With such fierce competition in the market of funeral homes, it is important for them to establish a good strength online. For this, you need to manage your funeral homes Google business profile wisely.
There are several aspects that you need to work on managing your funeral home’s Google business profile. In fact, at the start you can have paid Google reviews and make a good impression initially.
After this, there are many aspects that you can take care of to strengthen your online presence. This is why we are to help you understand the various techniques that can make it easy for you to get it done right.
Let’s read on.
How to Effectively Manage Your Funeral Home’s Google Business Profile
Google business profile can help your funeral home enhance your online presence and reach. Below we have specified some of the top techniques that can help you manage it wisely for better outcomes. Take a look.
1. Claim and Verify Your Google Business Profile
The first crucial step is to claim ownership of your funeral home’s Google Business Profile.
So, the first and the most essential aspect you need to work on is searching for your business’s listing and claim it if it already exists, or create a new profile if one is not found.
Google will then ask you to verify that you are the authorized representative, usually by responding to a postcard or phone call verification within 14 days.
Verification is important as it enhances the credibility and visibility of your profile. Families Your listing will have more weightage and people will believe that the information provided is accurate with a “Verified” badge.
2. Optimize Your Business Information
Once claimed and verified, you can optimize key details on your profile to properly introduce your funeral home. So, make sure to double check that your name, address, phone number and website URL are all correctly displayed.
You may also want to include descriptive text highlighting the specific funeral, cremation, or aftercare services offered. While doing that, make sure to mention any unique qualities, like the on-site crematorium, pet funeral offerings, or newly added facilities.
Make sure to provide detailed information as it gives families a good overall picture of your home’s capabilities upfront. While publishing the same, proofread carefully for any errors before saving your updates.
3. Add High-Quality Photos
The next step is to upload high resolution photos as visuals play a big role in first impressions. Google even states businesses with photos receive more traffic than those without.
While doing this, include clear, well-lit exterior shots to help families recognize your location from the street. The included photos should professionally showcase your visitation rooms, chapels, and gathering spaces to give a feel for your home’s environment.
Consider photos of memorial services or grief activities as well to emphasize the caring experience. Also you can consider adding images of your compassionate staff as it can help create a sense of trust.
You can ask a professional photographer to capture quality headshots if possible. Be sure photos accurately portray your current offerings and update regularly with new season shots if needed.
4. Regularly Update Business Hours
Keeping your business hours updated, especially around holidays, is another basic yet important task. Nothing frustrates families more than showing up when you’re closed without notice.
Also make sure to post your standard daily and weekly schedule year-round initially. Then, add exceptions for major holidays well in advance through the “hours” tab on your profile.
You can also let them know about any temporary schedule changes through your website and social media to minimize confusion. Make sure to respond timely to review comments or questions about hours as well.
5. Encourage Families to Leave Reviews
Positive online reviews are extremely valuable for generating trust and rankings. So, you need to work on a key strategy to politely request reviews from families you’ve served following their loved one’s services.
You can also kindly ask directly if the family appears open to providing feedback during a follow-up call.
Another best practice is to offer a small token of appreciation, like a sympathy card, to those who take the time to write a review—just be careful not to imply payment for feedback, which is against Google’s policies.
Reviews are most impactful when posted within a month of services while memories are still fresh. Your request should be a natural, understanding part of the experience.
6. Respond to Reviews Promptly
It is an essential step when it comes to responding to each review, whether positive or negative. So, you need to take the time weekly to carefully read all feedback and craft sincere, individual responses within a few days.
For great reviews, express genuine thanks for sharing their experience and recommending your home. But, make sure to address any criticisms respectfully by acknowledging concerns and offering to make things right if needed.
Showing families you care about continuous improvement builds goodwill. Responses also signal to others reading that you value customer service.
Final Take
So, making a full effort to optimize key components of your funeral home’s Google Business Profile, as specified above, can significantly boost your online presence.
Make sure to implement all the techniques that are covered regularly to help you connect and compassionately serve more families in need. You could also consider partnering with reputable firms where you can purchase reviews within guidelines to enhance your profile even further for greater reach. Good luck!