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 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
Latest Blog Posts
Insurance Ads for Your New Agency
New to your market? Insurance ads can help you alert your community that your agency is open for business! The goal of insurance advertising is to get your agency in front of potential policyholders when they’re searching for services like yours. Following these tips, you can make the most out of your insurance ads. 1. Set attainable goals. Before creating ads, you first need to decide what your goals are
Guide to Google’s Search Engine Results Pages
When you plug a search query into Google, millions of results populate in the blink of an eye. Depending on your query, the format of the search engine results page, or SERP, can vary. If you were to submit a search for a local restaurant, then you’re likely to see Google Business Profile listings at the top of the page. If you search for a pair of leather boots, then
How to Respond to Reviews at Your Agency
We probably don’t have to tell you that reviews are important to your business, but just in case you missed it, we’ll say it again. Reviews are important to your business! In fact, an incredible 93% of people say that online reviews have impacted their purchasing decisions. To capture the attention of an increasingly online crowd, you’ll need to wow on review sites. Getting reviews isn’t the only factor necessary
What is the Google Algorithm, Anyway?
Our Las Vegas roots tell us it’d be a smart bet to put money on where your insurance agency’s clients come from. Primarily, you’re getting word-of-mouth referrals from previous happy clients. And the second-largest group is from Google searches for “insurance agency” or “insurance agent near me”, right? If so, you’re doing something right. If not, it’s probably time for some adjustments to your insurance agency marketing plan. Either way,
Interview with an Agent: Mike Paffhausen
Prior to becoming an insurance agent, Mike Paffhausen lived another life as a civil engineer working in water resources and environmental services. However, with a family full of agents, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the insurance industry was his calling. Flashforward, Mike is a captive agent with six years under his belt at his Butte, Montana agency. Throughout his years in the industry, Mike has counted himself lucky to
Spring Cleaning for Your Marketing Campaigns
It’s official! We’re now in Q2 of 2021. Where has the time gone?! Now that quarter one is behind us, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the performance of insurance marketing campaigns past. Here at Melon Local, we provide our clients with monthly updates on their insurance marketing campaigns. However, it’s important to remember that some campaigns take a little more time than others to yield results (such as
5 Business Tips for New Insurance Agents
Our expertise may be in digital marketing for insurance agents, but we know there’s more to building your business than gaining new leads. So, we caught up with multi-office insurance agent Chris Jones from Bothell, WA to pick his brain about growing a new insurance agency. With years of experience, a large team, and multiple offices, Chris knows a thing or two about what it takes to thrive in the
How to Optimize Local Directory Listings
Online local directory listings are essentially an advanced, tech-age version of the Yellow Pages. These websites help people find business information, compare companies, and browse reviews so they can get the goods or services they need. If you’ve searched for a local business using a query like “Thai food near me” or “plumbing services in Bend, OR”, then you’ve likely come across local business directory listings. As a local business,
What Makes a Good Advertisement?
We’re surrounded with advertising every day. Between logos on t-shirts, social media ads, and mailers from our favorite fast-food chains, they’re almost impossible to avoid! As someone who comes across various types of ads on a daily basis, you probably have opinions about what is and isn’t effective. But have you thought about the why behind this interest or aversion? While there isn’t a fool-proof formula for creating great ads,