Videos
Short, yet informative, videos to help you protect or grow your market share.
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Starting a business from scratch is hard enough; getting a piece of the market share in a densely populated area full of competition is even harder. Many deathcare firms... -
A recent surge in malicious spam activities is leaving many business owners wondering how to protect themselves. These spammers are claiming that the business is permanently closed when it’s... -
So you've already conquered Google. You've placed high-quality ads, you appear high in your local search ranking and you show up on page one in organic searches. What's the... -
Not sure what type of Facebook ads you should be running? See what your competitors are doing! In this video, find out how to spy on your competitors and... -
Hyphen or underscore—that is the question! When it comes to featuring obituaries on your website, should you divide first and last names with a hyphen or underscore to help... -
Google updates its algorithm every year—sometimes informing you (sometimes not). But how will you know if these updates are going to affect you? Watch this video for advice on... -
Google Ads is a great way to attract potential families, especially when you utilize the keywords your families are searching. For example, if someone is looking for “funeral home... -
What is the best way to allocate your ad budget between Google ads and Facebook ads? Well, that all depends on whether you want to grow at-need calls or... -
Once a month, you should be searching “funeral home near me” on Google and seeing if your business is in the top three results. You should also be looking... -
Did you hear about Google’s upcoming video indexing report? Like images and webpages, this tool will soon allow you to see if your video is being indexed and why,... -
If you have ever gotten bombed with a bunch of bogus 1-star reviews on Google in a short amount of time, you know how frustrating and detrimental that can... -
Have you heard about Google’s new broad core update for May? If you haven’t, don’t worry – Google makes these major updates to wade out spam websites or places... -
When you move into a new location, you typically fill out a Change of Address form with the post office so you can have your mail forwarded to the... -
Ever heard of a nofollow link? It's basically SEO jargon for a link that has virtually no effect on your page ranking. Watch this video to find out who... -
Have you checked your hours of operation on Google lately? You really should. In fact, I recommend you check every 3-4 weeks—even if you've already updated it. Here's why... -
Notice how when you start typing in a Google search, it suggests words to complete your search below? That's Google's autocomplete feature. Now you want to know if your... -
Is your funeral home or cemetery using Google ads? If the answer is "yes," do you know what type of Google ads you're using? You should. Watch this video... -
Having a fine-tuned website is a simple but surefire way to grow your call volume. If you are unsure which pages have high engagement or which ones need some... -
Google will soon require you to create your PPC ad campaigns with responsive search ads. In this video, we will go over two ways to better capture your audience’s... -
Are you still creating Google expanded text ads? In this video, find out why you should stop ASAP and how Google's next change can increase the click rate on... -
Google is a great way to generate at-need calls! But with so many deathcare firms leveraging Google ads, the cost per click has gone up. In my latest video,... -
Are you well branded but still losing your market share? Watch this video to find out why this is happening and what you can do to fix it: -
In our last video, we gave you three tests to find out if your agency is actually working on your Google Ad campaign. But there are a few other... -
How do you know if your agency is actually working on your Google Ad campaign? In this video, Welton Hong explains three ways to find out: -
Are you starting to question if your marketing agency is actually working on your account? In this video, Welton Hong walks you through three ways to find out: -
POV: It's 2022, and you're on the hunt for a marketing strategy to generate at-need calls. The Bullseye Method is the target you're looking for! Welton Hong will walk... -
Are you losing market share in your area? While your call volume might have increased in the wake of COVID-19, it's possible your market share is still on the... -
So you started a direct cremation business. And, yeah, it seemed like a good idea at the time to compete with the swarm of direct cremation businesses popping... -
Google rolled out the mobile update in the summer of last year and just recently updated the page experience algorithm for desktop users. The bottom line is Google is... -
Have you verified your Google Business Profile listing yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Among other things, verification is critical to how well Google displays your deathcare... -
Join Welton today as he talks about the "vicinity update," a big change to Google’s algorithm that has major ramifications for how deathcare businesses show up in search. Watch... -
Online reviews are vital for funeral homes and cemeteries, but review platforms strictly prohibit businesses from "incentivizing" clients in any way for a review. (Yes, that means bribing.) However,... -
Today, I'm enjoying the sights in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower looming outside my window. But at Ring Ring Marketing, we never stop working, so let's talk about reviews!... -
Maybe you lost the login information for your Google business profile, or maybe you never had it to begin with (someone else did). Either way, you can get it... -
If you offer funeral celebrant services, you finally have Google’s attention! Now, you can add funeral celebrant service to your Google listing, expanding your reach to potential clients. Welton... -
The one thing funeral homes and cemeteries never want to see is decreased website traffic to their site. When a firm undergoes a website redesign, they often forget one... -
We all love to save money, right? Unfortunately, when it comes to Google pay-per-click advertising, businesses can end up wasting money paying for clicks they could gain organically with... -
Getting ranked in the Google 3-pack is as good as it gets without having to pay for the visibility. When a user searches for a local business in Google,... -
Welton Hong comes to you today from ICCFA's Dead Talks in Las Vegas. One of the things he loves about attending industry events is catching up with clients and... -
Not only did Google recently update the look and feel of its local search results, but it also updated its algorithm. Known as Vicinity, the update now ranks firms... -
The map on Google local search appeared above the listings before, but now it's just to the side of them. Welton Hong like this change and has his opinion... -
Welton Hong is coming to you today from the Catholic Cemeteries Conference 2021 convention in balmy Miami, and wow, does he ever have a story for you. He got... -
If your funeral home already has a strong presence on Google, what's the next step? In most cases, it's time to brand your firm as the "go-to" funeral home... -
If you're running Facebook ads to drive preneed leads, you might have noticed they're decidedly more expensive right now. That's simply how it goes at the end of the... -
We recently reported that Google My Business officially changed its name to Google Business Profile. Today, we want to make sure you know that Google added two very important... -
We all know how important it is to get ranked in the Google 3-pack. We also know that the three criteria Google evaluates to determine who gets ranked in... -
Welton Hong was an engineer in his former life, which means he inherently loves numbers and collecting data. But in the online world, placing different tracking numbers in your... -
Google has not only changed the process of how to update your listing; they also changed the name: Google My Business is now called Google Business Profile. The changes... -
Welton Hong received an interesting question from a funeral director recently: Can they market their traditional brand and discount brand on Google at the same time? The short answer... -
If you spent a dollar and received $2 back, would it be worth it? Of course it would be. Direct mail, like any other channel, is worth doing as... -
The short answer is no. Google can't incentivize you to place ads by ranking you higher in its organic search rankings. That would be a conflict of interest. However,... -
Yes, on the initial search results page, Bing now pulls its reviews from Facebook. Although that's a sigh of relief for many of you, it doesn't mean you now... -
Welton Hong comes to you from Temecula, California, where he is speaking at CMAC's annual conference. Yesterday, he was chatting with a cemetery owner who asked how he could... -
Surprise! There is no longer a page one, two, or three, etc. on Google mobile search results. Now, you'll find a "see more" at the bottom of the screen.... -
You may have noticed images appearing on some Google ads. Right now, these images are showing on mobile searches and not desktop. We do know that images improve clickthrough... -
While Facebook ads can generate leads who are ready to buy today, the numbers tell us that's usually a small percentage. For the rest, it's important to remember that... -
A client reached out to Welton recentlywhile planning for 2022to ask whether they should continue running TV ads. TV ads, of course, are quite expensive, so is it even... -
Even though it's only October, we've already started the planning process with many of our larger clients for the coming year. Now really is the best time to start... -
As Welton Hong visits funeral service events this fall, he's taking every opportunity to clarify how Google and Facebook align with deathcare marketing. It's super-simple, folks: You use Google... -
When Welton Hong says he'll go anywhere to educate deathcare firms on how to thrive, he means it! In fact, he just flew straight from Texas to the New... -
Welton Hong had a great time at the Catholic Cemetery Conference convention in Miami. This event has generated a lot of conversations about how to best stand out against... -
Do you know the secret of firms that sell the most preneeds? It's actually pretty simple: They concentrate their efforts on the portion of leads that most firms ignore,... -
What if there was a way to send a direct link to families so they could easily post an online review on Google about your firm? Good news! Google... -
Welton Hong is in Phoenix today for ICCFA's Fall Management & Leadership Conference, where his hotel room presented two surprisesa lovely gift and card from ICCFA Executive Director Nadira... -
Should your funeral home advertise on Yelp? The question came up while Welton Hong was speaking at a Kates-Boylston event in Providence, and for over 99 percent of firms,... -
Welton Hong comes to you today from somewhere he's never been before: Providence, Rhode Island, where he's speaking at Kates-Boylston's Technology Think Tank event. And being in a new... -
Every detail matters today when it comes to outpacing your competition. Everyone is stepping up their game, so anything you can do to differentiate yourself among your competitors matters.... -
Moving? It should be simple to update your Google listing with your new location, right? It is if you're moving to a brand-new building that doesn't list a prior... -
It's critically important to list your hours of operation on Google as 24/7. You never want to miss a call because someone believes you're closed after finding your listing... -
I was asked a great question here at the Ohio Funeral Directors Association's annual convention: Is there a "best" time of the day to post on Facebookthat is, a... -
Do you know what to do when you get a negative review? Welton Hong was just discussing the process with an attendee at the Ohio Funeral Directors Association's convention... -
When your funeral home posts on social media, you need to prioritize personal branding. That's the message Welton Hong wants to share today from the Ohio Funeral Directors Association's... -
Welton Hong is still in lovely Washington state, but he wanted to address local mattersspecifically, making sure your funeral home or cemetery ranks well in "near me" searches. If... -
Welton Hong is in Leavenworth, a Bavarian-styled village in Washington state's Cascade Mountains, for the Washington State Funeral Directors Association's annual convention, aka #DeathCon2021what a great name! One attendee... -
While attending CANA's Annual Cremation Innovation Convention, a funeral director came up and asked Welton Hong how he could get a video produced for his website. In case you... -
Welton Hong comes to you today from Seattle, where he's attending CANA's Annual Cremation Innovation Convention. He was speaking with a new client who was wondering why the cost... -
Chances are you've received your share of calls from Yelp soliciting you to advertise on their platform. But should funeral homes run ads on Yelp? Typically, our answer is... -
Your Google listing will typically be the first thing someone sees after they Google your firm. Google is trying to turn their listing into a mini version of your... -
Before you get too complex with your digital marketing techniques, why not focus on three simple strategies you can execute for free? That's the subject on Welton Hong's mind... -
Welton Hong comes to you today from the NFDA Leadership Conference in lovely downtown Charleston, S.C., and he wanted to make sure you know about Google's latest algorithm update,... -
Welton Hong is currently attending ICCFA University, which is being held at Emory University in Atlanta. While all the classes have been wonderful, he had to differ with one... -
It's great many of you are leveraging email to engage with existing or potential clientele. We've always been strong proponents of email marketing; we still are today. In the... -
There's no doubt a fraction of those visiting your website already know you and are just looking for contact information. But what about the rest? These visitors are in... -
You just published your latest blog, obituary, or product page, so how long will it take for it to appear on Google's SERPs? Typically, it will take a week... -
Google recently made two major core updates. Hopefully, your site's search ranking wasn't impacted by either one. However, if they were affected, then we need to take a closer... -
We're going a little deep in the weeds today in Welton Hong's latest video, but if you're currently running Google ads then it's important you understand how this change... -
Have you noticed any changes to your firm's Google search ranking lately? Google has already rolled out a lot of updates in 2021, especially when compared to last year.... -
Google local search is called the 3-pack for a reason: Because there are three ads listed there. So why do you sometimes see an ad at the top of... -
On Welton Hong's final day of his trip to beautiful Hawaii, he wanted to take a few minutes to explain how to supercharge your firm's ranking for local search.... -
Did you know there are no billboards in Hawaii? Welton Hong just learned that while spending some time in the Aloha State. Although billboards aren't an option there, they... -
Coming to you today from beautiful Hawaii, Welton Hong clears up some confusion on how Google searches work. For example, you and a friend could do the exact same... -
It sounds like a good idea in theory: Bid on a competitor's brand name in Google ads so when someone searches for a competitor, your ad shows at the... -
If you're thinking about getting a new website, you need to hear this story. Recently, while reviewing search engine rankings in his area, Welton Hong noticed that a once-highly... -
We're all finally getting back to hosting in-person events, so let's talk about lunch and learns, which can be great generators of preplanning leads. Here's the thing: Getting a... -
In today's video, Welton Hong explains why you should set your hours of operation on Googleand the other major directoriesto 24/7 as well as the consequences for not. -
Retargeting ads is one of the easiest ways to brand your funeral home or business and even generate more preneed interest. Welton Hong explains what they are, how they... -
More of you are trying to get more positive online reviews and monitoring them on a regular basis, which is a good thing. But too often, the focus is... -
Yes, there are shinier marketing strategies out there. But email marketing is still effective. And it's also free! In Welton Hong's latest video, he explains why you should still... -
Once you've conquered Google, then what? Welton Hong recommends you continue to focus on those who are problem aware. Even before you progress to social media, he suggests you... -
You know the saying, "If you want a job done right, do it yourself"? Well, that's literally the ONLY way to get negative reviews removed. If you get a... -
In other words, if you had to choose only one marketing channel, what would it be? My answer: Don't choose only one. The truth is the best-performing firms adopt... -
Welton Hong is currently at the Iowa Funeral Directors Association's annual convention in Des Moines, answering great questions from attendees. One wanted to know how he should allocate his... -
Google's Page Experience algorithm update is now scheduled to start rolling out mid-June, which means you have a little time left to get your website into tip-top shape. Welton... -
Google's new tool is currently in beta and tracks who's called you through your business profile. In Welton Hong's latest video, he'll show you what it does and give... -
Our founder comes from an R&D background, so we're constantly testing which platform (digitally and offline) provides the best source of qualified preneed leads. We've dived deep into Google,... -
Do you know what appears first when people Google your funeral home on a mobile device? It's a group of images and the primary one almost certainly isn't... -
If Google search is placing so much emphasis on paid ads, does your organic ranking even matter? The short answer is yes. In Welton Hong's latest video, he lists... -
We all know that Google search is a pay-to-play model. But do the ads that show up top really work? The answer is maybe, depending on the demographic. But... -
It's a good problem to have. But if you're already well-ranked on Google and want to know what else you can do to increase your market share, then check... -
Although getting ranked in the Google local 3-pack is powerful, there are limitations. In Welton Hong's latest video, he shows where local search can fall short and provides other... -
There was a time when Google displayed seven listings in the local search pack. Then it became three. More and more lately, we're seeing just two results displayed. If... -
We all know how powerful it is when you show up in the Google local 3-pack. But more and more we're seeing an ad (known as a "local pack... -
In Facebook's quest to become more transparent, they've made it easy to see if your competitors are running ads on their channel. Welton Hong shows you how to check... -
The hard truth is if you don't show up in what's known as the Google local "3-pack" when someone searches for a locally based funeral home, your firm will... -
Why should families in your community choose YOUR business over a competitor? The key is to clearly communicate your Unique Selling Proposition (USP), which means how you're DIFFERENT from... -
When it comes to getting ranked in local search, the short answer is they both matter. In today's video, Welton Hong shows you an example of why you want... -
It should come as no surprise that Google is a for-profit business, which is why you see a lot of ad placements these days on Google search pages. In... -
One of the easiest ways to increase your call volume is to show up on Google's first page. We recommend you Google what families in your area would typically... -
These days it's common for consumers to Google you, even if your firm is well-branded and they're just looking up your phone number or address. So what does Google... -
More and more funeral homes are running Google ad campaigns, which we're happy to see. But we're also seeing a lot of mistakes, such as funeral homes bidding more... -
If you've been disappointed in the results of your Google Ad Campaigns, you might want to take a closer look at how you're targeting your ads geographically. In Welton... -
You don't have to be mystified by today's search engines. Welton Hong explains in his latest video why search engines should be viewed as the modern-day Yellow Pages. -
Branding your business or firm is critical to its long-term success. TV, radio, newspapers, billboards, etc. are still effective ways to increase brand awareness, but those channels can also... -
With Facebook lead ads, it's super easy to run ads to generate leads"¦maybe too easy. In Welton Hong's latest video, he'll explain why Facebook's tool might not be your... -
TV ads are still incredibly effective, especially for reaching Baby Boomers. If you're currently running ads on TV, Welton Hong explains in his latest video why you should consider... -
Creating a Facebook page for each of your locations is a lot of work. In Welton Hong's latest video, he'll give you a better alternative by looking at the... -
Obviously, you should have good, flattering photos of your firm on your Google My Business listing. But did you know that anyone can upload photos onto it? It's just... -
Most businesses are not moderating the questions & answers section of their Google My Business listing, which is a missed opportunity. In Welton Hong's latest video, he'll show you... -
Welton Hong has always said that positive reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp are critical to your firm. But if you own a historical cemetery or funeral home, he... -
It's good to see more and more of you are monitoring your online reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Now it's time to take it to the next level... -
As we see an increase in malware and website hackings, it's crucial you do all you can to ensure your website is secure. But Welton Hong explains in his... -
Even though Welton is attending a study group in Key West this week, he woke up thinking about how some funeral directors shy away from asking families for reviews,... -
Most people visit Key West to enjoy the water and relax, but Welton has been hard at work all week. While attending the Death Care Management Council Conference, he... -
Be careful when taking a call by someone from "Google" because Google will never call you. Welton Hong's latest video explains why it's more likely a scam and what... -
Will placing ads on Google help you rank higher organically? The short answer is no not directly anyway. However, in Welton's latest video, he explains why placing paid... -
Happy New Year! Someone recently reached out to Welton to ask how many reviews they need on Google to get that trust signal across. The simple answer is the... -
Search terms like "restaurants near me" and even "funeral home near me" will only grow more popular in 2021. Welton discusses in his latest video what you need to... -
Is it legal to bid on someone else's brand name on Google search? The short answer is yes. But there are other things to consider by taking this approach.... -
Typically, bidding on your brand name on Google is a not an effective use of your ad budget, but there are situations when it's a good idea. In Welton... -
Facebook has made it easy to set up forms to capture leads: easy for you to create and easy for the consumer to fill out. But in Welton's latest... -
Seminars and lunch events used to be an effective way to generate preneed leads, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed all of that. In response, we've seen a huge swing... -
You're playing by the rules, so it isn't fair when your business is hurt by those who don't. That's what happens when a company attempts to trick Google in... -
Previously, Welton Hong explained how to get rid of spam Google listings by your less scrupulous competitors. His latest video reveals how to spot if they're also posting fake... -
Google recently announced a major algorithm update, which it does several times a year, and its December 2020 Core Update is the first since May. Some of you may... -
It's not that difficult for a hacker to hijack your Google My Business listing. Learn what hackers are doing now to gain access and what you can do to... -
If you want your deathcare company to continue to grow, don't sit back and wait for change to happen " make it happen now! In my latest video, I'll... -
Welton Hong recently spoke at Kates-Boylston's event in Nashville on Thursday about his 2021 predictions. Here's a quick preview to learn if he believes the cost of Google ads... -
Don't be fooled by marketing firms that try to scare you with reports that grade your company's web presence and show how your site is failing across multiple areas.... -
We typically don't Google ourselves. Welton Hong's video explains why it's crucial you should Google your business at least once a quarter to see what others see and what... -
Google is now displaying an Obituaries tab on the business's Google listing (to the right of search results) when viewed on mobile, and this functionality likely will soon be... -
Sometimes it's important for a business to know where its website traffic is geographically located. Google Analytics has a great tool to help your deathcare business do just that.... -
Do you know how many people are coming to your site from a desktop, tablet, or mobile phone? Welton Hong's latest video helps deathcare businesses understand why knowing this... -
Want to get more reviews for your funeral home? Provide incentives to your funeral directors and other main staff to respectfully solicit reviews from satisfied families! Welton Hong breaks... -
Are you trying to figure out your website's Google analytics report? In this video, Welton Hong explains a key area that confuses many funeral home businesses " specifically what... -
There's a misbelief that competitors (or other trolls) can burn through your funeral home's Google Ads budget by continuously clicking on your pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Google actually has great... -
Believe it or not, you can nurture leads for funeral prearrangement and move them along the sales journey with an email of only nine words! It's a proven tool... -
SCAM ALERT: If you get something in the mail from "Domain Registry" claiming you need to pay them to update your website's domain registration, don't believe it! With that... -
Do you know how and when to employ certain strategies, such as search engine marketing, remarketing, and social media marketing, to lead families through the sales journey? It's imperative... -
Direct mail really does still work in marketing your funeral home. The U.S. Postal Service makes it easy for you to target households by Zip Code and demographics (age,... -
Many funeral homes are developing offshoot discount brands to capture more of the local market. Here are three techniques they've been using to compete with their traditional competitors. Understanding... -
Many funeral homes are developing offshoot discount brands to capture more of the local market. Following up on my last video (which listed three techniques they're using), here are... -
You want the most benefit from your Google Ads, including having your funeral home displayed in Google Maps. There's a super-simple (and completely free) way to do this, as... -
What do you do if your funeral home gets a negative review from the Better Business Bureau? Unfortunately, it's a more complicated process than contesting a negative review on... -
You're used to seeing plenty of ads on your Facebook feed. But sometimes you'll see a strange ad and wonder, "Why did Facebook choose to show me THIS one?"... -
Some funeral home owners don't prioritize Yelp because few families use that review platform to compare funeral care. But that approach has a huge flaw: Your Yelp review rating... -
Building awareness is important, but are television advertisements the best way to go about it? It's critical to get your funeral home's name in front of folks, and TV... -
Getting families you hope to serve to your website is only half the battle. From there, visitors need to be reminded of the services your funeral home provides.... -
Getting your phone ringing nonstop is as easy as one, two, three! Are you having a hard time increasing your call volume? Welton Hong has all the tips and... -
It's important for every funeral home owner to make sure they own their website. If you don't own your website, you're at risk for losing access to a crucial... -
It may be discouraging to see Google Ads and local search dominating the top few spots on Google while trying to promote your business " but it's still important... -
A well-crafted Google listing is the difference between reaching the families in your community and missing out on untold numbers of calls. Improving your chances of receiving those calls... -
It's no longer just about getting ranked in local Google searches. Reviews DO matter! Positive reviews are KEY to becoming the ELITE provider in your area and increasing call... -
Facebook organic reach is constantly decreasing for business pages. But did you know there are things you may be doing to make your reach worse without even knowing it?... -
Are you still using email marketing to promote your business? You should be! Welton Hong explains why you shouldn't abandon the tried and true tactic of utilizing email marketing... -
Is your Facebook organic reach tanking? You're not alone. No matter how frustrating the algorithm may get, Facebook still remains a VERY useful marketing tool. Welton Hong explains how... -
Now is a great time for funeral homes to double down on selling preneed, because people feel more comfortable discussing the topic due to the pandemic. At the SCCFA... -
Given the economy, is this a good time for funeral homes to pull out of offline marketing such as TV, radio, and billboards? Absolutely not! You must communicate your... -
You might be seeing many more phishing emails latelythese scammers have been especially prolific of late. You need to be training your colleagues in how to identify these emails... -
You obviously don't want to receive negative reviews of your funeral home. However, if you get hit with one that's clearly false or unfair, that actually can work in... -
With more families checking out your funeral home's website during the pandemic, it's imperative that you find a way to convey trust with these consumers. One of the best... -
Google has been trying out "Smart Bidding," a subset of automated bid strategies, in an attempt to make Google Ads setup easier. Unfortunately, it doesn't work well at all... -
There are three critical marketing mistakes funeral homes make ALL the time, but they're also incredibly easy to solve! Just a few tweaks to your approach will make a... -
If your funeral home is dealing with substantially lower average revenue on your calls right now, you're hardly alone. It's a big problem across the board, especially with the... -
Many funeral home owners are wondering how to get better results from their Google Ads. In many cases, they're not using the right match types for their keywords. Watch... -
If anyone has a question about your funeral home, you want to know that right away. You simply need to set up messaging on your Google My Business listing.... -
You want to get the best real estateshowing up right at the topfor your mobile Google Ads. But sometimes, you might be missing out because your bid is just... -
If your funeral home website isn't loading fast enough, you're losing out on a lot of business: It's as simple as that. The key is to regularly test your... -
If you're not already using rich snippets and related markup options on your funeral home website, you're missing out on an incredible opportunity to improve your ranking and display... -
Want to make it easier for families to make appointments with your funeral home? Google My Business now lets you use employ additional links for this purpose. Check out... -
If you're trying to build your personal brand on LinkedIn, you might be confused between the difference between articles and posts on the platform. They're both beneficial, but only... -
Delegation is incredibly important when you're running a funeral home or other deathcare businessbut it's just as important to know which things you need to be doing yourself. In... -
In this video, Welton Hong explains how hiring "A players"highly motivated, very skilled employeesis one of those key functions a CEO should not delegate. -
In the final edition of this three-part series, Welton Hong explains the final two functions a successful CEO never delegates: building the organizational chart and creating the culture. -
It's certainly beneficial to fill top-level staff positions with proactive, growth-focused professionals with "A Player" personality types. These leaders love "report cards," because they work hard to grow and... -
Changing up the fonts on your funeral home website and marketing content can have a huge effect in refreshing your branding. Welton Hong discovered a number of great resources... -
If your funeral home website isn't ranking well on Google results pages, it might be issues with your site's "page experience"which essentially means how users interact with a web... -
Google is adding a new wrinkle to its review platform: positive and negative attributes. It's letting reviewers click simple terms such as "professional" (or, conversely, "not professional") to give... -
If you're certain that a particular reviewer profile on Google is fake, you can flag it for review. Google allows everyone to participate in this process. But be aware... -
If you're running your own Google Ads campaign, you're likely aware of the "Recommendations" area on your account page. It's where Google provides an "optimization score" (how optimized it... -
Adding a business profile video to your funeral home website is one of the best ways to convert visitors into clientele. To have a sharp, professional video made for... -
If you have plenty of photos on your funeral home's Google My Business profileas you shouldyou've likely received emails from Google congratulating you on certain photos getting 50, 100,... -
The virus crisis is keeping everyone from attending large (or even medium-sized) conventions right now, so it's time to get accustomed to virtual conventions. Welton Hong attended one (outside... -
How much bang for the buck do you get fighting for search engine ranking dominance if your funeral home is in a rural area? In most cases, it's not... -
You might be surprised to realize that user experience plays a massive role in how well Google ranks your funeral home website on search engine results pages (SERPs). In... -
Google's been moving toward mobile-first indexing for a while now, but by September, it will be prioritizing mobile for ALL sites. That means your funeral home website must put... -
A recent study showed that whether your funeral home appears Google's 3-Pack of local businesses is more correlated now to organic rankings than ever before. In other words, most... -
Google doesn't want to outright replace your funeral home's website, but it does want to act as a type of homepage for your business, helping you provide all the... -
There's no requirement that your Google Ads appear to all ages or income brackets. You're paying per click, after all, and there's no point to paying for clicks from... -
Local market research is invaluable for a funeral home, and there's plenty of great data right there in your Google My Business Insights. Welton Hong explains how to parse... -
Google understands the challenges to funeral homes and other businesses caused by the coronavirus. This week, it's been applying up to $1,000 (per business) in ad credits. Check to... -
A new report from MOZ provides fresh insight on the most important signals Google uses to determine your firm's ranking in Local Search. Welton Hong goes over the data... -
You obviously want your Google Ads to appear as prominently as possible; determining placement was easier when Google provided data on "average position. Unfortunately, it's taken that information away.... -
Did you realize that people can ask your questions on your funeral home's Google My Business listing? If not, you need to check it out and make sure your... -
Looking to save money on your Google Ads? Here's a trick called "single keyword ad group." It takes a little more time to set up, but it can significantly... -
You want to get the most bang for your buck when advertising your funeral home on Google Ads. How do you keep the cost per click reasonable? Welton Hong... -
It's critical to know where to set the spending limit for your Google Ads campaign. If you set it too high, you might be spending a lot of money... -
Some of the best branding is done through video, but television advertising can be prohibitively expensive. Instead, share your funeral home branding through YouTube Ads: It's a much more... -
You probably don't have time to constantly monitor your Google Ads account to make sure you're getting good ROI and strong results overall. By setting certain rules in your... -
About 30 percent of business reviews, including some genuinely legitimate reviews, get "caught" in Yelp's filter. This obviously can be frustrating, because sometimes some legit positive reviews for your... -
When you're bidding on keywords on the Google Ads platform, it's important to know which other local funeral service providers you're competing against. Welton Hong illustrates how to do... -
At Ring Ring Marketing, Welton Hong doesn't create simple job descriptions (aka results descriptions) for his staff. He creates a comprehensive outline of all duties and expectations, helping every... -
Your funeral home's Google My Business profile is one of the most powerful tools in your funeral service marketing efforts, and Google provides it completely free of use. In... -
Facebook is the very best social media platform for getting the attention of the deathcare demographic, and it's rolling out a brand-new web interface. Welton Hong walks you through... -
Quite a few business owners think most Yelp reviews are negative, but the facts show an entirely different story. Here's the plain truth on how many reviews are positive,... -
When you have one-on-one meetings with your funeral home staff, are those discussions providing desired results? Are you getting a better feel for their needs, and are you effective... -
Nowhere near enough funeral homes take advantage of power of a Frequently Asked Questions section on their website. Used correctly, it can act like a free salesperson! Welton Hong... -
A new feature on Google search engine results pages (SERPs) is the appearance of "Google Guaranteed" ads. These are intended to act as a Google "seal of approval" for... -
While larger businesses tend to have organizational charts, smaller ones rarely feel the need. At RRM, Welton Hong has found that creating an "accountability chart" his variation on... -
"Content is king," which means the more high-quality, relevant content on your funeral home website, the more traffic it will generate. But how do you come up with new... -
In his previous video, Welton Hong showed how you can use Quora for content ideas. Here's another great tool: SEMRush. Use it to understand the "hottest" topics right now... -
Some of the best "real estate" on a Google search engine results page (SERP) is the 3-Pack, which lists local businesses in a certain industry. Google is now including... -
A Google alert intended to help families know whether you're open might have the unintended effect of confusing them. It reads, "Verify info with this place," followed by "Hours... -
The Google 360-Degree Tour View lets families "virtually" tour your funeral home step by step, just as if they were actually in the building. This functionality provides a lot... -
If you have excellent reviews on Yelp, you should be leveraging them on your funeral home website! Here's how to "grab" the badge from Yelp and put it on... -
Many funeral home owners were understandably conservative with marketing spending during the peak of the COVID-19, but now they're looking to ramp up again as more states reopen and... -
It's incredibly important to generate Google reviews for your funeral home, and the easier the process is for your satisfied families, the more likely they are to leave a... -
As funeral homes focus on transitioning into recovery mode, many RRM clients are looking for ways to do very targeted direct mail campaigns. Welton Hong explains how USPS's EDDS... -
Google is providing $340 million of credit for Google Ads to small businesses worldwide. The catch is that you must have been advertising with the service pretty regularly and... -
Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits to small businesses worldwide. It's not a large pool of money considering how many businesses will be trying... -
With more states opening up again (to various degrees), many funeral home owners are wondering how to prioritize their marketing efforts. Welton Hong explains the best plan for transitioning... -
There might be circumstances under which you might want to hide one of your business addresses on Googlefor example, if you don't want members of the public showing up... -
Google paused reviews for funeral homes and other businesses for several weeks due to the coronavirus crisis, but now reviews have started to emerge again. -
Hopefully, you've already updated Google, Facebook, and Yelp to announce that you're open for business, but make sure you do so on Bing too. Here's what to do. -
Some of our deathcare clients have come up with innovative ideas to continue serving families during the COVID-19 crisis. Welton Hong explains. -
Some of our clients have already received Paycheck Protection Program funds, while others are hoping to get them soon (or at least in the next funding phase). Here's how... -
While we're all working on recovering from the massive impacts of the COVID-19 restrictions, it's important to understand current ad spend data and how to leverage your funeral home's... -
Right now, funeral professionals need to use video conferencing more than ever, and Zoom is the easiest and best tool to use. But "Zoombombing" reports might have you concerned.... -
Make sure families know your availability and services during the coronavirus crisis by adding a special message to your Google listing. Here's how to do it. -
Despite the "Zoombombing" scare, the fact remains that Zoom meetings are perfectly secure for virtually all users. To be absolutely safe, make use of these security features. -
Our friends at FuneralOne are providing free face shields to funeral industry workers to provide some additional protection during the coronavirus crisis. See this video for more information. -
The coronavirus crisis isn't keeping families from searching for burial and cremation services online. Don't let state and local restrictions keep you from doing business at this timeyou just... -
During the health crisis, you can continue serving families by livestreaming life celebrations. An additional way to benefit families is to provide the video to them through YouTube. Welton... -
You'll likely find it easier to apply for (and be approved) for federal Paycheck Protection Program benefits by having your IRS W3 form handy. Welton Hong breaks down the... -
During the COVID-19 lockdown, many families are unclear on whether funeral firms remain open. Welton Hong explains how employing a website pop-up immediately makes clear that you're open and... -
Google and Facebook are both offering ad grants to small businesses such as funeral homes to help during the COVID crisis. There are some limitations, so check out this... -
Every funeral home should be applying for the federal Paycheck Protection Program right now. It provides eight weeks of operating expenses during the coronavirus crisis. -
Google is prioritizing health-related functions during the COVID crisis, so Google My Business and reviews won't be updated as quickly as usual. For reviews, this is a good time... -
Don't let families think you're closed during the coronavirus lockdown. One key way to show you're open is to use an update tool on Yelp. -
Trello is one of the core technologies used at Ring Ring Marketing. It makes it easy to manage projects and workflow from anywhere, anytime. Welton Hong explains how it... -
Using Google Analytics is the best way to know how people are finding your funeral home website, where those visitors are coming from, and much more. Here's what to... -
During this health crisis, it's critical to inform your community that you're open for business, and you should do so everywhereincluding social media. You don't want to post that... -
Families are understandably confused about which local businesses are open during the coronavirus crisis. It's easy to make sure Google properly shows your funeral home as open during this... -
The CARES Act provides federal funding for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. If your funeral home needs to access these funds, here are some resources to get... -
The coronavirus crisis has impacted lots of businesses, and you might be wondering whether you should sit tight until it's over. The answer is no! As Welton Hong explains,... -
Virtually every business needs to use video conferencing right now, and funeral homes are no exception. You can use it to meet with families for at-needs and preneeds, meet... -
There's often a difference between the words you think families might be searching for (for burial and cremation services) and the ones they're actually searching for. Using Google Keyword... -
Obviously, lots of people are working from home right now. Whether you're an employer who needs to ensure your employees' productivity or an employee who wants to prove you're... -
Your first phase of advertising for at-needs should always be to target "problem-aware" consumers, but that doesn't fit for preneeds, so you must shift to "intent-based" branding. Here's how... -
Google Analytics provides a lot of great information on how your funeral home website is performing, but you'll only get "clean" (aka useful) data if you exclude particular traffic... -
Online reviews have become essential for funeral homes, but many firms have trouble figuring out a thoughtful, appropriate way to inquire. In this video, Welton Hong provides a helpful... -
To get the most efficient use of your ad spend, you must include negative keywords in Google Ads. You don't want people clicking on your funeral home's ads (and... -
You know you pay every time someone clicks on one of your funeral home's PPC ads, but how much does a click actually cost? Welton Hong explains how to... -
Geofencing tools can be extremely beneficial for funeral homes, but you must be carefulthere are also a lot of myths propagated by shady marketers. Welton Hong clears up the... -
Have you audited your actual cost per sale for at-need and preneed cases? If it's too high, you can take several actions to improve that. -
It's easy to track where some of your preneed leads come from, but when you open up your promotional initiatives a little bit, it can suddenly get quite complicated.... -
Online advertising is relatively easy to track, but your funeral home also should do some offline advertising, as long as you're getting good return on investment on it. But... -
Process and systems: These were the two critical factors Welton Hong learned at Intel, his first employer out of college. In this video, Welton explains why he does the... -
If you're wondering whether to employ Google Ads for your funeral home, consider where you're located. These ads work best in densely populated areas. If you're in a small... -
If you're contracting for Google Ads with a marketing company that wants to bid on your funeral home's brand name, nip that in the bud! As Welton Hong explains,... -
Bounce rate and exit rate are not exactly the same thing, as it's important to know the difference when analyzing visitor statistics for your funeral home website and/or landing... -
Advertising can benefit your funeral home, but frequency is just as important as reach. Welton Hong explains how many various "touches" you need to make before potential clients feel... -
Of course your funeral home needs a website, but have you thought about how it works specifically as a marketing tooland the steps needed to improve its functionality? -
Generating more positive reviews enhances your funeral home's credibility with potential clientele AND improves your SEO. Although review platforms don't let you provide incentives for families to review you,... -
In virtually every local market today, independent funeral homes face the challenge of bargain-basement competitors undercutting their prices. Welton Hong explains what methods work to fight back and win... -
Challenged by low-cost providers in your market? Here's one proven way to fight back: Use your website to highlight ways your funeral home is better than those bargain-basement services. -
Some shady web development businesses charge funeral homes up to $20,000 just to create a simple WordPress website. Then the funeral home owner doesn't even get site ownership or... -
Far too many funeral home owners have no access to their own websites' logins and passwords. Don't let this happen to you! You don't want your site to be... -
Automation is handy for many things, so it might seem prudent to use a third party for automating your local funeral home citations. But as Welton Hong explains, it's... -
Positive reviews can be incredibly powerful for boosting your funeral home's credibility and SEO on SERPs, but don't ignore another option: You can display them prominently on your business... -
All the website traffic in the world won't help if your funeral home site isn't optimized to convert visitors into actual calls! In this comprehensive 50-minute video, Welton Hong... -
Both Google and Facebook advertising can benefit your funeral home, but the two have key differences, specifically in whether the ad viewer is already "problem aware" and whether you're... -
It's this simple: Fewer than 5 percent of your funeral home's Facebook followers will organically see your posts unless you pay to boost them. It's a necessary cost of... -
What do you do to "wow" funeral home clientele? Welton Hong uses a Restoration Hardware showroom in California to inspire you. -
By uploading a custom audience list to Facebook, you can target ideal clientele for preneeds and at-needs in your area. -
Is email marketing dead? Nope, that's a total myth, as Welton Hong explains. But you must be sure to use it only for nurturing people who already opted-in for... -
It's becoming trickier for your funeral home website to be ranked in local search. Here's what you need to do to be among the lucky few. -
Have you noticed that some Google local business ads look larger than others in search results? You can do this too! It's just a matter of turning on certain... -
Deathcare marketing expert Welton Hong predicts that the cost for Google Ads (e.g., PPC ads) will continually increase from year to year. Here's what this means for your firm. -
Google is already penalizing the search ranks of business websites that load slowly, especially on mobile. Now it's looking to implement a "badge of shame" that overtly brands a... -
Google recently introduced its January 2020 Core Update. Previous updates have greatly affected small business websites. Welton Hong explains whether the same is true for funeral homes with this... -
Most funeral homes don't purchase phony five-star reviews to boost their review totals and averages, but a shady handful definitely do. Here's how to determine whether any of your... -
You've probably noticed a few key differences in the appearance of Google search engine results pages (SERPs) in recent weeks. Welton Hong explains what these changes mean for your... -
Unethical marketers can steal potential business from your funeral home by setting up your local competitors with fake Google listings. Welton Hong explains how to spot these shady listings... -
If you're serious about ensuring success for your funeral home throughout 2020, you need a business strategy that includes backup plans and contingencies for anything that could go wrong. -
The favicon is a symbol on Google's search results pages that acts as a visual indicator of the site in the result. It's a powerful branding aspect that's now... -
The marketing strategies you employ for your funeral home depends on whether you're going after a "problem-aware" audience: In other words, is the online searcher trying to solve a... -
As Welton Hong explains, 50% of leads (on average) will never buy, whereas 8% will buy immediately. That leaves 42% as "warm" leads who require a steady stream of... -
Hopefully you already set your funeral home's goals for 2020, but if you're still struggling with what they should be in January, Welton Hong has some excellent tips for... -
Print newspapers and directories have shifted to promoting digital marketing for local businesses now that print has become far popular. But does it make sense to invest your marketing... -
Your funeral home needs to get the call when local families have an immediate need. As Welton Hong explains, the best way to achieve this is through search engine... -
Some of the best ROI your funeral home can get is with YouTube Ads, because you're only charged when someone actually clicks on your ad or watches at least... -
Welton Hong currently recommends investing from 8 to 10 percent of revenue to marketing for most funeral homes, and a little more if you're in aggressive growth mode. -
If you're not doing so already, now is a great time to practice omnichannel marketing for your funeral home. This means that you're marketing in several different channels, helping... -
One of the best ways to strengthen your funeral home's online credibility is to have a robust About Us section with a short video profile on your website. To... -
The fastest and most reliable way to generate at-need calls is search engine marketing. Make sure you're doing everything you can to leverage this tool in 2020. -
There's been a lot of talk lately about how geofencing can benefit funeral homes. In this webinar, Welton Hong separates the fact from the fiction. -
Not all geofencing networks are equal. With some, your funeral home marketing ads could be showing up on all sorts of low-quality platforms. Welton Hong tells you what to... -
Want your funeral home to rank higher in Google's organic (free) search results for all the areas you serve? Of course you do! Achieve this by incorporating city-based content... -
Make sure the operating hours you have listed on Google correctly indicate when you're available, especially during holidays. Otherwise, your Google listing might indicate you're closed. -
Review platforms can penalize your funeral home severely for offering clientele something in returneffectively bribing themin exchange for a positive review. -
Welton Hong explains how he and his Ring Ring Marketing leadership team put together their plan for success in 2020, along with how you can use this framework to... -
Retargeting is a great tool for staying in front of prospective preneed customers even after they've left your site, but you must be careful not to make them feel... -
Perhaps your funeral home needs a new website. If your current site already has built up plenty of SEO juice and traffic, you don't want to lose that! Welton... -
Paid search ads are rapidly taking over the real estate on Google SERPs, pushing organic (free) results further down the page. Here's how your funeral home marketing should deal... -
Did you know you can fluctuate the flow of leads for your funeral home anytime with Google Ads? You can spend more or less whenever you want or even... -
Google My Business now lets potential at-need or preneed clientele go straight from your Google listing to your website's Contact Us page. Welton Hong explains how to leverage this... -
The higher credibility your funeral home has, the more at-need cases and preneed contracts you'll generate. Welton Hong explains how to improve your online credibility on your website. -
Did you know you can target interested people for preneed sales by using the Facebook Custom Audiences tool? Welton Hong shows you how. -
Your funeral home needs Yelp reviews, but Yelp doesn't want you directly asking for them. Welton Hong explains how to navigate this challenge. -
While some people still prefer organic listings to pay-per-click (PPC) ads, most people today are perfectly happy to click on paid ads. -
From the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio, Welton Hong provides his predictions for deathcare marketing in 2020. -
Don't believe the hype! Shady marketing companies claim they can get your funeral home ranked on the first page of Google cheaply and quickly. There's no legitimate way to... -
Website visitors trust your funeral home much more when they see your staff's faces in the About Us section and elsewhere on the site. -
Few things provide a bigger credibility boost than a one-minute profile video on your funeral home business's website, as Welton Hong explains. -
Google acts as the new White Pages, informing prospective clientele of your funeral homeincluding reviews, so make sure you have lots of positive ones. -
A good prearrangement campaign requires nurturing your leads. As Welton Hong explains, remarketing lets your preneed ads stay in front of website visitors long after they've left your site,... -
Welton Hong says you should never restrict yourself to one channel when marketing your funeral home. Use several, including both online and offline channels. -
If you're not sure how to claim the GMB listing for your home improvement businessor if you've lost your login or password infoWelton Hong shows you what to do. -
How do you know where your funeral home website's traffic is coming from? Welton Hong shows you how to use the UTM Parameter for this purpose. -
Your traffic analytics get muddied if you don't exclude the IP addresses of computers used in your funeral home and by your staff. Here's how to remove them from... -
One of the best ways to stand out from local deathcare competitors is to include a clear unique selling proposition (USP) on your site. Here's how to do it. -
Not every business owner loves Yelp, but regardless, your Yelp reviews are displayed prominently when people Google your funeral home. Help yourself by completing your Yelp listing. -
If you're not careful, your business might be using review generation software that falls under the umbrella of "review gating," a practice Google banned over 18 months ago! Welton... -
The more you know about your local competitors' advertising campaigns, the better you can adjust your own practices. Welton Hong shows you how to view all of their Facebook... -
Google's punishment for review gating is extremely harsh, so make sure your funeral home isn't practicing this unethical technique. -
One of the most important aspects of Google Ads is that people can directly call you from the ad but some businesses forget to activate the call extension!... -
Your funeral home's online reputation is incredibly important in today's digital world, yet some owners claim they don't have time to monitor it. Welton Hong explains that it's actually... -
Just because a negative review was left for your funeral home a long time back, that doesn't mean it's too late to help your case. Welton Hong explains. -
More people search on mobile now than they do on desktops. Welton Hong explains how to check whether your funeral home is ranking well enough. -
Want to learn more about how families in need find you in local search, particularly the power of the Google 3-Pack? It's all in your GMB! -
Did you know your Google My Business listing has an area where people can ask you questions about your funeral home? You need to be actively answering those questions. -
You might think reviews of your funeral home do not matter, but they definitely do and it's incredibly easy for families to see them today in search results. -
Any Google Ads campaign for a specific keyword or phrase won't last forever. Welton Hong shows you how to identify when you're no longer getting great ROI for your... -
Analyzing earlier versions of your competitors' websites can be very informative. Welton Hong shows you how to use the Wayback Machine digital archive to do it. -
Good search engine marketing (SEM) targets "problem aware" funeral service consumers the same way the old-school Yellow Pages used to do. -
Google has provided a free and easy way to put your best foot forward when someone searches for your funeral home. Welton Hong shows you how it works. -
Most often, it's best to keep your funeral home's hours listed as 24/7 at all times on Google. But if you do need to show your firm as "closed"... -
Yes, October is the perfect time to plan for how to grow your funeral home revenue in 2020. Welton Hong explains how to start strategizing now for growth in... -
In this digital age, should your funeral home still concern itself with Better Business Bureau accreditation? As Welton Hong explains, it's not quite as simple as yes or no. -
There's no point to spending tons of money on generating traffic if your funeral home website isn't converting well. Welton Hong explains what to do. -
By the time you review a profit and loss statement, it's too late. Welton Hong explains how creating a KPI dashboard helps you sharpen areas of your deathcare business... -
You likely know you need to respond whenever your funeral home gets a negative review. But how about positive reviews? Yes, respond to those too! Welton Hong shows you... -