In today’s competitive pest control market, old-school tactics like car wraps and print ads are just not enough. With rising ad costs and consumers making decisions in under four hours, your marketing has to work smarter—and faster. Here are six proven strategies to help you generate high-quality leads, increase bookings, and drive real business growth.
54% of consumers decide on a home services provider in less than 4 hours.
Here are eight effective strategies to drive traffic to your site and convert leads:
1. Make Your Website a Lead-Generating Machine
To attract leads, your website must be easily found online. Since 54% of home services buyers choose a provider within hours, SEO is key. Start by researching relevant keywords, such as “termite control” or “how to get rid of mice” – and integrate them into your page titles, headings, and content. Enhance your website with technical SEO to improve your search engine rankings and stand out from the competition.
Use keywords like “pest control near me” or “how to get rid of mice.”
Optimize page titles, headers, and on-page content.
Ensure your site is fast, mobile-friendly, and technically sound.
A high-performing site earns trust and captures leads without delay.
Pro-Tip: Make your website your top sales tool. Focus on clarity, speed, and trust signals. Highlight location-specific services and ensure your homepage communicates the value you offer in under 5 seconds.
2. Build a Local SEO Strategy That Matches Search Intent
The first step to building your local SEO strategy is to understand the words and phrases your buyers use to find pest control services.
These keywords can be general, like “pest control” with 165,000 monthly searches, specific to an individual service offering, like “termite control” with 22,200 monthly searches, or long phrases that searches use to find information, like “how to get rid of mice” with 27,100 monthly searches.
Use these keywords in your page titles, headings, meta titles, and body copy to help search engines like Google understand the kind of business you run and services you offer.
Pro-Tip: Use search data to get inside your customer’s head. Build service pages around high-intent keywords like “bed bug exterminator in [city]” and integrate long-tail queries into blog content to capture early-research prospects.
3. Use Content Marketing to Educate and Build Trust
Great content does more than inform—it moves people to act. Create blog posts, videos, or guides that answer your customers’ most common questions. Sample topics:
"Safe Pest Solutions for Pet Owners"
"When to Call a Pro for Termites"
"Natural Pest Control Methods That Actually Work"
Content builds credibility, improves your SEO, and keeps your business top-of-mind.
Pro-Tip: Build trust before they call. Answer questions like “Are pest control treatments safe for pets?” or “How much does termite treatment cost?” in blog posts, videos, and social posts. This positions your brand as helpful—not just transactional.
4. Run Ads That Drive Bookings, Not Just Clicks
Stay ahead of competitors by focusing on mobile optimization and improving your site speed. These technical SEO strategies improve user experience and are often less prioritized by competitors, giving you an edge.
While SEO takes time, digital ads can quickly drive traffic. We recommend:
- Google Local Services Ads (LSAs): Target high-intent buyers with prominent placement and cost-effective rates.
- Social Media Ads: Reach potential clients who may not yet be actively searching for pest control services. This keeps your brand visible and drives traffic to your site.
- Retargeting Ads: Re-engage visitors who didn’t convert on their first visit through search engines, social media, or email campaigns.
Pro-Tip: Use LSAs to get in front of ready-to-book clients and social ads to build future demand. Layer retargeting ads to bring back visitors who need more time. Track which campaigns lead to booked jobs—not just clicks. Learn more.
5. Optimize Your Listings on Top Pest Control Directory Sites
Claim and optimize your business profiles on directory sites like Angi, Yelp, and Thumbtack. Include your logo, business description, hours, and service areas. Enhance your profile with photos and customer reviews to attract more attention.
Pro-Tip: Directory listings often appear above your website in search results. Keep them current and consistent across platforms. Add service-specific photos and respond to all reviews to increase engagement.
6. Streamline Lead Capture with AI and Easy Booking
Optimize your website to facilitate easy bookings. Develop a clear call-to-action (CTA) strategy that guides visitors to contact forms or appointment scheduling. Implement AI chat to handle inquiries and bookings 24/7, providing quick responses and personalized interactions. Online booking tools also allow clients to schedule appointments at their convenience, giving you an advantage over competitors with limited hours.
Don’t lose leads to slow response times or clunky booking tools. Implement:
Clear CTAs on every page
24/7 AI chat to answer questions and schedule appointments
Easy online booking for instant access
According to Scorpion’s latest data, 90% of home service buyers expect a response within 24 hours—and 54% expect one in just a few hours. Be the company that responds first.
7. Leverage Your Referral Network
Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews and refer your services to others. Offer incentives such as discounts or rewards for successful referrals. Positive reviews and recommendations boost your credibility and help attract new clients.
View and respond to all your reviews within a single dashboard with Scorpion’s Reputation Management services.
Pro-Tip: Referrals are still gold. Ask for them systematically—after a job, in follow-up emails, and on receipts. Sweeten the deal with a discount or gift card for both the referrer and the new customer.
8. Use AI Chat to Capture Bookings Anytime
According to Scorpion’s latest survey, 90% of home services buyers want to hear from businesses within 24 hours of reaching out, with 54% saying they want a response in hours. The easiest way to increase lead generation on your website is making it easy for your website visitors to contact you and book an appointment.
70% of home service buyers say they want multiple ways to stay in touch.
But you can’t be answering calls at all hours of the night all the time. Unlike traditional chatbots, which are limited to pre-programmed responses, AI-powered chat learns the ins and outs of your business, offering a more intelligent and personalized experience for your prospective customers. It can answer questions, qualify leads, and book appointments, all while you get some well-deserved rest.
Your personalized AI Chat continuously learns about your pest control business and offers immediate, helpful support to your website visitors. Spend less time on the phone, book more appointments with clients, and boost revenue for your firm.
Need help getting started? Work with an agency that specializes in pest control marketing.
