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

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Customer using a smartphone to leave a five-star review for a business

6 Ways You Can Generate Reviews for Your Insurance Agency

As part of your insurance marketing strategy and online reputation management, generating and encouraging online reviews is essential.  Online review statistics have shown over 54 percent of online shoppers read at least four product reviews before purchasing a product.  Having a substantial number of positive reviews is crucial for adding credibility to your agency’s reputation. On the other hand, negative reviews can also help you determine any unmet needs of

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Person using a tablet to perform a Google search, representing search engine optimization and online visibility

What to Know About Google’s Responsive Search Ads

Google will no longer serve new expanded text ads starting June 30, 2022 The world of paid advertising is constantly evolving, especially with Google, which is continuously updating how it runs its ad programs. If your business revolves around insurance marketing – let alone any kind of marketing – you should be aware of Google’s plans to scrap expanded text ads to instead focus on responsive search ads on June

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Portrait of insurance agent Kira Schnell-Harrison featured in Melon Local's Interview with an Agent series

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

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Woman holding a magnifying glass and laptop to represent organic search optimization and SEO research

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

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Woman reacting to Facebook notifications on a smartphone, representing audience engagement and social media interaction on Facebook

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

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Portrait of insurance agent Kevin Hayward featured in Melon Local's Interview with an Agent series

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

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Business professional holding a computer keyboard to represent choosing an SEO-friendly domain name for a website

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

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Smiling customer expressing appreciation for a positive business experience

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.

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Google Premier Partner graphic featuring the Google logo and Melon Local branding celebrating Melon Local's 2022 Premier Partner status

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

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Latest Blog Posts

Man speaking into a microphone beside the headline “Common Insurance Marketing Scare Tactics” on a Melon Local blog graphic.

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

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Headshots of Jeff Burtis and Karen Michaels featured in Melon University workshop on systems and processes that drive agency success

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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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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