Testimonials From Funeral Services Clients
We take great pride in providing superior digital and marketing services for funeral professionals. Here’s what a few of our clients have to say about working with us.
Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home and Cemetery
The days of static websites are over. Owners and managers in the funeral and cemetery world need to constantly update their materials to stay current. Thanks to Beyond Indigo, we now have user-friendly tools like a blog, community event listings, and eNewsletters that keep us relevant in the eyes of our clients. Our website is designed to promote customer and caregiver interaction and to encourage repeat visits. It inspires families, caregivers, hospice, and chaplains to see us as a caring source for solutions. We are keepers of memories, and our online guestbook, tributes, candles, and hearts invites people to connect with their friends and families. Our clients want to be in control of their loved ones’ tributes, and our website helps them do that.
We were in constant communication with Beyond Indigo staff members during the construction of our site. We’re very pleased with the relationship that we formed with them and would highly recommend them to anyone considering a website design. They have a unique insight and knowledge of our industry and a compassionate understanding of our clients’ wants and needs.
Scott Sheehan
Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home and Cemetery
Seattle, Washington
www.washelli.com
Hathaway Family Funeral Homes
If your business is special and has a unique story, you need a customized website to help tell it. Generic cookie cutter templates just won’t cut it. Funeral homes have always been about making impressions in the community, and whether we’re willing to admit it or not, the quality of our work is being judged daily by the quality of our websites. I regularly get glowing compliments about our website because it stands out. It supplies people with the information that they need in a way that makes them feel good about doing business with us. It currently costs $4,000 for Beyond Indigo to host our site and maintain our obituary library. Other sites charge $30 per obituaries. For me, that would cost me $19,000 a year in obituary costs alone (not including a website), and there would still be advertisements near my clients’ listings.
The content and resources that Beyond Indigo provides to our families has been invaluable. Working with Beyond Indigo is less costly than belonging to a national association and has created a much higher impact with our community at large.
William "BT" Hathaway
Hathaway Family Funeral Homes
www.hathawayfunerals.com
A Sacred Moment
Hiring Beyond Indigo was the best decision that we've made for our business. At first we thought our site only needed some "minor" changes, but it quickly became apparent that we needed to revise complete sections. Members of the Beyond Indigo team provided us with incredible support as we prepared for the release of our Wall Street Journal article, and thanks to them, all of our major site changes were made before the article was published. They went well beyond the call of duty to make all of our content edits, increase our site's functionality, and add new features to increase user friendliness. We’re thrilled with the results. Please accept our deepest gratitude and heartfelt thanks for everyone’s hard work, effort, and support.
Please accept our deepest gratitude and heart felt thank you for everyone’s hard work, effort and support!
Char Barrett
A Sacred Moment — Home Funerals, Green Burials & Life Celebrations
Everett, Washington
www.ASacredMoment.com
Joseph S. Klecatsky & Sons Funeral And Cremation Services
After noticing that other funeral homes were going online, we realized that we needed to do the same thing. We hired Beyond Indigo to create our website, and they presented us with several different options. We’re so impressed with the final product; it’s beautiful, non-intimidating, and very thoughtfully written. We’ve received numerous compliments about it. Our Light A Candle tool has been such a nice way for clients to connect with people all over the country. It’s really amazing.
These days, it’s definitely an advantage for funeral homes to have a website. Ours has helped spread the word about our three locations and the services that we offer. By all means and without any hesitation, I would recommend Beyond Indigo to other funeral professionals. My experience working with them has been wonderful. Funeral homes can be very hectic at times, and I greatly appreciate how patient and understanding they were throughout the entire website building process. They always take time to address our needs, answer our questions, and be as helpful as possible.
Debbie Jackson, Administrative Professional
Joseph S. Klecatsky & Sons Funeral And Cremation Services
www.klecatskys.com
French, Lawson—Miller, & Schoppenhorst Funeral Homes & Crematory
If you ever have any one who questions if a website "really" works or not... I was just reassigning candles on our website, which I try to do every week or so and came across 38 candles for a young mother killed by her husband in a nearby community. Obviously we did not take care of her services, but people in the surrounding area lit 38 candles for her on our site. WOW! We were blown away by this and the fact that people can reach out through us. Just thought we would let you know.
Soni
French, Lawson—Miller, & Schoppenhorst Funeral Homes & Crematory
421 E National Ave
PO Box 1
Brazil, IN 47834
www.frenchfuneralhome.com
Abriola Parkview Funeral Home
We live in a highly technological age. The public expects to be able to find all types of information online — and funeral information is no exception. After performing a lot of research on many different companies, we decided to hire Beyond Indigo to create our website. We were one of the first funeral homes in our area to launch a site and immediately received positive feedback for providing people with access to funeral information before it was printed in newspapers.
Our website has helped us to be significantly more efficient. It’s user friendly for both our staff and our clients, which is extremely helpful to our business. People now visit our site for general information instead of calling us on the phone. The admin area makes it simple for us to upload new files, and our photos and materials are easy for our families to navigate. We also now rely solely on digital archived obituaries instead of hard copies.
The entire Beyond Indigo staff is great to work with. Every time I have contacted them with a question or an issue, they have promptly taken care of my needs.
Christine Bojarczyk, Office Manager
Abriola Parkview Funeral Home
419 White Plains Road Route 127
Trumbull, CT 06611
www.abriola.com
Royce—Chedzoy Funeral Home
Our partnership with Beyond Indigo has set our website (and funeral home) far ahead of everyone in our area — and we’re just a small funeral home. People stop my wife and I when we’re out and about to tell us how much they love the website.
Thank you.
Kyle Chedzoy
Royce—Chedzoy Funeral Home
Watkins Glen, New York
www.roycechedzoy.com
Cornell Memorial Home
We chose to work with Beyond Indigo because it’s known for providing personal attention. Beyond Indigo staff members took time and got to know us. We strongly believe in personalized service, and so do they. It was a true meeting of the minds.
Rodney Bourdeau, C.F.S.P.
Cornell Memorial Home
www.CornellMemorial.com
Interview with BT Hathaway – Co—owner – Hathaway Funeral Homes, Massachusetts
In an interview with BT Hathaway, co-owner of ten Hathaway Funeral Homes located in Massachusetts, BT told us why a web site designed by Beyond Indigo has had a positive impact on his business and the families he serves.
Q: Did you have a web site prior to deciding upon working with Beyond Indigo?
A: Yes, we had a static site that was designed by a local web designer.
Q: How did you come to realize that you wanted to make some changes in your then current site?
A: While attending the National Funeral Directors convention I listened to a conversation that one of my associates was having with Kelly from Beyond Indigo. I was impressed by what I was hearing. I had been thinking we needed a more interactive, dynamic site, with tools that would really help our families. It wasn’t difficult to take the first step.
Q: What tools does Beyond Indigo provide that make a difference in your business?
A: Kelly understands the customer, what they need, and what helps them in the grieving process. For example, current obituaries are listed right on the home page — that feature alone provides people with important information that is truly valuable. On some sites you find old (outdated) obituaries, or you have to hunt for the information. Additionally, the Light a Candle program provides an instant connection for families and friends wanting to memorialize or pay tribute to families that have lost someone.
Not too long ago a local music teacher died. She had been well known in the community, and when I went to the school to let the principal know about our Light a Candle program, he informed all the teachers on staff, and within a very short time I was surprised to find that there were well over 200 candles lit in her memory on the website. It’s a really powerful resource. The support is palpable and works on many levels. We are very proud to have this tool available now.
Q: Is there any other way that you feel that this tool [Light a Candle] is helping those that grieve?
A: When the Pope passed away we called Beyond Indigo and requested that a special memorial page be created so that people could pay their respects. Within hours Beyond Indigo created a page on our site and we had 87 candles lit in his memory. We expect even more as the week progresses. [ed. Note: this is changing daily as the numbers increase and time goes by.]
Q: You have only had your site live for about three weeks, what sort of traffic and flow are you seeing?
A: The statistics show that we have had well over 1,600 page views on our Obituary page, 1,100 page views on our Memorial page, 74 Candle Lightings, and 27 Guest Book entries. We couldn’t be happier.
Q: How does the cost of working with Beyond Indigo compare to other web companies?
A: The cost is no more than any other company. Here’s the real difference though, the expertise and depth of knowledge that Beyond Indigo offers is the greatest benefit. Kelly has a genuine understanding of what consumers are looking for, she will tell you what she feels will work for you, and what has real power for your families. Throughout the process of working with Beyond Indigo I was impressed with their strong customer focus, their balance between good technology, and deliberate consideration to the grieving process. Paying attention to what people need and want creates an emotional bond for healing, and makes good marketing sense.
Q: Any final comments about working with Beyond Indigo?
A: Kelly and the staff at Beyond Indigo get the job done with care and diligence; they are straightforward and fulfill their promises. There are no hidden fees; I don’t have to worry if I want to change a picture on my site, or make some other small change — it’s all included in the price. I am so looking forward to a long and continuing relationship with Beyond Indigo because I know they are insightful, and the services they offer have a lasting impact of the families that I serve.
Hathaway Funeral Homes
1813 Robeson Street
Fall River, MA 02720-4199
Hathaway Funeral Homes
Interview with Susie French – Funeral Director – French Funeral Home, Brazil, Indiana
Over the years as our business has grown we continue to search for avenues to connect people that are grieving the loss of a loved one. Our funeral home clients have discovered that they too want to find new ways to improve upon their services and make a difference to grieving families.
We sat down and talked with a few of our clients and here’s what they said about their Beyond Indigo experience.
On a busy morning prior to a funeral Susie French, Funeral Director of French Funeral Home, of Brazil, Indiana took a few moments to talk with us.
Q: Did you have a website prior to the one you now have that was designed by Beyond Indigo?
A: Yes, we had a basic site to start with, but we felt it was missing something; it just wasn’t really meeting the needs of our grieving families.
Q: What was the deciding factor in making the change to use Beyond Indigo?
A: We really wanted a site that would be interactive, provide our families with a way of connecting, to show people that we really care about them and the grief they are experiencing. Beyond Indigo offers that and more. For example, we have families that travel to Florida for the winter, and they wanted a way to see what was happening with folks back home. One of the tools that Beyond Indigo provides is an Obituary page that lists who in our community has passed; it explains what the circumstances were about the death, and where and when the services will be held.
Q: What other tools does Beyond Indigo provide that are significant to your grieving families?
A: Beyond Indigo Memorial’s page is a BIG help to people. It connects families and friends that may be oceans away from each other. It helps in a couple of ways. If a loved one wants a way to express their feelings for the loss of someone they have loved, they can write a note to the one they have lost. It’s a very meaningful way to express their grief. They second way that it is helpful, is to see that others are actually experiencing similar feelings to their own, and that they are not alone in the grief process, even if they are still sad six months or a year later. The third way it helps is, if a family is in Florida, and they find out that someone has died they can instantly send a message of caring to their grieving friends back home. The connection is multi-dimensional. Who would have thought that it would be technology that would help us connect to each other in a very real way?
Q: What other reasons factored into your decision making process to contract with Beyond Indigo for building your web site?
A: It wasn’t hard really, once we had a chance to talk with one another I felt that a relationship was budding. It was easy when I realized that we were on the same page. Kelly, at Beyond Indigo really cares about people, has a background in counseling and understands the grief process. She listened, really listened, and was genuinely interested in me, my family, and why I made this career choice. We related to each other and we both care about easing the pain during this very stressful time in someone’s life. The grief tools that Beyond Indigo provides gives us meaningful ways to reach out and support grieving families.
Q: What’s the best part about working with Beyond Indigo?
A: The Beyond Indigo team is there when I need them; they work collaboratively with me when I want to change something or add a new feature to our site. I have confidence in their approach, and know that I can count on them to deliver a good product that helps provide hope in a time of emotional crisis. At the end of the year when it’s time to sign up again, I don’t even question writing the check. Their service is that valuable to me.
Q: What sets your web site apart from other funeral home web sites?
A: The information that is shared on the website is so important to our families in the way that people can access information about grief; it is a portal for people to connect and network, a gathering place of sorts. The rotating stories provide comfort and relief in a time when grief can be debilitating, lonely, and often times overwhelming.
Q: What do your customers tell you about your web site?
A: I hear all the time how different our site is, how easy it is to navigate, that it is full of insightful information; it’s all so positive. It reinforces the decision I made to go ahead with the project.
Q: Would you recommend Beyond Indigo to other funeral home directors?
A: YES, absolutely, I would highly recommend them. I am very happy with the outcome. I know that I made the right decision to choose Beyond Indigo as my web site developer. We have a symbiotic relationship that just keeps growing. It’s not just another web site; it is a place where people connect, find hope and healing in a desperate time. It’s given me another opportunity to demonstrate that compassion and integrity are the cornerstones of our business.
Interview with Steve Turner – Owner/Funeral Director, Walker Mortuary. Freeport, Illinois
Q: Steve, you have been in the industry for a long time now. Why did you choose Beyond Indigo as your website developer?
A: It was very simple. Their honest approach sold me from the very first phone call. When Kelly called to talk with our Pre-Planning Counselor, she told me that she was a vendor right off the bat. She convinced me to see how Beyond Indigo’s grieving support tools could take us to the next level and differentiate us in the marketplace. We feel that providing people with a method of immediate communication gives them satisfaction and helps us achieve results in our business.
Q: As a business owner, you’ve used a lot of traditional methods to market your business. Why did you make the leap to build a website?
A: Traditional marketing has its place, but we needed something more. Our customers are Internet savvy, and I had to accept that. Right away I could see that the people at Beyond Indigo understand consumers. They know how to reach people and make a difference in their lives. They taught me that it’s not about what I want on our website, it’s about what our families want. Our previous site was confusing, so I wanted to make sure that people could easily navigate through the new site. Beyond Indigo helped us with that and so much more.
Q: What was the website building process like?
A: Kelly and her Beyond Indigo staff made some immediate fixes to our old site. Then they began rebuilding the site completely and made it more comprehensive, user friendly, and interactive. We received very positive feedback from our families about the Memorial and Guestbook pages. We learned that our families want to be in touch, especially if other family members are out of town or live far away. Being connected to your loved ones when someone in the family dies is especially important.
Q: You pride yourself on going above and beyond the call of duty. How has your website been able to uphold your "never stop helping" philosophy?
A: It takes me a while to accept to new ways of thinking. When our Pre-Planning Counselor showed me how this was a natural extension of our service philosophy, I listened. I had never given much thought to the Internet and how it would impact my business. It has become imperative that we embrace new ways of communicating and staying in touch with people. As a business owner, I’m constantly searching for ways to reach our families. When they’re grieving, it’s not enough to just provide a good service. There’s no place in our organization where ‘cookie cutter’ is allowed. Beyond Indigo provides a way to connect with people through the "Light a Candle" program, grief support newsletters, buddy programs, and inspirational stories. These tools are a great benefit to our families.
Q: What else impressed you about Beyond Indigo?
A: The people at Beyond Indigo really understand the grieving process and what happens to people when they lose someone. They know how to address the issues of loss, anger, and desperation, and approach the whole industry with candor and forthrightness. They’re willing to talk about the somewhat ‘taboo subjects’ of death and dying. Their programs, like the guestbooks and memorial pages, have made a real difference for grieving people. We as funeral directors need to face the fact that instead of just providing good services, we need to exceed our families’ expectations through new meaningful ways of support. Beyond Indigo is ahead of the game. Using the Internet and building a website is the key to our future.
Q: What word best describes your experience with Beyond Indigo?
A: Trust. I trust the experts at Beyond Indigo. They saved me from myself, because I don’t know anything about web development. It really pays to let experienced compassionate professionals do the job. They can see the big picture and are always mindful of their clients. They treat me with respect and understand our families almost better than I do.
Q: Would you recommended Beyond Indigo to other businesses that are considering creating a website?
A: Absolutely and with enthusiasm. Their energy, attention to detail, outside-of-the-box thinking, and courage to speak about our industry in a simple and truthful way have far exceeded my expectations. Their philosophy to go beyond the usual service plan just happens to mirror our own vision.
Walker Mortuary, LTD. Cremation Services
Freeport, Illinois
Walker Mortuary, LTD. Cremation Services