When every town in America had a newspaper, obituaries were a regular section that was printed on a weekly or daily basis. It served as a public announcement for a person’s death, providing brief details about their life and remaining loved ones. Sometimes it also included information about funeral services so that others in the community could attend and pay their last respects.
Today, as more local newspapers have ended their runs, obituaries have found a new home online. Most often the funeral home handling the services will publish a full obituary that you write on their website. Many towns and cities also operate digital newspapers and websites where obituaries may be featured.
For many families the question isn’t whether they should publish an obituary but rather how to share it with others so they know where to find it. The answer is often social media.
More than half of U.S. adults have a Facebook and/or Instagram account alone. These are also the most appropriate platforms for social media posts that feature obituaries.
The information below will help guide you through the process of sharing obituaries on social media like these so that more family and friends can remember your loved one.
Putting Together a Social Media Post That Mentions the Obituary
Creating a social media post about the obituary can seem like a monumental task, but it can be simple and even part of the healing process with the right approach. The first thing to know is that there’s no judgement. Others aren’t going to analyze each word, and they understand that you are grieving.
It’s perfectly fine to keep the message short and to the point. You’ll also want to direct people to the full obituary on your funeral home’s website. You may be able to include a link, or you may need to include the URL itself.
A few other things to consider when you’re creating the post are how to encourage engagement or if you want to turn the comments for the post off. Some platforms give you full control, allowing who can comment on the post.
Examples of Social Media Mentions For Obituaries
We understand that sometimes the hardest part is just getting started. Here are a few social media post examples that families can customize to share an obituary on social media:
- “In loving memory of [Name], who touched our lives with kindness and grace. Please join us in celebrating their life: [Link to obituary].”
- We mourn the loss of [Name], a cherished soul. Read their story and share your memories: [Link to obituary].”
- “Honoring the life of [Name], forever in our hearts. Details and service information here: [Link to obituary].”
- “[Name]’s light will shine on through our memories. Visit their obituary to leave a tribute: [Link to obituary].”
- “With heavy hearts, we share the passing of [Name]. Join us in remembering them: [Link to obituary].”
Just a line or two is all it takes to share the obituary on social media, but if you’d like to share more that’s completely fine too.
Personalizing Obituary Social Media Posts
One of the great things about publishing obituaries online and the corresponding social media posts is how much you can personalize it compared to newspaper obituaries. You aren’t restricted to a certain word count (though shorter is usually better for social media posts). And you can add extras that aren’t possible in print.
For example, with a social media post you aren’t limited to one image. You can include a number of pictures and even videos to the post.
Another way to personalize the post is to highlight certain memories or meaningful events. You could even have a few close friends and relatives add a message to include.
Where and How to Post About the Obituary
Once you’ve put the social media post together, the question then becomes where and when to post it. There are several factors that can come into play for both that you’ll want to think through before posting.
When to Post Information About an Obituary
When you make the social media post mostly depends on whether you plan to have funeral services or not and if the obituary includes that information.
- If you plan to have funeral services or a memorial and the obituary includes that information, make the post as far in advance as possible.
- If you plan to have funeral services or a memorial but that information isn’t included in the obit you may want to post shortly after the services. That way you avoid questions about the services, especially if it’s a small gathering with close friends and family only.
- If you don’t plan to have funeral services or a memorial you can make the post whenever you feel it’s most appropriate.
Where to Post
Consider what platforms are used by the people you want to share the obituary with. You’ll want to post it wherever they are.
As mentioned above, Facebook and Instagram are two of the biggest social media platforms today. If you only post on those two platforms you’ll most likely reach the majority of people you’d like to see it. The other upside is that Facebook and Instagram accounts can be linked so that you can make the post on one platform and publish it on both.
Something else you can do is encourage others to share the post with those who knew the deceased. After all, that’s the true power of social media platforms. They allow users to help spread the word and share information.
Texas families that are in the process of arranging death care services and need assistance can count on Cremation.Green for sound guidance on all aspects of the arrangements. We can be reached 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
