New Thought Leadership Blog Aims to Aid Funeral Homes and Cemeteries with Marketing and Publicity

[ May 22, 2008 ] Sterling, Virginia — Marketing expert Mayra Ruiz-McPherson launches new Death Care Publicist blog in an effort to assist death care operations, such as funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories, with marketing and promoting their pre-need and at-need services to families.

"I was inspired to become the *Death Care Publicist* because this industry is in need of real-value marketing and public relations services," says Ruiz-McPherson, who performed some marketing work as Communications Activities Manager at the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA). "Having met and corresponded with various funeral home operators and owners around the country, it became immediately evident that this industry segment has limited access to marketing professionals with the ability to market and promote their unique service offerings."

Ruiz-McPherson was intrigued when several senior level folks at select death care operations admittedly shared their marketing experiences:

• A funeral director who had won an industry award instructed their marketing agency to help them generate some publicity. Months later, the agency had still done nothing to help the funeral home get some PR.
  
  


• An industry supplier works with a public relations agent who doesn't know the first thing about blogging, online PR or email marketing. And the supplier to this day wonders why their advertising is not working.
  
  


• A cemetery sales manager was successfully closing pre-need sales but admitted sales were sporadic; he stated could make far more sales if he actively promoted his services, however, he didn't have the time nor the marketing savvy to take his sales to new levels.
  
  


• Another funeral director was tasked by her boss to write press releases, but the funeral director doesn't know the first thing about press releases. Besides, she said, she's way too busy caring for families to be bothered.

These and other similar experiences collectively inspired Ruiz-McPherson to launch her new blog. "I hope to help this industry with sound marketing advice and practical publicity tips of real-value." Ruiz-McPherson also offers a variety of creative services including advertising, creative direction and web marketing and design for death care operations. "I'm just happy to be a viable option for death care providers seeking to extend their community outreach via premier marketing and publicity services."

About Mayra Ruiz-McPherson
For more information about Mayra Ruiz-McPherson, please refer to the following links:
Professional bio
Background
Industry experience

About the Death Care Publicist Blog
The Death Care Publicist blog provides funeral homes and cemeteries with marketing and publicity insight geared exclusively towards funeral home and cemeterian operations.