The Latest News From Melon Local

Stay in the know with the latest news in digital marketing, best practices and updates from Melon Local.

4 Questions to Ask Before Granting GBP Access

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most valuable digital assets your business owns. It’s often the first thing potential customers see when they search for your business, making it a key driver of organic calls, website visits and foot traffic. In fact, a fully optimized GBP gets

Read More »
Cian Murphy, Paid Search Manager at Melon Local, featured in a “Melon of the Month” spotlight graphic.

Melon Spotlight: Cian Murphy

As one of our Paid Search Managers, Cian Murphy’s impact on Melon Local’s digital ad campaigns is tremendous. He’s a go-to expert for fine-tuning budgets, optimizing ads and implementing strategic adjustments to keep thousands of campaigns delivering fresh, quality leads for our agents. We took some time to speak to Cian to learn more about his meticulous approach to paid search, the rewarding challenges of his role and what he

Read More »
Woman holding a contract beside the headline “Beware of These Scare Tactics” on a Melon Local digital marketing blog graphic.

Beware of These 13 Digital Marketing Scare Tactics

The digital marketing world is filled with hidden traps and misleading claims designed to exploit your fears. But the reality is that most of these claims aren’t just exaggerated — they can be misleading. Let’s unmask some of these spooky scare tactics used by other marketing companies and talk about how Melon Local uses facts over fear in our approach to digital marketing. 1.  Guaranteed Placement On Google Ranking If

Read More »
Alisha and Judy featured in a “Know Your Melon” graphic for a blog about what to expect on a Melon Local demo call.

Get to Know Melon Local on a Demo Call: What to Expect

Alisha and Judy may have had a few surprises for each other in the video above, but, as our Directors of Business Development, they do know a lot about what it takes to level up your agency with Melon Local! So, what can you expect when you schedule a demo call with them? Let’s break it down! Tailoring the Demo to Your Interests After a warm introduction from one of

Read More »
Melon Local team member sharing emerging social media trends to help businesses stay competitive and grow their online presence

Social Media Trends to Keep You Growing This Season

Just like sweater weather and pumpkin spice, social media trends change just as quickly as the seasons, so it’s essential for insurance agents not to “fall” behind on the latest digital happenings across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. Let’s explore some of the latest social media trends that should be a part of your strategy, such as taking advantage of trending audio, video ideas and authentic storytelling. Sound Off with

Read More »
Mario Giraldo, insurance agent, featured in Melon Local's Interview with an Agent series discussing agency growth, customer relationships, and business success

Interview with an Agent: Mario Giraldo

Growing up in an immigrant household in the U.S., Mario Giraldo became well aware of the obstacles Spanish speakers face trying to navigate the insurance world. He often served as his family’s translator for official matters and found it frustrating how his parents would often be dismissed or left without answers due to their language barrier. This ultimately drove his passion to become an insurance agent in Kansas City, MO,

Read More »
Man speaking into a microphone beside the headline “Navigating the Noise” on a Melon Local insurance marketing blog graphic.

Navigating Market Fluctuations in the Insurance Industry

Are you staying competitive in the ever-changing insurance landscape? Melon Local can help! The truth is that the insurance industry has faced an unprecedented wave of market fluctuations driven by factors such as the lingering aftermath of the pandemic, persisting inflation, disruption in supply chains, natural disasters, evolving consumer trends and changing government regulations and laws. As you are familiar with, not only has the insurance industry been impacted, but

Read More »
Man speaking into a microphone beside the headline “Navigating the Noise” on a Melon Local insurance marketing blog graphic.

Melon Spotlight: Richard Viado

Paid Search Manager Richard Viado often works behind the scenes, but his impact is always front and center. From creating lead-generating Facebook ad campaigns to diving deep into data, Richard’s expertise drives quality results for Melon Local.  We caught up with him to learn more about his typical day and what updates may be in store with Facebook! Ready for your paid search to pay off? Book a demo today!

Read More »
Scott Grates, insurance industry speaker and agency leader, promoting his Melon University workshop on building referral-driven growth

Meet Melon University Speaker Scott Grates

Following the 2007–2008 Financial Crisis, insurance agent Scott Grates found himself in a tight spot. As a brand new agency owner with a wife and two babies at home, he had to make every dollar count. So, he tested every marketing strategy he could — Yellow Pages, direct mail, telemarketing and newspaper ads. A year later, he reviewed his various marketing efforts and realized there was one clear outlier that

Read More »
Participants holding illuminated lanterns during the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night event, supporting patients and families affected by blood cancer

How to Help Melon Local Support Light the Night

Melon Local is excited to once again participate in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light the Night walk in Las Vegas on November 2. Since 2021, we’ve been proud supporters of this cause, raising over $5,000 to help fund the LLS’s life-saving work. For us, it’s more than just a walk — it’s an opportunity to stand with survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and contribute to the fight against

Read More »

Latest Blog Posts

Business professional using a laptop to review and organize marketing strategies during a campaign refresh

Insurance Ads for Your New Agency

New to your market? Insurance ads can help you alert your community that your agency is open for business! The goal of insurance advertising is to get your agency in front of potential policyholders when they’re searching for services like yours. Following these tips, you can make the most out of your insurance ads. 1. Set attainable goals. Before creating ads, you first need to decide what your goals are

Read More »
Business professional reviewing marketing strategies on a laptop and identifying opportunities for improvement

Guide to Google’s Search Engine Results Pages

When you plug a search query into Google, millions of results populate in the blink of an eye. Depending on your query, the format of the search engine results page, or SERP, can vary. If you were to submit a search for a local restaurant, then you’re likely to see Google Business Profile listings at the top of the page. If you search for a pair of leather boots, then

Read More »
Business professional smiling while reviewing marketing campaigns and planning improvements on a laptop

How to Respond to Reviews at Your Agency

We probably don’t have to tell you that reviews are important to your business, but just in case you missed it, we’ll say it again. Reviews are important to your business! In fact, an incredible 93% of people say that online reviews have impacted their purchasing decisions. To capture the attention of an increasingly online crowd, you’ll need to wow on review sites. Getting reviews isn’t the only factor necessary

Read More »
Business professional evaluating marketing strategies and identifying areas for improvement during a campaign review

What is the Google Algorithm, Anyway?

Our Las Vegas roots tell us it’d be a smart bet to put money on where your insurance agency’s clients come from. Primarily, you’re getting word-of-mouth referrals from previous happy clients. And the second-largest group is from Google searches for “insurance agency” or “insurance agent near me”, right? If so, you’re doing something right. If not, it’s probably time for some adjustments to your insurance agency marketing plan. Either way,

Read More »
Business professional reviewing marketing performance and organizing campaign improvements on a laptop

Interview with an Agent: Mike Paffhausen

Prior to becoming an insurance agent, Mike Paffhausen lived another life as a civil engineer working in water resources and environmental services. However, with a family full of agents, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the insurance industry was his calling. Flashforward, Mike is a captive agent with six years under his belt at his Butte, Montana agency. Throughout his years in the industry, Mike has counted himself lucky to

Read More »
Cleaning supplies arranged on a surface to represent refreshing and improving marketing campaigns

Spring Cleaning for Your Marketing Campaigns

It’s official! We’re now in Q2 of 2021. Where has the time gone?! Now that quarter one is behind us, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the performance of insurance marketing campaigns past. Here at Melon Local, we provide our clients with monthly updates on their insurance marketing campaigns. However, it’s important to remember that some campaigns take a little more time than others to yield results (such as

Read More »
A man smiling with his arms folded

5 Business Tips for New Insurance Agents

Our expertise may be in digital marketing for insurance agents, but we know there’s more to building your business than gaining new leads. So, we caught up with multi-office insurance agent Chris Jones from Bothell, WA to pick his brain about growing a new insurance agency. With years of experience, a large team, and multiple offices, Chris knows a thing or two about what it takes to thrive in the

Read More »
Google Business Profile listing

How to Optimize Local Directory Listings

Online local directory listings are essentially an advanced, tech-age version of the Yellow Pages. These websites help people find business information, compare companies, and browse reviews so they can get the goods or services they need. If you’ve searched for a local business using a query like “Thai food near me” or “plumbing services in Bend, OR”, then you’ve likely come across local business directory listings. As a local business,

Read More »
Woman smiling while holding a laptop

What Makes a Good Advertisement?

We’re surrounded with advertising every day. Between logos on t-shirts, social media ads, and mailers from our favorite fast-food chains, they’re almost impossible to avoid! As someone who comes across various types of ads on a daily basis, you probably have opinions about what is and isn’t effective. But have you thought about the why behind this interest or aversion? While there isn’t a fool-proof formula for creating great ads,

Read More »