The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
© Gil Scott-Heron

The revolution will be streamed, shared, tweeted, face
booked, linked, posted, blogged, pinned, aggregated, curated, scanner and measured. But, it will not be advertised.

The Revolution is here. Advertising is yesterday. Magnetic content is today, tomorrow and beyond. Magnetic content attracts consumers. It’s giving consumers what they want in an efficient, timely, effective manner. Magnetic content is mobile marketing through Mobile Websites for the always connected consumer.

Mobile marketing is transitioning as marketers shift from a check-in to a check-out mentality. In 2011, location based services offered through mobile marketing led the path to measurable outcomes in the form of social media likes, tweets, shared links and finally transactions.

Grow Your Business by Offering Flexible Funeral Payment Options

Americans, it seems, still feel poor. In a CNN article published online in late January of 2013, Why Americans Still Feel Poor, writer Nin-Hai Tseng prompted this comment from a reader, “I feel poor because the price of everything has skyrocketed and my salary has not.” It seems the buying power of our hard-earned dollars continues to be cut dramatically, as inflation continues unabated.

For so very many families feeling the same pinch, the often unexpected expenses of a funeral can contribute significantly to survivor stress levels. And the funeral firm which “goes the extra mile” in helping their families with well-planned, value-driven funeral payment options is sure to find their call volume growing higher over the course of a year.

Turning to my funeral service peers and colleagues on Facebook, I broached the subject of funeral financing, asking the question, “As more families today (or so it seems to me) struggle to pay final expenses—does your funeral firm offer any special financing options (in-house or otherwise)?”

Does Your Technology Company Reward You for Money Spent?

They should, don’t you think? Here at FrontRunner, we do.
And we’re really pleased to announce the launch of our Loyalty Rewards Program, which is the first-ever in the industry to rewardfuneral professionals—our clients—for technology solutions purchases they already make.

Kevin likes to say “it’s our simple way of saying ‘thanks’ to them. Thanks for their commitment to FrontRunner, to our on-going working relationship; and to continued participation in the on-going refinement of our technology solutions.

Some will choose to reinvest their rewards, or prize point earnings, in funeral home advancements. Think of those little things which make the workplace nicer—a new coffee maker, perhaps. Or, something to enhance the experience of your families and guests—such as a flat screen television for a children’s corner, visitation room, or chapel.

Why the Resistance to New Technology?

I was born in the late spring of 1954, which lands me right smack dab in the middle of the Boomer Generation. Today, I’m edging quietly toward my 59^th birthday, hoping to sneak up on it unnoticed. But, I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to ignore it, since many of the 756 people I call my “friends” on Facebook (lots of whom I’ve never met) will delight in reminding me that as of that morning, I’m just 365 days away from the Big 6-0.

Despite my advancing years (OK, that’s the last time I’ll mention it), I’ve adjusted very well to the age of computers and the Internet. I spend most of each day sitting facing my computer monitor, engaging with funeral service professionals around the globe—all, as they say, “with the click of a mouse”. Yes, I’m comfortable with digital technology.

But, I’m realizing, I’m comfortable with it only to a point. You see, I’m technology–resistant. In fact, I think I’ll give my condition a name: Technology Resistance Syndrome. And I’ve got the evidence that others in my generation suffer the ill effects of TRS too. Could you be one of them?

Who is Telling the Story of Funerals in Your Market?

We have all seen the life insurance TV commercials airing across North America that say, “Funerals are expensive, and the price of an average funeral can cost over ten thousand dollars.” There is also the other version in which a gentleman explains with disbelief and shock in his voice, “A friend of mine died and the funeral cost over ten thousand dollars!”

As a funeral professional, you probably cringe and heave a deep sigh of frustration every time you see these commercials, which are usually aired during the prime time viewing hours. Rest assured that some of your families are listening to these advertisements because if the commercials weren’t effective, the insurance companies wouldn’t be running them in these expensive time slots.