By Melissa Petruzzi.

After the hardships we’ve all endured throughout 2020, the year is coming to an end and it’s time to reflect and consider what we can do better in the coming year. The new year is a time for resolutions, goals, and planning. What kind of plans is your cemetery making for 2021? What goals do you have?

It might sound strange to make a New Year’s resolution for your cemetery, but having a goal in mind as you step into the new year can be extremely helpful. Do you want to increase sales? Get organized? Increase community engagement? Maybe you’d like to do all three of these. If that’s the case, look no further than these valuable tips!

Get Organized
As a cemeterian, you are well aware of the volume of critical data you come into contact with every day, as well as the importance of preserving and managing that data. However, many cemeterians struggle to know where to start in order to get their data properly sorted. Make this the year you put away your concerns about how long it will take or how difficult it will be to get your data organized and start looking for real solutions.

One of the best things you can do to get organized is implement automation tools. There are many different software systems and tools available that can help you automate all of your cemetery processes. Many software systems include powerful data management tools that prevent human error and eliminate the need to enter data more than once. If cost is a hurdle in the way of your cemetery getting a software system, look into solutions that don’t require you to purchase an entire system at once, but rather, allow you to purchase automation tools a la carte.

Engage the Community
Particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, your best friend when it comes to engaging your community is your website and social media accounts. Having a web presence is becoming more of a norm and less of an option every day. Many cemeteries don’t see having a website as being entirely necessary. Maybe you think it is a hassle and you don’t know where to start. We’re here to help!

The first thing to remember is that anyone can create a website or a social media account. But what if it doesn’t look professional? There are many companies that can assist you in creating a basic website for a nominal fee. Look for a company that allows you to dictate how in-depth you want to make your website. Maybe for your cemetery the only thing you are concerned with is having accurate contact information available. That’s simple and fast to create, and there are many options. Social media accounts are also easy to create–and free! Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are particularly useful for growing your community involvement. People use these social media platforms every day; make your cemetery a part of the dialogue.

Increase Sales
Another way to improve your cemetery for the new year is to make an effort to increase your sales. This goes hand-in-hand with community engagement. When your community has access to a website with good content, as well as social media accounts, you are guaranteed to see an increase in community involvement. The more aware your community is of your presence, the more likely they are to become a client. Additionally, if you’ve already taken our first tip and cleaned up your data, your sales counselors will have more confidence when dealing with customers.

No matter what your goals are for the new year, don’t miss out on the opportunity to make a fresh start for your cemetery. We hope these tips help you jump into the new year with confidence and renewed motivation.

Happy New Year from all of us here at CemSites!

For more information about task automation and how CemSites can help, schedule a demo today!