May 2021

Page A10 MAY 2021 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A Funeral Directors Research,Inc. AMRA INSTRUMENT, LLC 623 N. Tower (P.O. Box 359) Centralia, WA 98531 “the shorter the supply line the better off you are” WEB DIRECT GIFT & PRICING TM ® www.amrainstruments.com www.preproomdirect.com Is Facebook More Powerful Than Your Local Newspaper? FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS www.nomispublications.com Monthly Columns online at Dr. Troyer’s free library of Facebook tutorial videos can be found at www.JasonTroyer.com. Dr. Jason Troyer is a grief expert, author, former psychology profes- sor, and therapist. He helps funeral homes and cemeteries connect with their communities through Facebook content and grief support materials. He frequently provides community presentations, profes- sional workshops, and trainings across the country. In addition to providing his Facebook content service and pre- sentations, he also works at Smith Funeral & Cremation Service & Grandview Cemetery in Maryville, TN. Dr. Troyer can be reached at DrJasonTroyer@gmail.com. You can view all of his video tutorials and learn more at www.JasonTroyer.com. By Jason Troyer, PhD Facebook Made Easy mographic”) if they (a) use Facebook, and if so, (b) have they checked it today? These should be people you know but don’t know well enough to already know if they use Facebook. My guess is you will be surprised by how many people actively use Facebook. I can hear some of you yelling at me already. “But Dr. Troyer! You’re writing about this in a newspaper !” Yes, but there is a big difference between a communi- ty newspaper and an industry-specific newspaper, like the Funeral Home & Cemetery News . Industry-specific newspapers continue to thrive because they operate on a very different model than local newspapers. You have probably also heard about other social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Tik Tok. Do you need to have a business presence on those sites? Probably not. In addition to Facebook, the only internet platform used extensively by adults over 65 is YouTube. So, you might consider starting a YouTube channel for your business and placing some of your videos there. But hon- estly, just having an active Facebook page is going to set you heads and shoulders above 90% of your competition. I frequently have funeral professionals tell me that they do not see any value in having a Facebook presence, and yet they continue to pay significant advertising fees to their community newspaper. I believe this is a situation where we like to do what is comfortable and familiar. It is important to remember that you can begin experi- menting with Facebook for free using simple images and video. Any person with a smart phone can download the Facebook app, create an account, and point the phone’s camera at themselves and start talking while sharing a Facebook Live video. I realize that sounds intimidating to many of you. But remember, this is a simple and free way to connect to your community. The alternative is to create a professional-looking newspaper print ad, sched- uling it, paying for it (to be seen by only a small fraction of your community), and not getting any feedback. Most funeral professionals I encounter who do not see any value in Facebook do not use it themselves. So I would like to propose a simple fact-gathering mission: Ask the next 10 people you encounter (aged 40+, your “target de- Do you remember 1990? This was the year of reuni- fication for East and West Germany, the launch of the Hubble Telescope into space, and the release of Nel- son Mandela from prison. No one knew it at the time, but this was also the year when Sunday newspapers hit their all-time highest circulation in the United States: 62.6 million (Pew Research Center). Community newspapers continued to do well through the rest of the 1990s. It wasn’t until the mid- 2000s that the internet started making a significant impact. But from 1990 through 2009, community newspaper circulation had dropped by 26%. By 2018, circulation was less than 50% of what it was in 1990. Even when we look at community newspaper read- ers over 65, only 25% of them say they get their news from print publications (Pew Research Center). It seems unlikely that this trend will reverse given that in the next age group (50- to 64-year-olds), only 11% of Americans get their news from print publications. This raises important questions. Where are local peo- ple getting their information? If they are not looking at newspapers, what are they looking at? The simple answer is that they are looking at social media. Specifically, 69% of Americans use Facebook – including approximately 50% of people over 65 years old – more than another other social media platform. That’s right. About half of adults over 65 years old use Facebook while only about 25% get their news from a printed newspaper. YORKVILLE,IL— The Commander Initiative (TCI) will be bringing the funeral profession together for three days of inspiration, education, and reflection. The 2021 Virtual Symposium & Expo will be held July 15-17. TCI’s first-ever virtual convention is expected to draw 1000’s of attendees and exhibitor representa- tives. “Obviously, it will be great when we can all phys- ically get back together but according to the science it may still be a while before many are ready to come together in the traditional physical setting,” says Ed- die L. Pitt, Commander organizer. As well, he feels that the cost and time as- sociated with live sessions might prove to be inconvenient for many funeral professionals. A virtual platform can provide an opportunity for the many who never had the privilege of leav- ing their funeral business for a week to gain those much-needed CE credits online and preview many new and im- proved products and processes. “We are so glad to have the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and friends during the cost effective, biggest and best virtual gathering in the funeral profes- sion. The TCI Virtual Symposium will prove to be an exceptional experience for all who are able to attend,” added Mr. Pitt. The symposium will feature thought-provoking key- note sessions led by Mr. Pitt, president CEO of Coo- per Professionals, LLC. With a precise focus on the independent funeral professionals of color attendees will experience a wide range of compelling education led by the best experts in their fields. These sessions – and the accompanying live chat with expert speak- ers will offer attendees new perspectives and practical strategies to expand their skills and enhance the level The Commander Initiative to Hold First Virtual Symposium & Expo Eddie L. Pitt tions; and enjoy a Virtual Cigar Lounge, Funeral La- dies Night Out and The Spiritual Experience. Attendees will visit the Virtual Expo Hall where they can meet with valued supplier partners and discover new and improved products and services to help them create meaningful tributes and improve their business operations. Funeral directors continue serving on the front lines of this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During this years’ Last Responder’s Memorial Service, Dr. James Preston of Bethesda Community Bap- tist Church in Phoenix, AZ will de- liver a message on healing and hope for funeral directors who kept and are continuing to keep the doors of their funeral homes open to offer comfort to grieving families during these trying times. We will honor the memory of our past funeral service professionals and other family members who died. The 2021 Commander Initiative Symposium & Expo was made possible, in part, by the following sponsors: C&J Financial, Cooper Professionals, LLC, Halcy- on, Coasson, ESCO, Eternity’s Touch, Kelco, Cher- ished Memories, Beryl Martin, Parting Pro, Securi- ty National Life Insurance, Blue Nebula Consulting, Springfield Coach, DaCast, Apex Casket Company, Thacker Casket Company, Commander Merchant Services and NXT Generation Mortuary Support. The Commander Initiative is a program envisioned by Cooper Professionals CEO Eddie Pitt, based on the idea that the million-of-dollars African American spend in the deathcare industry can be harnessed to bring greater benefit to black funeral homes and the families they serve. In the first year, The Initiative grew into a nation- al network of more than 200 leading independent fu- neral homes/funeral service providers performing a combined total of over 28,000 services per year. This predominately African American network open to all nationalities, has committed to the concept of cooper- ative buying of essential funeral products and services. The Commander Initiative is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals’ comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful busi- nesses, guidance to become pillars in their communi- ties and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. To find out more go to www. cooperprofessionals.com. of service they provide to the bereaved. There will be many op- portunities for attendees to connect outside of the interactive chat feature available during keynote and education sessions. During breaks, attendees can join video chat rooms where they can discuss challenges and ask experts their most pressing ques- Send Us Your News! PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514 Fax 1-800-321-9040 • Email info@nomispublications.com FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS We welcome news of the industry. Send us information on your firm today!