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

Melon Spotlight: Liz Anguiano
Since joining our team as a Social Media Content Creator, Liz has brought fresh ideas, creativity and a true team spirit to everything she does. Her passion for crafting scroll-stopping content, hopping on calls to ensure our clients’ social presence is always on point and helping agents shine online as local legends made her an essential part of the Melon Patch. We caught up with Liz to talk about her

Soaring Eagle Agent Study Group Coming Back Stronger in 2026
The Soaring Eagle agent study group isn’t just back for 2026 — it’s bigger than ever. More than 400 agents and team members from across the U.S. are already set to attend from January 28–30 at the Soaring Eagle Resort & Casino in Mt. Pleasant, MI, making this the largest gathering the study group has hosted yet. Founder and insurance agent David Arce says even as the room expands, Soaring

Melon Local Wins Best Service Award at BizX North America 2025
At this year’s BizX North America conference sponsored by ActionCOACH, more than 400 entrepreneurs and business coaches gathered from Oct. 26–28 in Houston, TX to talk about leadership and what it really means to grow. And in the middle of it all, Melon Local proved once again that it’s possible to build a digital marketing agency around quality hospitality over hype. In a full-circle moment, we’re proud to announce that
Melon Spotlight: Ernie Ron
From guiding clients as a CSM to now leading a full team as Director of Client Success, Ernie’s journey at Melon has been inspiring, to say the least. Over the past four years, he’s helped shape how we connect with clients, drive leads and deliver results that truly matter.Whether he’s coaching his team, educating our clients on Melon Max or stepping into the spotlight during live demo videos, it’s safe to

What Our Team Loves About Melon Local: 5 Perspectives
At Melon Local, we believe our greatest strengths come from our people and the forward-thinking strategies we develop together because that’s what keeps our clients ahead of the game. Every relationship is an opportunity to embrace fresh ideas, adopt new technologies and build momentum in a digital space that’s constantly evolving. But beyond the tools, it’s the community that we’ve built — the support, collaboration and encouragement — that makes

Black Hat SEO Tricks That Can Come Back to Haunt You
Black hat SEO might look like a treat at first — a quick fix promising fast rankings, sudden traffic boosts and easy wins. But just like a haunted house, those misleading shortcuts are filled with hidden traps that can spook your business for years to come. At Melon Local, we’ve seen firsthand how these rule-breaking tactics may give businesses a temporary boost but almost always ends in penalties, lost visibility

Meet Melon Local’s Marketing Team
At Melon Local, our marketing team’s first priority is telling Melon’s story — making sure our brand, content, and resources stay fresh, consistent, and impactful. Every ad we create, every Melon University webinar we host, every blog we write and every piece of branded content we design has a purpose: to showcase what makes us different and to keep clients connected with the latest best practices in digital marketing. While

How to Connect with Gen Z Social Media Users
Gen Z — generally defined as those born between 1997 and 2012 — is the first generation to grow up entirely online with social media at their fingertips. From catchy TikTok dances to viral memes, this is how they connect. They value authenticity, speed and connection — they’ll “highkey” scroll past content that doesn’t resonate. And if your content doesn’t pass the “vibe check” in the first few seconds, it’s

Beyond Keywords: How ChatGPT-5 Redefines Search
OpenAI’s recent launch of ChatGPT-5 marks a significant shift in online search behavior. Even this blog’s feature image was created using ChatGPT-5 — a fitting example of how AI is no longer just a tool we talk about, but one we actively use to create and communicate. Originally kicking off the AI revolution with its previous large language model (LLM) ChatGPT-4 in 2023, OpenAI will likely continue to shape how
Latest Blog Posts

Melon Local Visits Google’s Headquarters
At Melon Local, we don’t just keep up with the latest in digital marketing — we go straight to the source. Several members of our Melon Patch, including CEO Whitney Green-Olson, recently had the incredible opportunity to visit Google’s headquarters in California for an exclusive learning experience with some of the brightest minds in digital advertising. As a Google Premier Partner, we’re proud to be recognized in the top three

5 Common Digital Marketing Scams to Avoid
If you’re involved in the digital marketing world, chances are you’ve heard it all. “Your listings are broken.” “We can get you to #1 on Google.” “We’ll wipe those 1-star reviews.” But how many of these bold claims are legit? Spoiler alert: not many. At Melon Local, we’ve seen quite a few of these and the damage they can cause firsthand. Let’s break down five of the most common scams

Melon Spotlight: Alisha Lucik
As one of our Directors of Business Development, Alisha is often the first Melon clients meet during a demo — and she makes a lasting impression. With a background in relationship-building and a talent for making people smile, she brings warmth, laughs and strategic insight to every conversation. We caught up with Alisha to talk about her passion for meaningful connections, what agents can expect on a demo and the

How to Build Your Business’s Social Media Presence
Standing out in a crowded market isn’t easy. But one of the best ways to establish trust, connect with your community and set yourself apart from competitors is through social media. It’s easy to overthink the process — worrying about how you’ll look, what you’ll say or whether your videos will be “good enough.” But remember, social media is all about making connections. Here are some tips to keep in

4 Must-Know Best Practices for Artificial Intelligence
Whether it’s ChatGPT or Gemini, businesses everywhere are jumping on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) bandwagon to streamline processes, enhance customer experiences and make smarter, data-driven decisions. But as AI chat technology evolves, so do the rules that govern it — especially when it comes to safety and responsibility. AI is clearly here to stay, but businesses must stay ahead of the game to ensure their use of AI remains ethical,

What It Means to Optimize Your Google Business Profile
You’ve probably heard it before —“We optimize your Google Business Profile (GBP).” But what does that really mean? At Melon Local, we go beyond the basics to ensure your GBP isn’t just set up, but fully optimized to attract new customers and keep your business ahead of the competition. Here’s what we do to make sure your profile is working its hardest for you. 1. Laying the Foundation A strong

Melon Local Celebrates International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month
At Melon Local, we take pride in being a women-led agency where leadership, expertise and innovation thrive. We understand that diverse leadership isn’t just beneficial — it’s essential. As we celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we recognize the women who shape our company’s and clients’ success today and every day. Notably, we are proud to be a women-led company with over half our leadership and team being

Melon Spotlight: Kirsten Nguyen
As one of our Senior Directors of Client Success, Kirsten is committed to keeping her team ahead of the curve through dynamic collaboration. Her extensive expertise in SEO and her knack for infusing humor into everyday challenges have made her a standout leader to both our team and our clients. In a candid conversation, Kirsten shares her passion for investing in people, her approach to guiding the team through the

4 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Instagram Business Page
You’ve finally got your business on Instagram, but are you using it to its full potential? According to Sprout Social’s 2025 Sprout Social Index, 29 percent of Instagram users make purchases through the app — making Instagram prime digital real estate for businesses looking to boost visibility and drive growth. For business owners, though, keeping Instagram up-to-date can feel like a full-time job on top of everything else. The good
