Starting a pest control business is about building a brand people trust and remember.
Sure, customers don’t think about pest control until they need it. When that moment comes, they’ll pick the business that’s visible, credible, and easy to reach.
The challenge? Getting your name out there without burning cash on ineffective marketing.
As of 2023, the global market for pest control is valued at around USD 22 billion, with projections suggesting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2023 to 2028.
Source: Fortune Business Insights
Marketing Tips for pest control businesses are about smart marketing, strong local presence, and building a reputation that brings in steady work.
An expert Home Services Marketing Agency will help you navigate the most effective strategies to attract customers, keep them engaged, and grow your business sustainably.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most effective marketing tactics.
First Things First: Your Business Needs a Marketing Plan
A lot of new home service businesses—including pest control, HVAC, and electricians—fall into the same trap: spending big on ads with no real plan.
What happens?
- The wrong people see the ads (renters in apartments, people outside your service area).
- You get calls, but they don’t convert into actual bookings.
- Customers don’t remember your business when they actually need help.
Before throwing money at HVAC digital marketing, pest control ads, or HVAC internet marketing, focus on three things:
✅ Who are your customers? Are you targeting homeowners, landlords, or commercial properties? Your messaging will be different for each.
✅ What makes your business different? Maybe you offer eco-friendly pest solutions, emergency services, or long-term maintenance plans.
✅ What’s your balance between online and offline marketing? Relying only on digital marketing for electricians, HVAC, or pest control businesses might not be enough—local networking, referrals, and branded materials still matter.
Once you’ve got this figured out, you can put your marketing dollars in the right places.
The Secret to Being Found: Local SEO & Google Domination
Most people don ’t think about pest control until they’re panicking over an infestation.
The moment that happens, they grab their phone and type:
❌ “How to get rid of ants” (which leads to DIY blogs)
✅ “Exterminator near me” (which leads to businesses like yours)
If your business isn’t showing up on that first page, you’re missing out on serious money.
How to Rank High in Local Searches
This is your digital storefront. It shows your business name, reviews, phone number, and services. Make sure yours includes:
- High-quality before-and-after photos of real jobs.
- A detailed service list with the pests you specialize in (bedbugs, termites, rodents, etc.).
- Real customer reviews—more on that next.
Reviews That Rank: Why More Reviews = More Customers
A business with 50+ reviews and a 4.8-star rating will always get more calls than one with just 10 reviews—even if both offer the same service.
Source: Brightlocal
Here’s how to automate review collection:
- Send customers a text or email link to review your service right after the job.
- Offer a small discount for future services in exchange for a review.
- Respond to every review—positive or negative—so new customers see that you care.
The Hidden Goldmine: Local Directories
Google isn’t the only place customers search for HVAC services, electricians, or pest control.
List your business on:
- Yelp – Still a go-to for homeowners looking for trusted professionals.
- Angi & HomeAdvisor – Used by people ready to book.
- Nextdoor – Perfect for word-of-mouth referrals in your neighborhood.
The more places your business appears, the more trust you build.
Don’t Blow Your Budget: Smart Advertising That Pays Off
Not all ads bring in good customers.
Some just drain your budget with clicks from the wrong audience.
Where to Put Your Advertising Dollars
Google Local Services Ads: Unlike regular Google Ads, these only show to people in your service area who need your help NOW. You also only pay when someone calls—not when they just scroll past.
Social Media Ads (But Only If Done Right)
- Target local homeowners, not just random social media users.
- Run Facebook ads during peak pest seasons (spring for ants, fall for rodents).
- Use simple before-and-after photos—they perform better than fancy graphics.
Retargeting 101: Bringing Back Lost Customers: Most people don’t book the first time they see an ad. Retargeting reminds them to come back and schedule.
- Show ads to past website visitors who didn’t book.
- Offer a limited-time discount to push them to call.
- Send reminder emails to past customers who might need another service.
Spending less money on smarter ads will always get better results than just throwing cash at marketing.
Social Media: Less About Likes, More About Leads
Customers don’t scroll Instagram looking for exterminators.
Source: Datareportal
But they do talk about their problems online:
- Facebook Groups: “Help! Found a nest of wasps—who should I call?”
- Reddit: “Is this a termite? Should I be worried?”
- Twitter (X): “Just saw a mouse in my kitchen. Kill me now.”
Be Where the Conversations Happen
“How Do I Get Rid of Termites?” – Answer That, and Win a Customer
Most homeowners start with Google before calling a pest control expert. They search for things like:
🔍 How to get rid of termites
🔍 Best way to remove bed bugs
🔍 Why do I have ants in my house?
Source: Pepper Content
Here’s the solution: If your website provides the answers before your competitors do, you become the expert they trust—and the business they call.
How-To Blog Posts: The Secret Weapon for Free Google Traffic
Writing helpful, SEO-friendly articles on your website does two things:
- Gets free traffic from people searching for pest control advice.
- Positions you as the expert so when they give up on DIY solutions, they call you instead.
Example Blog Ideas That Bring in Customers:
- The Truth About DIY Bed Bug Removal (And When to Call an Expert)
- Mosquito Season is Coming – How to Protect Your Home
- Termite Damage Costs Homeowners Thousands—Here’s How to Prevent It
Many pest control business owners underestimate the power of content marketing. Instead of paying for ads that disappear the moment you stop spending, blog posts keep bringing in traffic long after they’re published.
A well-written post with the right keywords can sit at the top of Google search results, bringing in customers year after year—without costing a dime.
Short, Snappy Videos: TikTok & Instagram Reels That Get Shares
People don’t read as much as they scroll. That’s why quick, visual content performs so well.
- Show a before-and-after pest removal (nothing too gross—just enough to prove results).
- Post quick prevention tips (“Here’s how to stop mice from coming inside this winter”).
- Film a 15-second time-lapse of an extermination job in progress.
Videos work well because they make your business memorable.
Source: Kapwing
A short clip showing how you eliminate a wasp nest in seconds will stick in a customer’s mind much longer than a basic ad.
Email Newsletters: Stay in Their Inbox, Stay on Their Mind
Customers don’t need pest control every week, but when they do, you want to be the first business they remember.
Source: Statista
Send seasonal email updates with:
✅ Pest warnings (“Spring is here—watch out for termites!”)
✅ Discounts for repeat customers (“Need a check-up? Get 10% off this month.”)
✅ Maintenance tips (“How to keep your home pest-free before winter.”)
By staying in regular contact, you ensure that when customers do need pest control, they call you instead of searching online for a random business.
Referrals & Repeat Business: The Goldmine Most Companies Ignore
One-time jobs are great. Recurring customers are better.
The pest control business thrives on repeat services and word-of-mouth referrals.
The “Neighbor Discount” Referral Strategy
People trust recommendations from friends and neighbors more than ads.
👤 Customer books a pest service.
📢 You offer them $20 off their next visit if they refer a friend.
✅ The friend calls, books a service, and gets $20 off their first job.
🔁 The cycle repeats, bringing in new business without expensive ads.
Customers love saving money, and word-of-mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools you have.
Instead of spending thousands on ads, let your satisfied customers bring in new clients for you.
Loyalty Perks: Turn One-Time Customers into Yearly Contracts
Instead of waiting for pests to come back, sell customers a yearly plan.
Offer “Perfect Home Services” Packages:
- Quarterly pest control checks (so small problems never become big ones).
- Discounts on emergency services (so customers always choose you first).
- Annual home inspections to catch termite or rodent damage early.
Just like HVAC companies use HVAC internet marketing to sell service contracts, pest control businesses can use the same strategy to build reliable, recurring income.
Follow-Ups That Work: Keep Your Business Top-of-Mind
Customers forget. Remind them.
Automated texts: “It’s been six months since your last service—want us to check for pests?”
Handwritten postcards: “Thanks for choosing us! Here’s a 10% off coupon for your next visit.”
Quick phone calls: “Did your last treatment work? Need a follow-up?”
Science-Backed Marketing: AI, Chatbots & Automations
Pest control might be an old-school industry, but smart businesses are using new tools to get ahead.
Chatbots: Let Customers Book Appointments While You Sleep
People don’t just book pest control during business hours.
Source: Adam Connell
With a chatbot, customers can:
✅ Get instant answers to common questions.
✅ Book a service 24/7, even when your office is closed.
✅ Get a price estimate based on their pest problem.
AI-Driven Ads: Spend Less Money, Get More Calls
Running ads on Google and Facebook can be expensive—especially if you’re paying for clicks that don’t turn into customers.
AI-powered advertising eliminates wasted spending by ensuring that your ads are only shown to the right people—those actively searching for pest control services.
How AI Makes Your Ads More Effective:
✅ Precise Targeting: AI analyzes user behavior, location, and search intent to display ads only to homeowners or businesses in need of pest control.
✅ Smart Budget Allocation: AI automatically increases spending on high-performing ads while reducing budget waste on ads that aren’t converting.
✅ Real-Time Adjustments: AI continuously monitors ad performance and makes real-time changes, ensuring you get the most value for your ad spend.
✅ Retargeting Missed Opportunities: If a potential customer visits your website but doesn’t book a service, AI retargets them with a reminder ad.
Ads can feature a limited-time offer, customer testimonial, or a quick “Get a Free Quote” button to bring them back before they choose a competitor.
Geo-Targeting for Local Leads: AI helps HVAC digital marketing, pest control ads, and electrician websites appear only in specific neighborhoods where your business operates, preventing wasted clicks from outside your service area.
Example: If a homeowner searches “best pest control for termites near me”, AI ensures your ad appears at the top—not an ad for general home services or unrelated companies.
Automated Follow-Ups: Never Lose a Customer Again
A one-time customer is good. A returning customer is even better.
AI-powered follow-ups make sure your past customers never forget about your business, leading to more repeat bookings, higher referrals, and long-term loyalty.
How AI Keeps Customers Engaged & Coming Back:
Automated Service Reminders: AI tracks customer history and sends timely check-up reminders before their next expected pest issue.
Source: Fitsmallbusiness
Example: “Spring is here! Schedule your seasonal pest control before termites become a problem.”
- Works perfectly for seasonal pests like ants, mosquitoes, and rodents: Thank-You Emails & Referral Offers: After completing a service, AI can automatically send:
- A personalized thank-you email to build goodwill.
- A referral discount (“Refer a friend & get $20 off your next service!”).
- A request for Google reviews (helping boost your online presence).
With AI-driven ads and automated follow-ups, your pest control business can increase bookings, lower marketing costs, and keep customers loyal for years to come.
Stand Out & Succeed: Your Next Steps
To grow your business, you need:
A strong online presence (Google, website, social media).
A mix of paid and organic marketing (ads, blogs, referrals).
Smart automation to save time and increase bookings.
Pest control isn’t seasonal—it’s year-round. The businesses that win are the ones that customers remember first.
Want more calls? Make sure they find YOU before your competitors.
Final Thoughts: Build a Pest Control Business That Stands Out
Launching a pest control business is about making sure the right customers find you, trust you, and keep coming back. [A] Growth Agency will build relationships, establish authority, and keep your market visible in a competitive industry.
Our team knows what works and what doesn’t when it comes to marketing for home services.
We use proven strategies, including local SEO, targeted digital ads, content marketing, and AI-powered automation, to attract high-quality leads and turn them into long-term customers.
With a deep understanding of HVAC digital marketing, pest control marketing, and home services advertising, we’ll craft a custom marketing plan that fits your business needs.
We specialize in turning entrepreneurial dreams into reality with effective, tailored growth strategies.
Growth is our driving force – but speed and execution are our keys to success.
