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
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
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
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
Latest Blog Posts
RECAP: Melon Local Celebrates Bring Your Child to Work Day
Bring Your Child to Work Day officially took over the Melon Local office on April 23, and for a few hours, our usual crew of marketers, strategists and Client Success pros shared the spotlight with some very important guests — the future generation of Melon leaders! Throughout the morning, 14 kids ages 4–11 got a behind-the-scenes look at life at Melon Local, starting with an office tour where they met
What to Know About Google’s Review Response Update
Did you know you may be replying to Google business reviews without realizing your responses never went live? Google has quietly introduced a new moderation layer for business review replies — meaning responses can now be delayed, filtered or rejected before ever appearing publicly on Search or Maps. Here’s what’s changing, and what your business should do about it. How is Google Now Moderating Reviews? Before this update, Google review
You’re Invited to Melon Local’s Open House
Heading to Las Vegas during the week of May 11? You don’t want to miss Melon Local’s Open House! Don’t think of this as just another stop on your trip — it’s a chance to experience Melon Local up close and personal. From May 11-12, we’re opening our doors just minutes from the Strip and giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how everything comes together. The strategies, the people and
Melon Spotlight: Raya McCracken
As a Client Success Manager, Raya McCracken brings positivity, consistency and a genuine commitment to helping her clients succeed every day. She thrives in the day-to-day, balancing communication, strategy and support to ensure each client feels confident and taken care of. From managing accounts to building strong relationships, Raya plays a key role in delivering the Melon experience with care and intention. We caught up with Raya to talk about
Why Your Business Needs to Be on Social Media
There was a time when social media felt like a “nice to have.” Something you’d get to after your website was polished, your ads were running and your referrals were steady. These days, however, it’s no longer optional for businesses to be present on social media. Social media isn’t competing with your marketing strategy — it is your visibility strategy. And if you’re not showing up consistently, you’re handing opportunities
Melon Spotlight: Edgar Serrano Ramos
As a Director of Client Success, Edgar brings strong leadership, steady focus and a genuine commitment to both his team and the clients he supports every day. He leads with intention, working closely with Client Success Managers to refine processes, strengthen communication and ensure every account is set up for long-term success. From guiding strategy to supporting day-to-day wins, Edgar helps keep the entire client experience running smoothly while continuing
Inc. Ranks Melon Local at No. 15 in Rocky Mountain Regionals
Melon Local is proud to announce it’s been ranked No. 15 on Inc. Magazine’s 2026 Regionals: Rocky Mountain list of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the region. An extension of the national Inc. 5000, the Regionals list offers a data-driven look at the independent businesses driving growth across the Rocky Mountain economy. This year’s list includes 69 companies across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah and Colorado, with each selected
AIO vs. GEO: What’s the Difference in AI Search?
SEO is no longer just about ranking on Google. Today, businesses also need to appear in AI-generated summaries, map results, voice search answers and generative responses that may not show traditional search listings at all. That shift has introduced two important strategies businesses need to understand: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO). While the terms sound similar, they serve different roles in helping businesses stay visible in
Website Traffic but No Leads? Here’s What’s Going On
If your website traffic is going up but calls, form fills, or bookings aren’t following, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common frustrations we hear from local service businesses. And it’s usually extra confusing because on the surface, it feels like things should be working. People are finding your site and clicking through pages. So why aren’t the leads pouring in? Let’s break down what’s actually