December 11, 2024 - 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 partner to take things to the next level. And, not anyone like her previous experience with digital marketing agencies that either failed to reach her goals or didn’t have her best interests at heart — until she discovered Melon Local.
In just one year with Melon Local, Julie’s agency has grown steadily to over 5,500 households across North and South Carolina.
We caught up with Julie to learn more about how Melon Local has helped fuel her leads, better connect with her community through social media, and her advice for new agents ready to grow like never before!
Melon Local: How did you hear about Melon Local?
Julie Hahn: When I was working in management at the previous company I worked for, my husband was using Melon Local, and so were a lot of other agents I knew. What I had known about Melon Local before was that they did a really good job of managing your social media. And as a new agent and business owner, you don’t have a lot of time to figure out everything else that comes with being an agent — like hiring and training your team and then getting all the lead sources. Since partnering with Melon last year, they’ve helped me in a way that feels more like a business partnership, identifying where to find more leads and how to stay competitive.
Melon Local: Glad to hear it’s been a “fruitful partnership” so far! Can you tell us more about how we’ve helped you stay competitive in your local market?
Julie: Charlotte, NC is a very big market with a lot of insurance agencies from all different companies. Being able to personally brand myself on social media and having those self-generated leads has really been helpful, because it’s a whole other bucket, if you will, that I can use outside of some of the other marketing that I’m using. But for me, at least, they’re going to my site and we’ve got their information, and they’re requesting a quote from our office. In a way, that kind of gives me exclusive leads — if you will — that I haven’t been able to get from any other vendor for the cost.
Melon Local: Awesome. So, it sounds like we’ve played a big part in growing your business?
Julie: Yeah, my agency has grown over time into where it’s at right now, thanks to Melon. It’s been refreshing being able to actually get true leads from people that went on our landing page, put their information in and requested a quote. Being able to brand myself on social media while generating my own leads through my landing page has been incredibly helpful. With Melon Local’s support, I haven’t missed a single month of hitting my minimum variable comp goal. Agents should definitely partner with Melon — whether your agency is big or small!
Melon Local: Speaking of partners, how has it been working with your Client Success Manager?
Julie: I love having a dedicated rep focused on success. I feel like I can call him, text or email him and he will look into whatever it is that I need. He’ll be looking behind the scenes at some of my marketing and say ‘maybe this is something that we want to change a little bit,’ or ‘here’s something we’re doing for some other agents that are working.’ That level of support makes a huge difference. I’ve worked with companies before where I had a rep I could never reach, or who didn’t seem invested in my success. With Melon, it’s a completely different experience.
Melon Local: Any advice for new agents looking to grow?
Julie: When it comes to marketing your business, you can’t put all your eggs in one basket. I think there are some things that agents can be doing on their own organically that we’ve done, like encouraging more people to leave reviews. But in addition, I think you’ve got to have some paid marketing because you’ve got to be able to find ways to get in front of more people more often. And obviously, you know, a great way to do that is working with Melon Local. Being able to have a great partner that’s not just looking at the paid search, but also looking at the social media side of it too. If you want to be in the digital marketing space and are trying to find a way to be more efficient with your time and your marketing dollars, people should definitely talk to Melon Local.
Whether it’s quality lead generation, organic search optimization or a more personalized touch to your social media, we’re ready to grow when you are! Freshen up your marketing by scheduling a demo with Melon Local today!