Frazer Blog

How to Go Above and Beyond for Families from out of Town

by | May 22, 2018 | Funeral Profession

man in airport

Your funeral home is the backbone of your community. You do everything in your power to provide the best funeral experience possible. But it’s also important to remember that you’re not just serving local families; you’re serving families from all over. A family’s loved one who passed away may have lived in your community, or they may not have. Often, those who are arranging the funeral are from out of town and are not familiar with your community.

You can help those from out of town by partnering with local businesses and providing resources on your website. It’s an easy way to build trusting relationships with families, and they’ll appreciate the help during this difficult time.

Partner with Local Businesses

Families who are coming from out of town for the funeral may need accommodations. Even if they have family in town, they may not have the space for them to stay at their home. Most people will likely need to look at hotel stays — but the cost can add up quickly.

Your funeral home can make things a little less stressful for those grieving by partnering with hotels to provide accommodations. For example, you could offer a discounted rate for mourners staying for the funeral or offer a free night’s stay. This is a small gesture that will help bring them some comfort, and they’ll keep your funeral home in mind for the future.

Airport shuttle services, car rental places, and similar services are other businesses that you can partner with. People who are flying in from out of town will need a ride from the airport. But this can be difficult to arrange if their family members are busy with funeral planning. By partnering with these services, your funeral home can make things easier for everyone while they’re funeral planning and grieving. Or, you could even offer to pick them up if you have the time and resources.

Provide Online Resources for Families from out of Town

In addition to partnering with businesses, you can create a “Local Information” page on your funeral home’s website. It can be a go-to resource for those who are unfamiliar with the area. You can suggest hotels and car rental places you partner with as well as restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other nearby places.

With Google My Maps, you can create a custom map to show local hotels, restaurants, and other significant places to out-of-towners.

To create a custom map, go to this Google My Maps link and click “Get Started.” You’ll be asked log into your Gmail account.

In the upper left corner, click the Menu button and select “Create a new map.” You can give your map a title, such as “Get to Know (insert city name).” You also can add a description with more details about the locations you’re adding to the map. If you’re partnered with any of the businesses, you can mention that too.

In the top search bar, you can type the names of the places you want to add to your map. When the business pops up on the map, make sure it’s the correct location and click “Add to map.” When you’re done, you can share the link with others or embed it on your website.

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