August 2019

Page A27 AUGUST 2019 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A 94MIPL ©MarjoleinBastin Printed inU.S.A. 94MIPC ©MarjoleinBastin Printed inU.S.A. 94MIPC ©MarjoleinBastin Printed inU.S.A. A F T E R T H E Rain • A complete line of coordinated stationery • Original watercolor artwork by Marjolein Bastin • Pewter foil accents on varnished cover • Expertly designed interior featuring two full-color Gallery Pages THAT THE IN OUR HEARTS WI LL OUT LAST THIS PAIN , AND THAT SUNSHINE BRINGS HEAL ING Love 800-827-5151 www.messengerstationery.com Promo Code: 9064 © Marjolein Bastin Large Register Book 8.25” x 10” (Closed) Features new Tribute Box and Correspondence Set packaging Foundation Partners Group Adds Colorado and Washington Continued from Page A24 and will continue the legacy of All-States across all the communities we serve.” “I’m excited that Foundation Partners can take us to a level that we’ve only dreamed of in the past,” statedTommie. “I’m eager to see All-States grow the way my parents wanted it to when they first started the company.” “All-States has a long, rich history in Colorado and represents the kind of in- novative, independent funeral operator that makes a perfect partner for us,” stat- ed ErinWhitaker, senior vice president of business development at Foundation Part- ners Group. “The Kamm family has built a strong reputation in Colorado and we look forward to growing together.” Foundation Partners Group is a leading provider of innovative funeral and ceme- tery experiences and products. As one of the largest privately-owned funeral and cem- etery operators, Foundation Partners owns and operates funeral homes, cremation cen- ters and cemeteries in 18 states and is active- ly seeking to expand its locations through- out the Unites States. For more information, visit www.foundationpartners.com. any company but can be especially disas- trous for funeral homes and other death- care businesses where the differentiator is often your honest, compassionate dealings with families in need or those looking to preplan final arrangements. If you can’t be trusted to deal fairly with consumers looking to leave a review, some- one might be less likely to trust you with prepaid funeral or cremation arrangements or the final memorial for a loved one. But with reviews critical to funeral home online marketing, you may wonder what you can do to protect your online repu- tation. While you can’t gate reviews, you can take action in different ways. Start by providing the kind of service that translates to positive reviews. This may seem obvious, but it’s the first step in creating positive word-of-mouth (digitally and otherwise). Next, create processes that let clientele know that reviews are appreciated and help your business succeed. Depending on the type of services or goods you provide, you may not want to ask for a review at the time of service; it’s not tactful to press grieving families to log into their mobile phone or a kiosk in your funeral home, for example. These are tactics that are better left to res- taurants or retail establishments. But deathcare companies can still ask for reviews in a number of ways: • If clientele seek you out to offer praise or positive feedback, mention that an online review is very helpful for your company and other individuals who may be looking for similar services. Let them know that one of the best places to leave this type of review is on your Google My Business profile. • Place a discreet note on your website letting visitors know how grateful you are to be able to serve at-need families and others and that you are also ap- preciative of any feedback they might provide. You might link to your GMB page so individuals can leave reviews. • Periodically post tactful reminders on your social media pages that reviews are helpful and important to local busi- nesses and that you appreciate feedback from former clientele. Keep this light and tasteful and don’t overdo the re- quests, or it might cause your profiles to seem too self-serving. • Incorporate review asks into follow- up contacts with clientele. You might include a short written call to action (CTA) about reviews on thank-you materials or invoices you mail out or send a follow-up email ensuring the family doesn’t need anything else from you and include a link to leave a review. You also could make a follow-up call to check in on the family (and mention the review process if the vibe during the call is positive about your services). You can’t entirely control the review pro- cess, but you can take action to encourage reviews from individuals who seem likely to leave positive ones. And more (mostly positive) reviews helps boost your perfor- mance in search engines and inspire trust in potential clientele. Welton Hong is the founder of Ring Ring Marketing® and a leading expert in creating case generation from online to the phone line. He is the author of Making Your Phone Ring with Internet Marketing for Funeral Homes. For more information, visit www.FuneralHomeProfits.com. Review Gating: Why You Can’t Do It Continued from Page A22 removals are Claude Rob- inson , Reginald Burgan , Sergio Rivera , Efren Ven- Peace Chapel upholds Standards of Service Continued from Page A23 S E N D U S Y O U R N E W S ! PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514 1-800-321-7479 info@nomispublications.com Lillian Littlejohn zor , and Susan Jackson . Professional and Caring Service with Peace In Mind is more than just a mot- to at Peace Chapel. Fami- lies of all religions or those with no religious affiliation are served equally. Being a veteran himself, Ron and the staff at Peace Chapel proudly serve the veterans in their community. Ron is a member of the National Funeral Director’s and Mortician’s Association and Epsilon Nu Delta.