More families are beginning the process of funeral planning online. Is your website ready? The Internet has brought radical change to every industry. It is easier than ever for consumers to compare competing firms, make decisions, and begin communication. While online interaction will never replace the personal touches of the death care industry, it has already changed how funeral planning begins. It is estimated that  more than 75%  of funeral planning now begins online, with that percentage expected to grow in the next few years. It is more important than ever to use your website ..read more

CFS websites offer features to help your funeral home stay connected with the families you have served. Providing aftercare to the families you serve is a critical aspect of engaging with the local community and building your future base of business. During difficult periods of grief for families, offering support beyond the funeral services can provide great comfort and foster a bond between a family and your funeral home. CFS understands the importance of aftercare and offers features through your website to effortlessly provide additional support to families. A Year of Daily Grief Suppor ..read more

Is your website in need of an update? CFS is always happy to redesign your platform. Although funeral directors are busy all year long, the summer season can allow for some much-needed time to tackle long-term projects. Maintenance and remodeling of a funeral home may come to mind first, but what about your website? More so than ever, the web presence of a funeral home is a critical resource for reaching new families. You may already have a website, but is it time for an update? Here are some examples of signs that you are in need of an upgrade. Your website isn’t mobile responsive. In tod ..read more

Have you ever had a funeral go this wrong? Fifteen users on Reddit share their wildest stories. Funerals are a time to come together and celebrate a life well lived. Sometimes, things may not go to plan. With an entire extended family gathering together to remember their loved one, services can take a different turn. These unexpected moments can be stressful in the moment, but can also provide some levity in a difficult time. Funeral service providers work tirelessly to ensure that services proceed smoothly, but you can’t always plan for what may unfold! Here are some of the craziest stories ..read more

Funerals for robots? By robots? It’s happening today in Japan. Modern technology has made its mark on the funeral industry.  Memorial videos  and  live streaming  have become commonplace in funeral homes across the country, with more using media to enhance funeral services than ever. Websites also play a critical role in funeral home operations, with CFS websites integrating with answering services, management software, and more.  Apps for smartphones  have also had a major impact, connecting an on-the-go funeral director with their office at any time. But what ..read more

Reddit just passed Facebook in website traffic. What does that mean for the funeral industry? Facebook has become the center of funeral home marketing on social media. While other platforms such as Twitter and Pinterest have also been utilized by some funeral homes, Facebook has always been the leading choice to connect with families in the local area. The platform favors the industry due to its now central role in information sharing. When a significant event happens, families choose Facebook to begin spreading the news. This is especially important when  sharing obituaries  and in ..read more

When it comes to serving your families, confidentiality is key. CFS has you covered. Your website is an extension of your business, providing important services to the families you serve. From viewing an obituary to filling out a pre-planning form online, your website serves your community 24×7 and is always working for you. Given the importance of this resource, it’s very important that your website is secure and uses the latest technology. Google has long advocated that all websites install an SSL certificate, making every interaction between a user and a website completely private. When a ..read more

These applications make your everyday routines easier. In 2009, Apple started marketing the iPhone 3G with the slogan, “There’s an app for that.” With the overwhelming variety of applications available to download, there really is an app for everything. We’ve compiled a list of ten apps that will make organizing your funeral directing duties a lot easier. Facebook Facebook is the #1 social media website and a critical resource for connecting with your local community. With more users over 65 than ever, Facebook is a great way to connect with families and foster future business. Having the ..read more

Will this growing trend have a long-lasting impact on the industry? Dogs have always been celebrated as beloved companions. The growing popularity of pets, specifically cats and dogs, has had a growing impact on the funeral industry. Consumers are spending far more on their pets than ever before, from dog-walking services to merchandise. This has especially impacted the pet services industry, with far more families choosing to have their pets cremated or buried than ever. More people view their pets as a family member , making funeral services more important for the grieving process. From 20 ..read more

As we celebrate our 10th birthday, we look back on how CFS became the #1 provider of funeral home websites. Consolidated Funeral Services was founded in 2008 by Felix Tsatskis and Peter Richardson, two software executives with years of experience providing IBM enterprise-class software to large companies across the globe. The core of CFS was creating websites for funeral homes with one key idea: offering flowers through obituaries. No other provider had offered this feature before CFS introduced it with our first website. Instead of charging for websites, our co-founders knew that they could ..read more