Top Five Tips for a Smooth Transition to Digital Cemetery Management

​Modifying your traditional cemetery to conform to modern standards may seem like an overwhelming venture. However, accomplishing this is not as complicated as you may think. 

Incorporating technology into your business model will take your cemetery to new heights and simplify its management without sacrificing the traditional feel of your business. Transforming into a digital cemetery is truly a win-win. 

Follow these simple steps to make your cemetery part of the digital age.  

Step #1: Define Your Vision
Take the time to outline your business goals and list any problems you have encountered in the past. Next, ask yourself the hard questions and answer them honestly.

• Which goals have you been unable to reach?
• Have your sales numbers been stagnant, or steadily declining over time?
• Are you losing business to one or more of your competitors?

When you have a better idea of where you are and where you want to be, you will be mentally prepared to make the leap into the digital age by investing in the technology that will drive your business forward. 
​Incorporating technology into your business model will take your cemetery to new heights and simplify its management without sacrificing the traditional feel of your business. Transforming into a digital cemetery is truly a win-win.
​
Step #2: Subscribe to EverArk
EverArk is state-of-the-art software that is at the heart of digital cemetery management. Its innovative capabilities enable managers to track, sell, and manage burial plots online, promote green burials, process internet sales, assist customers virtually, and offer financing options. EverArk also allows cemetery managers to acquire digital signatures from customers and upload sensitive documents. Filing hard copies and misplacing important papers in clunky cabinets are now things of yesteryear. 

​Step #3: Transform Operational Processes  
Now that you understand some of what EverArk can do for your cemetery and your customers, it is time to make the magic happen. However, do not let this transformation intimidate you. It is not as difficult as it seems. Once you input your company information and upload all your inventory and current customer data, your cemetery will come alive on the internet! 

​Not only will you be able to print detailed aging reports with ease and manage grounds maintenance at a glance, but you will be able to view satellite imagery of your gardens and plots. The physical maps you depend on to keep track of available plots are no longer needed! Feel free to frame them and hang them on the wall of your lobby. After all, they are a historical record of your cemetery as a trusted and successful business.

Step #4: Transform the Customer Experience
Many cemetery managers are reluctant to go digital because they are afraid that this kind of business model will not allow them to provide the intimate experience their customers deserve. Fear not. EverArk has retained the warm, welcoming atmosphere cemetery managers and their customers expect, but it is taken one step further. Now, customers can shop through your EverArk website for their end-of-life needs in the comfort and privacy of their home.

The EverArk mobile app is also a vital part of the customer experience. It allows people to geo-tag burial plots, search memorials, share memories, and donate to a loved one’s favorite charity or trust. The app even alerts the user when they are nearing a friend or relative’s final resting place, so they can pay their respects in a traditional manner. 

Step #5: Advertise Your Digital Cemetery (& Your Pioneering Spirit)
Now that you have entered the digital age by successfully updating your traditional cemetery, it is time to re-introduce your business to the community. 

This grand declaration can be accomplished in several cost-effective ways. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Google+ are perfect for getting noticed by potential customers and amassing leads, which EverArk will keep categorized for your convenience. 

If you send out a monthly or quarterly newsletter or email campaign, this is a great opportunity to discuss your new services and include a link to your website or landing page. Publishing an announcement on NextDoor is an effective way of letting your neighborhood know you are there for them. 

Marketing your modern cemetery by mailing postcards to members of your community is ideal for targeting the people who still prefer the traditional approach to acquiring cemetery services.  

Prepare for a Windfall of New Business
When cemetery managers embrace technology, they are not only doing what is best for their business, but also their customers. Digital cemeteries satisfy the needs of both older and more recent generations and will be there to cater to the needs of generations who have yet to start their life’s journey.

Trusting EverArk to move your traditional cemetery into the digital age is a smart choice. It gives you all the tools you need to make a smooth transition and remain relevant well into the future. 

About the blogger

melanie marsh

Melanie is an accomplished freelance writer and researcher.  She graduated in 2000 from Virginia Wesleyan College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in English Literature with a focus in Creative Writing.  In addition to freelancing, She is a part-time caretaker at a beautiful parrot sanctuary in Virginia called Project Perry.