Door hangers and mailers still work — if you do them right. I’ve used both to grow Pest Badger to over $10 million in revenue. Most people give up on these tools because they don’t see results immediately. But I promise you: with the right design, message, and timing, they can be game changers.

What’s the Difference Between Mailers and Door Hangers?

Let’s start with the basics.

A door hanger is exactly what it sounds like — a printed piece you hang on someone’s front door. You or your team physically go out and distribute them by hand. Super cost-effective. You can use your techs, hire local students, or even recruit volunteers from your church.

A mailer (specifically a postcard) gets delivered by USPS. You can use Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) to target specific routes or zip codes. It’s the same idea as a door hanger — but through the mail.

Should You Design Them the Same?

No. While your branding (fonts, colors, mascot, etc.) should be consistent, the messaging, offers, and headlines should vary based on the time of year and the problem you’re solving.

For example, a mosquito card in May won’t be effective in October. And “weed-free lawn” messages in the summer might flop in early spring.

I’m always testing different headlines and offers. Run split tests in similar neighborhoods. Send version A to one area, version B to another, and track which converts better. Find the winner, improve it, and test again. Never stop iterating.

What Elements Should Be on Every Piece?

There’s a formula we use at Pest Badger. Every mailer and door hanger should include the following:

• Strong headline – Something that stops them in their tracks. It’s all about the pain they’re feeling and the solution you provide.

• Clear offer – Whether it’s $25 off, a free inspection, or a “mosquito-free guarantee,” make it specific and time-sensitive.

• Social proof – Include real reviews. Bonus points if you add a name and city. “Sally from Madison, WI” is more believable than just “Happy Customer.”

• Pictures – Team photos work great. Bonus if it includes a truck or family element. People trust real humans.

• Urgency and scarcity – Say things like “Only taking 10 more customers in your area” or “This route fills up fast.”

• Call to action – Be specific: “Call now,” “Text this number,” or “Visit this link to book your service.”

• Unique selling proposition – What makes you different? Maybe it’s your 24-hour response time, eco-friendly products, or family-owned approach.

And yes, a guarantee helps — but avoid the cheesy “200% Ironclad Guarantee.” Instead, focus on making your offer feel low-risk and high-reward.

How Much Should You Send Out?

This depends on your budget. If you can only afford 1,000 pieces, don’t blow them all at once. Instead, split them into seasonal drops — maybe 250 at a time, each with a message tailored to the month’s pest problem.

Repetition is key. People need to see you multiple times before they remember or take action. Sending different versions of your brand throughout the year builds familiarity and trust.

Deployment Strategy

Door Hangers:
You can walk and hang them yourself. Or you can have your team, friends, or even that underperforming salesperson handle it. Just make sure someone does it consistently.

Mailers (EDDM):
Go to USPS’s Every Door Direct Mail site. You can select routes based on income level, residential vs. commercial, and even household size. Print your mailers, bundle them in packs of 50 or 100, drop them off at the post office with the correct tags, and they’ll do the rest.

Pro tip: Don’t count each postcard. Stack one bundle, use it as a guide, and match the height for the rest.

You can also hire a company to design, print, and deploy everything for you. But when you’re starting out, I recommend learning the process yourself first.

Tracking Your Results

If you’re not tracking, you’re guessing.

Use a unique tracking number for every version of your mailer or door hanger. One postcard = one number. Don’t reuse the same number across designs.

Also use unique URLs or QR codes that lead to separate landing pages so you can see what’s converting. Add source codes in your CRM so your team can mark how the lead came in.

Ask every caller, “Which flyer did you see?” and track their answers.

Design Matters

Keep your fonts, colors, and overall design consistent across all platforms — website, trucks, uniforms, door hangers, postcards. That’s how you build a brand.

I’ve seen agencies mess this up by tweaking fonts or layouts. But that consistency matters. If Coca-Cola sent you a bottle that looked like Pepsi, it would be weird, right? Same idea.

Final Thoughts

Mailers and door hangers aren’t dead — but lazy designs and poor strategy are.

Too many people do one blast, get poor results, and give up. They think it doesn’t work. But the truth is they didn’t put in the effort upfront.

Design it right. Test your pieces. Track your results. Be consistent. And don’t give up after one round.

We still use these every single week. They’re part of our marketing calendar year-round. And they’re a big reason why Pest Badger continues to grow.

If you want feedback on your design or want to see templates we’ve used, just reach out. I love helping companies get this right.