Some of us may have had the advantage of growing up in the digital age and taking to new technologies, coding, and more—easier than others. Unfortunately, Some of us feel like we cannot keep up with the times or technologies—yet may desperately wish we could utilize the new tools to create a lasting legacy for a loved one.
While there are plenty of exceptionally detailed, incredibly beginner-friendly tutorials on hosting and creating your website, you may not be technologically inclined. There’s no shame in turning to tools, software, and websites to assist in creating digital memorials to honor your deceased.
Website - Wix.com
Wix was founded in 2006 to make creating websites using Adobe Flash technology more accessible. In 2012, Wix launched a new HTML5 site builder to replace the retiring Flash, followed by an app market for users to sell their applications built with the company’s automated web development technology.
At the end of 2020, Wix statistics revealed more than 180 million registered users from around the world, and by 2023, Wix’s accessible website creator and platform has amassed more than 220 million users worldwide.
But why is Wix a great platform or tool for creating a Digital Memorial site?
- Wix allows users to create HTML5 websites and mobile sites that use their online drag-and-drop tools, which is a surprisingly fast and easy way to set up a memorial site.
- Wix is user-friendly at all levels, with several premade templates you can choose from if you do not wish to attempt to create one from scratch with the available options. You do not need to know any coding or design. At this time, Wix provides over 800 templates.
- Wix websites are responsive, meaning your loved one’s memorial website will adapt and display on any advice, from smartphones to tablets and laptops.
- Wix provides everything you need: hosting, templates, and domain names.
- Wix provides over 1 million royalty-free images, video tutorials, and 24-7 customer support.
Wix also provides a particular memorial website template that may already include all the features you wish to use to create a meaningful tribute, such as image galleries, the ability to add music, upload videos using Wix Video, integrate seamlessly to your site, add meaningful text, allow guests to leave memories, stories or comments, or create a forum where visitors can share their images and memories of a loved one.
Video Software for Memorial Videos
If you are memorializing a loved one who left many videos behind, whether digital or through social media, and wish to create a tribute. In that case, you may be overwhelmed attempting to do it yourself. Video editing can be a complex undertaking that many of us do not have the time or energy to devote to learning new software to create.
In that case, several fantastic options are available to you that can help edit imagery and video of your loved one to create a beautiful video or slide show.
Canva Video Editor
Canva Video Editor attempts to make the video editing process as easy as possible, with no need to purchase or download large, bulky programs and software that require advanced editing skills. In addition to making an easy-to-use video editor, Canva provides thousands of templates and beginner-friendly tools that can assist you in creating unique tribute videos within minutes, not hours, days, or weeks.
Videos you create with Canva can also be easily shared across social media or downloaded as a high-resolution MP4 that can be played during a memorial event or saved by friends and family members who wish to have a memorial keepsake of their loved ones.
It can be as easy as going to Canva’s site, registering, logging in, and searching for a “Tribute video” template to begin editing. If you are creating a slideshow, Canva also provides various free and paid animation features to add to the slideshow, choose fitting music, add graphics such as stickers, shapes, and illustrations that can be dragged and dropped, and edit hue, color, or using a filter overlay on a frame.
FlexClip
FlexClip offers a free complimentary memorial and tribute video maker online. This is another fantastic and easy means to create a memorial video, funeral slideshow, or tribute to a recently departed. FlexClip allows the seamless blending of photos, footage, texts, and music within moments while having full access to their new friendly video editor, beautiful video templates, and an extensive media library that can add dynamic and touching text animations.
Animoto
Animoto is another easy-to-use slideshow and video creator that will allow you to create unlimited videos, an excellent feature for those looking to create one perfect for you and your loved one. In case you have no idea where to start, directly on Animoto’s home page, you can choose the Personal category, and within the premade templates is a beautiful In Loving Memory template for you to freely customize and use to create a heartfelt memorial slide show and video.
How to Begin Creating an Online Memorial
Once you find an online tool to help you create a tribute that works for you and your family, the next step is gathering the items you wish to use. Some suggestions include:
- Compile all the essential biographical data, such as birth dates, passing dates, full name, and any places you wish to share where the deceased once lived.
- Compile and collect the best photos of your loved one to connect visitors to an online tribute. A range of photos that showcase the loved one’s life can also be used.
- Write a tribute for your loved one. If they have no instructions for this, begin thinking about how your loved one would like to be remembered or use the eulogy from their funeral to share memories or your thoughts about your loved one. Sharing an extraordinary story is often a great way to begin.
Whether you are experienced with creating videos or websites, as you can see, many fantastic online tools are available to assist you in creating a digital tribute to a loved one so dearly missed. We hope this article brings you inspiration and comfort during this difficult time.