When someone needs a funeral director, one of the first things they may do is open Google and search for one nearby. That means your Google Business Profile is worth paying attention to. It is the information that can appear when someone searches for your funeral home, or looks for funeral directors in your area.
Is your information correct?
The first thing I'd check is the basics. Is your:
- Business name correct?
- Address correct?
- Phone number correct?
- Opening hours up to date?
- Website linked correctly?
It sounds simple, but businesses do change their details over time. It's worth checking.
One thing I would add from doing this on a lot of sites: your details should match your website exactly. If your profile says "High Street" and your website says "High St", or the phone number on your contact page is spaced differently, that inconsistency works against you. Google is trying to establish that the two are the same business. Make it easy.
What does your profile look like?
Your Google profile is often one of the first things someone sees before visiting your website.
Make sure you have some good, recent photographs of your funeral home and, where appropriate, your team. Your description should also clearly explain who you are and the areas you serve.
You don't need to fill it with lots of marketing language. Just be clear about what you do.
Don't forget your reviews
Reviews are another important part of your Google profile.
For a funeral director, I think reviews are particularly valuable because families want to know that other people have had a good experience with you.
Of course, asking for a review needs to be handled sensitively. Families are dealing with difficult circumstances, so it shouldn't feel like a sales exercise. But if someone is happy with the service you've provided and wants to leave a review, make it easy for them to do so.
Take five minutes to check
If you haven't looked at your Google Business Profile recently, I'd recommend doing it today.
Search for your funeral home on Google and see what a potential family sees. Is everything correct? Does it look professional? Can people easily find your website and telephone number?
If not, there may be some simple changes you can make.
Your Google profile won't replace your website, but the two should work together. If you want to see how they fit on a site built properly, there are two complete example funeral director sites here, with the address, opening hours and phone number set out the way Google expects to find them.
Cameron
Founder of Agnew Digital, working funeral director