3 Mega-Trends That Matter for Marketing This Summer

May 20, 2025

And how smart funeral professionals are staying ahead

As we head into summer, marketers across industries are feeling a mix of optimism and pressure. 


While the economy shows signs of resilience and AI continues to spark curiosity, marketing teams are still facing tight budgets, intense competition, and rising consumer expectations. 


For funeral professionals, the key isn’t to do more — it’s to do the right things better. 


Here are three marketing trends worth paying attention to — and how to turn them into real results. 


1. Your Website Is Still Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool 


Your website is more than a digital presence — it’s the foundation of your entire marketing ecosystem." Yet too many funeral home websites are stuck in the past — slow to load, hard to navigate, or not built for mobile. 


That’s a missed opportunity. 


A high-performing website should make your firm easy to find, easy to trust, and easy to connect with — especially when families are searching under stress. It’s your first impression, your credibility check, and often, the difference between a bounce and a call. 


Tribute Technology Websites are designed specifically for funeral homes — mobile-friendly, fast, and customized to reflect your brand. Paired with our marketing services, they create an effortless path from discovery to decision. 


2. Trust Starts With Visibility — and Visibility Starts With Search 


It sounds simple, but it's the foundation of modern marketing: if families can’t find you, they can’t choose you. Search engines remain the #1 discovery tool for funeral homes, but consumer behaviors are changing fast. 


Today’s users expect relevant, helpful results — instantly. That means your funeral home’s search engine marketing (SEM) strategy needs to be both technically sound and emotionally attuned. Pages must load fast, answer questions clearly, and be designed for mobile-first visitors who are often searching under stress. 


Tribute Technology’s Search Engine Marketing tools help ensure your firm shows up when and where it matters most — with speed, clarity, and compassion. 


3. Your Data Is Telling You Something — Use It 


Your website, obituary pages, and social media aren’t just digital tools — they’re powerful sources of information. Every click, scroll, and search reveals something about what families need and how they navigate their grief journey online. 


Are they pausing on certain obituary sections? Are they bouncing after a few seconds? Are they engaging with Tribute Walls, service information, or memorial products? 


When you connect these behavioral signals, you can personalize the experience, reduce friction, and guide families more intentionally — all while improving your marketing performance. 


Tribute Technology’s behavioral marketing uses data from obituaries, site traffic, and social channels to help you deliver more personalized, responsive service — at every touchpoint. 


 


Final Thought: Smart Marketing Is Measured Marketing 


These trends aren’t just theories — they’re backed by data from real-world users and leading marketers. The most successful firms are investing in what works: a strong website, smart search visibility, actionable data, and trust built through experience. 


Want to see how your marketing stacks up this summer? Let’s talk. 


 


Access Digital Transformation
July 30, 2026
A year after integrating with Chptr, Tribute Technology customers can now reach a quarter of a billion monthly radio listeners through the same one-click workflow that already powers televised memorial announcements. WAUNAKEE, Wis. — July 30, 2026 — Tribute Technology today announced that its integration with Chptr now extends beyond local television to include radio through Chptr's expanded partnership with iHeartMedia. Already adopted by more than 100 funeral homes, the expanded integration gives funeral homes access to the television and radio audiences most likely to learn about a passing, attend a service, and support grieving families, all through the same one-click obituary workflow. One year ago, Tribute Technology embedded Chptr's broadcast memorial technology directly into its platform, making it possible for funeral homes to transform an obituary into a professionally produced television memorial announcement without leaving the system they already use every day. Today, that same integration includes nationwide radio distribution alongside television, giving funeral homes access to all 210 U.S. television markets and more than 90 percent of U.S. radio stations reaching a quarter of a billion monthly listeners, all without additional software, data entry, or training. More than 100 funeral homes have already enrolled in the new radio service, reflecting the success of Chptr's existing television integration and the continued demand for trusted broadcast memorial announcements. For funeral homes, the value of broadcast isn't simply reach. It's reaching the right audience. Adults 55 and older remain among the most loyal local television viewers, while radio reaches 87% of U.S. adults every week, more than any other single media platform. Together, television and radio continue to be among the nation's most trusted sources of local news and information, making them uniquely effective channels for community memorial announcements. "This is exactly what we look for in a partnership," said J.B. Showalter, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at Chptr. "Tribute Technology already sits inside the daily workflow of thousands of funeral homes. Bringing our production platform, media partnerships, and nationwide television and radio distribution into that same workflow means families get a meaningful new way to share the news of a passing, without asking funeral professionals to change how they already serve families." For families, the expanded integration means memorial announcements can now reach more of the people whose lives were touched through the trusted local media they already know. For funeral homes, it provides another meaningful way to serve families while reinforcing their role as a trusted community resource. "Over the last year, we've seen that families truly value having their loved one's obituary shared on local television," said ​Anthony Harris, Location Manager at Oak Hill Funeral and Cremation Services. "No single place reaches everyone. Some people watch the news. Others hear the local radio station on the way to work. Adding radio gives us another trusted way to help families reach more of the people who would want to know. It's another meaningful service we can provide with every arrangement." The addition of radio builds on a year of successful television distribution through the existing Tribute Technology integration. "Our responsibility is to continually strengthen the platform funeral homes depend on every day," said Craig Greenseid, CEO of Tribute Technology. "When we can bring meaningful new capabilities into that workflow without adding complexity, our customers benefit. Expanding our integration with Chptr is another example of our commitment to helping funeral professionals better serve families through the technology they already trust." The expanded integration is now available to all Tribute Technology customers. Learn more at Tribute Spotlights | TV Obituaries | Tribute Technology .  About Tribute Technology Tribute Technology is a leading provider of software and services for the death care profession, helping funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, and online publishers better serve families through connected technology. Its integrated platform simplifies operations, strengthens family engagement, and powers one of North America's largest digital obituary networks. More than 9,000 funeral homes rely on Tribute Technology solutions to support the families they serve. About Chptr Founded in 2020 and headquartered in New York, Chptr is building the distribution network for community storytelling. The company's Broadcast, Social, Video, and Slideshows offerings help funeral homes extend the reach of remembrance, connecting families with the communities that knew and cared about their loved ones. By partnering with funeral homes and media organizations, Chptr ensures life's most meaningful stories reach the people who matter most while keeping funeral professionals at the center of the experience.
July 23, 2026
Most funeral homes know they need a marketing strategy, but figuring out where to start is another matter. In this on-demand webinar, Tribute Technology's Lacey Serrago, Marketing Agency Director, breaks down the core building blocks of a clear, actionable marketing plan built for funeral professionals.
June 18, 2026
Stay ahead in funeral service with Tribute Technology's Tech Insider — your source for industry events, marketing strategies, tech tools, and innovations helping funeral homes serve families better.
June 16, 2026
Tribute Technology's Trend ReCON 2026 brought funeral directors together in Nashville for two days of peer learning, real connections, and hands-on sessions.
May 19, 2026
Technology built around care. See how Tribute Technology is helping funeral homes streamline operations, write better obituaries, and extend their reach — without adding work for your staff.
April 16, 2026
Stay up to date on the latest in funeral service technology — from a national Times Square campaign to new software partnerships, a fresh case study, and events you won't want to miss.
April 8, 2026
Tribute Technology partners with Life Celebration to help funeral homes deliver personalized memorial products quickly, with next-day turnaround and streamlined operations.
February 18, 2026
Discover the 10 expectations families have for funeral home websites in 2026—from modern obituaries to mobile design and online tools that build trust.
February 12, 2026
Families are planning funerals online. Learn how Tribute Technology supports NFDA’s Arranger Training to help funeral professionals adapt and serve families better.
February 5, 2026
NFDA announces Tribute Technology as a sponsor of its Arranger Training Program, supporting funeral professionals with modern, family-centered education.
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