What it Really Takes to Grow a Pest Control Company: Allan Draper

10/07/24 • 61 min

This podcast features Danny Leibrandt, founder of Pest Control SEO, interviewing Allan Draper, a renowned figure in the pest control industry with ownership in 28 different companies, including 12 under the Proof Pest Control brand and a digital marketing agency called Lizard SEM. Allan also hosts the Bug Bucks podcast and manages a coaching program and community called Bug Bucks Plus. Danny admires Alan's extensive experience and accomplishments in the pest control space.The conversation delves into Allan’s journey into pest control, starting with his first failed venture. He shares how he pivoted from law to pest control, eventually founding Proof Pest Control in 2014. Both Danny and Alan agree that many entrepreneurs "fall into" the industry rather than choosing it. They discuss the significance of having a unique company name and brand, with Allan highlighting that Proof was inspired by a high school friend's company and has since grown into an established brand.Allan shares insights into the challenges of building a business, especially the early stages, detailing the sacrifices, stress, and long hours required. He emphasizes that while Proof achieved impressive revenue growth, it was far from easy. Allan outlines the phases of business growth, from doing everything yourself to eventually delegating tasks to others.Danny asks Allan for advice on how pest control business owners can scale their companies, to which Allan suggests focusing on marketing, addressing bottlenecks, and diversifying marketing efforts. The discussion emphasizes that hiring is essential for scaling, and Allan advises entrepreneurs to get out of the truck (i.e., stop doing everything themselves) and start delegating to others. They also discuss how to develop referral programs and build long-term customer relationships.The interview ends with Allan sharing lessons from his experience managing multiple companies, emphasizing that risk is less scary than regret. He highlights the importance of making sacrifices, being vulnerable, hiring the right people, and building a strong community in the pest control industry.Allan Draper, Founder of Proof Pest Control and Lizard SEM:Website: https://allandraper.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allanrdraper/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanrdraperDanny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com The Local Marketeer Platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketeer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-local-marketeer/id1741176782 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/the-local-marketeer Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Local-Marketeer/B0D1FCN28S?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp Podcast Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Allan Draper 09:32 The Early Days of Proof Pest Control18:48 Transitioning from Day-to-Day Operations29:40 The Importance of Marketing Diversification35:07 Building a Referral Program38:27 Exploring Other Ventures and Startups49:22 Learning from Experience and Community57:29 Risk vs. Regret: A Key Lesson#localmarketing #localbusiness #localseo #seo #marketing #pestcontrol #pestcontrolseo #pestcontrolmarketing Are you a pest control company owner looking to grow? Book a discovery call with us to see if you’re a good fit! Link here: https://calendly.com/dannyleibrandt/discovery

Previous Episode

How To Do D2D Sales The Right Way: Lenny Gray

In this podcast, Danny Leibrandt interviews Lenny Gray, a seasoned expert in the pest control and door-to-door sales industry. Lenny discusses his journey from starting as a door-to-door sales rep for Orkin Pest Control to founding Rove Pest Control, one of the largest pest control companies in Utah. He explains how door-to-door sales played a significant role in his success and shares insights from his two books, Door to Door Millionaire and More Door to Door Millionaire.Lenny emphasizes the importance of a systematic sales process, which he calls the "sales flow," that can be applied to both door-to-door and inbound sales. His method focuses on ethical selling and building long-term relationships with customers, which has helped him retain clients for years. He also stresses the value of technology in door-to-door sales and managing a business efficiently, mentioning tools like SalesRabbit and FieldRoutes to streamline operations.Danny and Lenny also touch on the challenges and opportunities of door-to-door sales, particularly during events like COVID-19, where Lenny saw record sales as people were more frequently at home. They also discuss how pest control companies can hit the million-dollar mark by hiring the right people, leveraging their strengths, and focusing on growth strategies.Lenny concludes by talking about his mission to give back to the pest control industry through coaching and the Pest Empire Builder mastermind group, where he helps companies scale their businesses ethically. He hints at two upcoming books focused specifically on door-to-door sales techniques for the pest control industry, scheduled for release in early 2025.Lenny Gray, Founder of D2D Millionaire:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenny-gray-2b8029b/Website: https://lennygray.com/Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com The Local Marketeer Platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketeer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-local-marketeer/id1741176782 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/the-local-marketeer Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Local-Marketeer/B0D1FCN28S?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpPodcast Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Lenny Gray 05:13 Developing Sales Training for Orkin12:01 The Role of Testing in Sales20:17 Resources for Door-to-Door 25:12 Business Growth Strategies31:22 Hiring and Training Sales Reps36:39 Finding the Right Business Partner50:53 Traits of Successful Pest Control Owners55:00 Leveraging Technology in Sales58:07 The Future of Door-to-Door Sales01:00:37 Upcoming Books and Resources#localmarketing #localbusiness #localseo #seo #marketing #pestcontrol #pestcontrolseo #pestcontrolmarketing Are you a pest control company owner looking to grow? Book a discovery call with us to see if you’re a good fit! Link here: https://calendly.com/dannyleibrandt/discovery

Next Episode

How To Fix Google Business Profile Suspensions: Amy Toman

In this podcast episode, Danny Leibrandt, founder of Pest Control SEO, interviews Amy Toman, a distinguished Google Business Profile (GBP) Diamond expert. Amy shares insights on her journey to becoming a Diamond expert, emphasizing the value of participating in the GBP community and helping small businesses with Google listing management. She explains the process of gaining Diamond status, which involves actively answering questions in the Google forums and demonstrating a deep understanding of Google products.

Danny and Amy discuss the challenges small businesses face when managing Google Business Profiles, particularly for local service businesses like pest control. Amy highlights the importance of having a legitimate business location and the potential risks of using a home address without proper signage. She advises on the best practices for setting up a business address to avoid suspensions, emphasizing that a visible and verifiable address can enhance a business's visibility in search results.

Amy also dives into the appeal process if a business's GBP gets suspended. She stresses the importance of gathering authoritative documentation, such as business licenses and tax records, before submitting an appeal. She provides a detailed step-by-step guide on how to appeal a suspension, the importance of proper paperwork, and the need for agencies or Google Product Experts to assist with complex cases.

The conversation shifts to broader SEO strategies, such as the value of creating service area pages to extend a business's reach beyond its physical location. Amy and Danny both advocate for white-hat SEO practices, stressing the importance of authenticity in reviews and avoiding manipulative tactics. Amy highlights the risks associated with fake reviews and shares how Google is improving its filters to detect suspicious activities.

Throughout the episode, Amy emphasizes the importance of treating Google Business Profiles as valuable business assets and being proactive in maintaining them. Her advice is practical and detailed, offering listeners valuable insights into navigating the complexities of Google Business Profile management, especially for small businesses that heavily rely on local search visibility.

Amy Toman,

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-toman-25945047/

Email: [email protected]

GBP Forum: https://support.google.com/business/community/

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com

The Local Marketeer Platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalMarketeer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1TCL0LhZbsJS6mzanqnnT1?si=224075c9fbda42f5 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-local-marketeer/id1741176782 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0bb5254-5d6c-4940-8211-085157cc1239/the-local-marketeer Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/The-Local-Marketeer/B0D1FCN28S?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Background and Introduction

11:37 Google Business Profile Diamond Status

18:23 Navigating Address Changes

24:57 The Importance of Location for Small Businesses

30:50 The Role of Google Business Profile in Lead Generation

35:01 Navigating Google Business Profile Appeals

44:51 Preparing for Google Business Profile Challenges

#localmarketing #localbusiness #localseo #seo #marketing #pestcontrol #pestcontrolseo #pestcontrolmarketing

Are you a pest control company owner looking to grow? Book a discovery call with us to see if you’re a good fit! Link here: https://calendly.com/dannyleibrandt/discovery