7 Ways to Get New Pest Control Customers

As a pest control business owner, you know firsthand the importance of having a loyal and steady customer base. However, to grow and thrive as a business, it’s essential to constantly be on the lookout for new customers.

With competition within the industry increasing, it can be challenging to find ways to attract and retain new clients. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!

In this article, I’ll count down my top seven strategies that can help you reach potential customers and expand your business.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your customer base, these tried-and-true methods will help your pest control business reach new customers in today’s competitive market.

7. Invest in Paid Digital Media Advertising

Paid digital media advertising means paying to show ads online. This is different from print media, like newspapers or flyers, where you pay to print and distribute physical ads.

Paid digital media ads appear on websites, search engines, or social media platforms.

Here’s how it works:

First, you choose a platform and create an account. 
Then, design your ad. Make sure it meets the specific requirements set by the platform. For example, you might have a word limit or maximum image size.
Set a budget. Usually, you’ll be able to decide how much you want to spend per day or month.
Now, target your audience. Use filters to create an audience that can actually hire you. For example, if you operate in San Diego, don’t target homeowners in Milwaukee.
Finally, set your ad live. Be sure to keep an eye on its performance and make tweaks to optimize your results.

So, how does this approach win you new pest control customers?

Say you own a small pest control business in Springfield. You create a Google ad targeting homeowners in your area.

When someone in Springfield searches for “pest control near me,” your ad appears at the top of the search results.

This visibility makes it easy for potential customers to find you and contact you for services.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: How to Grow a Pest Control Business

3 Tips to Supercharge Your Results

Attract and convert more leads with these best practices:

Focus on a specific area. Target people nearby who are looking for your services.
Highlight your unique selling proposition. Do you specialize in eco-friendly pest control? Let your audience know.
Use quality images. Include eye-catching images for a professional-looking ad that will inspire trust.

6. Leverage Your Free Social Media Accounts

More than five billion people—that’s 62.6% of the world’s population—use social media. Reach them by creating business accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

There, you can share content that showcases your expertise and builds your authority. You can also interact with your followers and nurture authentic relationships.

The best part? It’s free.

Plus, when you post regularly, you stay top-of-mind for your followers. They will think of you first when they need pest control services.

You can also reach new people through shares and recommendations from your followers. For example, a happy customer might tag you in a post. This tag is visible to their followers, expanding your reach with zero additional effort.

3 Social Media Best Practices

Not sure how to approach your social media strategy? Stick to these best practices:

Be consistent. If a prospect sees that you haven’t posted on Facebook since 2019, they might think you’ve gone out of business.
Engage with your followers. Social media is social, so reply to comments and messages.
Spotlight your brand’s personality. Showcase your team. Be human. This helps you connect with new customers and earn their loyalty.

5. Knocking on Doors in Your Targeted Areas

Running a local business is about community.

By knocking on doors in your target area, you put a face to the name. You build an all-important rapport with the locals.

Do be aware, however, that some people might find door-knocking annoying or intrusive. If someone is not interested or asks you to leave, respect their wishes.

To keep yourself safe, buddy up with an employee and door-knock together. Never go into anyone’s home, even if they insist.

3 Tips for Successful Door-Knocking

Door-knocking has its pros and cons. Use these three tips:

Always be polite and professional. Dress the part and introduce yourself. Be sure to be respectful of all “no soliciting” signs.
Leave behind a reminder. Give each person something tangible, like a business card.
Make sure safety is always a top priority. Go in pairs, and don’t knock after dark.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Start a Pest Control Business

4. Paid Physical Media Advertising

You can use printed materials to promote your business. Examples include flyers, postcards, brochures, and even magnets.

It’s highly targeted since you only reach people in the area you service.

It also helps you secure new pest control customers who don’t typically use the internet or social media.

3 Ways to Get More Out of Physical Media Ads

Old-school advertising is still effective—just be sure to follow these best practices:

Invest in great graphic design. Your materials should include your logo, and company colors, and align with your brand identity.
Keep the message simple. The easier it is to read and understand, the better.
Add a clear call to action (CTA). Examples include “Call now for a free quote” or “Visit our website to claim your free offer.”

3. Look Into Paid Leads

Paid leads are contacts you buy from lead generation services.

These services collect information from people interested in pest control in your area. You pay to get their contact details. You can then contact the leads and offer your services.

This system can help you get new customers because the leads are pre-qualified. In other words, they are people who:

Live in the area you service
Are interested in pest control

This means they are more likely to convert into paying customers.

It’s also a time-saving strategy. You don’t have to search for customers on your own.

3 Tips for Paid Leads

Increase your conversions with these tips:

Follow up quickly. Otherwise, a competitor might get to the lead first.
Personalize your approach. Write a custom message or address their specific concerns with a phone call.
Track your results and make changes. That way, you can focus your effort and budget on leads most likely to convert.

2. Organic Website Searches

Organic website searches happen when people find your website through search engines without paid ads.

You can increase the volume of organic website searches through a process called search engine optimization (SEO). This involves making changes to your website so it ranks higher in relevant search results.

How does this help you get new pest control customers? Say someone searches “pest control in [your city].” They are most likely to click the top few results.

If your website is buried on page three of the search results, you won’t be found. And that’s lost business.

3 Quick SEO Wins for Pest Control Companies

SEO can be technical. But here are three quick changes you can make:

Leverage keywords. Use relevant, location-specific keywords on your website and in your social media content.
Provide value. Create and publish high-quality content that offers the reader value. 
Optimize your website for mobile. Make sure it loads quickly too. These changes improve the user experience, which is important for ranking.

1. Word of Mouth and Referrals

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get new pest control customers. Why? Because it’s authentic.

You trust recommendations from friends and family. Your customers are no different.

So when someone suggests your business to someone who needs your services, that person is likely to get in touch. You already have a stamp of approval, which makes converting the lead easier.

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: 5 Strategic Insights for Pest Control Companies

3 Tips to Encourage Word of Mouth and Referrals

Here are three ways to get more referrals:

Give happy customers incentives to recommend you. For example, you might give them a discount on an upcoming service.
Stay in touch. Create an automated email campaign that prompts customers to leave a review.
Set up your Google Business Profile. Speaking of reviews, ensure you have accounts on all the major sites. Claiming your Google Business Profile is particularly important.

How You Can Start Getting New Pest Control Customers Right Now

Here are some quick tips to help you win new pest control customers right away:

Research paid lead services. Find and sign up for a lead generation service that specializes in pest control.
Email current customers for reviews. Send a friendly email asking your happy customers to leave reviews on Google Business.
Audit your website for SEO improvements. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights and Ahrefs to find out how well your website is performing.
Brainstorm referral incentives. Create a referral program where you offer discounts or small rewards to customers who refer new clients to you. This motivates your current customers to spread the word.