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 an Agent: Tim Maudsley
Las Vegas agent Tim Maudsley has always had a heart for helping businesses with their commercial insurance needs. He originally started his career 25 years ago in Southern California and was one of the first agents to offer liability coverage for tattoo parlors. He eventually left sunny California for Alaska and worked with oil and gas clients before relocating and opening his agency in Las Vegas in 2020. Despite his

Meet Melon Local’s Director of Quality Assurance
Say hello to our Director of Quality Assurance and one of our original Melons, Brenda Hernandez! Based on her experience working as a Client Success Manager and Director of Client Success, Brenda felt inspired to develop her role to further streamline processes for our agents and offer the best customer service possible. As the director of our quality assurance department, Brenda is dedicated to ensuring our digital insurance marketing services

How ChatGPT Will Impact the Insurance World
With the insurance and tech world often going hand in hand, it’s important to stay on top of the latest industry-disrupting tools and methods. Perhaps one of the biggest technological disruptions as of recently has been the introduction of ChatGPT. Originally launched in November 2022, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI that can answer questions, summarize and simplify documents and even write blogs that are easy to

Your Guide for Writing Agent Bios
Considering how competitive the insurance world is, having a well-written agent bio can make a difference in how your current and future customers may view your agency. Let’s take a look at some of the best practices you should keep in mind when it comes to writing your insurance agent bio! Prioritize What’s Most Important Imagine you’re a potential customer who happens to find your website. Do you think they’re

Interview with an Agent: Greg Bratcher
Originally born and raised in New Mexico, Greg Bratcher eventually made his way out to Texas and began his insurance career working in claims in 1987. Honing his passion for customer service and helping people realize their dreams and goals, Greg opened his own insurance agency in San Angelo, TX in 2006. Since opening his agency, he’s qualified for the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table and has enjoyed being able

How to Create the Perfect Insurance Marketing Plan
As an insurance agent, it’s essential for you to create a detailed marketing plan every year to help you keep your business on track and realize your goals. A detailed insurance marketing plan can make a difference in your annual ROI and may lead to new opportunities you never considered. Although no two agencies are the same, we’ve come up with five useful strategies for developing a new marketing plan!

Make People Fall in Love With Your Insurance Agency
As an insurance agent, part of your job is to win the hearts of your customers. Sure, offering low insurance premiums may impact customer retention, but there’s more to winning people over than helping them save on their policies. Satisfied customers are 80 percent more likely to renew their policies, so it’s essential to consistently keep the individuals, families and businesses you serve top-of-mind. Let’s go over some insurance marketing

Interview with an Agent: Chad Stalvey
After earning his finance degree from the University of South Carolina, Chad Stalvey imagined himself working on Wall Street. However, when the 2008 financial crisis swept the nation several months later, Chad was forced to reevaluate his career path. Fortunately, he was offered the life-changing opportunity to take over an agency in North Augusta, SC, where he could apply his financial background toward helping local families and businesses with their

Insurance Marketing Trends for 2023
The insurance industry and digital marketing world are anything but static. From more extreme weather patterns to disruptions to the traditional business model, you can expect this year to be filled with innovation and disruption for the insurance industry. Let’s go ahead and talk about several marketing trends and predictions we’ve come up with so you create an effective marketing plan for 2023! Prepare for an Ever-Changing World While the
Latest Blog Posts

Melon Spotlight: Colin Heald
Introducing our July 2024 Melon Spotlight, Colin Heald, our one and only Senior Software Architect. Though not always front and center, Colin’s impact on Melon Local’s operations is tremendous as the founder of our proprietary software known as “The Patch.” We took some time to speak to Colin to learn more about his unique background, creating The Patch and what he enjoys most about working at Melon Local! Check out

5 Things I Love About Melon Local – Feat. Andrew Smith
While working as an intern at an Atlanta-area accounting firm after his graduation from Kennesaw University, Andrew Smith realized he wanted a career that would allow him to have a greater impact on his community. When given the chance to join a local insurance office as a team member, he fell in love with the industry and eventually opened his own office 11 years later in Marietta, GA in 2019.

Interview with ‘Helpy Hour’ Founder Lee Ann Stach
If there’s anything that can be said about Helpy Hour, it’s that their approach to networking insurance agents with each other is unconventional. What originally began as a satirical social media page in 2018 for like-minded agents to vent about common challenges has since become a trusted voice that has amassed a following in the thousands and regularly holds educational workshops across the country. Now on the horizon is their

Client Success Story with Natalie Nunez
Meet one of Melon Local’s talented Social Media Content Creators, Natalie Nunez! Natalie has been an integral part of our Melon Patch, from helping our One in a Melon agents create their social accounts to helping them stand out in their local market. We caught up with her to learn more about her innovative approach to social media and how she’s had an impact on our One in a Melon

4 Ways to Celebrate ‘Insurance Nerd Day’ On Social Media
Have you ever wondered why so many people in the insurance industry proudly call themselves “insurance nerds”? It’s because they genuinely love what they do, and there’s even a day to celebrate this passion! July 18 is Insurance Nerd Day, a fun-filled occasion for all the dedicated insurance enthusiasts out there. Insurance Nerd Day is a celebration for everyone in the insurance industry, from agents to policyholders and even those

Not All Business Listings Are Created Equal
First impressions often happen online, especially when it comes to online business listings. You can think of them as digital storefronts where your customers can learn everything about your business, including your contact info, your services and products, workplace culture and reviews. In fact, online listings may receive 2.7 times more views than a brand’s own website. Notably, one 2024 survey found that 77 percent of consumers use at least

Deciding Between Google and Microsoft Ads
Google accounts for over 90 percent of the global search engine market — making it the world’s most popular search engine — but this doesn’t mean you should overlook the lead-generating potential of Microsoft Ads — in particular through its search engine Bing. Let’s break down how both Google and Microsoft Ads differ and what they share in common. 1. Demographics Perhaps one of the most notable differences between these

How Melon Local Measures Success in Paid Search
At Melon Local, we believe paid search isn’t just about being seen — it’s about letting people know you run the best business in town. With an average 30 percent click-to-quote rate, our comprehensive approach ensures you not only reach your local market but also convert them into loyal customers. Here’s how we “ex-seed” expectations when it comes to our paid search services. Monthly In-Depth Meetings We get that sifting

Melon Spotlight: Michael Long
Meet our June 2024 Melon Spotlight, Michael Long, one of our exceptional Directors of Client Success. Since day one, Michael has proven himself as a valuable team player by consistently driving results and forging fruitful partnerships with agents all across the country. Join us as we delve into what fuels Michael’s passion for digital marketing and his passions beyond Melon Local!
