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FD Talks

Business & Economics Podcasts

Funeral service is an industry on the brink of change and ripe for disruption. The good news? FD Talks hosted by Funeral Directors Life is a show where you can explore ideas, insights, and solutions for serving today's families in a rapidly changing marketplace. Join us for eye-opening interviews with industry experts and visionary leaders who will help you get control of your market, your business, and your future.

Location:

United States

Description:

Funeral service is an industry on the brink of change and ripe for disruption. The good news? FD Talks hosted by Funeral Directors Life is a show where you can explore ideas, insights, and solutions for serving today's families in a rapidly changing marketplace. Join us for eye-opening interviews with industry experts and visionary leaders who will help you get control of your market, your business, and your future.

Language:

English

Contact:

3257254215


Episodes

FD Talks Episode 36: What You Need to Know about Funeral Home Websites | Part 2

2/27/2024
Can a custom website help you increase your preneed leads? Will it rank you higher on Google and improve your ability to reach new families? What’s at risk if you don’t prioritize your website? The latest FD Talks podcast covers all this and more as host Rob Davidson continues the conversation on funeral home websites. Drew Seale, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Funeral Directors Life, and Curtis Funk, Chief Executive Officer at Tukios, are back to offer their insights and share how funeral homes have found success using their website. Learn more about prioritizing your website here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/services/marketing-services/

Duration:00:25:25

FD Talks 35: What You Need to Know about Funeral Home Websites | Part 1

1/31/2024
As more consumers turn to the internet with questions about funerals, your website should easily offer answers. But it's not enough for your website to educate and connect with families – it should turn curious visitors into consistent leads for your funeral home. The newest FD Talks dives into the importance of funeral home websites and their role in improving your service and growing your business. Host Rob Davidson is joined by Drew Seale, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Funeral Directors Life, and Curtis Funk, Chief Executive Officer at Tukios, to discuss the benefits of a quality and custom website in part one of this two-part series. Discover how to make your website your new digital storefront here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/services/marketing-services/

Duration:00:23:40

FD Talks Episode 34: 2023 Recap: 7 Key Funeral Home Lessons to Remember

12/19/2023
There were so many great guests featured on FD Talks this year, and each one had helpful tips on how to best serve families and manage your funeral home. In the final episode of 2023, we recap the seven most important lessons we learned on the podcast this year. Hear from funeral experts on how to prepare for another year of caring for families by meeting your community’s needs, using a digital marketing strategy, growing as a funeral professional, and more. See how these lessons can help make 2024 a year to remember for your funeral home, and thank you for making 2023 a great year for FD Talks! If you’d like to learn more about a topic you heard on this podcast, request a consultation here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/request-consultation/

Duration:00:14:49

FD Talks Episode 33: The Biggest Disconnects Between Funeral Homes and Families | Part 2

11/1/2023
Do you know how quickly most families think a funeral should occur after the death? What about if most families think a funeral is necessary with cremation? The answers may surprise you. The latest FD Talks podcast continues the conversation about common disconnects between funeral homes and families revealed in a recent consumer study. Host Rob Davidson welcomes back Todd Carlson, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer at Funeral Directors Life, as the pair dive deeper into what funeral directors need to understand about families to avoid unintentional dissatisfaction. Download the free report below to gain more insights to help you make more informed decisions about your funeral business here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/report/

Duration:00:17:45

FD Talks Episode 32: The Biggest Disconnects Between Funeral Homes and Families | Part 1

9/27/2023
“If you want to sell Mrs. Jones what Mrs. Jones buys, you need to see Mrs. Jones through Mrs. Jones' eyes.” When it comes to funerals, families' knowledge and preferences have changed. And in order to best serve your community, you need to understand how families view funerals and what they expect from you. In part one of this FD Talks two-part series, host Rob Davidson welcomes Todd Carlson, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer at Funeral Directors Life. The two discuss common disconnects between families and funeral homes and how these disconnects can unintentionally cause dissatisfaction. Learn how understanding families' assumptions about funeral options, prices, timelines, technology, and more can help you provide the best care to families and adapt to their changing needs.

Duration:00:22:15

FD Talks Episode 31: Revealing the Secret Benefits of Google for Funeral Homes

8/31/2023
When a family searches “funeral home near me,” they likely use Google and follow Google’s suggestions. That means if your business isn’t one of Google’s first results, you may miss out on serving them. Host Rob Davidson welcomes Haley Laurence, Digital Marketing Supervisor at Funeral Directors Life, to the FD Talks podcast to discuss the importance of promoting your business with Google Ads. Get answers to common questions like: Find out how Google Ads can help you reach families first. And download your free copy of the Digital Marketing 101 eBook to learn more: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/digital-marketing-101-ebook/

Duration:00:21:57

FD Talks Episode 30: Grow Your Preneed Program with These Marketing Strategies

8/3/2023
More and more families today are interested in starting the preplanning search online. Do you have a plan to reach them there? This FD Talks episode features Rob Davidson’s discussion with John Davenport, Vice President of Sales for Service Group of Oklahoma, and R.T. Delhomme, Vice President of Operations at Martin & Castille Funeral Home in Louisiana, about new marketing strategies that can help grow your preneed program. Learn how you can increase your brand awareness, grow your market share, receive a higher return on your marketing investment, and more with these proven strategies. For more funeral home marketing tips, download our eBook: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/digital-marketing-101-ebook/

Duration:00:27:35

FD Talks Episode 29: How to Get Real Results with Digital Marketing

6/29/2023
According to the World Bank, 92% of Americans use the internet. That means reaching consumers online is the best way to spread awareness about your funeral home’s services. But how should you do that? Rob sits down with Mitchell McLean, Vice President of Digital Marketing at Funeral Directors Life, to discuss the state of digital marketing for funeral homes today. Learn how an effective marketing strategy can grow your preneed program and discover the surprising social media platform that’s generating high return for funeral home clients. To learn more about digital marketing, download our eBook: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/digital-marketing-101-ebook/

Duration:00:13:41

FD Talks Episode 28: The 7 Types of Funeral Consumers and How to Serve Them

5/25/2023
The average funeral consumer falls into 1 of 7 categories. And each group has different expectations of how funerals should be…and how they expect you to interact with them. Josh McQueen, Vice President of Marketing & Product at Directors Investment Group (DIG), returns to the FD Talks podcast to identify these 7 consumer segments, based on a recent study done by McKee Wallwork + Co. and DIG. They discuss: Get more insights in this free report that you can use to help you make better, more informed decisions about your funeral business. >> The New Funeral Consumer Report - FDLIC

Duration:00:25:01

FD Talks Episode 27: How to Grow as a Funeral Professional with ICCFA

4/27/2023
One of the biggest problems funeral directors face today is the evolving needs of families. In order to adapt to them, you need to grow in your craft. In this FD Talks episode, Rob Davidson sits down with Gary Freytag, President and CEO of Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum and the current ICCFA president, and Kevin Gaffney, Chairman of the Membership Committee Board at ICCFA, to discuss growth in the profession. They cover the importance of trying new ideas, the benefits of an ICCFA membership, and more. Listen now to start growing today! To learn more about an ICCFA membership, contact Cindy at cindy@iccfa.org or visit https://iccfa.com/join/.

Duration:00:26:31

FD Talks Episode 26: Breaking Down 5 Key Findings from a Recent Consumer Study

3/30/2023
You’ve likely heard that cremation rates are at an all-time high. But did you know that in the last decade, family preference for cremation has only risen 2.3%? Host Rob Davidson sits down with Josh McQueen, Vice President of Marketing & Product at Directors Investment Group (DIG), to uncover 5 crucial findings about funeral consumers and their preferences, based on a recent study done by McKee Wallwork + Co. and DIG. They break down statistics and data to reveal how families really feel about: Get more insights in this free report that you can use to help you make better, more informed decisions about your funeral business. >> https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/report/

Duration:00:26:58

FD Talks Episode 25: Why Your Funeral Home Needs to Offer Livestreaming Now - 10 Dos and Don'ts

3/8/2023
Funeral livestreaming isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, 42% of people feel comfortable attending a funeral online. That’s why you need to offer a livestreaming option now. Host Rob Davidson sits down with Tyler Ward, Digital Sales Manager with Encore Livestreaming, on the FD Talks podcast to discuss 10 dos and don’ts of funeral livestreaming. They cover: If you want to try livestreaming on your own, download the livestreaming “Quick Start Guide” here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/fdtalks/25/#guide Or learn more about Encore livestreaming here: https://www.funeraldirectorslife.com/encore

Duration:00:19:53

FD Talks Episode 24: Prices Are Up…So, What About Growth Rates?

12/7/2022
The interest rate environment is on the rise (along with prices and inflation), but what does that mean for your funeral home? And what can you do about it? Host Rob Davidson invited Todd Carlson, Executive Vice President of Sales and Chief Sales Officer of Funeral Directors Life, to FD Talks to discuss: You can take this information and apply it to your funeral home today!

Duration:00:15:27

FD Talks Episode 23: The Acquisition of American Life & Annuity

9/15/2022
Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company (FDLIC) recently finalized the acquisition of American Life & Annuity Company (ALAC) in Hot Springs, Arkansas. President and CEO of FDLIC Kris Seale and ALAC President Claude Holloway join FD Talks host Rob Davidson for a conversation about the acquisition process, including how it came to be and what’s next for both companies.

Duration:00:10:15

FD Talks Episode 22: Learning More About "Journey to Serve"

3/31/2022
According to a report by the National Funeral Directors Association, one of the most common funeral home needs is an increase in staff. Many funeral directors believe that finding the right people will be their greatest challenge over the next five years. As a result, the Journey to Serve campaign was created to help funeral homes recruit veterans and lead them from one selfless position of service to another. On the latest installment of FD Talks, host Rob Davidson speaks with Lee Wiensch, CFRE and Executive Director at Funeral Service Foundation, and Jim Price, President of ICCFA Educational Foundation. The three discuss:

Duration:00:19:13

FD Talks Episode 21 | Livestreaming Funerals: Easier and Better Than Ever

2/10/2022
Livestreaming has been available to funeral homes for years, but few funeral professionals understood its importance. It wasn’t until the pandemic that many funeral homes saw the need to livestream funerals so that all families could virtually attend, despite a world of social distancing. In our first episode of 2022, FD Talks host Rob Davidson and Ron Clyde, Director of Special Projects at Funeral Directors Life, talk about why livestreaming is important to families. They also discuss Encore, a new livestreaming service from Funeral Directors Life, and how any funeral home can use this technology. Learn more about Encore

Duration:00:17:52

FD Talks: Episode 20 – The Community Outreach Perspective | Hospice Care and Funeral Service Series | Part 2

11/22/2021
Though most people may be unfamiliar with their local hospice organizations, these caregivers provide meaningful end-of-life-care for families and their loved ones. Families also benefit from a strong relationship between funeral homes and hospice facilities. The latest episode of FD Talks continues the conversation on the partnership between funeral homes and hospice. Host Rob Davidson speaks with Melissa Luton, the Community Outreach Manager for Hendrick Hospice Care. Melissa shares about the wide-ranging services hospice provides, her positive experiences working with funeral homes, and the key to maintaining a strong relationship with hospice organizations. Watch Part 1 Learn More About Hospice Care

Duration:00:18:03

FD Talks Episode 19 | Funeral Service Technology and the Innovative Funeral Home

11/4/2021
Funeral home owners want to improve efficiency, funeral professionals want reliable technology, and families want to collaborate online. This change has led many funeral homes to adapt, stay the same, or reject the movement altogether. This episode features host Rob Davidson and Josh McQueen, Vice President of Product at Passare, and their discussion on technology in the funeral profession. McQueen explains Passare’s drive to help funeral professionals, the industry’s changing landscape, and the work that went into Passare’s award-winning Pennsylvania electronic death registration system integration. Learn More About Passare (https://www.passare.com) Download FREE New Funeral Consumer eBook (https://resources.passare.com/nfc-ebook-download)

Duration:00:18:18

Reignite Your Passion - Funeral Service Leadership Summit Recap

10/11/2021
Creating a positive workplace culture and being a heart-led leader are two important assets to any business, even your funeral home! This year, our REIGNITE Summit discussed both aspects, but if you didn't attend, you may be wondering what you may have missed. In this FD Talks episode, host Rob Davidson recaps the REIGNITE Summit with Kris Seale, President and CEO of Funeral Directors Life. They discuss the messages of John O'Leary and Tommy Spaulding, how to lead from the heart, and other lessons!

Duration:00:15:15

A Social Worker’s Perspective | Hospice Care and Funeral Service Series | Part 1

9/13/2021
While funeral homes and hospice facilities each play a key — but very separate — role in a loved one’s end-of-life journey, the two value serving families at the highest level. One important factor in achieving that goal is the relationship between hospice social workers and funeral directors. When the two utilize and establish a strong relationship, it often leads to better care for families during some of the worst days of their lives. In part one of this two-part series, host Rob Davidson sits down with Peggy Shepherd, a licensed clinical social worker at Hendrick Hospice Care. They discuss how families benefit the most when Hospice and funeral homes provide care, support, and answers by working together to put families first.

Duration:00:22:49