Most people think yard signs are just for lawn care or politics. But I’m here to tell you — if you run a pest control company and you’re not using yard signs, you’re leaving money on the table.

This one tactic alone has generated thousands of dollars in revenue for us, and it’s dirt cheap. Here’s how I use them and how you can too.

Do Yard Signs Work for Pest Control?

Absolutely. People are used to seeing security signs in front yards. It’s the same idea — it’s not just a warning, it’s brand presence. HVAC companies do it. Cleaning services do it. Pest control companies should too.

We plaster neighborhoods with them after every single service. Whether it’s lawn or pest, our signs go in the ground. When a neighbor drives by and sees a sea of pink Pest Badger signs, they take notice.

Even outside of customer yards, I’ve put them at intersections, boulevards, and busy corners. And yes, sometimes the city calls. But one time they collected all my signs — and my cousin who works for the city gave them right back to me. So I had to laugh.

Why Yard Signs Work So Well

They’re cheap. They’re everywhere. And they build trust over time.

Here’s a real example. A guy saw our signs all over town. Then he sees me in a pink Pest Badger shirt at a gas station. He already knew who we were — just from the signs. That’s the power of brand frequency.

You don’t have to ask every customer’s permission either. We just put them in. If someone doesn’t want it, they’ll take it out. But 9 times out of 10, people leave them. Some even ask us to bring another when theirs goes missing.

What Kind of Signs to Use

We use a mix of signs. For general branding, I love 9x12 signs. They’re a bit harder to find, but they stand out. One of ours says “Got Pests?” with our pink buggy logo and phone number. Another says “Got Weeds?” with our lawn care branding.

Keep it simple. Make it funny or bold. Use your brand colors. Big font. Clear message.

And skip the QR codes. We tested them across thousands of signs and only got a few scans. People don’t need QR codes — they’ll Google you anyway. Still, always include your phone number just in case.

Where to Place Them

Put them:

• In every serviced customer’s yard

• At neighborhood entrances

• At busy intersections

• On technician trucks for quick deployment

• Around your office or storefront

• Anywhere legal, and sometimes where it’s technically not, but tactfully

Even if the city takes them down eventually, you’re still winning if they stay up for a few days and bring in calls.

Tracking Yard Sign ROI

Most people don’t track offline marketing. That’s a huge mistake.

Use a unique phone number on your signs. CallRail and similar tools make this easy. That way, even if your CSR forgets to ask where a lead came from, you still know.

We’ve gotten amazing ROI from a single $10 sign that brought in multiple clients. But if you don’t track it, you won’t know which signs are working or where to double down.

How Long Should They Stay Up?

Technically, some cities require they come down in 24 hours. But realistically, most homeowners leave them up. Some even save them for us. A few might toss them, but that’s rare.

And if you get fined? I’ve never paid one. But even if I had to pay $100 and I got 30 new customers from that blitz, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Final Thoughts

Yard signs are one of the simplest, most overlooked marketing tactics in pest control. They cost next to nothing. They build brand presence. They drive calls. And they still work in 2025, just like they did in 2005.

I’ve had friends with massive businesses tell me yard signs are still their number one lead source. That should tell you everything you need to know.

If you haven’t already, order some tonight. You won’t regret it.