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

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Melon Local team member highlighting the importance of choosing the right social media platform for insurance marketing success

Using the Right Social Platform as an Insurance Agent

In the marketing world, we often hear the mantra: “Be where your customers are.” Well, more often than not, this can be on social media. As of 2024, over 4.9 billion people use social media, with the average time spent on at least one platform being around 144 minutes. Whether you’re on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, it’s not just about being present — it’s about being present in the right

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Cara Kornegay, Client Success Manager at Melon Local, featured in a “Melon of the Month” spotlight graphic.

Melon Spotlight: Cara Kornegay

Welcome to our first-ever Melon Spotlight, in which we will be highlighting One in a Melon team members making a difference in the digital marketing space. This time, we caught up with Cara Kornegay, one of our many talented Client Success Managers whose enthusiasm for digital marketing is as infectious as it is insightful. Check out our video interview with Cara as she shares a mix of fun personal anecdotes

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Melon Local team member sharing organic search optimization best practices and common SEO mistakes to avoid

4 Do’s and Don’ts of Organic Search Optimization

Did you know that the number one organic search result at the top of a page is 10 times more likely to receive a click compared to a page in the number 10 spot? Whether you’re a small-town insurance agent or run a multi-state agency, a smart approach to organic search optimization can expand your digital reach and garner fresh, quality leads. Unlike paid search, focusing on your organic reach

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Man speaking into a microphone beside the headline “Google Local Map Pack” on a Melon Minute blog graphic.

Ranking Factors on Google’s Local Map Pack

Ever searched for a nearby business on Google and seen a map with highlighted results at the top? That’s the Google Local Map Pack, a handy tool that shows relevant businesses based on your search. This dynamic feature, also known as the Google 3-Pack, Google Maps Pack and Google Local Pack, pulls info from Google Maps to give you a quick snapshot of nearby options. Each listing includes the business’s

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Portrait of insurance agent Amy Davis featured in Melon Local's Interview with an Agent series

Interview with an Agent: Amy Davis

Raised in Pennsylvania, Amy Davis was deeply inspired by her grandfather, a local insurance agent who took a personalized approach to customer service. After earning her degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Amy ventured to Texas, fueled by a profound desire to support individuals and engage with the community. With a six-year tenure at a local agency under her belt, she decided to emulate her grandfather’s legacy by launching

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Portrait of insurance agent Nick Mongeau featured in Melon Local's 5 Things I Love About Melon Local interview series

5 Things I Love About Melon Local — Feat. Nick Mongeau

San Fernando insurance agent Nick Mongeau is a natural conversationalist who enjoys educating people in his community about finding the right insurance coverage. Since opening his agency in 2020, his office has grown to serve over a thousand households across the San Fernando Valley, including the areas of Pacoima, Mission Hills, Sylmar, and Granada Hills. Realizing the importance of having a comprehensive approach to digital advertising, he tried working with

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Whitney Green-Olson celebrates being named a Vegas Inc. 2024 40 Under 40 honoree and poses with family and friends.

Melon Local’s CEO Named a Vegas Inc 2024 40 Under 40 Honoree

Whitney Green-Olson, CEO and Co-Founder of the Las Vegas-based digital marketing agency, Melon Local, was recognized by Vegas Inc as one of its 2024 40 Under 40 honorees. Vegas Inc’s 40 Under 40 awards celebrate the achievements of young leaders from various industries. Recipients were selected by a panel of judges based on their work ethic, community devotion, and exceptional leadership throughout Southern Nevada. “Being recognized as one of the

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Person taking a team photo with a smartphone to demonstrate Google Business Profile photo best practices

Photo Best Practices for Google Business Profile

A picture can really be worth a thousand words, especially when it comes to the photos you choose to upload on your Google Business Profile (GBP). Well, at least according to the search engine, businesses that add photos to their GBPs receive 42 percent more requests for directions on Google Maps and 35 percent more clicks through to their websites than businesses that don’t. Although images don’t directly influence your

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Melon Local paid search specialist working on Google Ads campaign optimization and performance strategy

10 Strategies for Higher Performing Google Ads

In the fiercely competitive digital insurance marketing space, the secret to making your Google ads stand out isn’t just a hefty budget — it’s through strategic planning and understanding the search engine’s Quality and Optimization Score system. Let’s dive into how Google measures the quality and optimization of an ad and some strategies you can incorporate into your paid search campaigns. How Google’s Quality & Optimization Score System Works Think

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Latest Blog Posts

Julie Hahn, insurance agent, featured in Melon Local's Interview with an Agent series discussing business growth and marketing success

Interview with an Agent: Julie Hahn

North Carolina Insurance Agent Julie Hahn always understood the necessity of smart marketing when she opened her first agency in 2009 — whether it be through internet leads, organic search optimization or social media. Fast-forward to 2022, and Julie has opened another successful agency with a new company in the competitive Charlotte-metro area — but something was missing. She had the drive, but what she really needed was the right

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Natalie Nunez, Social Media Content Creator at Melon Local, featured in a “Melon of the Month” spotlight graphic.

Melon Spotlight: Natalie Nunez

From the moment she joined our team as a Social Media Content Creator, Natalie Nunez has been a valuable force for helping not only our agents establish and elevate their social media game, but Melon Local’s as well. Always in the know with the latest social media trends, her creative eye and knack for helping our clients stand out in their local markets have made her a truly One in

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Man using a laptop on a couch beside the headline “Harness the Power of AI” on a Melon Local blog graphic about AI in the insurance industry.

How AI Is Changing Insurance Consumer Behavior

With predictive algorithms and personalization tools, artificial intelligence (AI) is more than a buzzword. This emerging tech is redefining the behaviors and expectations of today’s digital shoppers. For business owners, staying ahead in the digital marketing space means adapting to these shifts while understanding where the industry is heading. What AI Platforms Are Leading the Way? From OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Co-Pilot, these advanced AI platforms are

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Melon Local team member sharing year-over-year marketing strategies to help insurance agents grow their business in 2025 and beyond

Year-Over-Year Strategies for 2025 and Beyond

The start of a new year is the perfect time for fresh ideas, new goals and taking note of what’s worked and what hasn’t. The truth is, reviewing  your year-over-year performance can feel like comparing apples to melons. So how can you measure success and set yourself up for a thriving 2025? Understand the Shifting Market Dynamics Competition is heating up in the insurance industry, it’s no longer enough to

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Melon Local team member explaining the FTC's new fake review rule and its impact on online reputation management and customer trust

FTC’s New Rule for Fake Reviews Officially in Effect

How New Federal Rule Affects Business Reviews In case you missed it, a federal rule banning fake reviews recently went into effect. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new rule — originally issued in August 2024 — officially went into effect in October. According to the FTC, this new rule now holds businesses accountable for posting or purchasing fake reviews, including those from people who don’t exist or have never engaged

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David Arce, founder of Soaring Eagle, featured in a Melon Local interview discussing the 2025 Soaring Eagle Agent Study Group event

Soaring Eagle Founder Shares Excitement About 2025 Event

As the COVID-19 pandemic redefined the professional landscape in 2020, Michigan insurance agent David Arce realized a significant void in networking and educational opportunities for agents. His recognition of the need for in-person connection and shared growth among insurance agents inspired Arce to found the Soaring Eagle Agent Study Group to continue fostering agency growth. “The core of it was just about agents sharing with each other,” says Arce. “Being

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Trevor McBride, insurance agent, sharing five things he loves about working with Melon Local and its digital marketing services

5 Things I Love About Melon Local – Feat. Trevor McBride

Portland, OR-area insurance agent Trevor McBride had already been running his agency for nearly seven years before coming across Melon Local. Previously, he’d tried working with other marketing companies but didn’t quite find the fruitful partnership he needed for his digital presence. Despite only joining us in February, Trevor has grown to love Melon Local for a number of reasons, including our personalized approach to digital marketing and transformative workshops.

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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

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Melon Local team member highlighting common digital marketing scare tactics and how businesses can avoid misleading marketing claims

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

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