MORT 3016: Funeral Service Marketing and Merchandising

Marketing / Advertising / Industry Information

Website Design / Development

• Berkely Extension - How to Create a Website From Scratch (Step-By-Step Beginner’s Guide)

• Forbes - Website Development: A Beginner’s Guide

• Section508.gov - Guide to Accessible Web Design & Development

• Usability.gov - Research-Based Web Design & Usability

• Digital.gov - A Guide to Creating Mobile-Friendly Websites: Five tactics for improving the performance of your website

• Federal Trade Commission - Shopping for funeral services online : an FTC staff review of funeral provider websites. (October 2022)

Live Streaming

• Business News Daily - How to Market Your Business With Video Livestreaming

• Flux Panda - Live Streaming Marketing [Basics & Best Practices]

• FTC (Federal Trade Commission) - FTC's Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking

• Liu, F., Wang, Y., Dong, X., & Zhao, H. (2022). Marketing by live streaming: How to interact with consumers to increase their purchase intentions. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 933633

• Everlasting Memories - How to live stream a funeral: the ultimate guide to honoring your loved one from anywhere.

Online Advertising

• WordStream -  Online Advertising: How to Create Effective Online Ad Campaigns
• FTC - Online Advertising and Marketing
• Small Business Administration (SBA) - Marketing and sales
• Southern New Hampshire University - From SEO to Social Media: What Are the 8 Types of Digital Marketing?
• Johnson & Wales University - Digital Marketing 101: Your Complete Guide
• Vista-print - Digital advertising 101: beginner’s guide to advertising online

Social Media

• BrandWatch - 99 Amazing Social Media Statistics and Facts 
• Digital.gov – Social media
• Funeral Directors Life - 3 Keys to Social Media Success for Funeral Homes
• Homesteaders Life Company - Build a Successful Funeral Home Social Media Strategy

Target Marketing

• Hootsuite - What Is a Target Market (And How to Find Yours)
• Qualtrics - Market segmentation: Definition, types, benefits, & best practices
• Product Marketing Alliance - Market segment vs. target market: What's the real difference?
• Principles of Marketing - Chapter 5: Market segmenting, targeting and positioning (Principles of marketing. (2015). University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing.)

Logo design

• How to design a logo [step by step guide]  
  • Note:  very nice step by step.  Does include a download link for templates that requires registration.
• How to design a logo  
  • Very detailed, but easy to understand about the process of designing a logo and what goes into it.
• Review site for free logo makers.  :  best free logo makers 2021
• Review site for free logo makers.     18 best logo design companies to consider in 2024

Funeral Marketing

• LendingUSA - Funeral Home Marketing Strategies & Advertising Ideas
• funeralOneBlog - The Ultimate Guide to Funeral Marketing (50 Ideas To Try Today)
• Homesteaders Life Company - What A Funeral Home Marketing Plan Is and Why It’s Necessary
  • Other funeral home marketing resources from Homesteaders Life

Podcasts

• The Top 11 Funeral Industry Podcasts For Funeral Directors
• BuzzSprout - How to Start a Podcast: Complete Step-by-Step Guide [2024]
• Forbes - How To Start A Podcast And Make Money In 2024

Marketing Statistics

The Ultimate List of marketing statistics for 2024 

Historical funeral pricing : Prices for Funeral Expenses 1990-2023

Industry Reports

Article databases (for marketing/business)

National Resources

US Census 

• US Census Quickfacts
• Minnesota

Bureau of Labor Statistics 

• Employment, consumer price indexes, wages, etc.
• American Time Use Survey  
  Provides information about "the amount of time people spend doing various activities, such as paid work, childcare, volunteering, and socializing."
• Consumer Expenditure Survey 
  Provides data on expenditures, income, and demographic characteristics of consumers in the United States.

Kids Count Data Center 

State Resources

Minnesota State Demographics: Minnesota State Demographic Center 

• Income & poverty
• Other tabs include age, race, economy, health, labor force and more.

Minnesota Government websites (city, county, etc.)

• Links to city, township & county local government websites

Minnesota Tourism

• Explore Minnesota 
• Roadside America.com/Minnesota 
  • For the more odd ball tourism sites

Minnesota Chambers of Commerce (list)

• Hyperlinked list to city/area/county chambers of commerce.

Minnesota Occupations

• Minnesota Employment & Economic Development: Occupations in Demand       
  • Interactive tool
• USWage.com : top 200 popular jobs in Minnesota  
  • Also has grouping by regional section

Websites with lists or information on Minnesota lifestyles

• 22 Things You Need To Know About Minnesota Before You Move There 
• BringMeTheNews.com/Minnesota Lifestyle 
• MPRNews/Minnesota LifeStyle 

Climate of Minnesota

• DNR: Department of Natural Resources
• US Climate data.com

Mortality / Death Rates / Life Tables

Atlas of US Mortality : provides tables of selected causes of death. (data up to 2015)

National Center for Health Statistics (CDC)

• Deaths & Mortality 
• Mortality statistics 
  • Suicide rates, trends by race & ethnicity, leading causes, etc.
• Life tables

Social Security Death Index 

• The SSDI contains more than 80 million records of death benefits beneficiaries. Information in each record includes the following information: first and last name and middle initial of the deceased; dates of birth and death; Social Security number and last residence of the decease.

Burial / Cremation Rates

Cremation Statistics : Cremation Society of North America

• Minnesota cremation rate 

National Funeral Directors Association/ Statistics 

• Includes funeral costs and rates of burial/cremation