Pest Control Ads: The Quick Start Guide to Winning New Customers 

You’re excellent at what you do. You can rid properties of even the most resilient pests. 

You’re also a customer service superstar. You’re a people person with a knack for building long-lasting customer relationships. 

But here’s the thing. You might be the best in the biz, but if you don’t get your business in front of the right people, you can’t compete. 

This is where pest control ads come into the picture. 

How do you create ads that convert? This is your guide. 

First, we’ll explain why advertising is so important. Then, we’ll give you a rundown of the basics: defining your target audience, choosing the best channels, and creating scroll-stopping designs. 

We’ll explore how to write compelling ads that highlight your unique selling proposition. We’ll also touch on local SEO, Google ads, and budgeting best practices. 

Before we finish, we’ll discuss tracking and measuring. We’ll then explain how to convert the leads you’ve won into happy, paying customers. 

To wrap up, we’ll share some simple quick-start tips. 

There’s a lot to cover, so grab a coffee, and let’s get into it. 

Why Advertising Is Crucial for Pest Control Businesses 

You need new customers to grow. It’s as simple as that. 

Yes, you must keep your existing clients happy. You want them to stay loyal. 

But to reach the next level, you need more customers. It’s a massive undertaking in a growing industry like pest control. But advertising can help—here’s how: 

• It keeps you competitive. You can bet your competition is advertising. If you’re not, potential customers might not know about you. 
• It draws in new customers. Word of mouth is excellent, but it’s not always enough. More people seeing your business means more jobs. 
• It boosts brand awareness. A well-crafted ad campaign can set you apart. It tells customers why they should choose you. 

RELATED ARTICLE: Creative Pest Control Advertising Ideas to Boost Your Business 
 

Understanding Your Target Audience 

All effective ad campaigns start with the same thing: the audience. 

You need to know who you’re talking to. You need to address their pain points. You need to cater to their unique needs. 

Identifying your target audience will ensure your ads hit the right people at the right time. 

Here are some ways you can segment your ideal customers: 

• Homeowners: These are your bread and butter. Focus your ads on solutions to the most common problems. Remember that residential clients value quick, reliable service and affordable options. 
• Property managers: These professionals handle multiple properties. They need a pest control company they can rely on month in and month out. Show in your ads that you can handle recurring, large-scale services. 
• Business owners: Offices, restaurants, and retail stores can’t afford to have pests. Ads targeted at business owners should focus on fast, discreet services. 

Choosing the Right Advertising Channels 

Next, you’ll need to select one or more advertising channels. To do this, think about your audience. Where are you most likely to reach them? 

Here are some options to get you thinking: 

• Google Ads: These are best for targeting customers searching for pest control services. Your ad appears when someone searches for a relevant keyword like “pest control near me.” It’s great for getting immediate leads across all segments of your audience. 
• Facebook ads: These are good for targeting local homeowners and businesses. You can use filters like demographics and interests. You can show ads to people in your area who likely need pest control, even if they aren’t searching for it right now. 
• Local print media: This is good for reaching older audiences or those who trust traditional media. Ads in local newspapers or magazines can build credibility within the community. They also help you reach those who may not spend as much time online. 

RELATED ARTICLE: 4 Ways to Use Facebook to Attract Pest Control Customers 
 

Creating Eye-Catching Pest Control Ad Designs 

If people scroll past your ad without looking at it, that’s money in the bin. 

So, spend a bit of time creating eye-catching designs that command attention. How? Follow these three tips: 

• Pests are unpleasant, but your ad shouldn’t be. Bright colors make your ad pop and catch the eye. 
• Include a picture of a pest problem your customers can relate to, like termites or ants. Remember, you want to appeal to their pain points. 
• Use clear fonts and limit text. People should understand your service in milliseconds, not minutes. 

Keen to get started? Canva is a free, easy-to-use design tool. 
 

Writing Compelling Pest Control Ad Copy 

Images might capture their attention, but ad copy inspires them to act. Plus, not all advertising channels have a visual component. 

Here are three tips for writing compelling copy: 

• Highlight the problem the customer is experiencing. You might write something like, “Stop pests before they damage your home.” 
• Use words that create urgency, like “limited time” or “exclusive.” 
• Include a call to action (CTA). Tell the reader what to do next. You might write, “Book now and get 20% off your first service.” 

Highlighting Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) 

Your business needs something that sets it apart from the competition. This is called your unique selling proposition (USP). 

Why does this matter? Your USP speaks directly to your customers’ needs. It gives them a solid reason to choose you over another company. 

Here are some examples of strong USPs for pest control businesses: 

• Guaranteed results 
• Eco-friendly solutions 
• Same-day service 

What’s Your USP? 

Not sure what your USP is? Try this quick, three-step exercise: 

1. Write down the top three reasons customers call you. 
2. Think about what makes your service different from others in your area. 
3. Choose one key difference that solves a common customer pain point and use it in your ads. 

Using Local SEO and Google Ads for Targeted Reach 

Local search engine optimization (SEO) and Google Ads are two approaches you can use to target your audience. 

Local SEO 

SEO is about convincing Google that your website is the best answer to a searcher’s query. For example, someone might look up “best pest control services.” You want your website to rank in position number one. 

Local SEO is about targeting searches related to your location. So, you’d want to rank highly for “best pest control services in [your city].” 

SEO can be a bit technical, but don’t let that put you off. Try these three tips: 

• Claim your Google Business Profile. Update your address, phone number, and hours of operation. This helps your business appear in local searches and on Google Maps. 
• Add local keywords to your website. This helps search engines connect your business with local customers. 
• Encourage happy customers to leave reviews on Google. This helps your business rank higher and build trust with potential clients. 

Google Ads 

Google Ads is a paid strategy to reach customers searching for pest control services. To set up a successful campaign, be sure to: 

• Use location targeting in your Google Ads campaigns. 
• Add negative keywords to ensure your ad isn’t shown to people who aren’t interested. 
• Try ad extensions like call buttons or site links to make it easy for customers to contact you. 

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: How to Take Your Pest Control Web Strategy to the Next Level 

Budgeting for Your Pest Control Ad Campaigns 

Every dollar counts, but it’s all too easy to overspend on ads. 

Here are four tips for setting an ad budget and tracking your return on investment (ROI): 

• Begin with a small daily budget for each platform. Test different ads to see what works best. That way, you prevent large losses. 
• Measure the cost of each lead. If the cost is too high, adjust your targeting or messaging. 
• Set a monthly cap so you don’t overspend. Adjust it as needed based on performance. 
• Return on ad spend (ROAS) tells you how much revenue you make for every dollar spent on ads. If your ROAS is too low, you need to rethink your campaigns. 

Measuring Ad Success and Adjusting Strategies 

You wouldn’t drive somewhere new without a map. Therefore, you shouldn’t run ad campaigns without measuring the results. 

If you don’t, you risk wasting huge amounts of money and resources. 

Here are three key performance indicators (KPIs) to track: 

• Click-through rate (CTR): How often people click on your ad 
• Conversion rate: How many people take action after clicking, like booking a service 
• Cost per conversion: How much you spend to get a customer to convert 

Best Practices for Adjusting Ad Strategies 

If you’re not getting the results you need, try these strategies: 

• Try A/B testing. Create two versions of your ad and see which performs better. 
• Check your audience. Make sure you’re reaching the right people in the right locations. 
• Update your keywords based on what’s working. Remove low-performing ones and add new terms based on recent search trends. You could even target seasonal pest control problems. 

Converting Leads into Customers 

Your ad attracted a lead. It’s exciting, but now the real work starts. 

Many small businesses miss out on potential clients by not acting fast enough. Here’s how to make sure you convert inquiries into scheduled services: 

• When someone contacts you from an ad, time is of the essence. Reach out within 15-30 minutes if you can. If a lead doesn’t hear back soon, they’ll likely call another pest control service. You could even create automated emails to acknowledge the inquiry immediately. 
• When you follow up, don’t just ask if they have questions. Instead, offer something concrete. Make it easy for them to move forward. 
• Be prepared to address any concerns. Let them know how you will solve their problem and why your service is the best choice. This is your chance to showcase your expertise and credibility. 

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: The 10 Best Digital Marketing Agencies for Home Services Providers 
 

Quick-Start Guide to Pest Control Ads 

Pest control ads can propel your business to new heights with the right approach. Get started now with these quick tips: 

• Define your audiences. Create personas for the different segments of your audience. Make sure to note down their unique pain points and how you can solve them. 
• Choose your channels. Decide where you’ll run your ads. Google is a great all-rounder. If you’re targeting homeowners, you might use Meta ads too. 
• Set your budget. Calculate how much you can afford to spend on ads in the beginning. Keep it small to start with—you can always increase your budget as you become more experienced. 
• Add local keywords to your website. Adding your location to a few headings across your site only takes a few minutes. 
• Claim your Google Business Profile. Make sure all your information is up to date. Maybe upload a new image or two.