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. 7, 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.  

Photo Caption:  Tribute Technology’s new report, Benchmarking the Modern Obituary, analyzes over one billion obituary sessions—revealing how obituaries drive funeral home growth, where online traffic originates, and how aggregators siphon away audiences and sales. With obituaries generating more than 3.5 billion visits annually, this study helps funeral homes protect their most valuable digital entry point.

Reimagined Exhibit Hall at ICCFA Experience 2025: More Opportunities for Engagement

STERLING, Va. (Feb 19, 2025) – Do you own a business that provides deathcare services or products? The International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA) invites you to attend the ICCFA Experience 2025 from April 30 to May 3, 2025, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year’s event introduces a reimagined Expo Hall under the theme “Three Stages: One Experience,” offering a new platform with opportunities for exhibitors and attendees alike.

A Transformed Expo Hall

The ICCFA has revamped the Expo Hall to enhance engagement and provide more opportunities for connection. Key features include:

• Two-Day Exhibition: The Expo Hall will be open for two full days. Continuing education sessions will be held across three stages directly on the floor.
• Extended Show Floor Hours: Attendees and exhibitors will benefit from an additional seven hours on the show floor, which will facilitate deeper interactions and networking. 
• Dedicated Networking Lunches: From 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 1, and Friday, May 2, the centralized ICCFA Food & Beverage Lounge within the Expo Hall will host dedicated lunch hours, allowing for relaxed networking opportunities. 

Exhibitor Opportunities

Exhibitors can showcase their latest products and services to an engaged audience of deathcare professionals eager to discover innovative solutions and industry-leading advancements. To reserve a booth, complete the 2025 Prospectus & Booth Application. Each 10×10 booth includes three free exhibit staff registrations, with additional registrations available for purchase online until Wednesday, April 23rd.

Live Virtual Floor Plan

Want to explore the exhibit hall layout or check the availability of booth spaces in real-time? The Live Virtual Floor Plan is an excellent tool for just that! It lets you view the exhibit space and check if your booth is near competitors. When you’re ready to secure your booth, ICCFA’s Supplier Relations Manager, Rick Platter, will work with you using the virtual floor plan to lock it in the best location.

Offer Your Clients FREE Day Passes to Visit Your Booth in Vegas!

Exhibitors can offer up to 10 free Expo Hall Day passes to clients to visit their Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino booth. Passes can be claimed online by April 23, 2025, by providing the unique promo code sent to exhibitors by email. Additional passes are available for $350 each.  

Hotel Accommodations

The ICCFA Experience 2025 will be held entirely at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, offering convenience and exclusive rates for attendees. Room rates start at $238 per night, plus taxes and a reduced $37 resort fee. Alternative accommodation is available at W Las Vegas (formerly Delano), with rates starting at $268 per night. The ICCFA blocks close on April 4, 2025, at 11:59 PM EDT. 

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Deathcare

Don’t miss your chance to participate in this event! The ICCFA Experience 2025 promises to be a landmark event, offering educational sessions, unparalleled networking opportunities, and a vibrant Expo Hall. 

For those interested in exhibiting, please contact ICCFA’s Supplier Relations Manager, Rick Platter, at rplatter@iccfa.com or 571.323.2985. For more information about The Experience, please visit ICCFA Annual. 

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Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation, funeral, and memorialization profession. The association is comprised of more than 10,000 members in the cemetery, funeral home, and crematory industries, as well as supplier and related businesses worldwide.