All posts by : Tom Wolfarth

Your trusty flashlight is always on your hip, after spending years finding just the right model with the right balance of features, ready to help you in your detailed home inspection. When you open up your email app on your phone you always find a pest control trade newsletter in your inbox, full of the newest and best products to take care of your customers and their ever-changing needs. After all the years you’ve spent with your backpack sprayer it often feels molded to your back, like a well-worn pair of gloves it feels like an extension of yourself.  So, you know there are things in life that are best done by professionals, and digital marketing is among them. Why? There is a lot that may go wrong if you are not 100% committed—and, let’s face it, an owner of a growing business almost never has the time to commit to a fully developed marketing plan.

You’re not keeping track of your progress: How are you able to judge the effectiveness of your online marketing efforts? There’s one simple word: analytics. It’s a small word with an enormous meaning, and if you are not spending hours staring at data points, your campaign is not getting the best return on your investment.

You’re unfamiliar with the jargon: For most people reading this, digital marketing isn’t a native language, and unless you speak it regularly, you may not understand the latest terminology. You should leave things like this to the professionals. We’ll ensure that your campaign runs smoothly.

You’re not keeping up with trends: Are you searching for new trends while eating breakfast in the morning? At the dining table, are you reading digital marketing blogs on your phone or tablet? If you are not consuming the most recent industry news on an hourly basis, you’re likely to make up the ICYMI (in case you missed it) category.

You’re not adjusting your budget: Your budget always needs to be monitored when it involves a digital marketing strategy. If you don’t know the last time you checked your ad spend or worse yet do not know how to adjust your spend, your hard-earned money isn’t getting used to its full potential.

You’re not keeping up with the big picture: Most people are able to list some SEO benefits, and may even be able to list a few reasons they should be posting on Facebook—but are you taking full advantage of all of the digital channels that are available to you? Are you active on all of the acceptable social media platforms? Is your website mobile-friendly? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself, and if you do not know the answers to some of them, it’s past time to find the answers.

We understand that online marketing takes plenty of your time, effort, and knowledge—and we’re here to help!

We are fully equipped to manage your online presence and assist you in growing your business as a full-service pest control marketing agency. Allow Proecho Solutions to lift the burden off your shoulders so you’ll have more time for other aspects of running your business. For more information, book a discovery call with us today!

What do potential customers see when they Google your pest control company?

Something that will compel them to pick up the phone and make an appointment?

Is it something that will make them run to your competition?

These are questions that every owner of a pest control business should ask themselves.

Why? Because the Internet is the most popular tool for consumers to find the services they need!

This means that your online reputation (your website, online listings, customer reviews, and so on) will be what makes or breaks your business now and in the future. 

Your online reputation influences:

• Your company’s first impression on a potential customer
• Your position in the local search results
• Your inclusion in Local Services Ads (LSAs)
• And a lot more…

So, how can you improve your online reputation and attract more job opportunities to your company?

Here are 7 Ways to Enhance Your Online Reputation:

1. Maintain the accuracy of your online business listings

Ensure that your NAP (name, address, and phone number) are correct across all of your online business listings, particularly Google My Business.

It can be difficult for your website to appear in local online searches if your listings contain incorrect information.

2. Claim your company’s profiles on sites like Yelp, Angie’s List, and Houzz

If you do not create your own profiles, these sites may do so for you so that customers can leave reviews about your company. By creating these profiles yourself, you ensure that online users have accurate information about your company, such as its name, key services, and hours of operation. After you’ve set up your accounts, make sure to keep an eye on them and respond to customer feedback.

3. Make sure your customers know where to leave all the positive feedback to the excellent services you provide

The best way to generate positive feedback is to provide above-and-beyond customer service that distinguishes you from your competitors.

Don’t just help your customers with their pest issue; educate them on why the problem showed up in the first place and what they can do to avoid it in the future.

Don’t just thank your customers when they hand you the check at the end of a job—send them a handwritten thank-you note as well. Include your contact number in the note, and let them know they can call you directly if a problem arises in the future.

These are just two simple examples of above-and-beyond customer service.

After you’ve provided exceptional customer service, be sure to let your customers know how and where they can leave a review for your company.

However, do not offer incentives for leaving a review (such as discounted/free goods or services), as this is unethical and may result in the removal of your reviews or even your profiles.

4. Create useful digital content and promote it on the internet

As a pest control marketing agency, we suggest that you create digital content that educates your potential customers and answers some of their most frequently asked questions. Blog posts, articles, and how-to videos could all fall into this category.

The more useful your content is, the more likely it is that potential customers will regard your company as the local industry authority.

5. Maintain an active presence on social media

Maintaining a high level of engagement on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram demonstrates to online users (and search engines) that your company is relevant.

Post content that is likely to engage your audience, and be sure to respond to any comments made in relation to your content as soon as possible.

6. Maintain an eye-catching, user-friendly website

Almost every new customer will visit your website BEFORE calling you.

That means your website should be fast, well-designed, and it should be easy to get in contact with you. It should also be filled with useful information and persuasive calls to action (for example, “Schedule a free estimate today!”).

If possible, include testimonials from previous customers on your website, as well as a portfolio of your previous work.

7. Simplify your branding

Maintain consistency in your company’s branding across the Internet, from your website to your social media profiles to your digital ads.

This will streamline your online presence and ensure that everything that represents you (company name, logo, taglines, etc.) is consistent.

Professionalism, attention to detail, and streamlined branding make your company a more compelling partner for potential customers.

If you want to boost your home service business’s online reputation and get more work, NOW is the time to get started. Contact us directly at (828) 457-7461, or send us a message here, to begin building a stronger online presence.

Imagine the following scenario…

A couple is hosting a holiday party for 25 of their closest friends and family at their home, and they’re busy getting everything ready—the turkey is in the oven, they’re prepping the side dishes, and are tidying up the house and kids. 

Then, at the worst possible time: Little Jimmy comes into the kitchen with a mouse dangling by the tail and exclaims that the rest of the mouse’s family has taken up in his toy bin. The husband rushes into Jimmy’s room and sees a tiny overlooked dime sized hole in the floorboard near the box of toys.

With no time to waste and knowing that the other end of the hole is what needs to be dealt with, the husband searches for “emergency pest control” on Google.

He sees three local pest control companies with 5-star ratings and the words “Google Guaranteed” at the top of the page, which gives him a good starting point for finding a pest control specialist who can come to his house right away.

He clicks on one of the company names, learns more about it, and calls to schedule a service appointment.

Three Google Local Services Ads are visible to this customer at the very top of the page (LSAs).

This is a perfect example of a pest control company that used LSAs to capture more business at a critical time…when their services were in high demand.

In this post, we’ll look at how home service businesses can use LSAs to get more calls and jobs during their busiest times (which includes the winter for many types of home services companies).

Seasonal business equals opportunity for your company.

Discovering a rodent in your home in the winter is just one example of what could lead to increased demand for home services during the winter season.

After all, wintertime is when the pests and animals try to seek shelter inside our warm homes and businesses, and it’s common to discover mice, spiders, and cockroaches scurrying away when you flip the lights on in a room. More homeowners also require carpet cleaning services, house cleaning services, and companies that can decorate their homes’ exteriors to prep for the many types of holiday parties and entertaining. 

Then there’s the increase in demand for weather-related services like frozen pipe repair, broken heater and furnace repair, and emergency roof repair.

There’s no doubt that there’s plenty of business to go around at certain times of the year—but even with the increase in customer demand, home services professionals still have to compete for those seasonal-driven jobs.

This is where effective digital marketing can help.

As a pest control marketing agency, we’ve seen time and again that utilizing the Internet to reach the appropriate customers at the appropriate time

When pest control businesses invest in advertising strategies such as Local Services Ads, which place their companies front and center in Google search results, they are essentially ensuring that their business is in the right spot at the right time.

Why is this so significant?  Because it increases the likelihood that their company will be discovered and chosen by customers who have an immediate need for their services (as in the case of the homeowner who needed his new rodent family relocated and their point of ingress closed up before 30 people arrived at his door).

So, as you begin your busy season (whether it’s winter, spring, summer, or fall), it’s critical to pause and consider your home services digital marketing strategy. Now is the time to ask yourself…

• Are people finding my business first when they search for the services I provide?
• Is my brand visible to the right types of potential customers, such as those in my community?
• Do my advertisements elicit immediate trust and a desire to contact my company?

When you can answer “yes” to all of these questions, you’re on the right track to attracting more calls and higher-quality jobs during your busy season.

Why are Local Services Ads an excellent marketing strategy for your peak season?

When it comes to marketing your company during the busy season you want to “capitalize on an advantage”

If you work in a seasonal industry, you can only count on people needing your services during certain months of the year, so you’ll want to capitalize on that increased demand as much as possible while the opportunity exists.

One method is to use Google’s Local Services Ads, and here’s why:

1. LSAs increase your visibility to people searching for your services on Google because these ads appear first on the results page.

2. Customers see LSAs based on proximity (how close your business is to the customer), so you can get calls from locals rather than people outside your service area. (Remember, you’re not just looking for more calls; you’re looking for the best calls.)

3. LSAs show your company’s star rating as well as a “Google Guaranteed” badge, indicating to potential customers that your company has been vetted and approved by Google. These ad features help to boost your company’s credibility during peak season when competition is already at an all-time high.

So, if your home services company hasn’t already begun investing in LSAs, now is the time!

Ready to learn more about Local Services Ads and how they can help your company generate more business during your busy season? More information can be found by clicking here.