10 minute read
Eimer Duffy answers your questions
Eimer Duffy is a Social Media Consultant and Trainer at FIT Social Media. She provides customised social media solutions for businesses which require an emotional and compassionate tone of voice to their online presence helping them to gain more visibility, get noticed and build trust online. She co-hosts the only social media for business radio show in Ireland called “The Let’s Get Social Show” every Friday at 2pm on Dublin South FM.
Eimer answers your questions...
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How can you make social media work more effectively for your funeral business? Eimer Duffy has all the latest news, tips and advice when it comes to social media and being online.
Q1. What things can I do to improve my business online? Q3. Where should I start with when it comes to social media?
Eimer says:
- Complete your social media channels fully - Engage with your social media community consistently - Understand your audience’s needs - Identify your goals and objectives for being online - Implement a social media strategy
Q2. What are the best social media channels to be on?
Eimer says:
Think about the demographic of your last customers. When it comes to your ideal customer, having a customer persona (i.e. a description of a fictional character that represents your business’s customers or potential customers, based on what you know about them and what motivates them) will help you with what channels to be on.
Facebook is the largest platform and people expect you to be on it. Instagram would be the next platform to be on as your customer generational base is using Instagram more and more, and you do need to be on that platform. And not forgetting LinkedIn as this is where not only professionals are, but it gives you the opportunity to network and engage with other stakeholders in the industry.
Eimer says:
I would start with ensuring your social media accounts are fully completed and up to date. They are the first thing people see on social media and your social media account is like a shop window for your business on that channel. When was the last time you went in and really examined your Facebook business page, Instagram account, LinkedIn profile and not forgetting your Google My Business account (as this is one of the first things people see when they “Google” your business.
Q4. How many times a week should I post and when?
Eimer says:
I recommend you check your analytics and insights on each of your social channels. As a rule of thumb, once a day on Facebook in accordance with “the best time to post” for your own business page account (check your Facebook analytics via the desktop). Post then a few times a day on Facebook Stories. The same with Instagram, check your insight (via the mobile app), post once a day and then a few times a day on your Instagram Stories, as this will keep you consistent. With Linkedin, I suggest you post three times a week. Overall, there is no exact “ideal” amount of times to
post, keeping in mind what you post is of interest to your audience, your goals for each post and what social media engagement you want to get.
Q5. What should I post on social media?
Eimer says:
Create content that does one (or more) of these three things - EDUCATE, INSPIRE and STOP THEM SCROLLING.
A good mix of content is key. When it comes to the most engaging content type to use, that would be LIVE video, then video, photos and using polls and questions can help with engagement.
EDUCATE - What can you teach your audience? What is their biggest frustration? How can you solve their biggest problems and frustrations?
INSPIRE - What resonates with your audience? What type of content will create emotion for your audience?
STOP SCROLLING - As mentioned earlier LIVE Video and recorded video. Also think about relevant images (eg: with quotes which speak to them). Think about what will capture their attention.
Q6. What’s a hashtag for?
Eimer says:
A hashtag “#” is a word or phrase preceded by the pound symbol which is clickable. Think of it like a topic or better still, think of it like a bucket and every time you use a “#” your post, photo or video is found in that bucket. So for instance #funeral #funeraldirector #undertaker #funeralservices etc...
Go the extra mile and use #yourbusinessname (that’s a branded hashtag) and everything you post with that will be found together in that bucket.
If you have any more questions, send them into Eimer and she will answer them for you, and we will publish them in our next edition. All questions submitted and published can be anonymous if you wish. You can email Eimer at eimer@fitsocialmedia.ie. Win a free online advice session with Eimer. Simply email your name, company name, phone number and email address to Ruth at sales@funeraltimes.com with the subject line ‘I need Eimer’s help!’
Eimer says:
Simply show up every day. This means you will need to be consistent and appear on social media to answer questions, post related and relevant content to your niche, and engage with your prospective customers and other relevant businesses. It’s very much like networking (but online) and here are a few ideas to increase your followers: - Follow other related businesses and suppliers to you in your niche with your Facebook business page, Instagram Business Account and your Linkedin Personal Profile. - Share other related businesses and suppliers content on your Facebook business page,
Instagram Business Account and your Linkedin
Personal Profile. - Like and comment on other Facebook business pages, Instagram Business Accounts and on other people’s posts (you are connected with) on Linkedin and people you follow on LinkedIn and who you wish to connect with. - Cross-post your content on your Facebook business page, Instagram business account, your Linkedin personal profile and Google My
Business account. - Invite followers on one social channel to follow you on another. - Get involved in social communities as in local and relevant Facebook groups. - Consider using paid ads. - And don’t forget this is social media and not selling media as that can gain you unfollows.
Eimer Duffy, FIT Social Media Website: www.fitsocialmedia.ie Phone: 00353 (86) 8492032 Email: eimer@fitsocialmedia.ie
Quinn Hearse and Limousine take further steps towards sustainability with the introduction of their new plug-in hybrid hearses. Available on both Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Passat chassis the hybrid hearses bring a unique range of benefits to the funeral sector.
The E Class hybrid range, based on the EQ Power models are the first steps towards the electrification goals of the German car manufacturer. Increased fuel efficiency means fewer trips to the petrol station as well as considerable savings on fuel costs each year. With a fast charger time of 2 hours, there is minimal outlay on electricity costs as well.
A major benefit of the hybrid is at a funeral. When the vehicle is running using the battery, its near-silent, and fumeless approach provides a respectful and dignified environment for the cortege.
The hybrid vehicles come as part of a larger project into reducing Quinn’s carbon footprint. The factory ran on wind-power for years, however they have stepped up to look at other areas. One of these is the installation of new state-of-the-art painting equipment. The entire paint process has been overhauled to reduce waste in time, material and energy. They have started with new spray gun technology. Coupled with advanced training for staff this will reduce the amount of paint lost to overspray by 25%. Their new spray booth/oven uses less electricity, less gas and reduces the time spent in the booth with state-of-the-art curing technology.
Another part of the project is the overhauling of the composites process. Using an industry-leading vacuum technique, means that there will be a 33% reduction in waste material and a 25% reduction in labour time for producing bodyshells. In the administrative side, there has been investment into software and systems, meaning less paper usage and a saving in time spent in the dayto-day running of the office. And finally, all materials used have been evaluated, with particular attention taken to source the highest quality materials with the lowest carbon footprint at each stage in the supply chain. This has led to upgrading a number of our chemical products to ensure that we provide the absolute best for each The E Class and every customer. So when you purchase a hybrid electric vehicle from Quinn’s, you can rest assured that thoughout the whole process, you are looking out for the environment, as well as maintaining the industryQuality coachbuilding by an established, independent family business. leading build quality you have come to expect in your hearse or limousine.
Norman McBriar & Son take delivery of first Coleman Milne removal vehicle
Family run Norman McBriar & Son have diligently assisted families in the Saintfield area in County Down for many years. The supportive team excel at alleviating stress in what can be an overwhelming experience.
The company is enjoying a period of growth and the last 2 years has seen significant improvements. To offer a complete service under one roof, Norman McBriar & Son have relocated to larger purpose-built premises which boasts a mortuary, beautifully decorated reception and viewing rooms, offices, and garage facilities. Their comprehensive service has been complemented by the latest fleet edition of a Mercedes Vito Removal Vehicle with Single Deck Conversion from Coleman Milne.
This versatile single fixed deck conversion has the generous capacity to hold two standard stretchers or coffins or, if required, a combination of both. The vogue grey deck and matching interior panelling makes this conversion both practical and stylish.
Mark McBriar commented:
“This well-appointed vehicle has proved to be of great benefit to our business, we appreciate the elegance of design which makes a dignified presence. Tony Kerr was very helpful with his support and guidance during the procurement of our new removal vehicle.”
Staff at Finders International Probate Genealogists locate deceased’s next of kin on behalf of Funeral Directors, Hospitals, Councils, Nursing Homes and Solicitors.
Our researchers come across some very interesting and varied cases. In some instances we have limited information about the person who has died and many cases involve research all over the World. We use many different sources for information and sometimes we have to be creative when we reach a dead end. We also have to be thorough and check every lead and consider all possibilities.
Every case we research is different and can present its own challenges. Thankfully we like a challenge! It is not unusual to be informed that the person we have contacted is the only sibling of the Deceased…. and then we discover further siblings living close by. Sometimes the information provided is unintentionally incorrect or misleading. This may be because family folklore changed over the years, births weren’t registered or births were registered years later. It can be tricky when fathers, sons and grandsons all have the same name, occupation and all live in the same area.
Occasionally a brother may transpire to be a nephew. Apart from the normal variation with spellings of surnames, we also have to allow for family members who decide to add or drop an “O” or “Mc” from their surname. In Ireland, it is not usual for people to be known locally by a first name which is completely different from the name on their birth certificate. In the past some families that emigrated, in particular to the US, may have anglicized their names, so we need to consider all options when searching for documents.
Recently we searched for a birth certificate for a deceased person. We had a copy of their death certificate which listed their age at death as 45 years old. Despite thorough searches, a birth or baptism certificate could not be located. Research led us to the Deceased’s headstone which thankfully provided a date of birth. It transpired that the person had actually died aged 77 and not 45. Based on this new information we successfully located the birth certificate and were able to complete our research. We can regularly be found with our heads in dusty archive books at the National Archives, Valuation Office and Registry of Deeds. While the job can be challenging at times, it is also very rewarding and provides a great sense of satisfaction when we find the correct birth record or person.
HAVE YOU BEEN ASKED TO ARRANGE A FUNERAL WHERE SOMEONE HAS DIED WITH NO KNOWN NEXT OF KIN?
