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

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Melon Local Open House event graphic featuring trusted sponsors in Las Vegas

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

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Melon Spotlight featuring Client Success Manager Raya McCracken

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

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Social media marketing graphic explaining why social media is essential for business growth

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

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Melon of the Month spotlight featuring Edgar Serrano Ramos, Director of Client Success

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

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Inc. Regionals Rocky Mountain 2026 graphic recognizing Melon Local ranking No. 15

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

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AIO vs. GEO comparison graphic explaining the difference in AI search strategies

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

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Small business owner frustrated by website traffic that is not converting into leads

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

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Rick Gutenmann of MAP Consulting shares six barriers holding businesses back from growth

6 Barriers to Business Growth – Feat. Rick Gutenmann

Does running your business often feel like solving one challenge after another with no end in sight? The thing is, businesses don’t stall because of a lack of effort. Instead, growth often slows due to a handful of common barriers that quietly limit how far a company can scale. As part of his upcoming Melon University workshop, Mapping Your Growth Blueprint on March 27,  Rick Gutenmann of MAP Consulting will

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Small business owner using Google AI-powered Performance Max ads to scale marketing results

Melon Local’s Approach to Google Performance Max Ads

Google’s Performance Max (PMax) campaigns have continued to evolve, with ongoing refinements to their AI-powered capabilities in recent years. Unlike traditional ad campaigns, PMax campaigns leverage machine learning to dynamically optimize ad placements and improve conversion performance. With AI playing a bigger role than ever before in paid search strategy, PMax campaigns can be a powerful tool when used correctly. Let’s break down how they work and why your business

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Latest Blog Posts

A Melon Local team member with a laptop gives a thumbs up in a blog focused on how AI determines which business is best.

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 what you can do to help your business get found! First, What Does “Best” Actually Mean? Let’s say someone asked

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Melon Spotlight: Ashley Errisson

Ashley Errisson knows every agency has different needs, and she’s here to help find the right fit at Melon Local. From checking in with our clients to helping them choose the right marketing package, Ashley keeps communication and follow-through at the heart of what she does. We caught up with Ashley to talk about how she supports clients, what makes the Melon Local experience so adaptable and how she enjoys

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Melon Local team posts for 7-year company Melonversary photo.

Melon Local Celebrates 7 Years

Seven years, countless conversations, and a Patch that keeps growing! This November, Melon Local celebrates seven years of helping businesses get noticed, connect with customers and take their next step toward growth. Along the way, we’ve welcomed new Melons, built new ways to support our clients and made plenty of memories worth celebrating. But to appreciate how far we’ve come, let’s rewind a little. Where Our Roots Took Hold Melon

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A Melon Local team member screams next to blog text that describes the topic of the blog: 7 Digital Marketing Mistakes That Might Haunt You.

7 Digital Marketing Mistakes That Can Haunt Your Business

Candy, costume parties and spooky decorations are all part of October’s fun. But digital marketing mistakes? Those can haunt your business year-round, quietly draining your budget and making it harder for customers to find you. At Melon Local, we want you to know where your marketing dollars are going and what they’re doing for your business. Let’s take a look at seven digital marketing mistakes that can quietly hold your

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: Graphic reading “Still marketing like it’s 2025?” beside a man in a dark green suit with his arms crossed.

Is Your Digital Marketing Strategy Keeping Up with the Times?

Maybe you’re actively running Google ads. Maybe your business still appears in search. Maybe social posts are still going out. Your website may still bring in traffic. But just because your business is doing all these things doesn’t mean your marketing is keeping up with the times. The way your customers find, research and choose local businesses continues to change as search results evolve, competition shifts and new AI platforms

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Melon Local CEO Whitney Green-Olson and Executive Assistant Cass Fehr pose together at the BizX Tampa Bay 2026 award ceremony.

Melon Local Named Best Overall Company at BizX 2026 Tampa Bay

Another year, another big win for the Melon Patch! We’re proud to announce that Melon Local was named Best Overall Company at BizX 2026 Tampa Bay, hosted by ActionCOACH. The recognition comes nearly a year after Melon Local earned Best Service-Based Business Over 10 Employees at BizX North America 2025, making this year’s honor an especially meaningful win for our entire team. From continuing to grow our team and services

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Employees of Melon Local pose for a photo at brighton SEO & Hero Conf.

4 Melon Local Perspectives on brightonSEO & HeroConf

Unless you live under a rock, you know AI is changing everything in the digital marketing space. But when we sent several of our team members to brightonSEO & HeroConf San Diego, it wasn’t just another convention filled with the typical cliche talking points about how AI is changing everything. Instead, our team walked away with real, in-depth strategies and started planning how we can improve everything from how our

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Chad Stevens, Melon Local Software Engineering Manager, is featured with a headshot for a Melon Spotlight about his career with Melon Local.

Melon Spotlight: Chad Stevens

Even though he’s usually working remotely 400 miles away from our Las Vegas HQ, Chad’s behind-the-scenes impact on The Patch has made him an invaluable part of Melon Local’s success. As our Software Engineering Manager, he helps transform big ideas into scalable solutions that keep our systems running smoothly. Thoughtful, steady and always focused on finding the best path forward, his work may happen behind the scenes, but its impact

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Melon Spotlight: Michael Long

Meet our latest Melon Spotlight, Michael Long, our Principal of Paid Search Analytics & Optimization. After previously being featured as a Melon Spotlight during his time as Director of Client Success, Michael has continued to grow alongside Melon Local, stepping into a role where his strategic mindset and passion for performance help drive stronger results for our clients. Today, his expertise in paid search analytics and campaign optimization plays an

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