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

Gemini vs. ChatGPT: Which AI Program is Better?
The tech world witnessed an “artificial intelligence (AI) spring” in 2023 with the rise of OpenAI’s ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4. Amid this wave of innovative language models, Google’s Gemini AI launched as a formidable contender to ChatGPT, sparking a debate on which AI titan holds the crown in the digital marketing space. Leveraging cutting-edge technology is key to staying ahead for insurance agents, raising the question: Will ChatGPT or Gemini reign

6 Ways to Leverage Community Involvement for Backlinks
In the competitive world of insurance, fostering connections within your community goes beyond handshakes or sponsoring local sports teams. Picture transforming these personal, face-to-face interactions into powerful tools that enhance your online visibility through strategic backlinks. Let’s take a dive into how active participation in your community can open doors to numerous backlinking opportunities and potentially level up your Google ranking! Why Do Backlinks Matter? Think of backlinks — hyperlinks

Inc. Ranks Melon Local at No. 5 in Rocky Mountain Regionals
Melon Local is proud to announce we were ranked No. 5 on Inc. Magazine’s fourth annual Regionals: Rocky Mountain list for the fastest-growing privately owned businesses in the region.This is among 72 other regional companies from Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. “It’s incredibly rewarding and a bit surreal to see our team’s effort and innovation recognized by Inc. Regionals,” said Melon Local CEO and Co-founder Whitney Green-Olson. “From our

Interview with an Agent: Michael Popwell
Before opening his own agency in 2020, Michael Popwell honed his skills for six years under the mentorship of an experienced agent. One pivotal lesson he absorbed was the critical role of digital marketing in the modern business landscape. As he prepared to launch his insurance office in Suwannee, GA, Michael recognized that a well-crafted marketing strategy was essential for standing out in the competitive environment of the Atlanta metro

How Melon Local Leverages Artificial Intelligence
If you’ve sat through a sales demo with an insurance marketing agency in the past year, you might have listened to them touting the extra edge they have through utilizing artificial intelligence (AI). With the global AI insurance market on track to hit nearly $46 billion by 2031, AI will become just as necessary to our industry as any other technology. But here’s the thing: while many agencies are just

5 Things I Love About Melon Local – Feat. Joey Eades
Joey Eades began his professional journey as an insurance team member in West Virginia in 2013, where he discovered his true passion for forging connections and a desire to open his own agency. In August 2017, his dream came to fruition when he was presented with the chance to establish himself as an agent in the quaint town of Appomattox, VA — an opportunity he has cherished every day since.

Fireside Chat with Whitney Green-Olson, CEO
We already know the bar was set high, but it’s safe to say last year was truly One in a Melon. Our journey through 2023 was marked by phenomenal growth and accolades that underscored our commitment to excellence: Our community of agents grew to nearly 2,000 agencies, a milestone that speaks volumes about the trust and confidence in our services. We managed a whopping $20 million in client ad spend,

Why You Shouldn’t Google Your Own Business
In the insurance marketing world, your Google ranking often plays a crucial role in prospective customers choosing between you and your competitors. The top organic result is 10 times more likely to garner clicks versus a page in the number 10 spot, and even a single step up the search ladder may increase your click-through rate by about 2.8 percent. So, for insurance agents pondering if they should Google their

Interview with an Agent: Josh Ellis
When insurance agent Josh Ellis opened his Knoxville office in 2009, internet leads were still fairly new in the marketing world. Recognizing the potential in lead generation, Josh integrated them into his business strategy. Despite going through a multitude of different marketing companies, he found little to no success in getting the results he needed — let alone anything that was trackable. Between being an agent and overseeing his own
Latest Blog Posts

What’s SEO Got To Do With It
You’ve likely heard the term “SEO” more times than you can count. While it may be common insurance marketing jargon, many of our clients ask us, “Okay, so what does SEO have to do with me and my business?” The short answer is: a lot, if you play your cards right. Let’s break down the basics of this popular insurance marketing strategy and explain how you can use it to

Scary Insurance Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
It’s time for a scary story. There once was an insurance marketing agent who owned a local business. While they were trying to grow their agency, they made a dire mistake. They didn’t invest in digital marketing! Marketing your local insurance agency can be hard, but Melon Local is here to help make things a little easier. We work with agents all over the country, so when it comes to

Should Your Insurance Agency Use Social Media?
We get a lot of questions about social media for insurance agents. Is social media marketing really that important? What platforms should I be using? What kind of content should I post? The list goes on and on. Many insurance agencies forgo social media marketing because they think it won’t make an impact on their business. That’s just not the case! Social media has the power to increase your agency’s

What is PPC Advertising?
In marketing, we sure do love our acronyms, but at Melon Local, there is one that reigns above the rest: PPC. While we hate to play favorites, we can’t help ourselves on this one. PPC continues to be one of the most effective insurance marketing strategies we use to help our clients generate quality leads. If you’re like many of our clients, you’re probably thinking, “Okay, I’ve heard of PPC,

How to Maximize Your Agency’s Online Presence
These days, just about everyone is searching for products and services online. Need a handyman? Just Google it. Looking for a new taco spot? Head to Yelp. The same goes for customers looking for a new insurance agency. When customers are on the hunt for a new agency, whether they’re new to town or looking to bundle deals at a competitive rate, they’re likely to take to the internet. So,

Interview with an Agent: Kaan Inceoglu
Prior to setting down roots in Greeley, CO, insurance agent Kaan Inceoglu was a man on the go. After graduating from Ohio State with a finance and international business degree, Kaan was drawn to the insurance industry. He became a claims adjuster and eventually joined the catastrophe team, a role that took him all over the country. During his years traveling from state to state, Kaan also earned a master’s

How Community Involvement Impacts Your Agency
While digital insurance marketing is a great way to help customers find your agency, it’s not the only way to make a name for yourself in your city. As a small business owner, one of the most important things you can do to market your agency is become involved in your community. Big city or small town, people like to create connections and put down roots where they live. By

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

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
