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Johnson Consulting Group launches new virtual marketing platform

April 7, 2008 By Robin Heppell Leave a Comment

Johnson Consulting Group launches new virtual marketing platform news releases media room check it out

The Johnson Consulting Group – leaders in Funeral and Cemetery Consulting and Management Services – have just launched their new website – www.JohnsonConsulting.com.

Tom and Jake Johnson, together with their associates, have formed an all-star lineup of senior executives from the funeral profession. Most recently they acquired Legacy Management Services from Keystone. To showcase their depth in their team and of their services offerings, Johnson retained the services of Robin Heppell to guide them through the development of their new online presence. With the goal of creating a platform to provide the most relevant and current information to funeral and cemetery professionals, Heppell harnessed the power of the WordPress weblog functionality and applied the best practices of online marketing and public relations.

Bill Bischoff, Communications and Marketing Strategist for Johnson Consulting, stated:

“What set Heppell apart from standard web development companies was the fact that he took the time to thoroughly understand our business and what our vision was for our Company. Heppell then built us more than a common website, he constructed us a virtual marketing platform that will greatly assist us in achieving our Corporate Vision “To be the best…” Thanks, Rob we could not be more pleased.”

Key features of this site above the usual website components:

Audio clips welcoming visitors to specific sections of the site – the goal is to make visitors comfortable with members of the team, hence building relationships Testimonials are displayed throughout the site, some randomly in the right sidebar and others relating to specific service offerings Media Room lists all press releases with the most recent ones first – this page is dynamically created and new releases are uploaded with the same ease as sending an email with an attachment – no more web developer fees to add new information

Johnson Consulting has also developed a complimentary newsletter that will go out to members of the death care community. It will consist of some of the latest developments within the industry, best practices for the management of cemeteries and funeral homes, and profiles highlighting JCG team members and how they can assist clients achieve their goals. To sign up for their newsletter, go to www.johnsonconsulting.com.

robin@funeralfuturist.com.If you would like more information on taking your online presence from just a website to a virtual marketing platform to reach out to your community, contact Robin Heppell at 800-810-3595 or 250-744-3595 or email at

Filed Under: Check it Out!, Media Room, News Releases

Marketing Experts see the need for Funeral Homes to use New Media

April 6, 2008 By Robin Heppell 1 Comment

Marketing Experts see the need for Funeral Homes to use New Media newsletter 2008 04 heps net picks exposure Marketing Over Coffee: I listen to this podcast religiously. Christopher Penn and John Wall will keep you up to date in marketing with “New Media” and the featured post is where they talk briefly about New Media and funeral service. You will also get tips on Search Engine Optimization, Email Marketing, Blogging, and Podcasting - I mean “Online Radio” Click Here

Filed Under: Gain Greater Exposure, Hep's Net Picks, Newsletter 2008 04 Tagged With: christopher penn, john wall, marketing over coffee, new media

Free Demo of PreneedReferrals.com: Weds., April 9

April 4, 2008 By Robin Heppell 1 Comment

Free Demo of PreneedReferrals.com: Weds., April 9 newsletter 2008 04 market share check it out loyalty Preneed Referrals is a funeral-specific website that I have created as a resource for funeral directors and cemeterians to put the power of “Send Out Cards” into your preneed marketing and family follow-up – after care – programs.

“Get Preneed Leads”

Send Out Cards is a service that allows you to send greeting cards via the mail – these are physical greeting cards that are placed in a bright, white envelope, and a postage stamp. Even though you do not touch these cards, they are written in your own hand writing and with your own signature. Sound too good to be true?

See The Replay:

Preneed Leads with Preneed Referrals

What will be covered in the demo:

For Funeral Homes:

Create multi card campaigns to get referrals from preneed clients Create multi card campaigns to follow up with at-need families “Greeting Card After Care” Send bulk (but personalized) invitations for preneed seminars or holiday memorial services

For Cemeteries:

Send follow up card with families after monument has been installed Send seasonal and holiday reminders to subtly promote floral sales Create multi card campaigns to get referrals from preneed clients Send anniversary card

For Vendors and Associations:

Promote upcoming events or new products or services Send thank you cards to clients and support staff Send cards of congratulations for clients and members

Plus there are many other general uses for this system. I look forward to having you attend the online seminar. Leave a comment below or email me if you have any questions.

Proactive Funeral Director, Jan Nichols of Bay Gardens Funeral Homes in Burlington and Hamilton, Ontario says:

Using Send Out Cards for my Funeral Home is part of my Best Practices! I use it to follow up with families, to send thank you cards, and I send a card to every job applicant following the interview.

NOTE: This online seminar is a 2 step process:

Log on via the Internet to watch the demonstration Call the phone number to listen

Preneed Leads with Preneed Referrals

Watch the Demo

Filed Under: Build Loyalty, Check it Out!, Increase Market Share, Newsletter 2008 04 Tagged With: Preneed Leads, Send Out Cards

Green Funerals and Green Burials – Are you Ready?

April 3, 2008 By Robin Heppell 3 Comments

Green Funerals and Green Burials Are you Ready? newsletter 2008 04 green and environmental I had the opportunity to attend the “Going Green Symposium” at the ICCFA Annual Convention in San Diego. It featured Darren Crouch of Passages International Inc. and www.EarthUrn.com; Joe Sehee of the Green Burial Council, Tim Rivera of Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home, and Michael Kelley of KZF Design.

This 2.5 hour session was very enlightening about Green Issues and Funeral Service. What I hope is that funeral directors and cemeterians look at the “Green Movement” as an opportunity to further serve their client families and not as a threat – we didn’t embrace cremation in the beginning, let’s not make the same mistake again.

I have been studying the topic of GREENING FUNERAL SERVICE closely and to start I want to point out that there are varying shades of green. It is not “All Green” or “No Green” – funeral homes and cemeteries can slowly incorporate GREEN into their operations. From the outset, there seems to be three areas of focus.

Green Operations: from an operational and building standpoint, how well are you doing your part for the environment – terms that you will be exposed to “Carbon Footprint” and “LEED” – this is what Michael Kelley spoke on Green Service Options and Green Products: from using non-formaldehyde embalming solutions to using refrigeration or dry ice; allowing families more participation with the body and with the service – some of which you already offer – can be seen as green options; environmentally friendly products that are made from renewable resources and are biodegradable – this is what Darren Crouch talked about Green Burial: this is not an exclusive option and it should be considered an acceptable choice meaning that types of disposition available are cremation, entombment, green burial, and interment – this is what Tim Rivera and Joe Sehee shared

One thing that was evident was that Joe Sehee and the Green Burial Council are not evil – they are reaching out to the funeral industry and want to educate and partner with willing firms that want to embrace green burial as an alternative – not necessarily a replacement to traditional disposition. Sehee and Rivera have worked closely together in New Mexico and serves as an example of proactive funeral director / cemeterian exploring new options for his client families.

I had the chance to interview Joe Sehee for Funeral Gurus:

This page contained an embedded video. Click here to view it.

NOTE: Another thing that was chiming from the Rivera – Sehee joint presentation was that GREEN DOES NOT NECESSARILY EQUAL CHEAP!

This session – The Going Green Symposium – created by the ICCFA was very educational and enlightening (don’t worry, as my personal choice, I still want traditional burial at Royal Oak Burial Park in Victoria). Linda from ICCFA mentioned that they recorded the session and will make it available for purchase – I feel that it will serve as a great introductory course – Going Green 101.

This list is nowhere complete and nor am I an expert in Going Green. I will though continue to disseminate information to the funeral profession so that you can be more informed and be proactive in being able to serve your families who want these options – because if you don’t, your current (or new) competitor will!

Filed Under: Green and Environmental, Newsletter 2008 04 Tagged With: carbon footprint, green burial, green funeral, LEED
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