June 26, 2022
Published by 
Nicole Vullo on June 26, 2022
Nicole Vullo on June 26, 2022Planning for the succession of your funeral home or cemetery business is one of the hottest topics within our profession. It is a process that takes time and dedication to complete. We were recently asked about the process and if it is something that requires a business consultant. John T. McQueen, CFSP uses his own experience to provide insight on this important question. Question: Do I need a business consultant to help with my succession plan? John T. McQueen, CFSP: At a point in your career, you will find yourself in a unique position, caught between sense of duty and sense of family. You have spent a lifetime serving others and building or continuing your family’s legacy in funeral service. It has been a tiresome job at times, yet it has also been the most rewarding when the family hugs […]
May 31, 2022
Published by Nicole Vullo on May 31, 2022
Nicole Vullo on May 31, 2022Have you wondered what is the most important elements of your funeral business marketing plan? Google, Social Media, and your website are some of the elements that come to mind. Continue reading below as I provide my insights to this important question below. Question: Part of my 2022 goals for my business is to improve on the marketing activities of our funeral home. What is one thing we should work on first to improve our marketing plans? Nicole Vullo: To me, there is not better time to improve on your marketing efforts than this very moment. In our 2022 Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study, one of the finding we discovered is that consumers are relying heavily on your website to make their decisions as to whether to use your business for their needs. In fact, 70% of consumers want […]
April 28, 2022
Published by Nicole Vullo on April 28, 2022
Nicole Vullo on April 28, 2022To strengthen your business and be prepared for changing times, you must accept and embrace innovation. They say hindsight is 20/20, and while no one could have predicted the long-lasting impact the pandemic would have on our businesses, the truth is that most of these “new” marketing trends across the funeral and cemetery professions are actually not that new. Social media has been around. Google Ads were available as an advertising platform. Branding was always crucial, and having a functioning website was the norm. It’s just that, at the time, they were things we’d get around to implementing “eventually.” They were considered “nice to haves.” Now, when it’s vital to connect with client families in every way possible, these “new” trends have now become “need to haves.” I don’t want to bear bad news or be alarmist, but if you […]
November 22, 2021
Published by Nicole Vullo on November 22, 2021
Nicole Vullo on November 22, 2021Customize Your Brand Recipe’s Ingredients for a Perfect Fit Mise en place is a French culinary phrase that means “everything in its place.” It refers to the setup required before cooking and is often used in professional kitchens to refer to organizing and arranging the ingredients. A mentor of mine once told me that “your brand is equal parts of your reputation and your visibility.” This is something that always has stuck with me throughout my career. Having a strong reputation and high visibility solidifies who you are and what you do. It is only after you have your vision that you can begin to craft the elements of your brand, such as your colors, a well-designed logo, business tagline, and appropriate imagery. While it is acceptable to be aware of your competitors, do not let that influence what you […]
April 21, 2021
Published by Nicole Vullo on April 21, 2021
Nicole Vullo on April 21, 2021Key elements for creating a successful brand for your business, one that remains true to your core values and purpose. For more than two decades, social media has given many people the ability to market themselves to the world. What started as platforms only for celebrities and athletes quickly morphed into a way for businesses, regardless of size or industry, and your average joes to have their voices or their “brand” heard in an expanded capacity. 2020 was the year, more than any other, that thrust social media and digital technology to the forefront and integrated it into almost every aspect of our daily lives. Phrases like “You’re muted” and “I’m going to share my screen; can everyone see it?” have become commonplace. For me, the increase in usage of and reliance on social media is both a blessing and […]