselor on talking about what families need to know to prepare themselves
• Funeral industry technology expert explaining the about Memorial Video Tributes
• Catholic Priest on acceptable cremation practices
• Bereavement counsellor talking about helping children with grief
• Cremation accessories supplier explaining the various memorialization options available
• Funeral Celebrant on options for non-religious funeral services
• Freemason on what’s involved in a Masonic funeral service
• Casket vendor discussing the differences between solid wood, veneer, and rental caskets
• After Care consultant talking about the various steps needed to be prepared to settle an estate
• Cemeterian on new disposition options for cremated remains
• Vault distributor explaining the differences between grave liners and vaults

This is just a sample of what a monthly radio interview schedule could look like. Also consider interviewing your own staff on various aspects of funeral service offerings and retired staff on the changes in funeral service (as long as it would be in a positive light).

Blogging Impacts Funeral Trade Show

Just back from the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) annual trade show and exposition and if you think blogging and the funeral industry don't mix - think again.

It wasn't the just the interviews that I conducted on behalf of the Funeral Gurus where we get insights from funeral professionals throughout North America. Although over the next month or so you will see 24 new interviews covering topics like funeral technologies, staffing, after care, catering, and higher levels of service.

The underground world of partnering and collaboration amongst the not-so-big-boys of vendors occurred due to the efforts of Final Embrace's Tim Totten. Tim arranged a meeting of the smaller vendors - many of them first-timers to the show - and shared many ways of working together to reduce advertising costs and gave them insight into the decision makers of funeral homes. Tim has many posts about the show, so make sure that you read his blog. For a sample of the some of the new opportunities to advertise with us, click here to send me an email.

But it wasn't the little vendors that benefited from the power of the blog, on day two of the show, one company was handing out printed versions of Funeral Maverick BT Hathaway's Funeral Words Blog recent post. Hathaway - a veteran of funeral conventions - let his thoughts be known through his blog about one of the biggest vendors new approach marketing its product - without showing its product. Hathaway's interuptation of this company's new approach was the infamous Happy Days Reference - Jumping the Shark.

I have scheduled an interview with BT Hathaway to recap the NFDA trade show and the follow up buzz. Monday, October 15, 2007 at 10:30 am Eastern - 7:30 am Pacific. You can listen live at www.blogtalkradio.com/funeralfuturist or go to the Funeral Gurus after 11:00 am. Don't miss it!

Upload Your Funeral Home's "Welcome Message" to YouTube

To gain more exposure for your funeral home or cemetery, take advantage of uploading a welcome video to YouTube. Currently YouTube is the fourth most popular website on the Internet and now Google – the most popular search engine – incorporates YouTube videos in its search results.

This explanation is does not cover the details of the actual upload process as YouTube has great instructions to create an account and upload videos. Here are those links:

• Sign up for a YouTube account
• Upload videos
• Upload videos Help Center
• Video Toolbox

The objective of this tutorial is to explain how to choose the words that you will help you get the best rankings in Google for your welcome message. Below is the window that you have to fill out to describe your video.



Title:
In the Title field, it is more important to have the terms ‘Funeral Home’ ‘Mortuary’ or ‘Cemetery’ before your company name. I would place your ‘City’ and ‘State / Province’ before your firm’s name as well. The reason for this is that the search engines place more importance on words in the beginning of the field and also most people are going to be searching for “Funeral Homes in Springfield, IL” and not particularly your Firm’s Name. Use up to 60 characters including spaces.
Example: Funeral Homes in Springfield, IL, Your Funeral Chapel, 62702

Description:
The description should state who you are, where you are, and what you do. When writing the description try to use words that people would use when searching for a funeral home or cemetery. Put more emphasis on types of services you offer instead of explaining your history – you can include the history part in your video. US firms place your zip code in the description as well as the zips of heavily populated areas and of smaller communities that you want to serve. Also include: “For more information, visit www.yourfuneralchapel.com.” at the end of your description. Although it will not be a ‘live’ link, it will allow viewers to copy it and go to your website.
Example: Welcome to Your Funeral Chapel in Springfield, Illinois, 62702. Our funeral home offers funeral and memorial services with burial or cremation. We serve all areas in Greater Springfield including Chatham, Rochester, Riverton, Sherman, and New Berlin. For more information, visit www.yourfuneralchapel.com 62701, 62703, 62704, 62629, 62563, 62684.

Tags:
Use relevant key words, the same main ones that you have used in your Title and your Description. You have up to 120 characters including spaces to list your tags– use all of them. US firms, include your Zip Code (around surrounding zip codes).
Example: Funeral Home Springfield Illinois IL 62702 Memorial Celebration Mortuary Cremation Planning Cemetery Burial Plot 62701

Make sure to use the many resources that YouTube offers, the Help Center and Video Toolbox are extremely helpful. I look forward to seeing your smiling face on YouTube - send me the link once it is up!

...Hep

PS: Here is my example: Funeral Business Management Consulting