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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Insurance agent Peyton Pettus is interviewed by why you should attend his Melon University Workshop

Interview with an Agent: Peyton Pettus

A lot has changed with insurance marketing since Georgia-based agent Peyton Pettus entered the agency world 30 years ago — but one thing has stayed consistent: the need to adapt. Peyton has seen it all, from the days of cold calls and direct mail to today’s competitive digital landscape.  Now, he’s one of the nation’s Top-10 agents and leveraging tools like Melon Max live transfer calls and prioritizing smart hiring

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Melon Local social media team graphic featuring team members and promotional messaging about social media marketing services.

Meet Melon Local’s Social Media Team

At Melon Local, we believe that every client has a unique story to tell on social media, whether through lifestyle snapshots, educational posts or simple day-in-the-life moments. Of course, none of this happens by accident. It takes a village — or rather, a team — and at the center of that village is someone making sure every piece of content reflects purpose and personality. Now’s your chance to meet the

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Cassidy Fehr, Client Success Manager and Administrative Operations Specialist at Melon Local, featured in a “Melon of the Month” spotlight graphic.

Melon Spotlight: Cassidy Fehr

From rolling out the green carpet as a CSM to now building stronger connections behind the scenes in her hybrid role as an Administrative Operations Specialist, Cass has built a reputation for “ex-seeding” expectations. She brings structure, organization, positivity and heart to everything she does, from coordinating smooth systems to adding a thoughtful touch to team events and client gifts. Cass tackles every task with calm confidence and a commitment

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Blog graphic discussing how Instagram content and social media engagement can influence SEO and online visibility.

How to Prepare Your Business for Instagram’s SEO Update

As of July 10, Instagram is now allowing search engines like Google and Bing to index public content from professional accounts. Essentially, this means the content you share — whether it’s photos, carousels or Reels — from eligible accounts can now appear in search engine results pages (SERPs) — even for users who aren’t logged into Instagram. Not only is this a major shift for a social platform that’s traditionally

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Two women posing with a Google and AI logo on a whiteboard for a blog about how businesses can appear in Google AI Overviews

How Google’s AI Overviews Are Affecting SEO

Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just changing how businesses create content — it’s changing how their customers find them.  Depending on the search, Google may now present an AI Overview at the top of your organic results — and sometimes above or below paid ads. This new feature provides AI-generated summaries based on your search results. Here’s what your business should know about Google’s ongoing AI rollout and how to set

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Matt McCracken, Director of Marketing at Melon Local, featured in a “Melon of the Month” spotlight graphic.

Melon Spotlight: Matt McCracken

This time, we’re flipping the script. Meet Matt McCracken — Melon Local’s Director of Marketing and the usual mastermind behind the spotlight videos. Matt began his journey at Melon as a Client Success Manager, where he quickly developed a passion for solving client pain points. With a background in photography and videography, he soon stepped behind the lens to craft engaging content that hit home with our audience. Since joining

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Melon Local team member explaining how Google Local Service Ads help insurance agents connect with local customers

Understanding How Google Local Service Ads Work

Chances are, you’ve probably noticed these at the top of your search results — those clean, professional-looking boxes showing nearby service providers with a shiny green Google Guaranteed checkmark.  Let’s talk about Google Local Service Ads (LSAs), which are a type of paid ad designed to help local service providers connect with customers in their area.  Unlike your traditional Google Ads, which charge per click, LSAs operate instead on a

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Melon Local team member sharing strategies to help insurance agents turn more live transfer calls into customers

5 Tips for Strong Live Transfer Calls

You’ve got a live transfer call to your agency — the lead is hot, the intent is high and your window to make a lasting impression is small. But the difference between a call that converts and one that misses the mark? It all comes down to how prepared you and your team members are to lead the conversation. Here are five tips to help you make the most of

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Insurance professional building sales and agency knowledge through Melon University's training and educational programs

Why Enroll Your Agency in Melon University

At Melon Local, we’re not ones for a “set it and forget” type of approach to digital marketing — and we believe the same goes for continued education. If you’ve seen Melon University mentioned in your inbox or on your social feed and wondered what it’s all about, here’s your answer. Whether you’re a seasoned insurance agency owner or a team member looking to level up, Melon University is here

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Latest Blog Posts

Alisha and Judy featured in a “Know Your Melon” graphic for a blog about what to expect on a Melon Local demo call.

Get to Know Melon Local on a Demo Call: What to Expect

Alisha and Judy may have had a few surprises for each other in the video above, but, as our Directors of Business Development, they do know a lot about what it takes to level up your agency with Melon Local! So, what can you expect when you schedule a demo call with them? Let’s break it down! Tailoring the Demo to Your Interests After a warm introduction from one of

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Melon Local team member sharing emerging social media trends to help businesses stay competitive and grow their online presence

Social Media Trends to Keep You Growing This Season

Just like sweater weather and pumpkin spice, social media trends change just as quickly as the seasons, so it’s essential for insurance agents not to “fall” behind on the latest digital happenings across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. Let’s explore some of the latest social media trends that should be a part of your strategy, such as taking advantage of trending audio, video ideas and authentic storytelling. Sound Off with

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Mario Giraldo, insurance agent, featured in Melon Local's Interview with an Agent series discussing agency growth, customer relationships, and business success

Interview with an Agent: Mario Giraldo

Growing up in an immigrant household in the U.S., Mario Giraldo became well aware of the obstacles Spanish speakers face trying to navigate the insurance world. He often served as his family’s translator for official matters and found it frustrating how his parents would often be dismissed or left without answers due to their language barrier. This ultimately drove his passion to become an insurance agent in Kansas City, MO,

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Man speaking into a microphone beside the headline “Navigating the Noise” on a Melon Local insurance marketing blog graphic.

Navigating Market Fluctuations in the Insurance Industry

Are you staying competitive in the ever-changing insurance landscape? Melon Local can help! The truth is that the insurance industry has faced an unprecedented wave of market fluctuations driven by factors such as the lingering aftermath of the pandemic, persisting inflation, disruption in supply chains, natural disasters, evolving consumer trends and changing government regulations and laws. As you are familiar with, not only has the insurance industry been impacted, but

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Man speaking into a microphone beside the headline “Navigating the Noise” on a Melon Local insurance marketing blog graphic.

Melon Spotlight: Richard Viado

Paid Search Manager Richard Viado often works behind the scenes, but his impact is always front and center. From creating lead-generating Facebook ad campaigns to diving deep into data, Richard’s expertise drives quality results for Melon Local.  We caught up with him to learn more about his typical day and what updates may be in store with Facebook! Ready for your paid search to pay off? Book a demo today!

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Scott Grates, insurance industry speaker and agency leader, promoting his Melon University workshop on building referral-driven growth

Meet Melon University Speaker Scott Grates

Following the 2007–2008 Financial Crisis, insurance agent Scott Grates found himself in a tight spot. As a brand new agency owner with a wife and two babies at home, he had to make every dollar count. So, he tested every marketing strategy he could — Yellow Pages, direct mail, telemarketing and newspaper ads. A year later, he reviewed his various marketing efforts and realized there was one clear outlier that

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Participants holding illuminated lanterns during the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night event, supporting patients and families affected by blood cancer

How to Help Melon Local Support Light the Night

Melon Local is excited to once again participate in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light the Night walk in Las Vegas on November 2. Since 2021, we’ve been proud supporters of this cause, raising over $5,000 to help fund the LLS’s life-saving work. For us, it’s more than just a walk — it’s an opportunity to stand with survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and contribute to the fight against

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Kirsten Nguyen, Senior Director of Client Success at Melon Local, featured in a “Client Success Story” blog graphic.

Client Success Story with Kirsten Nguyen

As an endless encyclopedia of SEO knowledge who’s always up to date on the latest digital marketing trends, it’s safe to say Senior Director of Client Success Kirsten Nguyen knows what it takes to deliver results. Listen to our conversation with her about how she helps our clients improve their online reputation, rank higher on Google through strategic organic search optimization and overcome hurdles with their digital presence — of

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Melon Local team members sharing marketing strategies to help insurance agents grow their life insurance business during Life Insurance Awareness Month and beyond

How to Grow During Life Insurance Awareness Month and Beyond

National Life Insurance Awareness Month may be in full swing, but there are plenty of opportunities to grow your business year-round — especially when you have a fruitful partner like Melon Local in your corner! Let’s discuss how you can empower your customers with knowledge and how we can help them make informed decisions about their life insurance needs during September and beyond. The Numbers Behind Life Insurance: Why It

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