Creating an online tribute page: step-by-step guide

Why create an online tribute page?

A digital tribute page offers a permanent space for memory, accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Loved ones who are geographically distant can gather and share their memories without distance constraints.

Unlike traditional ceremonies limited in time, this online memory allows everyone to contribute at their own pace. Photos, anecdotes and testimonials gradually enrich the portrait of the deceased.

The tribute page complements traditional funeral rituals without replacing them. It extends the virtual commemoration beyond the funeral and creates a digital gathering place for family and friends. Discover how funeral rites are evolving in the digital age.

Step 1: Choose the right platform

The choice of commemoration platform determines the experience of all contributors. Favour a simple interface, without complex registration for visitors.

Check the available customisation options: adding photos, managing messages, privacy settings. The durability of the service guarantees the longevity of the memory.

On Wolky, the Memories feature allows you to create a complete tribute page in just a few minutes. The intuitive process guides each step, from choosing photos to writing the biography. Explore the memory garden to discover concrete examples.

Step 2: Gather the essential elements

Before creating a memorial page, prepare the key elements: representative photos from different periods, important dates (birth, marriage, death), information about the ceremony if applicable.

Write a brief biography that captures the essence of the personality and life journey. Note the passions, significant accomplishments and qualities that defined the person.

Ask close family members to complete your list. Everyone holds unique memories and photos that will enrich the page. This collaborative collection already creates a first moment of sharing around the memory of the deceased.

Photos: choosing the right visual memories

Select 5 to 10 photos that illustrate the different facets of life: childhood, youth, professional life, family moments. Vary the periods to offer a complete portrait.

Favour technical quality: sharp, well-lit images in digital format. Scan old paper photos if necessary.

Ask for permission from people present in the pictures, particularly for group photos. On Wolky, you can add photos to the deceased's profile and organise them to tell a coherent visual story.

The biography: telling a life in a few lines

A touching biography remains authentic and personal. Mention the professional journey without excessive detail, then focus on what made the person unique: their passions, their humour, their generosity.

Adopt a natural tone, as if you were speaking to a friend. Avoid clichéd phrases and excessive superlatives. A length of 150 to 300 words is generally sufficient.

Include significant anecdotes that reveal character. These concrete details allow those who did not know the deceased well to discover their personality.

Step 3: Create and personalise the page

The process of creating a tribute page takes just a few minutes on a well-designed platform. Create an account or log in, then follow the guided steps.

Fill in the essential information: full name, dates, place of residence. Add the prepared biography and upload the selected photos. Organise them in the order that best tells the story.

On Wolky, creating a memorial page integrates naturally into the process of publishing an obituary. In just a few clicks, you establish a complete and accessible memory space. Publish an obituary and simultaneously create the tribute page.

Personalise the appearance and tone

Choose a representative cover photo: smiling portrait, beloved landscape or significant moment. This image sets the tone for the entire page.

Organise content logically: biography first, then chronological photos, finally space for messages. The structure facilitates visitors' navigation.

The overall tone should reflect the deceased's personality. A joyful person deserves a warm page, a discreet intellectual calls for more sobriety. Authenticity takes precedence over conventions.

Set privacy parameters

Decide who can view the page: completely public, accessible only via link, or private with password. Each option meets different privacy protection needs.

Configure message moderation: automatic or manual validation before publication. Moderation protects against inappropriate content whilst maintaining openness to testimonials.

Determine who can contribute: family only, close friends, or anyone with the link. The balance between openness and control depends on your family situation and preferences.

Step 4: Invite loved ones to contribute

Once the page is created, inform those around you of its existence. Share the direct link by email, SMS or private messaging. Briefly explain the objective: gathering memories and testimonials.

Use social media with discretion. A sober message on Facebook or WhatsApp can quickly reach a wide circle, but respect the wish for discretion of some families.

Actively encourage contributions: "Share an anecdote that touched you" works better than a simple "Leave a message". The specific invitation generates more authentic testimonials. Discover how to write online condolences with tact.

Encourage messages and testimonials

Ask open-ended questions to stimulate contributions: "What memory do you have of your first meeting?" or "What quality struck you most?". Specific themes facilitate expression.

Reassure about form: no writing talent is required, authenticity matters more than style. A few sincere sentences are worth more than a long conventional text.

Testimonials have therapeutic value for those who write them and those who read them. They transform the tribute page into a true collective memory, rich with multiple perspectives on a single life.

Step 5: Enrich the page over time

An online memory remains alive through regular additions. Rediscover forgotten photos when sorting through belongings and add them to the page. Each new piece of content revives memories.

Publish messages on significant dates: birthdays, family celebrations, the deceased's favourite seasons. These publications maintain the connection and invite loved ones to gather together.

Welcome late anecdotes. Distant acquaintances sometimes discover the page months after the death and share previously unknown memories. This gradual accumulation enriches the portrait. Learn how to preserve memory across generations.

Mark important dates

Use the page to commemorate the birthday, the date of death, or celebrations that held particular importance. These moments of collective remembrance bring together the dispersed family.

Wolky's Memories feature allows you to schedule reminders for these dates. You receive a notification and can publish a message or photo that evokes that specific moment.

These digital rituals maintain a living connection with the deceased. They also offer a structured framework for expressing grief, particularly beneficial during the first year following the death.

Examples of successful tribute pages

The sober and factual page suits discreet people. Concise biography, 3-4 representative photos, moderated messages. The elegance of simplicity honours a life lived away from the spotlight.

The page rich in family anecdotes multiplies little stories: favourite recipes, typical expressions, endearing habits. This warm approach brings the personality back to life in its everyday details.

The collaborative page with numerous testimonials gathers dozens of contributions. Colleagues, neighbours, childhood friends share their perspectives. The diversity of voices composes a multidimensional portrait.

No model is superior. The best page faithfully reflects who the deceased was and meets the family's needs. Draw inspiration from these original tribute ideas to personalise your approach.

Combine tribute page and obituary

The obituary informs those around you of the death and the details of the ceremony. The tribute page extends this announcement by creating a permanent space for memory and remembrance.

On Wolky, these two functions integrate naturally. For 180 CHF, you publish a complete obituary and simultaneously create a memorial page. The unified process simplifies procedures at a difficult time.

This complementarity offers a complete solution: immediate information via the obituary, then lasting virtual commemoration via the tribute page. Visitors naturally move from one to the other. View existing obituaries to see concrete examples.

Practical tips for a lasting page

Regularly back up the page content: download photos, copy messages into a document. This precaution protects against accidental data loss or platform closure.

Designate a backup administrator, a trusted loved one who can manage the page if you are no longer able to do so. Transmit login credentials to them securely.

Inform the extended family of the page's existence and location. Note this information in your important documents so that future generations can access it.

The longevity of online memory requires minimal planning. These few actions ensure that the memory crosses the years and remains accessible to descendants who did not know the deceased.

Creating an online tribute page allows you to honour the memory of a loved one in a lasting and accessible way. By following these steps, choosing the right platform, gathering photos and memories, personalising the content, inviting loved ones to participate and enriching the page over time, you build a space for remembrance that crosses the years.

A memorial page is not frozen in time. It evolves with testimonials, anniversaries and new shared memories. It becomes a living place where memory is transmitted from generation to generation.

On Wolky, you can publish an obituary and create a personalised tribute page in just a few minutes. Add photos, collect messages from loved ones and build a memory space accessible 24/7. A simple, dignified and accessible place to honour those who matter.