From the July 6, 2009 edition of Death Gets Digital

Death Care Publicist .02 cents: I'm a big advocate of incorporating meaningful web 2.0 technologies into a death care web site. To this end, I feel it is always important to share information about  web-based applications that are industry-specific and that are relevant and progressive. This is an interview with the creator of a web-based service exclusively geared towards cemeteries seeking to improve or add family-centric features to their web sites.

Pre-Interview Overview

So many folks in the funeral service arena don't understand how the Internet can enhance their web site's presence beyond providing the standard, expected stuff such as obituaries or "about us" information. Web 2.0 mindsets say that static "flat" sites — like those often launched by death care service providers and suppliers — are extremely dated and have lost meaningful value.

Consumers and families want to do more than simply read what you think they want to read about you. They want to interact more with your cemetery or funeral home online so giving them the tools, options and features to engage and do more than read on your death care site is an essential aspect of bringing this industry sites forward into the 21st century.

Nick Timpe, Director of Sales for webCemeteries.com is someone who knows about infusing feature-rich capabilities online for cemeteries who want to tap into the Internet's potential for extended outreach.

This interview with Timpe showcases how the usage of web-based solutions such as webCemeteries.com is helping cemetery web sites transition from flat informational sites to interactive and feature-rich web presences more in line with web 2.0 capabilities.

Interview with webCemeteries.com Director of Sales, Nick Timpe

DCP: What exactly is webCemeteries.com?
Timpe: webCemeteries.com is an web-based cemetery program that provides four internet solutions for the cemetery industry:

• On-site document processing to digitize paper records with secure, off-site backup
• A customizable cemetery management and mapping program with free upgrades
• Tools for cemetery web sites that allow for sharing history with searchable records and maps
• Applications for cemetery web sites that facilitate revenue-generating opportunities by selling new services and getting new leads

DCP: How did the company get its start?
Timpe: webCemeteries.com started in the late 1990's with several beta clients who helped design the original program. The program’s evolved a lot since then; much of the program’s growth and evolution over the years is a direct result of our effort to incorporate changes and new features based upon direct feedback we have collected from our clients.

DCP: What features can be added to a cemetery web site using your solution?
Timpe: Specific interactive features we can incorporate into a cemetery web site include:

• Tools to gather new sales leads
• Public genealogy and memorial searches
• Searchable satellite maps with pop-up photos of memorials and landmarks
• E-commerce infrastructure for on-line flower sales

DCP: Can you describe the kind of cemeteries that are coming forward, being innovative and implementing these kinds of web 2.0 solutions online?
Timpe: Some of our cemetery clients range in size from several hundred graves to hundreds of thousands. The most important factor these cemeteries share in common is their understanding that the Internet has become essential to the cemetery industry. We partner with our clients to bring that full potential without the worry of technical details – or high prices.

DCP: How do some of the cemetery clients react to the implementation of such “technical” solutions? Is there a concern about learning curves?
Timpe: Well, most folks in general are not really that computer savvy but that’s OK. webCemeteries.com is not complicated and we train our clients to use the internet to help them achieve their potential.

DCP: So how can cemeteries benefit from a web-based service like webCemeteries.com?
Timpe: Cemetery clients can usually answer this question better than I could. Here are some of their stories, in their own words:

Thomas Roberts, President
Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, PA

"This new product has me, our customers and Board really excited. We can now demonstrate to families exactly where their loved ones are in a pleasing graphic format. The ease of getting started in this program has surprised me. It is reliable and affordable. I would encourage any cemetery to give it a good hard look."

Gary Buss, President
Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, PA

“Imagine customers finding you instead of you trying to find them! That’s what webCemeteries.com does. Leads from our website generated over $40,000 in sales in the first 6 months. Two years later, we still use webCemeteries.com and continue to get excellent sales leads every week.”

David Gilliam, President
Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA

"I have been waiting for 10 years or more for the right computer program to come along for our cemetery. When I saw webCemeteries.com make their presentation, I knew this was the perfect program to bring our records into the digital age in a fast and affordable way that is user friendly for both our staff and our families."

DCP: What 3 tips or ideas would you share with cemetery owners seeking to expand their web site functionality online?
Timpe: What I always like for cemetery owners to consider as they proceed with our or any web-based solutions include the following:

• Are visitors drawn to your web site?
  Cemetery owners need a site that attracts visitors and puts them in contact with you. We have found that when you can engage with your visitors by allowing them to search your genealogy information, memorial pages and cemetery maps, you will keep them coming back and keep your business at the front of their minds.
• Leverage your history!
  Showcase some of the interesting people buried in your cemetery. This provides fascinating content for your visitors.
• Maximize your relationship with local florists
  Local florists are already delivering flowers to your cemetery. Why aren't you collecting commissions off of those sales? Allow florists to sell through your web site and make ordering flowers easy for your families.

Death Care Publicist concluding .02 cents: While this interview focuses on the capabilities and benefits of using webCemeteries.com, I'd like for folks to step back a bit to appreciate the bigger picture: cemeteries like Alleghany, Hollywood and Arlington are stepping forward and embracing web-based technologies to improve engagement with families, enhance brand awareness and communications outreach and streamline cemetery sales operations and programs. Cemeteries like these should be recognized for their vision and willingness to bring the death care industry forward within the online space.