A Quick Guide to Popular Search Engines – And Which Your Pest Control Company Should Target

Building a steady stream of traffic to your Website is essential for any Pest Control Business. There are plenty of ways to accomplish this objective, but none as prominent as Search Engine Optimization.

You may wonder: what search engines should your campaign be going after? Great question...

There are multiple options — each with a different level of popularity and engagement. Here is the breakdown of the most common search engines used and which is the most important for your bottom line.

Google

If you ask the average person to name a search engine, there’s a good chance they’ll answer with Google. According to GlobalStats, Google is the leading search engine taking up 88% of the nationwide market share for online inquiries. Due to Google Maps, Google Reviews, and Google My Business listings, this search engine essentially is a one-stop shop for those trying to find local businesses online.

Bing

While Bing is not as popular of a search engine as Google, it’s the search power for Alexa and Cortana — two of the most common voice search engines. All a person has to do is say, “Alexa, find a pest control company near me” and your services could be one of the suggested results. This search engine bears some similarities to Google and even Apple Maps when pulling in location-based data, as well as online reviews. Many Microsoft devices use Bing as its default engine, making it the 2nd most popular search engine in the USA.

Yahoo!

Some believe Yahoo! to be so similar to Bing that if you optimize for one — you’re optimizing for the other. This is actually true. Yahoo!’s search function has been powered by Bing since 2011. The good news for search marketers is that they can essentially hit two birds with one stone when targeting these engines.

DuckDuckGo

The latest in search engines comes in the form of DuckDuckGo. This privacy-based engine has found popularity among folks who are wary of data tracking. USA Today reported in January that the service’s daily searches increased by 62% in 2020. Despite its rise in popularity, DuckDuckGo is still in 4th place (behind the above) when it comes to search market share. However, they certainly capture the attention of search marketers as online privacy continues to be a hot-button issue.

So What Search Engine Should Your Pest Control Company Go After?

If the name of the game is maximizing your Website's visitors, it's clear to say Google is your target search engine. Google currently is the most worthwhile investment if you really want to drum up business from online pest service inquiries.

The downside of Google's popularity is the high level of competition present. If you aren't an experienced Web Marketer, you may find it challenging to obtain page one or two placement for various pest control services. Opting for easier entrance into the online search market makes Yahoo! and Bing favorable options for novice marketers.

Showing up on search engines can feel like too much of an indirect way to drive leads for some... But ask any pest control business or company in general that runs successful Web Marketing campaigns, and they'll tell you: it pays to show up online. Give Market Hardware a call today to find out more about our expertise with Google!

Market Hardware is happy to offer Web Marketing consultations – give us a call to learn more! Contact us today if you’re interested and want more information! You can email PCOC@markethardware.com or call (888) 381-6925.