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
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
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
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
Latest Blog Posts
Insurance Marketing Trends for 2024
From Mother Nature doing her thing to the rise of insurtech companies, 2023 proved to be a unique and challenging year for the insurance industry. So, what can we expect for 2024? As we step into the new year, let’s look into the trends that Melon Local predicts will influence not just insurance agents but also their customers. Consumers Will Be More Price Conscious With a steady climb in insurance
5 Benefits of Choosing Melon Local for Social Media
It’s one thing to be on social media, but are you getting the most out of all your platforms? Investing in your social media is just as essential to any other component of your digital marketing strategy. To put things in perspective, ad spending on social media is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.31 percent, resulting in a projected market volume of over $255 billion by 2028.
5 Things I Love About Melon Local: Feat. Mansour Hasan
Knoxville, TN insurance agent Mansour Hasan has served his community for over 18 years and currently provides coverage for over 5,000 households. As digital marketing and internet leads became more integral to building his business, Mansour realized he needed some pros in his corner who could not only understand his advertising needs but also deliver results. Enter Melon Local! Here are five reasons Mansour loves our fruitful partnership! 1. A
Your 2024 Insurance Agency Checklist
The end of the year is always a great time to assess our achievements, identify areas of improvement and, of course, set ourselves up for a prosperous new year. As an insurance agent, though, this may be the last thing on your mind as you’re still wrapping up things with the current year. Not sure where to start? Check out these 10 items to add to your 2024 checklist so
What Does it Mean to be a Melon?
Melon Local isn’t your typical digital marketing agency — so what makes us so special? No, it’s not just because we’re in the top three percent of our industry as a Google Premier Partner, and it’s more than us being able to deliver an average 30 percent conversion rate in our paid search campaigns. It’s safe to say we wouldn’t be who we are without the 1,800 plus One-in-a-Melon agents
Interview with an Agent: Steve Basler
Colorado insurance agent Steve Basler originally began his insurance career in Tennessee over 20 years ago. However, he eventually found his way to Colorado in 2007, and the following year, he opened his current insurance office in Wheat Ridge — a small city located in the busy Denver–Aurora–Lakewood metro area. In addition to his insurance office, Steve also runs and owns his own financial consulting company, Basler Academy. We caught
7 Strategies for Improving Customer Retention as an Insurance Agent
Acquiring new customers is one thing, but the other half of the battle is maintaining their relationship with your insurance office. The average customer retention rate for an insurance agent is around 84 percent, while top-performing agents can see an average close to 93-94 percent. While the insurance industry may have a higher retention rate compared to others, it never hurts to strive for better. Let’s take a look at
What Does Exclusivity Mean in Insurance Marketing?
If you’re an insurance agent, perhaps you’ve heard the word exclusivity thrown around by different marketing agencies. Companies often tout this word as a way to make their services seem more appealing, but what exactly does exclusivity mean in the world of insurance marketing? Perhaps we should ask if it even means anything at all. Separating Hype From Reality You’ll often hear marketing agencies promise you exclusivity with major search
Interview with an Agent: Roy Hooker IV
Following in his dad’s footsteps, Roy Hooker IV opened his insurance office near North Tampa in 1990 at age 23. At the time, he was one of his company’s youngest agents, but with some ambition and wisdom from his father, he’s been able to continue his family’s legacy of success in the insurance world. While the earlier half of his career was focused on traditional marketing efforts such as mailers