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 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
Melon Spotlight: Justyna Ruszczak
Since joining our team as a Paid Search Manager, Justyna has brought a sharp eye for optimization, steady focus and a genuine commitment to improving performance across every account she manages. She thrives on refining our AI-driven Google Performance Max campaigns, strengthening headlines and descriptions and optimizing for Melon Max to drive higher-quality leads, making her a true force in the Melon Patch. We caught up with Justyna to talk
Your 2026 Guide for Growing Your Insurance Agency
The end of the year is more than just reflection — it’s a chance to reset your strategy and prepare your agency for what’s next. Every goal you set shapes how your agency grows. With the right strategy, you can turn ambition into action and set your agency up for success. As technology continues to evolve, optimizing for AI is becoming essential. From how customers find your business to how
Fireside Chat with Melon Local’s CEO: 2026 Edition
2025 was a year of real progress for Melon Local — not just in growth, but in the tools, support and momentum we built alongside our clients. It’s safe to say we had our share of fresh milestones over the past year, including: Launching Melon Max live transfer calls and internet leads — further solidifying our place as the original one-stop shop for digital marketing. Connecting with thousands of agents
Melon Spotlight: Bailey Swiger
Since joining our team as a Client Success Manager, Bailey has brought positivity, focus and a people-first approach to everything she does. Whether she’s hopping on client Zoom calls, digging into the data behind their results or simply being the steady voice they can count on, there’s a reason her clients love working with her. And with a background in education, Bailey’s no stranger to leading with patience, staying organized
Melon Spotlight: Trevor Black
Since joining our team as a Paid Search Manager, Trevor has brought a thoughtful approach, steady drive and genuine care to everything he does. He thrives on digging into campaign performance and finding smart ways to deliver results in spaces other agencies might consider too challenging, making him a real difference maker in the Melon Patch. We caught up with Trevor to talk about what excites him most about digital
How SEO and GEO Work Together to Keep You Visible
Traditional SEO can only take you so far on its own in today’s world of AI-powered search and local discovery. That’s where Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) bridges the gap — expanding your visibility beyond traditional rankings by optimizing for AI. On their own, each optimization practice delivers results, but together, they amplify reach, relevance and digital traffic. Let’s discuss what sets SEO and GEO apart and how they work together
What to Know About ChatGPT’s New Browser Atlas
We’re walking into a new type of internet where people don’t “search” first — they ask first. Instead of treating AI like a separate tool you open in another tab, ChatGPT’s Atlas browser brings it right into the browsing experience. Since launching on October 21, 2025, it’s offered consumers an alternative to traditional search giants like Google or Microsoft Bing. Instead, you ask, it understands the page you’re on and
Latest Blog Posts
5 Things I Love about Melon Local: Feat. Kirk Baker
Santa Clarita insurance agent Kirk Baker has been an industry pro since 1989. Having obtained Lifetime Million Dollar Round Table and President’s Club statuses, as well as helping 10 of his former team members open their own agencies, Kirk knows what it takes to run a successful agency. In 2019, he even co-founded Team by the Minute — a phone-answering service that provides customer support for other businesses with a
6 Ways To Set Your Agency Apart from Insurtechs
Insurtech companies are startups or established insurance companies that use technology to provide innovative and efficient insurance solutions. Typically, these companies target younger, tech-savvy customers. These companies often use data analytics, AI and other new technologies to streamline their insurance processes and provide customers with personalized and cost-effective insurance products. Similar to traditional property & casualty providers, insurtech companies offer a wide range of services, including digital insurance underwriting, policy
Interview with an Agent: Tim Maudsley
Las Vegas agent Tim Maudsley has always had a heart for helping businesses with their commercial insurance needs. He originally started his career 25 years ago in Southern California and was one of the first agents to offer liability coverage for tattoo parlors. He eventually left sunny California for Alaska and worked with oil and gas clients before relocating and opening his agency in Las Vegas in 2020. Despite his
Meet Melon Local’s Director of Quality Assurance
Say hello to our Director of Quality Assurance and one of our original Melons, Brenda Hernandez! Based on her experience working as a Client Success Manager and Director of Client Success, Brenda felt inspired to develop her role to further streamline processes for our agents and offer the best customer service possible. As the director of our quality assurance department, Brenda is dedicated to ensuring our digital insurance marketing services
How ChatGPT Will Impact the Insurance World
With the insurance and tech world often going hand in hand, it’s important to stay on top of the latest industry-disrupting tools and methods. Perhaps one of the biggest technological disruptions as of recently has been the introduction of ChatGPT. Originally launched in November 2022, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI that can answer questions, summarize and simplify documents and even write blogs that are easy to
Your Guide for Writing Agent Bios
Considering how competitive the insurance world is, having a well-written agent bio can make a difference in how your current and future customers may view your agency. Let’s take a look at some of the best practices you should keep in mind when it comes to writing your insurance agent bio! Prioritize What’s Most Important Imagine you’re a potential customer who happens to find your website. Do you think they’re
Interview with an Agent: Greg Bratcher
Originally born and raised in New Mexico, Greg Bratcher eventually made his way out to Texas and began his insurance career working in claims in 1987. Honing his passion for customer service and helping people realize their dreams and goals, Greg opened his own insurance agency in San Angelo, TX in 2006. Since opening his agency, he’s qualified for the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table and has enjoyed being able
How to Create the Perfect Insurance Marketing Plan
As an insurance agent, it’s essential for you to create a detailed marketing plan every year to help you keep your business on track and realize your goals. A detailed insurance marketing plan can make a difference in your annual ROI and may lead to new opportunities you never considered. Although no two agencies are the same, we’ve come up with five useful strategies for developing a new marketing plan!
Make People Fall in Love With Your Insurance Agency
As an insurance agent, part of your job is to win the hearts of your customers. Sure, offering low insurance premiums may impact customer retention, but there’s more to winning people over than helping them save on their policies. Satisfied customers are 80 percent more likely to renew their policies, so it’s essential to consistently keep the individuals, families and businesses you serve top-of-mind. Let’s go over some insurance marketing