Elevate: Funeral Service Insights

Leverage the Power of Local Services Ads with Ring Ring Marketing

For almost two years, Ring Ring Marketing has been quietly been using Google’s Local Services Ads (LSA) to help funeral homes get more at-need calls, protect their market share, and show up above every competitor on Google.

The company is now making the service available to everyone.

Here is why LSAs are different from anything you’ve tried before:

• Your funeral home appears at the very top of Google.
• Above regular Google Ads.
• Above Google Maps.
• Above organic results.
• ​You get a green badge that says Google Screened, so families see you as verified, licensed, and trustworthy.
• You only pay for real phone calls.
• You do not pay for clicks or impressions.
• Only when someone calls your funeral home directly from the ad.
• Cost per call is still low right now.
• Very few funeral homes are using LSA.
• Once more join in, the price will go up.
• Now is the best moment to get in early.

This service works perfectly alongside your regular Google Ads. In fact, using both gives you a major advantage.

Learn more.

Guidant and CemSites Announce Integration Partnership

Guidant, the patented technology platform enabling cemeteries to sell property and related services online from their own website, recently announced a partnership with CemSites, a Messenger Family Company and the nation’s premier inventory management and mapping technology for cemeteries.

Through the integration, clients of both companies will experience expanded capabilities, allowing cemeteries to fully manage, map, visualize, and sell property completely online through a streamlined user experience. The partnership will include co-marketing to Guidant-powered cemeteries as well as existing CemSites clients through an accelerated implementation of Guidant’s patented SaaS technology platform.

The partnership connects two leaders in digital deathcare innovation: Guidant, which has pioneered online cemetery commerce, and CemSites, whose enterprise cemetery software combines intuitive inventory management with digital mapping is and used across 48 U.S. states and 4 Canadian provinces. Together, the companies will make it easier than ever for cemeteries to manage and sell their inventory online.

“This partnership is a powerful step forward for cemetery operators who are ready to embrace the future of family service,” said George Owens, founder and president of Guidant. “By integrating Guidant’s online commerce capabilities with CemSites’ national visibility, our partner cemeteries will reach more families, convert more leads, and operate more efficiently than ever before. It’s a clear advantage in a marketplace that increasingly rewards transparency, accessibility, and digital readiness.”

For consumers the partnership gives the ability to discover, compare, and purchase cemetery property in a transparent and convenient online experience, allowing millions of families to locate their loved ones’ grave space online, then purchase a space of their choice – all from the comfort of home.

“CemSites is proud to partner with Guidant to bring premium digital sales options to cemeteries and elevate transparency and choice for consumers,” David Berger, president of CemSites. “By spotlighting cemeteries that offer true online purchasing, we’re helping families make more informed and comfortable decisions, while helping forward-thinking cemeteries stand out in a competitive market.”

Guidant’s patented technology integrates interactive mapping, real-time inventory, and ecommerce capabilities to help cemeteries showcase available property, streamline purchasing, and modernize their operations.

CemSites’ premium listings reach consumers at the critical moment they begin searching for cemetery information online, creating a direct pathway from research to purchase.

Guidant currently powers online sales for cemetery partners across North America and continues to expand rapidly. The collaboration will accelerate adoption, visibility, and awareness of digital cemetery commerce.

“This partnership underscores our shared belief that technology can bring both dignity and simplicity to one of life’s most meaningful decisions,” added Owens. “Together, we can help cemetery operators to create a cemetery experience more accessible for every family.”

Tukios Introduces Automated Mileage Charges for Sympathy Plan

Tukios, an industry leader in funeral technology, has launched Automated Mileage Charges for Sympathy Plan, a new feature designed to simplify transfer fee calculations and provide families with greater pricing transparency. The feature automatically calculates mileage charges during checkout, eliminating manual distance calculations and last-minute fee adjustments.

How Automated Mileage Charges Work

Funeral homes set their mileage terms once within their Sympathy Plan settings. The platform then automatically calculates the appropriate charge for every qualifying order.

Setting up the feature takes less than a minute:

• Enable Mileage Charges: Turn the feature on within the funeral home’s settings.
• Set Included Mileage: Choose the number of miles included at no additional charge.
• Set the Additional Rate: Enter the amount charged for each mile beyond the included distance.

To activate the feature, funeral homes must have a complete address saved in their settings and establish a mileage rate greater than $0.

A Clearer Checkout Experience for Families

Automated Mileage Charges were designed to help families understand transfer costs before completing an arrangement.

During checkout, families are asked to enter the location of their loved one. Sympathy Plan then measures the driving distance from the funeral home and applies the funeral home’s established mileage terms.

The charge appears within the running order total and clearly displays the mileage rate and number of billable miles. This provides families with an upfront explanation of the cost without unexpected fees at the end of the arrangement process.

Automatic Documentation

Once an order is placed, the mileage charge automatically appears within the order details, printed summary, and confirmation email. Funeral home staff do not have to manually calculate, enter, or transfer the charge between documents.

Funeral Homes Remain in Control

Automated Mileage Charges are turned off by default. Existing checkout processes will remain unchanged until a funeral home chooses to activate the feature within its settings.

Each funeral home controls the mileage included at no charge and the rate applied to additional miles, allowing the feature to reflect its individual pricing policies.

Availability

Automated Mileage Charges are available now for Sympathy Plan users. Funeral homes can receive assistance with setup by contacting Tukios Support at 801.682.4391 or support@tukios.com. Funeral professionals can also contact their Tukios representative to request a personalized demonstration.

The Growing Push for Greener Funeral Options

Interest in environmentally sustainable funeral options is increasing as people become more aware of the environmental footprint of traditional burial and cremation practices. Concerns include the large quantities of wood, concrete and other materials used in burials, the carbon emissions generated by cremation and the growing shortage of cemetery space in many countries, The Conversation reported.

As a result, funeral providers are exploring alternatives such as woodland burials, biodegradable coffins, water cremation and natural organic reduction, also known as human composting. Water cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis, uses heated water and an alkaline solution to break down the body before the remaining bone material is processed into ashes and returned to the family. The method has been introduced in Scotland and is already permitted in several other countries and jurisdictions. Human composting, which is available in countries including Ireland, Germany and Australia, uses natural microbial activity to transform a body into soil.

Determining which funeral method is the most environmentally friendly is more complex than comparing the disposition process alone. Factors such as transportation, embalming practices, coffin materials and the energy sources used by crematories can significantly affect a funeral’s overall environmental impact. Transportation of both the deceased and mourners often represents one of the largest contributors to emissions.

Researchers also note that many emerging funeral options are marketed to people seeking more natural and sustainable choices, although reliable data comparing their environmental benefits remains limited.

Read the full article.

Families Seek Answers After New Orleans Funeral Home Eviction Disrupts Services

Families served by New Orleans Funeral and Cremation Service are seeking answers after the business was recently evicted, prompting the transfer of human remains to the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office and leaving some customers still waiting for refunds or the return of their loved ones’ remains, WDSU News reported.

The Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors confirmed that the license of the firm’s owner, Gary Lewis, had been revoked.

Lewis told WDSU that he had not been acting as a funeral director and said his staff had begun contacting affected families to arrange refunds and return cremated remains. He acknowledged that only some families had been reached because the eviction occurred over the weekend but denied any intentional misconduct, saying he continues to challenge the board’s actions through the courts.

Following the eviction, the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office assumed custody of 16 bodies and the cremated remains of 12 individuals to ensure they were properly cared for while the matter is investigated.

The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office said deputies carried out the court-ordered eviction without incident. Recognizing the nature of the business, the sheriff’s office coordinated with the coroner in advance so human remains could be safely secured.

Read and watch the coverage.

Terrybear Strengthens its Executive Leadership Team

As Terrybear continues its 40-year legacy, it announced on social media that it is further strengthening its executive leadership team.

“Justin Kurysh was recently appointed Chief Executive Officer, and we’re proud to announce the promotion of Nikki Nordeen to Chief Commercial Officer,” the company announced.

According to the company, Nordeen has been instrumental to Terrybear’s success for more than 20 years. “Her leadership, customer-first mindset, and passion for innovation have helped shape our company into the trusted partner we are today,” the company says. “As CCO, Nikki will lead our commercial strategy, overseeing sales, marketing, and product management while helping drive our continued growth.”

Kurysh brings to Terrybear a strong track record of strategic execution, along with a collaborative, forward-looking approach that will help shape Terrybear’s impact across the memorial industry, the company said.

“Together, Justin, Nikki, Tim Beres, and Kelly Roselyne Hilger’s complementary leadership positions us for our next chapter, building on the culture and values that have guided Terrybear for four decades while reinforcing our commitment to our customers, employees, and industry partners,” the company said.

Learn more about Terrybear.