Why Fast Death Notices Drive Better SEO, Happier Families, and Stronger Results

July 10, 2025

Post early. Show up first. Serve better.

If there’s one small habit that can make a big impact on your funeral home’s success, it’s this: 


Post a death notice online immediately. 


Even if the full obituary or service details aren’t finalized, getting a name and basic information up fast benefits everyone — families, your team, and your visibility. 


Here’s why speed matters: 


1. Be First on Google 


When a death occurs, people search for the obituary — and fast. So do third-party obituary sites and newspapers. 


If you wait, they may get indexed first, sending traffic away from your site. 


Posting even a simple death notice early helps your funeral home rank first — right where it belongs. 


2. Fewer Questions, Faster Comfort 


Loved ones want to know: Is the obituary up? Can I share the link? 


A quick death notice gives them an immediate answer and something to share. 


With "subscribe to updates" features, friends and family can get notified when more details are added — reducing back-and-forth and giving peace of mind right away. 


3. More Time Means More Engagement 


The earlier a notice goes live, the more it can: 


  • Collect condolences 
  • Drive flower or memorial tree orders 
  • Be shared via social, text, and email 
  • Boost time-on-site and visibility 

Tribute Technology platform data shows funeral homes that post within three days see up to 30% more traffic. That’s more visibility, more family support, and greater long-term value. 


4. A Small Shift, Big Impact 


Fast death notices are a simple operational change that: 


  • Reduce confusion 
  • Improve search rankings 
  • Offer a clear, immediate connection 
  • Lighten your team’s load 


Want to learn more? 
 

Watch our free webinar: Fixing the Friction: Real Solutions to the Challenges You Face Every Day 

 


Watch Now
October 8, 2025
Tribute Technology Releases Landmark Obituary Study: Traffic, Engagement, and Industry Threats  New research shows organic obituary traffic surging, aggregators taking sessions and revenue, and Tribute-powered pages winning top Google rankings WAUNAKEE, Wis., Oct. 6, 2025 — Tribute Technology announced the publication of Benchmarking the Modern Obituary: Traffic, Engagement, and Industry Threats , an analysis of more than one billion obituary sessions. The report shows how online obituaries fuel funeral home growth, where traffic originates, and how third-party aggregators divert audiences and purchases away from local firms. “Obituaries are the entry point to the modern funeral home,” said Craig Greenseid, CEO of Tribute Technology. “This study gives owners the data to protect that entry point, so families, condolences, brand awareness, and commerce stay with the firm that served them.” Obituaries are the top driver of funeral home website traffic, attracting more than 3.5 billion visits annually, with obituary pages drawing five times more visits than all other pages. Sixty percent of visitors are women over age 50, most within 25 miles of the funeral home, aligning with the primary pre-need decision-maker demographic. When it comes to obituaries, the study shows speed and substance matter. Obituaries posted within two days of death drive 30 percent more visits and engagements, while those with 500 or more words generate twice as many. The study confirms that 75 percent of obituary visits come from organic search or social sharing and underscores SEO-first design, especially on obituaries. This helps ensure families find their funeral home directly rather than an aggregator sites, which divert traffic and dollars. Funeral homes lose up to 260 sessions per obituary, reducing revenue, guestbook entries, and brand equity. “Funeral homes want confidence that families will find obituaries on their own website, not an aggregator, and that once they land on that obituary, it drives the engagements, such as condolence messages or traffic to the other pages on the funeral home website.” said Andy Bourke, Chief Digital Officer at Tribute Technology. “Our platform is engineered to rank well, and we are always improving it. That keeps the conversation where it belongs and strengthens long-term family relationships.” The study also notes that while AI assistants such as ChatGPT are growing, Google Search dominates with 150 billion monthly visits compared to ChatGPT’s 4 billion. Tribute Technology uses proven SEO structures and schema to ensure obituaries remain visible across both traditional and AI-driven search. Finally, the report details the decline of print obituaries and growth of digital memorialization. Digital postings now account for 65 percent of death notices. Tribute Technology is expanding digital distribution through partnerships like Tribute Spotlights with Chptr, which brings obituaries to local television audiences. Benchmarking the Modern Obituary is available from Tribute Technology. For details and product updates, visit the Tribute Technology News page. About Tribute Technology Tribute Technology is a leading provider of software and services for funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories, helping professionals serve families through best-in-class websites, management tools, and digital memorialization solutions. The company is headquartered in Waunakee, Wisconsin. Media Contact Heather McWilliams Mierzejewski VP of Marketing, Tribute Technology press@tributetech.com | heather.mierzejewski@tributetech.com | 303-717-3774
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WAUNAKEE, Wisconsin — Sept. 29, 2025 — Tribute Technology has announced the launch of a suite of new artificial intelligence tools designed to reduce administrative work for funeral professionals, cut down on online spam, and create a smoother online experience for families. The new features — including AI-powered guest book moderation , automated event detail capture , and dynamic spam filtering for online forms — are now live on Tribute Technology websites and will be rolled out to all clients this fall. In addition, every client will receive complimentary access to the AI Tribute Obituary Writer, the company’s award-winning tool that helps create meaningful obituaries in minutes. “These advancements reflect our commitment to building technology that gives funeral homes time back while giving families a dignified and respectful online experience,” said Matt Powell, Chief Technology Officer at Tribute Technology. “By integrating AI directly into the websites our clients already use, we’re cutting out unnecessary steps, automating repetitive tasks, and freeing up staff to focus on the families they serve. All while giving families a better online experience.” Among the new features is an AI guest book and form moderation system, which automatically reviews condolence messages and submissions to screen out spam, offensive remarks, or irrelevant content. Another tool, AI event capture , identifies and pulls service details like visitation times directly into the obituary editor, reducing the need for manual entry. Tribute Technology has also introduced AI dynamic form moderation, which filters out junk inquiries before they hit a funeral home’s inbox. Together, the tools create a smoother, safer online environment while cutting down on routine tasks. To further support funeral professionals, Tribute Technology is including the AI Tribute Obituary Writer for all website clients at no additional cost. The tool drafts polished obituary text in minutes, helping funeral directors provide families with meaningful tributes without adding to their workload. “This isn’t about replacing human judgment — it’s about eliminating the mindless tasks that steal time from what matters,” said Courtney Gould Miller, President of Commercial Markets at Tribute Technology. “What sets these tools apart is the real impact for funeral homes: less time lost to spam, forms, and data entry, and more time to focus on families. We’re not using AI because it’s trendy. We’re using it because funeral homes need every advantage they can get, and if technology gives back even 30 minutes a day to spend with families, or with your own family, that time is priceless.” The tools began rolling out in August and will be available to all Tribute Technology clients this fall without the need for setup, training, or disruption. About Tribute Technology Tribute Technology empowers funeral professionals with best-in-class software solutions, serving over 9,000 providers worldwide. Its innovative offerings — including websites, marketing solutions, management software, online planning, memorial keepsakes, and payment processing — help funeral professionals save time and focus on families. To learn more, visit www.tributetech.com . Media Contact: Heather McWilliams Mierzejewski VP of Marketing Heather.mierzejewski@tributetech.com 303-717-3774
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