While pest control sometimes gets a bad reputation, the truth is, many people are looking for your services. Your challenge lies in turning them into customers. After hundreds of doors slammed in your face and phones hung up, it’s hard not to get discouraged.
If you feel like things aren’t working, you’re not alone. Let’s talk more about what challenges you face in the pest control industry and how you can improve your sales.
Challenges in Pest Control Sales
Most everyone in the pest control industry faces one or more of these challenges:
- Streamlining Communication: Poor communication can lead to missed opportunities, scheduling issues, and frustrated customers.
- Adapting to Technology: Software for scheduling, billing, and CRM systems is always changing, and staying current can feel overwhelming.
- Acquisition and Retention: Competing with other pest control businesses while retaining loyal customers is a constant uphill battle.
All these issues really boil down to one area: sales. Let’s dive into some ways you can get a competitive edge and engage your current (and future) customers.
1. Build Stronger Customer Relationships
People stay because of their trust in you and your company. When customers meet your team, it’s important that they feel the professionalism, reliability, and personal investment your team has. You can improve this by:
- Training your sales team to actively listen to potential customers’ concerns.
- Maintain a client database that includes personal notes like treatment history, service preferences, and even birthdays. Reaching out for a special occasion sets your brand apart.
- Invest in follow-up calls or emails after a service to ensure customer satisfaction.
This small investment in relationship-building creates loyal customers who are more likely to refer your service to others.
2. Offer Unique Promotions
Promotions are an easy way to attract new customers. However, typical or generic discounts won’t help you stand out from other pest control sales teams. Instead, you can offer:
- Seasonal discounts (like spring cleaning pest packages).
- Packages for specific issues (like mosquito treatments for summer barbecues).
- Referral-based incentives (like “Refer a friend and you’ll both get 20% off your next service!“).
Creating offers that are relevant, intentional, and actually valuable can boost your business.
3. Encourage and Leverage Reviews
Customers today are constantly researching online before making decisions, and reviews play a huge factor in those choices. If you don’t have a Google Business Profile, set one up! You can also include reviews on your website. Getting reviews is as easy as you make the process (so make it easy):
- Ask satisfied customers to leave a review after their service. Include a QR code in paper materials you leave behind.
- Send a direct link to Google Reviews in email follow-ups after a service.
- Add those positive reviews to your website, social media, and marketing materials.
The more reviews you have and the higher your rating, the more confident customers will be in choosing your company.
4. Master Door-to-Door (D2D) Sales
When it comes to door-to-door sales, a good pitch can connect with customers who need your services and help you stay top of mind for people who might need pest control in the future. To better equip your team for D2D pest control sales:
- Roleplay in real-life scenarios to better relate to customers and handle potential objections.
- Use visuals like photos or treatment comparisons to paint a tangible picture of your services.
- Train teams to emphasize urgency without pressuring customers.
5. Leverage Upselling and Cross-Selling
Great pest control sales teams know that it’s easier to keep existing customers than find new ones. Upselling and cross-selling give you options for increasing revenue and delivering real value to customers.
For example:
- If a customer calls for termite treatment, offer a discount just for them on a prevention package.
- If you’re providing a general inspection, share about optional add-ons that feel relevant to them and their concerns.
Often, people are interested in your other services but don’t know about them yet. Much of selling is education and invitation-based.
6. Invest in Technology to Streamline Sales
With the rise of SaaS (Software as a Service), there are so many new platforms to help you organize client data, schedule appointments, and marketing efforts. Using the right tools can help your team work smarter, not harder. Some popular platforms to check out include:
- CRM platforms like Salesforce to track sales leads and customer interactions.
- Scheduling software like Jobber or ServiceTitan to create an effortless booking experience for clients.
- Marketing platforms like Mailchimp to design automated follow-up email campaigns.
Automating administrative work can take some of the burden off your sales team.
7. Partner with Professionals to Refine Your Approach
Sometimes, the best move you can make is investing in your company. Hiring a specialized sales agency keeps your messaging consistent, your team trained, and your overall strategy sharp. A good sales agency can provide:
- Lead generation services, including outbound and inbound calls.
- Sales script optimization for staff training.
- Brand-aligned sales campaigns.
A partnership with a professional sales company can help your brand by telling your story in a way that makes customers want to work with you.
Empower Your Sales Strategy to Tackle Industry Challenges
Looking to get your pest control sales off the ground? Slingshot can help you maximize your potential by managing sales, scheduling, payments, and customer support 24/7. Our team of experts catches every lead and helps you convert those leads into customers. Be the first to respond to interested customers. Get Slingshot support for your pest control business today.
