The short answer: A funeral home should post obituaries on its own website first, then share a link to Facebook. The website obituary is permanent, searchable, and under the funeral home's control, while Facebook posts get buried quickly and are hard for families to find later.
Why a funeral home website beats Facebook for obituaries
A funeral home website gives each obituary a permanent, findable page that families and friends can visit for years. Facebook posts disappear down the feed within days, and searching for an old obituary on Facebook is frustrating. A website obituary can be indexed by Google, so when someone searches the deceased person's name, the funeral home's page appears. That brings the funeral home visibility and trust. Facebook is good for announcing that an obituary is available, but the website is where the full record lives.
What to put on an obituary page on your funeral home website
An obituary page on a funeral home website should include the full name, dates of birth and death, a photo, the service details, and a short life story. Add a guestbook or condolence form so visitors can leave messages. Include a way to share the page on social media. List any memorial donation information. Keep the layout clean and readable on phones, because many people will read it there. A simple template with a photo, text, and a form is enough; you do not need fancy features.
How to use Facebook alongside your funeral home website
Facebook works best as a pointer to the obituary on your funeral home website, not as the main place to read it. Post a short announcement with the name and a link to the full obituary page. That way, Facebook friends see the news, then click through to your site for details and to leave condolences. You can also boost the post to reach more local people. This approach keeps your website as the central, permanent record while still using Facebook's reach.
Steps to publish an obituary on your funeral home website
Publishing an obituary on your funeral home website takes a few simple steps if you use a ready-made template. Follow this order:
- Get the family's approval on the final text and photo.
- Log in to your website and open the obituaries section.
- Type the full name, dates, service details, and life story.
- Upload a clear photo of the deceased.
- Add a condolence form or guestbook if your template has one.
- Publish the page and copy its web address.
- Share that link on your funeral home's Facebook page.
Each obituary usually takes 15 to 30 minutes to post this way.
The cost and time of posting obituaries on your own website
Posting obituaries on your own funeral home website costs very little if you use a ready-made template. A Black7 template is $29 one-time, and you can add an obituary section yourself. The time cost is about 15 to 30 minutes per obituary to type the details, upload a photo, and publish. If you use a funeral home management software, it may push obituaries to your site automatically, but that often comes with a monthly fee. For a small funeral home, a simple website with a manual obituary page is affordable and manageable.
What to skip when posting obituaries online
Skip posting full obituaries only on Facebook with no website backup. Skip using a personal profile instead of a business page. Skip making the obituary hard to find by burying it under several clicks. Skip long, unformatted blocks of text that are hard to read on a phone. Skip charging families extra to post an obituary on your site if that is not your standard practice. Also skip copying obituaries from other sites without permission; always get the family's approval on the final text.
How to make your funeral home obituaries easy to find
Making funeral home obituaries easy to find means giving each one its own page with a clear title that includes the person's full name. Use a simple web address like yourfuneralhome.com/obituaries/john-smith. Add a search box on your obituaries page so visitors can look up names. Link to recent obituaries from your homepage. Submit your sitemap to Google so new obituaries get indexed quickly. Share each obituary on your Facebook page with a link back to your site. These steps help families and friends find the obituary when they search online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I post obituaries on my funeral home website if I'm not tech-savvy?
Yes, posting obituaries on a funeral home website can be simple. Many ready-made website templates include an obituary section where you type the text and upload a photo, then click publish. You do not need to know code. If you can write an email and attach a picture, you can post an obituary. A one-time template purchase is often enough to get started.
Do families expect to find obituaries on the funeral home's website?
Many families and friends now expect to find obituaries on the funeral home's website because it is a permanent place they can revisit. Facebook is where they might first see the news, but they often go to the funeral home site for full details, service times, and to leave condolences. Having obituaries on your own site meets that expectation and keeps your funeral home visible.
Should I charge families to post obituaries on my funeral home website?
Whether to charge families for posting obituaries on your funeral home website is a business decision, not a legal requirement. Some funeral homes include it as part of their service, while others charge a small fee. Check what other funeral homes in your area do and what your families expect. If you do charge, be clear about it upfront so there are no surprises.
How long should obituaries stay on my funeral home website?
Obituaries on a funeral home website can stay up indefinitely because they serve as a permanent record. Many funeral homes keep them online forever, organized by year, so families can find them later. If you have concerns about privacy, you can remove them after a certain period, but most families appreciate having a lasting place to visit. Check with your state or local rules if unsure.
What if a family asks me to remove an obituary from my website?
If a family asks you to remove an obituary from your funeral home website, you should honor that request. The family has the right to control the information about their loved one. Remove the obituary promptly and confirm with them that it is done. You might also remove the Facebook post if you shared one. Keeping good relationships with families is more important than keeping the obituary online.
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