July 25, 2022
Published by 
Nicole Vullo on July 25, 2022
Nicole Vullo on July 25, 2022It is not surprising that the transaction environment is still as fast paced as it was this time last year. We were recently asked about the current environment and what to consider when deciding to sell your funeral business. Chris Cruger provides his insights on this important topic. Question: I am considering selling my funeral home in 2022. What does the current environment look like and what should I be considering when selling my business? Chris Cruger: First and foremost, if you want to do anything in 2022, you need to get the ball rolling immediately. The end of the year will be here before you know it and there is no time to waste. We discussed this very topic during the 2022 Funeral (un) Conference and it also introduces a number of other considerations. The first is, are you […]
June 27, 2022
Published by Nicole Vullo on June 27, 2022
Nicole Vullo on June 27, 2022Get Cohesive, Get Practical, Get Going! Generally speaking, when someone tells you to “have fun,” one cannot help but wonder if that is a genuine expression or some type of passive-aggressive warning. Think of when a woman says it to her boyfriend or spouse when he wants to have a “guy’s night” or a day of golf with his buddies. Yes, ladies, we have all been there! But I am here to tell you wholeheartedly that when it comes to marketing your funeral home or cemetery business, I want you to have F.U.N.— Functional, Unique, and Neat marketing elements. F for Functional Marketing Every business, regardless of its industry and vertical, needs a cohesive marketing strategy to engage with its audience enough so that they will buy the product or services offered. This is where functional marketing comes into play. […]
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 […]