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

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Woman pointing to a smartphone beside the headline “New Year, New Feed” on a Melon Local social media strategy blog graphic.

How to Strategize Your Social Media for Success in 2025

Is refreshing your social media part of your 2025 resolution?  With a new year right around the corner, now’s your chance to reimagine how your business resonates across people’s feeds. From refining your content calendar to embracing cutting-edge trends, this is your moment to hit “refresh” on your social media. Let’s talk about what you need to do to ensure you’re relevant and top-of-mind in your local market! Look Back

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Melon Local team members discussing the FCC's new lead generation rule and its impact on marketing compliance and customer outreach

What to Know About the FCC’s New Lead Generation Rule

A new federal rule tightening regulations on lead generation, as well as robocalls and robotexts is set to go into effect January 27, 2025. The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) new rule — originally adopted in December 2023 — aims to protect consumers from scam communications by closing loopholes in the lead generation industry and strengthening text messaging regulations. According to the FCC, these changes address vulnerabilities in robotext defenses, making

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Julie Hahn, insurance agent, featured in Melon Local's Interview with an Agent series discussing business growth and marketing success

Interview with an Agent: Julie Hahn

North Carolina Insurance Agent Julie Hahn always understood the necessity of smart marketing when she opened her first agency in 2009 — whether it be through internet leads, organic search optimization or social media. Fast-forward to 2022, and Julie has opened another successful agency with a new company in the competitive Charlotte-metro area — but something was missing. She had the drive, but what she really needed was the right

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Natalie Nunez, Social Media Content Creator at Melon Local, featured in a “Melon of the Month” spotlight graphic.

Melon Spotlight: Natalie Nunez

From the moment she joined our team as a Social Media Content Creator, Natalie Nunez has been a valuable force for helping not only our agents establish and elevate their social media game, but Melon Local’s as well. Always in the know with the latest social media trends, her creative eye and knack for helping our clients stand out in their local markets have made her a truly One in

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Man using a laptop on a couch beside the headline “Harness the Power of AI” on a Melon Local blog graphic about AI in the insurance industry.

How AI Is Changing Insurance Consumer Behavior

With predictive algorithms and personalization tools, artificial intelligence (AI) is more than a buzzword. This emerging tech is redefining the behaviors and expectations of today’s digital shoppers. For business owners, staying ahead in the digital marketing space means adapting to these shifts while understanding where the industry is heading. What AI Platforms Are Leading the Way? From OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Co-Pilot, these advanced AI platforms are

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Melon Local team member sharing year-over-year marketing strategies to help insurance agents grow their business in 2025 and beyond

Year-Over-Year Strategies for 2025 and Beyond

The start of a new year is the perfect time for fresh ideas, new goals and taking note of what’s worked and what hasn’t. The truth is, reviewing  your year-over-year performance can feel like comparing apples to melons. So how can you measure success and set yourself up for a thriving 2025? Understand the Shifting Market Dynamics Competition is heating up in the insurance industry, it’s no longer enough to

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Melon Local team member explaining the FTC's new fake review rule and its impact on online reputation management and customer trust

FTC’s New Rule for Fake Reviews Officially in Effect

How New Federal Rule Affects Business Reviews In case you missed it, a federal rule banning fake reviews recently went into effect. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new rule — originally issued in August 2024 — officially went into effect in October. According to the FTC, this new rule now holds businesses accountable for posting or purchasing fake reviews, including those from people who don’t exist or have never engaged

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David Arce, founder of Soaring Eagle, featured in a Melon Local interview discussing the 2025 Soaring Eagle Agent Study Group event

Soaring Eagle Founder Shares Excitement About 2025 Event

As the COVID-19 pandemic redefined the professional landscape in 2020, Michigan insurance agent David Arce realized a significant void in networking and educational opportunities for agents. His recognition of the need for in-person connection and shared growth among insurance agents inspired Arce to found the Soaring Eagle Agent Study Group to continue fostering agency growth. “The core of it was just about agents sharing with each other,” says Arce. “Being

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Trevor McBride, insurance agent, sharing five things he loves about working with Melon Local and its digital marketing services

5 Things I Love About Melon Local – Feat. Trevor McBride

Portland, OR-area insurance agent Trevor McBride had already been running his agency for nearly seven years before coming across Melon Local. Previously, he’d tried working with other marketing companies but didn’t quite find the fruitful partnership he needed for his digital presence. Despite only joining us in February, Trevor has grown to love Melon Local for a number of reasons, including our personalized approach to digital marketing and transformative workshops.

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Latest Blog Posts

Melon Local Bring Your Child to Work Day group photo

RECAP: Melon Local Celebrates Bring Your Child to Work Day

Bring Your Child to Work Day officially took over the Melon Local office on April 23, and for a few hours, our usual crew of marketers, strategists and Client Success pros shared the spotlight with some very important guests — the future generation of Melon leaders! Throughout the morning, 14 kids ages 4–11 got a behind-the-scenes look at life at Melon Local, starting with an office tour where they met

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Google review response update warning for businesses managing online reviews

What to Know About Google’s Review Response Update

Did you know you may be replying to Google business reviews without realizing your responses never went live? Google has quietly introduced a new moderation layer for business review replies — meaning responses can now be delayed, filtered or rejected before ever appearing publicly on Search or Maps. Here’s what’s changing, and what your business should do about it. How is Google Now Moderating Reviews? Before this update, Google review

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Melon Local Open House event graphic featuring trusted sponsors in Las Vegas

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

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Melon Spotlight featuring Client Success Manager Raya McCracken

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

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Social media marketing graphic explaining why social media is essential for business growth

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

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Melon of the Month spotlight featuring Edgar Serrano Ramos, Director of Client Success

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

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Inc. Regionals Rocky Mountain 2026 graphic recognizing Melon Local ranking No. 15

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

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AIO vs. GEO comparison graphic explaining the difference in AI search strategies

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

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Small business owner frustrated by website traffic that is not converting into leads

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

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