A review collection system built for pest control's awkward review dynamic, plus response templates that turn a bad service call into a 5-star save.
Pest control has a reputation problem that most industries don't face.
Your customers are happy you exist. They're relieved when the job is done. But they don't want to publicly announce that they had a roach infestation, a mouse problem, or a bed bug situation. Asking for a Google review puts them in an awkward position, which is exactly why most pest control companies struggle to build review volume even when customers are satisfied.
That's the challenge. Here's how to solve it.
If you operate in a different niche, our guide to local SEO for pest control is worth a read.
For an industry-specific example of this in action, see our guide to local SEO for bee removal services.
Pest control is a high-urgency, high-trust service. When someone discovers they have a problem, they search Google, look at the top results, scan the reviews, and call the company that looks most trustworthy.
What customers look for in pest control reviews:
If your reviews address these concerns, you win the call. If your competitors' reviews address them and yours don't, they win.
📊 Flento Data: Pest control companies with 40+ Google reviews and a 4.5+ rating receive 3.1x more call conversions from Google Maps than competitors with fewer than 15 reviews.
To see how this plays out in a specific vertical, read our guide to local SEO for wildlife control companies.
Solve the embarrassment problem first.
The solution is to make the ask about helping others, not about publicizing their problem.
Scripts that work:
After a residential treatment: "We really appreciate your business. A lot of people are dealing with this right now but don't know where to start, if you're comfortable, leaving us a quick Google review about your experience would really help them find someone reliable. I can text you the link."
After a commercial treatment: "We'd love a review if you have two minutes. Most business owners don't realize how much a Google review helps other local businesses find reliable pest control. You'd be helping them out."
Framing the review as a way to help others, not as publicizing their own pest problem, dramatically improves conversion rates.
Timing: Ask immediately after the job, while you're still on-site or just finishing the visit. For recurring treatment plans, ask after the first successful service, not after the contract is signed.
Automation: Use automated review generation to send a review request SMS 2–4 hours after service completion. This timing captures customers at peak satisfaction while preserving the personal feel of the ask.
🔥 Quick Win: Send an SMS review request with a direct link to your Google review page to every customer right after service. Ask everyone, not just the customers you think were happy, because screening customers first is review gating, which Google prohibits.
Primary category: Pest Control Service
Secondary categories:
Services to add: List every pest type you treat: ants, cockroaches, rodents, bed bugs, termites, wasps, spiders, wildlife. Include treatment methods: fumigation, heat treatment, integrated pest management. The more specific, the more relevant searches you'll appear for.
Attributes:
Photos: Add photos of your uniformed technicians, your branded truck/vehicle, and your equipment. Do NOT add photos of pest infestations, this creates negative associations and can deter customers. Show professionalism and results, not problems.
Pest control gets a specific type of negative review that most industries don't: "the treatment didn't work" or "the pests came back."
How to respond:
Never be defensive about treatment efficacy. Pest management is a process, not a one-time fix, and your response should communicate that without blaming the customer.
Template for "treatment didn't work" reviews:
"Thank you for sharing this, we take treatment effectiveness seriously. [Pest type] management often requires follow-up treatments as part of the process, and we want to make sure you're getting the results you paid for. Please call us at [number] and we'll schedule a follow-up visit at no additional charge to you. We'll make it right."
This response does several things:
Pest control is a service-area business. Your ranking in the neighborhood two miles from your office may be very different from your ranking on the other side of your service territory.
Run a geo-grid rank tracking scan with a 7×7 or 13×13 grid across your service area. Track your top two or three keywords: "pest control near me," "exterminator [city]," and any specialty service with high search volume in your market ("termite treatment [city]").
Where you see red or orange zones in areas you should be serving, concentrate review generation from customers in those specific neighborhoods. Ask them to mention their neighborhood in the review if they're comfortable.
Pest control has several industry-specific directories beyond the general ones.
General directories: Google Business Profile, Yelp, BBB, Angi, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack, Facebook Business, Nextdoor
Industry-specific:
Consistent NAP consistency across all of these strengthens your local authority. Flento's citation management handles the sync automatically.
How do I get more Google reviews for my pest control business when customers are embarrassed? Frame the ask as helping others in the same situation, not about publicizing their pest problem. Send SMS review requests with a direct Google review link to every customer. Ask immediately after service while satisfaction is highest.
What should I say in pest control GBP posts? Seasonal pest alerts work well: "Carpenter ant season is starting in [city], here's what to look for and when to call." Educational content builds authority without embarrassing customers. Service announcements ("Now offering heat treatment for bed bugs") capture high-intent searchers.
How many reviews does a pest control company need to rank in Google Maps? In most US markets, 25–50 reviews with 4.5+ puts you in strong contention. In competitive metro markets, 75–100+ may be needed for the top 3.
Building a strong reputation in pest control requires working around an industry-specific barrier: customers are happy to use you and unlikely to announce it. The answer is making the review request easy, private-feeling, and framed as a service to others.
