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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Business professional using a laptop to review and organize marketing strategies during a campaign refresh

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

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Business professional reviewing marketing strategies on a laptop and identifying opportunities for improvement

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

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Business professional smiling while reviewing marketing campaigns and planning improvements on a laptop

How to Respond to Reviews at Your Agency

We probably don’t have to tell you that reviews are important to your business, but just in case you missed it, we’ll say it again. Reviews are important to your business! In fact, an incredible 93% of people say that online reviews have impacted their purchasing decisions. To capture the attention of an increasingly online crowd, you’ll need to wow on review sites. Getting reviews isn’t the only factor necessary

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Business professional evaluating marketing strategies and identifying areas for improvement during a campaign review

What is the Google Algorithm, Anyway?

Our Las Vegas roots tell us it’d be a smart bet to put money on where your insurance agency’s clients come from. Primarily, you’re getting word-of-mouth referrals from previous happy clients. And the second-largest group is from Google searches for “insurance agency” or “insurance agent near me”, right? If so, you’re doing something right. If not, it’s probably time for some adjustments to your insurance agency marketing plan. Either way,

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Business professional reviewing marketing performance and organizing campaign improvements on a laptop

Interview with an Agent: Mike Paffhausen

Prior to becoming an insurance agent, Mike Paffhausen lived another life as a civil engineer working in water resources and environmental services. However, with a family full of agents, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the insurance industry was his calling. Flashforward, Mike is a captive agent with six years under his belt at his Butte, Montana agency. Throughout his years in the industry, Mike has counted himself lucky to

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Cleaning supplies arranged on a surface to represent refreshing and improving marketing campaigns

Spring Cleaning for Your Marketing Campaigns

It’s official! We’re now in Q2 of 2021. Where has the time gone?! Now that quarter one is behind us, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the performance of insurance marketing campaigns past. Here at Melon Local, we provide our clients with monthly updates on their insurance marketing campaigns. However, it’s important to remember that some campaigns take a little more time than others to yield results (such as

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A man smiling with his arms folded

5 Business Tips for New Insurance Agents

Our expertise may be in digital marketing for insurance agents, but we know there’s more to building your business than gaining new leads. So, we caught up with multi-office insurance agent Chris Jones from Bothell, WA to pick his brain about growing a new insurance agency. With years of experience, a large team, and multiple offices, Chris knows a thing or two about what it takes to thrive in the

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Google Business Profile listing

How to Optimize Local Directory Listings

Online local directory listings are essentially an advanced, tech-age version of the Yellow Pages. These websites help people find business information, compare companies, and browse reviews so they can get the goods or services they need. If you’ve searched for a local business using a query like “Thai food near me” or “plumbing services in Bend, OR”, then you’ve likely come across local business directory listings. As a local business,

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Woman smiling while holding a laptop

What Makes a Good Advertisement?

We’re surrounded with advertising every day. Between logos on t-shirts, social media ads, and mailers from our favorite fast-food chains, they’re almost impossible to avoid! As someone who comes across various types of ads on a daily basis, you probably have opinions about what is and isn’t effective. But have you thought about the why behind this interest or aversion? While there isn’t a fool-proof formula for creating great ads,

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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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