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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Kris Plaat, Paid Search Manager at Melon Local, featured in a “Melon of the Month” spotlight graphic.

Melon Spotlight: Kris Plaat

Meet Kris Plaat — one of our dedicated Paid Search Managers! From optimizing bids to refining targeting, Kris ensures our campaigns deliver high-quality leads. We asked Kris about his behind-the-scenes role and what — besides coffee — fuels his passion for paid search. Ready to see how Kris and the rest of our paid search team can elevate your business? Schedule a demo today and experience a fresher approach to

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Juan Calix, insurance agent, sharing five things he loves about working with Melon Local and its marketing services

5 Things I Love About Melon Local – Feat. Juan Calix

Altamonte Springs, FL insurance agent Juan Calix built his agency from the ground up during one of the most uncertain times — June 2020, in the middle of the COVID pandemic. But instead of seeing obstacles, he saw opportunity. With a mindset rooted in growth and an unwavering commitment to his community, Juan quickly turned challenges into wins, proving that success is about perspective and persistence. Five years later, Juan’s

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Melon Local team member sharing updates on missing Google reviews and the Google Business Profile review count issue affecting local businesses

What to Know About Google Review Count Issue

If you’ve noticed that some of your Google reviews have vanished, you’re not the only one. Businesses across multiple industries have voiced concerns about missing or delayed reviews on their Google Business Profiles. Although some have lost only a few, others have seen dozens of reviews seemingly disappear from their profiles. Some businesses have also noticed their review count isn’t adding up correctly, even though the reviews themselves are still

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Professional magician Robert Strong performing a card trick during a team-building workshop at Melon Local.

Business Meets Magic: Robert Strong Visits Melon Local

Recently, Melon Local welcomed Robert Strong — magician, author and keynote speaker — to inspire our team with his unique blend of magic and business insight. With over 30 years of experience captivating audiences worldwide, Robert isn’t just about sleight of hand — he’s about creating moments that leave lasting impressions. His philosophy aligns perfectly with what we do at Melon Local: delivering extraordinary experiences that delight and inspire. During

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Melon Local team member sharing digital marketing best practices and common mistakes businesses should avoid in 2025

Digital Marketing Dos and Don’ts for 2025

While there are many approaches to digital marketing in 2025 that will elevate your brand to the next level, others may hinder your progress. With the new year in full swing, it’s time to focus on strategies that deliver results and leave outdated practices behind. From mastering local optimization to leveraging data, let’s dive into the dos and don’ts that will keep your business fresh and relevant. Do Focus on

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Sarah Levitz, Client Success Manager at Melon Local, featured in a “Melon of the Month” spotlight graphic.

Melon Spotlight: Sarah Levitz

Since joining our Melon Patch, Client Success Manager Sarah Levitz has proven herself to be an invaluable part of our team. Known for her positive attitude and her knack for “mom jokes,” she’s not just winning people over with her personality — Sarah’s delivering quality results. Curious about what keeps Sarah motivated and how she helps agents achieve their digital marketing goals? Stay tuned to discover why she’s passionate about

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Whitney Green-Olson raising a glass beside a microphone during Melon Local’s 2025 Fireside Chat graphic.

Fireside Chat with Melon Local’s CEO: 2025 Edition

We already know the bar was set high, but it’s safe to say 2024 was no ordinary year for Melon Local. Despite a challenging landscape filled with fluctuating market conditions, we proved once again that we’re leaders in the digital marketing space. Notably, our journey last year was highlighted by some incredible “Melonstones” for our Patch and leadership: We maintained our Google Premier Partner status for another year, reinforcing our

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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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Latest Blog Posts

Business professional thoughtfully planning keyword strategies to improve search visibility and insurance marketing results

What’s SEO Got To Do With It

You’ve likely heard the term “SEO” more times than you can count. While it may be common insurance marketing jargon, many of our clients ask us, “Okay, so what does SEO have to do with me and my business?” The short answer is: a lot, if you play your cards right.  Let’s break down the basics of this popular insurance marketing strategy and explain how you can use it to

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Woman holding a carved jack-o'-lantern to represent common insurance marketing mistakes and pitfalls to avoid

Scary Insurance Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

It’s time for a scary story. There once was an insurance marketing agent who owned a local business. While they were trying to grow their agency, they made a dire mistake. They didn’t invest in digital marketing! Marketing your local insurance agency can be hard, but Melon Local is here to help make things a little easier. We work with agents all over the country, so when it comes to

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Woman smiling while using a smartphone, representing social media engagement and communication for insurance agencies

Should Your Insurance Agency Use Social Media?

We get a lot of questions about social media for insurance agents. Is social media marketing really that important? What platforms should I be using? What kind of content should I post? The list goes on and on. Many insurance agencies forgo social media marketing because they think it won’t make an impact on their business. That’s just not the case! Social media has the power to increase your agency’s

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Business professional using a laptop to research and manage pay-per-click advertising campaigns

What is PPC Advertising?

In marketing, we sure do love our acronyms, but at Melon Local, there is one that reigns above the rest: PPC. While we hate to play favorites, we can’t help ourselves on this one. PPC continues to be one of the most effective insurance marketing strategies we use to help our clients generate quality leads. If you’re like many of our clients, you’re probably thinking, “Okay, I’ve heard of PPC,

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Business professional using a laptop to improve an insurance agency's online presence through digital marketing and website optimization

How to Maximize Your Agency’s Online Presence

These days, just about everyone is searching for products and services online. Need a handyman? Just Google it. Looking for a new taco spot? Head to Yelp. The same goes for customers looking for a new insurance agency. When customers are on the hunt for a new agency, whether they’re new to town or looking to bundle deals at a competitive rate, they’re likely to take to the internet. So,

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Portrait of insurance agent Kaan Inceoglu featured in Melon Local's Interview with an Agent series

Interview with an Agent: Kaan Inceoglu

Prior to setting down roots in Greeley, CO, insurance agent Kaan Inceoglu was a man on the go. After graduating from Ohio State with a finance and international business degree, Kaan was drawn to the insurance industry. He became a claims adjuster and eventually joined the catastrophe team, a role that took him all over the country. During his years traveling from state to state, Kaan also earned a master’s

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Donation jar with cash and a heart symbol representing community involvement, charitable giving and local outreach efforts

How Community Involvement Impacts Your Agency

While digital insurance marketing is a great way to help customers find your agency, it’s not the only way to make a name for yourself in your city. As a small business owner, one of the most important things you can do to market your agency is become involved in your community. Big city or small town, people like to create connections and put down roots where they live. By

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Business professional using a laptop to review and organize marketing strategies during a campaign refresh

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

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Business professional reviewing marketing strategies on a laptop and identifying opportunities for improvement

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

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