The Latest News From Melon Local
Stay in the know with the latest news in digital marketing, best practices and updates from Melon Local.
How AI Determines Which Business Is the Best
You know your business is the best. But when someone asks AI (Artificial Intelligence) for the best business nearby, does your name come up? And if another business gets recommended, what made AI choose it over yours? Let’s look at how ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity find business information and

Interview with Melon Local’s Senior Director of Paid Search
Meet Megan Murphy, Melon Local’s Senior Director of Paid Search — or as our paid search team affectionately refers to her, “Fearless Leader.” Despite starting off as a Client Success Manager (a role in which she also excelled), Megan’s real passion was in driving change for our clients behind the scenes. Upon joining our paid search department, it didn’t take long for her to establish her fearless persona and earn

Celebrating National Homeownership Month as Insurance Agents
June is National Homeownership Month, a special time to celebrate the dream of owning a home and the stability it brings. Originally starting as a one-week celebration in June 1995, it eventually evolved into a month-long celebration in 2002 and recognizes not only the 66 percent of Americans who currently own homes but also those in the home buying process. In honor of this special month, let’s delve into some

Real Numbers and Results with Melon Local
Why get “melon-choly” about your insurance agency’s digital marketing when you can get Melon Local? Agents like you deserve a partner like us who knows how to make your agency the talk of the town. At Melon Local, we specialize in market-proven strategies that yield fruitful results. Whether it’s Paid Search, Organic Growth or Social Media, your business won’t just reach your local market — it will captivate them! Paid

4 Do’s and Don’ts of Paid Search
No matter the size of your insurance agency, mastering paid search can dramatically boost your digital presence and bring in fresh, quality leads. In fact, 45 percent of page clicks go to pay-per-click (PPC) ads in search results and visitors are 50 percent more likely to convert through paid search than those who come through organically. Paid search requires investing more than dollars — it takes strategy and time. But

The Long-Term Benefits of Being on Social Media
We all know social media is everywhere — it’s where people connect and get their daily fix of everything from breaking news to silly dog videos. But if you’re not tapping into this vast digital world to grow your insurance business, you have to ask yourself: why not? While you may not become a viral sensation overnight, let’s dive into the long-term benefits of using platforms like Facebook, Instagram and

Melon Spotlight: Stephan Penczek
For our May 2024 Melon Spotlight, we’re diving in behind the scenes with Stephan Penczek, our one and only Executive Assistant. Stephan may not always be front and center, but his impact is felt all across Melon Local. From managing several blocked-out calendars to organizing high-level presentations like our Melon University workshops, it’s safe to say we wouldn’t be One in a Melon without his ability to juggle a myriad

5 Things I Love About Melon Local – Feat. Eva Hurley
From managing policies across multiple states to overseeing her family’s beef cattle farm, it’s safe to say Greenville, SC insurance agent Eva Hurley stays busy. After opening her agency in 2014, she knew she needed an extra hand managing her digital marketing. She tried going with several different marketing groups, yet no one could ever deliver the results she needed — until she found Melon Local! Read more about why

How Organic Search and Paid Search Work Together
Some things have proven better together throughout the course of history: peanut butter and jelly, Lennon and McCartney, and, in the digital marketing world, organic and paid search. Sure, both of these approaches can be effective on their own, but when properly used together, they can offer your business a wide range of unique benefits and insights. The Distinct Roles of Organic and Paid Search Although organic and paid search

Meet Insurance Power Couple Jeff Burtis and Karen Michaels
In the heart of the insurance world, Jeff Burtis and Karen Michaels stand out not just as partners in life but as trailblazers redefining the industry through a shared dedication toward spreading positivity. When their paths first crossed at an Agents Hosting Agents event in 2018, it was immediately clear that they shared more than just professional interests. Despite managing their agencies from different states — with Jeff in Illinois
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Interview with an Agent: Kira Schnell-Harrison
Before she became an insurance agent, Kira Schnell-Harrison was a competitive synchronized figure skater. Kira grew up ice skating in Wisconsin and, at one point, qualified for Team USA. After her skating career, she worked in various roles in the consumer goods industry before opening her Chicago-area insurance agency in 2019. Although she doesn’t compete anymore, she still coaches ice skating and applies the same experience to managing her insurance

What is Organic Search Optimization?
You’ve likely heard of Search Engine Optimization, but have you ever heard of Organic Search Optimization? If not, we’d love to explain! Melon Local offers an exclusive Organic Search Optimization (OSO) insurance marketing package which can boost your web presence by focusing on your organic content. There are many ways your insurance agency can benefit from this package, including being listed in the most popular business directory listings and having

20 Ways to Use Facebook in Your Insurance Marketing Strategy
If there’s any social media that’s necessary for your insurance marketing strategy, it’s Facebook. With over 2.45 billion monthly users, Facebook is a great platform for making fun and engaging insurance social media posts. It also has the power to boost your agency’s visibility, drive leads, add value to your customers and strengthen your relationship with them and your local community. Whether you’re just starting off or you’ve been using

Interview with an Agent: Kevin Hayward
Kevin Hayward originally envisioned himself as a newspaper writer. He studied communication and was an active freelance writer for his local newspaper, but soon realized he had a passion for the insurance industry. After earning his bachelor’s degree, Kevin entered the insurance world as a claims agent in 2007. He worked his way up the company ladder and became a public affairs specialist and wrote articles for the insurance company’s

7 Tips for Choosing an SEO-Friendly Domain Name
Having an SEO-friendly domain name can make a huge difference in the overall success of your insurance agency’s marketing strategy. So, why is it so crucial for your insurance agency to choose the right domain name? Well, it helps: Define your brand Increase your click-through rate Generate more leads Boost your traffic Give credibility to your agency If your domain is too long or complicated, chances are it will be

10 Ways Your Insurance Agency Can Show Customer Appreciation
Just because your insurance agency sells someone a new policy doesn’t mean that things end there. The insurance industry is all about nurturing long-term relationships, and like any healthy relationship, there needs to be a balance of mutual appreciation between you and your customers. Reciprocity is crucial to your agency’s long-term success and, in turn, makes your customers more likely to return the favor through additional sales, reviews and referrals.

Melon Local Named 2022 Google Premier Partner
All of us at Melon Local are ecstatic to announce that our insurance marketing agency has achieved 2022 Google Premier Partner status in the Google Partners program! Okay, so what does this mean exactly? It means Google now ranks Melon Local in the top 3% of all Google Partners and distinguishes us as a top industry performer. That’s a pretty big deal! This February, Google recognized the achievements of Melon

2022 Insurance Marketing Trends You Need to Know
Welcome, 2022! Every year, we like to kick things off by examining what’s new in the world of insurance marketing. Digital marketing is always evolving. Technology advances, customer behavior changes, and marketers who stay agile have the best chance of getting ahead. To help you create an insurance marketing strategy for 2022, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular trends for your industry. We made sure that each of

Interview with an Agent: Jason Wade
With a background in education administration, you may wonder how insurance agent Jason Wade found his way to the industry. With a head for business and a desire to find independence, Jason found that an insurance agency was the perfect way for him to flex his entrepreneurial muscles. From the get-go, Jason decided to take on his own marketing efforts, but he knew there was a better way. After some
