Written by Natalie Chapman, Passare Content

A few of our recent articles explored technology funeral homes can use to connect with Generation X and Baby Boomers.

But we haven’t talked about their children, the Millennials.

Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996, a period when iconic technologies were first released, such as IBM introducing their first portable computer in 1981 to the introduction of DVD players in 1996. Millennials grew up in a digital age and saw technology become a part of their everyday life.

They used early social media platforms (remember MySpace?), had portable MP3 players (iPods, anyone?), and grew up with video game consoles. As technology continued to progress, Millennials quickly embraced it. Now, 93% of Millennials own and use a smartphone, and 19% only use their smartphone to surf the internet. 

And when engaging with businesses, Millennials will likely want to interact digitally.

While the oldest Millennials might not be your target audience yet, there are ways you can establish a connection with them now to earn their trust and loyalty.

In this article, we will highlight 3 key things to remember when working with Millennials to help you connect with them.

#1: Connect with them on social media

With 84% of Millennials on Facebook, connecting with them on social media sounds like an easy win. But using social platforms to connect with Millennials is more than getting to follow or like your page.

When viewing your funeral home’s Facebook page, they want to see more than obituaries and service times. While those are important, younger generations want to see the unique ways you serve families.

Here are 3 ideas you can try to create an engaging social media presence that will resonate with Millennials:

Idea 1: Add personality to your page

Promote your staff members and what they enjoy most about serving families! This allows Millennials to get to know your business. Try candid images or videos to connect with followers.

Idea 2: Showcase your creativity with memorialization

Have you ever seen a viral video of a touching funeral service? There’s a reason it went viral! Millennials crave personal and unique moments, so showing off your ability to make each service unique lets them know you care about uniquely honoring each individual.

Idea 3: Highlight your business values

In a recent survey from Forbes, 44% of millennials said they made choices about where to work based on personal values. As consumers, they often do the same.

You can highlight your business values on social media by sharing about service projects, community events, or causes your business is passionate about. 

Want more ideas about connecting with your audience on social media? Check out this blog.

#2: Offer ways to plan online

When working with Millennials, technology is your friend.

Pew Research found 25% of surveyed Millennials and Gen Z adults reported spending 20-29 hours using a smartphone per week. That’s the same number of hours as a part-time job!

With Millennials using technology every day, they’ll likely want the most digital (and convenient) options available when interacting with businesses.

And if you think they won’t want to interact with your funeral home online, think again!

In a recent study we did in partnership with McKee Wallwork + Co., we found 7 different consumer types with unique preferences and attitudes toward funerals. Of the seven segments, two skewed toward the Millennial age range: the Resolute Rookies and the Future Funerals. 

42% of Resolute Rookies expressed they were comfortable planning a funeral online compared to 45% of Future Funerals. The average was 39%.

This data shows that Millennials are more comfortable making funeral arrangements online than other generations. Here are 3 ways you can give Millennials an easy, digital way to plan a service with Passare’s Planning Center:

1. Allow them to work on the obituary online from home.

2. Provide an easy way to upload photos for the service - just like Google Drive, email, or Dropbox, but easier!

3. Simplify communication with your funeral home by sending the family real-time updates.

Technology equals convenience to Millennials (and less paperwork for your funeral home!).

#3: Gain their trust

To connect with Millennials, they have to find you trustworthy. A study from Salesforce found that 97% of Millennials want honest, transparent, and consistent communication when working with a company.

The study from McKee Wallwork + Co. also revealed younger segments were less trusting of funeral homes:

• 39% of Resolute Rookies trust funeral directors

• 46% of Future Funerals trust funeral directors

This lack of trust could be due to lower exposure to funerals or even misconceptions Millennials might have. Either way, you can increase their trust in your funeral home by involving them in the planning process as much as possible and being transparent.

Here are 2 technologies in Passare that help you do just that:

#1: Planning Center 

With Passare’s Planning Center, you can experience transparent communication, with everything in one place. Work with the family from wherever they are on paperwork, the obituary, service details, picking out merchandise, and more. Learn more about the Planning Center with this virtual tour. >>>

#2: Barcode Tracking

When families choose to do business with your funeral home, they trust you with personal belongings, valuable heirlooms, and most importantly, their loved one. Give them 100% confidence in the security and safety of items at your funeral home with real-time, accurate updates with Barcode Tracking.

💡What is Barcode Tracking in Passare? Read this article to learn more. >>>

Key takeaways: Connecting with Millennials

From these insights, we can see that Millennials are tech-savvy, desire personalized service, and want to work with businesses they know and trust.

Allow Millennials to get to know your funeral home by connecting with them on social media. And with the right technology, you can offer them convenient online options that meet their unique needs.

With Passare, you can provide Millennials with online at-need planning while improving your communication and backend processes. But these tools don’t just benefit Millennials; they benefit your team, your vendors, and your families!

Check Passare out today by booking a demo with one of our team members.