Want a Discount Cremation Business? Think Online.

It’s pretty clear—if you’re going to be successful in the funeral industry going forward, you need a way to address the direct cremation consumer. Should you advertise lower prices? Get them in the door, then upsell them?

What about giving them what they want?

Some cremation business owners report that as much as 60% of their at-need and preneed arrangements are now being made online. The ability to offer online arrangements is now an integral part of any successful minimum service cremation business. There are many reasons for this:

The customer base for cremation society business is affluent and well educated with ample access to the internet via personal computers.
The arrangements are simple, as there is not a great deal of personalization or merchandise.
The average sale is relatively low, so the charge fits well within the credit card limits of the targeted consumer.
Perhaps most importantly, the average online cremation sale is actually greater than the typical in-person cremation arrangement. Funeral directors often fail to see why a family would prefer minimum cremation, so they invest less effort and time into learning the family’s interests and can neglect to present products and services the consumer may consider of value; thus arbitrarily deciding what the family will learn about.

One of the advantages of online arrangements is the cremation arrangements website doesn’t make any decisions for the family; instead the site presents every available option including outside memorials, memorial jewelry, and a full spectrum of urns, containers, etc.

Harness the direct cremation market with an commerce website...www.mkjmarketing.com — One recent MKJ ecommerce site design.

Online cremation arrangements will grow in number, because traditional funeral homes can employ online cremation arrangement sites as a means of competing with their lower priced competitors. Families seeking a lower priced cremation can be directed to their ecommerce site to make arrangements and take advantage of their lower online price.

Another benefit for funeral homes that makes online cremation arrangement particularly attractive is that it reduces overhead costs, because the family makes all of their decisions online without the assistance of a funeral director. Also, there are no collection costs as the fee is paid via credit card. So, instead of losing a price shopper based on price, a family can be referred to a website to take advantage of their lower online price.

Have you thought about how your funeral home can use ecommerce to your advantage? We’re the experts on this. Connect with us today to learn more.

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MKJ Announces Seminar for November 2023 in Napa Valley

By Kara Apel • July 14, 2023

The MKJ Seminar will be held Nov. 13 and 14 at the Grand Reserve at the Meritage Resort. The luxurious resort is close to several airports, including San Francisco and Oakland, and is located just a few miles from downtown Napa.

MKJ Marketing to Conduct 33rd Annual Ski Seminar

By MKJ Marketing • December 20, 2022

Nashville, TN — MKJ Marketing Seminars address the most pressing issues facing funeral business owners. During this period of economic uncertainty, owners are experiencing their best business years ever regarding at-need volume, but profits may be lagging. As we await the anticipated recession, operators are uncertain how best to manage their costs and pricing. Innovation is not a point-in-time decision but a mindset and business culture. MKJ’s 2023 Ski Seminar will share insights from research and experience working with funeral homes throughout the year and from coast to coast. Learn how digital marketing has evolved and how to make it work best for you Learn how a recession creates opportunities for market share gains Learn how your website can allow you to sell more online by offering products consumers want The potential in email marketing New service offerings to get 5-star reviews How to compete with lower-priced competition during a recession The Ski Seminar dates are Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. The seminar was moved to earlier in the year to assure the best skiing experience as the warmer climate could make later in February slushy. The host hotel is the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek — one of Colorado’s finest ski resorts. The resort is ski-in/ski-out and features amenities unavailable at most resorts. MKJ successfully negotiated a very good room rate (hundreds of dollars below the resort’s published room rate). Note: For the first time in MKJ’s 41-year history, we will not be conducting the annual Florida seminar, as the resort was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian. Don’t miss this up-to-date content that will be only offered at the Ski Seminar. For more information on MKJ Marketing’s upcoming seminar programs, visit www.mkjmarketing.com/seminars or call 888-655-1566 to register.