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Ignore at your own risk

When was the last time you took a look at your Google reviews? Have you ever taken a look? Have you even claimed your business so that you can respond to reviews as they are made? What about asking happy clients to post a review for your funeral home or cemetery? Based on what I have seen, most funeral homes and cemeteries are not making Google reviews a part of their business plan.

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Waking up to gratitude

I’ve become a fan of sunrises.

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Top challenges and solutions for managing your business on social media

It’s part of our daily lives. We check what our friends and family are up to, keep up to date on news or entertainment, and yes, even check in on our favorite companies. What started as a virtual social gathering space has evolved into an advertising tool for businesses to grow and engage with their customers. But it’s not always the easiest marketing tool to navigate, especially for small businesses, and especially in the funeral industry.

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'Last responders' brace for surge in COVID-19 deaths across US

Funeral directors across the United States, including Shauna Kjos-Miotke of OGR member firm Fiksdal Funeral Home, discuss the spike in coronavirus-related death cases.

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Too much grief

Many funeral directors may be struggling to cope with their own grief overload

For many funeral directors, COVID-19 has been a nonstop wrecking ball, decimating families and communities. And who’s in the midst of this crisis providing care to the hundreds of thousands of dead and their grieving people? The funeral home staff whose vocations have placed them squarely in the wrecking ball’s path.

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See where you are - and where you're going

The value of demographic analysis and revenue forecasting in market positioning and financial management

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Investing in the next generation

The John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home has been in the Ferry family since 1890 and a member of OGR since 1955. The business is currently run by 5th generation funeral directors Daniel, 36, and Patrick Ferry, 40. Their father Thomas L. Ferry, III, 71, recently retired as a precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Funeral directors share weekly updates for navigating COVID-19, Week 7

OGR members continue to meet and share best practices, ask questions and offer support during coronavirus. During OGR’s online round table, members discuss challenges and relevant tips for facing the COVID-19 pandemic. A summary of last week’s discussion is below.

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10 freedoms for using ceremony during the COVID-19 pandemic

by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.

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Funeral directors share weekly updates for navigating COVID-19, Week 6

As the weeks pass by under our “new normal”, OGR members continue to share with one another best practices, questions and support. During OGR’s weekly online round table, members discuss challenges and relevant tips for handling the coronavirus. A summary of last week’s discussion is below.

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Funeral directors share weekly updates for navigating COVID-19, Week 5

As the weeks pass by under our “new normal”, OGR members continue to share with one another best practices, questions and support. During OGR’s weekly online round table, members discuss challenges and relevant tips for handling the coronavirus. A summary of last week’s discussion is below.

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Funeral Directors Share Weekly Updates for Navigating COVID-19, Week 4

As the weeks pass by under our “new normal”, OGR members continue to share with one another best practices, questions and support. During OGR’s weekly online round table, members discuss challenges and relevant tips for handling the coronavirus. A summary of last week’s discussion is below.

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Funeral Directors, We Need You! The Five Pillars of Basic Self-Care During the Coronavirus Pandemic

by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.

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Funeral Directors Share Weekly Tips for Navigating COVID-19, Week 3

We continue to see that funeral directors who are members of the Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) are an especially resourceful group. They look at challenges as opportunities to shift business practices to accommodate changing regulations. They find ways to care for families while maintaining safety protocols. They reach out to one another in support and camaraderie.

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Coronavirus Media Interviews: 8 Talking Points for Funeral Directors…

Coronavirus Media Interviews: 8 Talking Points for Funeral Directors, Crematory Staff, Cemetarians, and Other Death-Care Workers
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.

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Funeral Directors Share Weekly Tips for Navigating COVID-19, Week 2

We continue to see that funeral directors who are members of the Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) are an especially resourceful group. They look at challenges as opportunities to shift business practices to accommodate changing regulations. They find ways to care for families while maintaining safety protocols. They reach out to one another in support and camaraderie.

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5 Things You Must Do NOW for Your Business to Survive COVID-19

You may be worried about how this pandemic will affect the finances of your funeral home and what steps you should be taking to address the business impact of COVID-19. Dan Isard of The Foresight Companies discussed these steps in a conversation with OGR on Tuesday, March 31. He shared what funeral directors need to know now to make the best business decisions during this time of economic uncertainty.

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Funeral Directors Share Weekly Tips for Navigating COVID-19

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, funeral directors are continuing to do what they do best; demonstrate compassion and care to the families they serve and find innovative ways to continue to reach their communities. They put themselves at risk every day to fulfill their calling and often go unrecognized.  

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Staying competitive in a cremation market - Q&A

This month, we’ll be featuring a few of the men and women who will be facilitating education sessions at OGR’s 2020 Annual Conference & Solution Center in Asheville, NC at the Omni Grove Park Inn. OGR will be hosting a 3-hour deep dive session on Monday afternoon for those who’d like to explore staying competitive in a cremation market.

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Virtual Grief Support

“Where there is deep grief, there was great love.”

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