NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--It may be one of the oldest professions in the world, but one thing is for certain – the funeral industry is changing with the times. Over the last 18 months, an overwhelming 67% of funeral directors have embraced social networking services like Facebook and LinkedIn, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Expressing Sympathy Advisory Council (ESAC). An equally impressive 64% of respondents reported seeing an increase in the number of people reaching out to them as a result of opening a Facebook page.
”More and more funeral professionals are recognizing the importance of building an online presence for themselves,” says Anthony Kaniuk, Associate Publisher at Kates Boylston, a leading publisher of funeral and cemetary publications, and a member of the ESAC, which promotes the idea of celebrating life as a means to coping with grief. “When you lose a loved one, you are at your most vulnerable and many people are using the Internet to research their options. It absolutely makes sense for funeral directors to get online and let people know they are there for them.”
Among the most popular social networking services that have had the greatest impact, Facebook led the pack with 44% of the vote. Others like YouTube and LinkedIn lagged behind with 13% each, while Twitter and Myspace each had only 3% of the vote.
About the Expressing Sympathy Advisory Council
Founded in 2010, the Expressing Sympathy Advisory Council (ESAC) is committed to raising greater awareness about the deathcare profession and promoting the idea of celebrating life as a means to coping with grief. Members include leading professionals in the deathcare field from across the nation, including funeral directors, grief counselors, florists, life celebrants and authors. Visit facebook.com/expressingsympathy for more information.