047:Pest Control in 2025: Lessons, Highlights & What’s Next | Year-End Special

0:01 Hello and welcome to Pest Perspectives episode 47. The day is the 31st of December. That's crazy to think that we're that we are a day away from being in 2026. This is just a random stream. Wanted to thank everyone that supported the show. Honestly, I didn't believe the amount of support I would have for the podcast when I started out in January. It's been such a crazy time it has with with support. I have got that much guests for next year. It's pretty insane to think that I started it by myself.

0:42 I've I've done it myself the whole time. People have supported and supported the show and it's grown over time. It's it's really good. So on, if you wanted to know any of the analytics we have on PES perspectives on, over on Spotify, we have 65 followers. So if you follow on Spotify, could you please press follow so we can get the followers up more? We can. And we've had on Spotify with streams and downloads, We've had over 2664 streams and downloads, which is pretty cool. To be fair, I didn't expect that when you go deeper into analytics.

1:25 Everyone's quite busy today

1:34 since I've been live. Yeah, on LinkedIn as well, but thanks for all the support. So if we get over to consumed hours over the last year, there's been the 799 hours and that's pretty mental. That is, to be fair, people listening discovery, a lot of it's a lot of it's been found on the Spotify homepage. Audience is UK, this is all platform 60%, America 32.6, Austria 2.2, Australia 1.2, New Zealand 1% and Ireland 0.4, Iceland 0.4, Philippines 0.1% but thanks everyone for honesty support for the support.

2:33 It's been incredible and obviously overall specifically Spotify 86% dot 6 for UK, America 8 point 8.6%, Ireland 3.7, Australia 0.5 and Indonesia 0.5%. Now it's just mental. That is honestly, I can't thank you enough for the support. It's been never realised this podcast and would do this well and overall I'm just getting into the meta dashboard meta. The meta dashboard's been Facebook's been quite, quite substantial. It has let's have a look insights just get into the views because I do a lot of short content for people to see what we've been doing.

3:37 So now we've had say over on Facebook. So views over all content, podcasts, live streams, short content, everything over last year, we've had 286,000 eight, 868 views. So if that's if you're part of that, please, please. Thank you. I don't make sense, but thank you for your support. Yeah, it's from organic. It's good. So if you if you follow on Facebook, could you please press the follow button? It would be a really it would be appreciated. It would be greatly appreciated. If you can follow on Facebook.

4:39 I would love to hit 1000 followers. I would that would be great 1000 followers on Facebook, but it's doing well. It's we've got YouTube as well 65 subscribers. Content does really well on there. It's just getting people to subscribe and I've noticed a big uptake recently with people subscribing. So thank you if you're if you're on that platform. So 29,000 views on on YouTube, which isn't massive, but it's good in the grand scheme of things. I believe I do go to episodes, go to analytics. Just getting up, see if we can see the see who took the top spot on Spotify.

5:32 I already know because I told him a while ago episodes as well. If you're in the chat, please say hello, give a shout out loading the analytics on that side. But thanks everyone for tuning in. I genuinely appreciate the support. It's it's honestly that's why I do it. The people can learn learn new things about the industry bits and bobs from different countries around the world. I know we do have guests from America and also and around the world, but I feel it's beneficial to have people on from different countries around the world because we can all learn off each other.

6:23 Thanks Martin Belcher for popping in the chat mate. I appreciate it. Thanks mate.

6:37 There we go right now with 113 streams and downloads on Spotify. We all know who the the who's got the spot. If you don't, it's Mark Porter episode 19, Mark Porter from Porter's pest control. So well done mate. That was a really good one. People are still watching it now. Episode 2 with 89 episodes was my good mate Kevin Views from Green Rock Pest Control. So shout outs to you. That's another. They're all good. I enjoy them all. I do just showing you what's the ranked best episodes on the on the on this Spotify and episode 2085 downloads or watches whatever you call it is S force Northampton, Mark and George Vincent.

7:33 That was a good one. Thanks for that. They're good lads. They are, they're good lads.

7:44 Also next is up is Adam Holtz. That was a fun one, his journey through pest control that was 81 downloads. Next up is actually we're surprised by this. This is like a one later in the year 38 episode 38 with myself and Kevin Buse when we talked about how to prepare for we then decide use in 2026. Also we talked about what was coming up at the MPTA, Pestech and so much more. A general trap we had also. So where we go Next up with Nathan Clark, 77 views from festivals Leicester year Next up was 77.

8:33 So there's there's three positions tied at 77. There is that's perspective 21 with Paul Westgate from Veritas Pest Consultancy. That was a very good one. Thanks to everyone who's who I mentioned and anyone who's been on. I'm just going to give you a shout out anyway everyone. Peter Stewart from Aberkale Pest Control, that was a good 173 downloads and Carl Robinson from H Pest and Bird Environmental at 68 downloads. That was a great one. That was Andrew MacDonald from Harlem Response in his pest control capacity 67, Jasmine Emerson from Philotech Technologies and Opticatch.

9:19 That was a very, very educational 1. So I'm very surprised it's not higher up. But a lot of a lot of this is Evergreen content so people can go back and re watch it if they want. So it's useful. Then we go down to Sam, Tricky rural insights would be tricky pest control. That's 65 downloads. Debbie Wilson, excellent trainer, an excellent trainer,

9:53 60 downloads. Doctor Richard Naylor definitely a good one to watch at 59. That was episode 15 Tales from the Cross space. Jack and Brad. Honestly, mate, honestly, people, you need to watch Tales from the cool space 2 point O with Jack and Brad. You can't meet a better bunch of guys. And I've got to know them. I've got to know them over time and lots of thank them for their support. I know they're I know they're in America, but they do support my podcast and I support them. Theirs is if you want to hear a podcast.

10:27 It's quite funny with some funny stories. Not always named, obviously for legal reasons, but it is a very good show to go on. I've been on 2 international versions. I highly recommend listening to their podcast rating and reviewing it as well. Jasmine Paspro. Yeah, she that was a very good one based off social media as well. She very she really understands social media. So going through Jasmine Pesopro on Facebook, that's her main platform and another here we go, Andrew Saneski from a coast to coast pest talk now.

11:08 Hey, I'll be getting him back on because it's very knowledgeable man and his podcast is also my. I will get on it one day. We will try and get Gabe on one day. That man is so busy. It's unbelievable. It is, but it's all good. Yeah, it was a great podcast. If you want to check it out, it's a lot of them own business focus and all, all sorts do a pest control, but it's a really good one. That was at 53 streams and downloads. But obviously this is just Spotify, so there's other platforms too. There is as well.

11:44 Tom Holmes. We've got Tom Holmes from Tom Holmes consultancy. That was a nice chat. We've chatted about from the manufacturing perspective when he worked for when he when he was head of a oh, what was it talked about his time being the we messed that up. But yeah, we talked about loads. To be fair, we did. I don't want to get note wrong. And then we have episode 17 where Adam Holt, again, this one was AI in pest control. That was 52 downloads. And here, this was a very good one. This is very early on, so the podcast doesn't look as good as it is now, but it's still a good one to watch or listen to.

12:38 That was with Lady Victoria Hall from Ladybug Pest Control, and it was very much a very good chat. It was over 2 hours. It's yeah, she knows her stuff. She really does get it with pest control and I think it's well worth a listen so you can go back and have a listen. It's definitely a good a good one that is. Thanks to everyone for coming on. That's been on so far. And here we go to Graham Turner from the Cheer Pest Control Academy. That was a very good one. That was where he dropped the world exclusive that the MPTA created a certified field biologist of course, exam.

13:22 So yeah, there's no one knew that was dropping that was like a world exclusive thing that was really good. That was look is right now. Please comment and then chat if you're watching. Why did Gingerbread Man still the Christmas period, I suppose. And also we have past Perspectives 28. Hi Kylie and Stephen Wright from Wright Environmental with 49 downloads. That was a good, that was a good podcast. I think I'm boring you all now. There's just so many people to thank for coming on. I'll just do a rundown.

14:01 Michael Dowell from MD Folkom in Pet Solutions. John Sage, thanks for coming on. Hope you hope you get better soon, mate. I know you're back from hospital, but yeah, it was an honour, honour to have you on the podcast. It really was. We had Kimberly Canberra from Urban Canine and Pest and Pest Wildlife Solutions. Thank you for coming on. That was really good. George came on, he was, he's a German cockroach specialist, so if you you do a lot of German cockroach work, it's worth a look. And I think Dean's really good as well, George from G&L Recruitment Consultancy, it's really good for people wanting to get into the pest control industry.

14:46 He gives that practical advice and honest and open thoughts, which is great. Barrier moron on episode 41, talking about the from a young, younger perspective running the business and bringing the pest control industry. He was part of the Syngenta and MPTA 5 under 25 scheme, right? Marcus Scruggs from the Licence to Kill podcast, which is a very good podcast and gaming community. It is. I've come so far. Well done. Thanks mate. Martin, cheers for that. I appreciate that one. Thanks for that. Where are we now?

15:26 Yeah, Mark. Yeah. Marcus Scruggs podcast, Licence to Kill. Look it up. It's good if you're into gaming. He's got a Discord, the licence. I'm in it. I need to post more. I haven't played any games in a while, but yeah, it's definitely good community, good guy. Then we had Alex Wade on for about an episode I loved, basically about fitness and mobility in regards to management, which was all about weightlifting, which is is now a the great passion of mine. And he can lift, I'll assure you. Alex can lift.

16:01 He can.

16:06 Then we had Anna Mullins from Pest Vines on episode 25, which was a really good chat. It was. Thanks for coming on, Anna. Next up we had Matt O'Donnell from IX5 Pest Control. He's not far from me. To be fair, he's not. I had to chat about all sorts of nature of business, explain how bee removals happened and all sorts. It was a really good one and my introduction podcast, which was me talking about 5-10 minutes explaining how how the podcast was going to work as got 40 downloads. For some reason.

16:49 I've had go for girl one. She's she does mole control and go for control all year round, which is good because it that's how it is there and that's all she does. But it's a it's a good one that I like that she she no, she, she gets social media as well. She does social media is important in my mind in in pest control. It is. You don't have to do social media. Obviously you don't have to because I believe it's it's important part. And then we had Pest Perspectives before the Alan Draper. I was quite surprised when he went because he's the big boys in that pest control industry.

17:33 And he does bug bug books, podcast proof pest control, and he's involved in lizard marketing as well. So yeah, he's a successful businessman within the pest control industry. And those are not a lot. So I'll try and set up another episode where we can come on again. He did agreed to. And then we had Mark Wayman from he's now technical manager at MPTA, but that was a very good one and insightful number four team. I could make Jason McPhee, which I met met for the first time at Pestech this year, which was a good one.

18:15 He also makes the Chad pipe card, the pipe card rat blocker which is low D cell and I mean rat packs sell it as well. Still that's a good product that is I met him that was good. I had Christopher Venables from Venables pest control. He knows a lot about doing farm work and cilantro and bed bugs actually, which supports me vast knowledge which is cool. Then we had Suan Le Monan from Ghazi mosquito and tit control. But thanks to everyone I've mentioned in this list, it, it means the world that you come on and you've give up your time.

18:59 It really does. And she mentioned stuff about mosquitoes and tick control, which is is you can get even in UK you can get bit up by ticks. It can happen. It can and mosquitoes it can happen. So it's all worth looking at

19:21 Serena Sumner, who's who's the author of Endless Forms, Why we should love Wasps. Great book.

19:29 Yeah, that was a good one because she's like a wasp Bureau and great tips like to stop Wasps bugging you, you're out, leave a bit of meat on the table and they'll just go to the meat, leave you alone. That was a good one. And then the most recent episode of Pest Perspectives, Andrew McDonald, UK for tank supplies. So that's his second appearance. He came under highland pest control before. That's worth a watch for mole control, especially. Especially for mole control. That is Mark Moseley from Pest Gone Environmental Limited, how he's now sold it on.

20:07 But well done mate on on getting that over the line. I know you weren't sure whether to sell. Or what you were doing, but you must have got the right offer because you've you've you've sold to JG. So well done mate. And stay spore multi electrical on on 29 downloads. That was a really good problem because he's very he's local to me, actually lives in my town. He does. So, yeah, that was a good one, an insight that some people do actually try DIY electric, electric. That was frightening finding that out.

20:44 Definitely want to watch Michael from Executive Cleaning, a friend from the old podcast gaming community where he, he's quite funny. He's all right. I just want to get him on and he's in what he does crime scene cleaning up and you'll hear about all kinds of things like that. So it's a bit different, but some pest control companies do do clean UPS of that nature, so it's worth a listen. These ones here are just clips on podcasts. I won't mention them. All of them. There we go. I got through all of them there.

21:27 So yeah, thanks for everyone for supporting the podcast. I have got something to show off though, so get the cameras

21:42 right. Hold on a minute. So Pestech 2025, I've got this great guide I did from Baratine. It's called the Pest Control technicians technicians field guide. I'll be honest, I'm sure it looked very cool. I'll just see if I can sort the camera out. You see it there? Hold on. No. OK, All right, Visual effects. There we go. Right. As you can see it here. So it's basically a technician's guide. It's got a whole. It's like how to use insect monitors. See here how to survey for an infestation, what you should do non chemical measures for insects and rodents.

23:03 See there. It's got a whole, it's really useful. It has, it's got all sorts about phantom biting and delusional parasitosis. There's elements about bats in here. I've got given this for free at Pestech. You can pick this up at and in January for 15 lbs through Barantine. I believe it's going to be 15 lbs. They're going to have in the region of 1000 books to sell. They it's a really good. Also, they've got information on bed bugs here, like that's the common wasp they've got that you can't stop so you can learn it.

23:51 It's even help if you're doing insect related courses or even the stick in the van if you get stuck because we all know we can get stuck on certain things. Obviously there's a variety. You got oriental cockroach just just just got loads of different different bugs and and insects we deal with like book lice, house crickets.

24:25 Honestly, there's nearly there's probably every single insect you could come across and the rest boring insect, death watch beetle really good. I'll be honest, it is all sorts even marked. We've got we've got mouses. Yeah, as well. It's really good quality. It is rice squirrel and it obviously it's got products, products to what you should be using for target species of products they sell. Got birds in there as well like lady goose, all sorts. They really have it. It's a good little book and offers a lot of advice pesticide wise, water bowls, what you can what you can't do the laws everyone forgets everything rather than jumping on a Facebook group going and can have some out you could actually this helps you do the application of of insecticides.

25:36 Then aside you forget correcting the you know calculating the correct dose as loads of stuff like this. So it's really useful. And if you've got a company, you could buy a load and put them in the van, you could help people. But yeah, so like borough baiting, there's all sorts of efforts in here. There is. So yeah, it's it's also, it's got like even further, it's got what they mean. It's really good. It has. It is. In my opinion it is. But like that. Let's have a look. Yeah, it's got like what you should be, What's first Gen, what's second Gen?

26:27 All sorts. But yeah, it's a nice little book. It is 132 pages long and it's £15 from Baratine, so you can pick a copy up for 15 lbs. I haven't got an affiliate link. I got given it for free. So this is like a, this is like a shout out. But thanks to Will from Barantine for giving it to me at Pestech. I was meant to, you know, mention it sooner, but I thought that I would do it now. It's the last, it's the last day, last day of the year,

27:16 right? Hi mate, hope you're well. All good mate. How are you? How are you? Hope you like that. But also I need to talk to people about how CPD and points are going forward on the British Pass register for next year. So currently you just do the British Pass register, you just click, right? So you just click or if I should show it in, load my account up, I'll show you because things are changing. Good to hear. Yeah, things are changing. Comes the British pass register for me anyway and a lot of others.

28:07 So I'll just go to share screen. Nothing major, it's just that before. As you can see it there currently up there, that's where you come in. You don't do anything. You just tell me you've watched it and I agree to it, that you've watched it. That's not happening as of next year. See this here see this here, but all the podcasts that are done this year. But if you're going to re listen to podcasts for next year to get CPD is going to be changed. It is so see here. I'm not obviously bastard beauties and beasties code.

29:18 So I'm not telling you what the code was for that show because you've got to watch it. So there will be quizzes for last year's, this year, this year's podcast. All right, all the podcasts that were recorded and live streamed this year will as of next year, you won't just be able to I've watched it. You've got to do, you've got to answer a few questions for each podcast to get your CPD for them. And then this year's the new one coming for 2026. It will either be a code similar to what Shawn has done for the Beauties and Beasties, or it'll be a couple of questions from each episode just to verify that people aren't just clicking that.

30:07 I've watched all these podcasts when they really just click, click, click, click down the list because obviously I'll show you what you can do. This is a more better way of verifying. So add CPDI, don't add. I haven't added any of my podcasts. I think that's sad if I don't add my own. But look, So what you do is you click watched it one point submit. Obviously I'm not going to do that. But then there's no process to verify if you've actually watched it. So what? So what, what what will happen? Let's let's have a look.

30:46 We are a new company, worked in the industry for years for a national company and four months ago we started our company. Any advice for new companies within the industry? Well done, well done. It's not easy to start out in a business and start up a new business, to be fair.

31:09 Yeah, just advice wise, just don't just go for the cheapest. I know you want to get your what your name out there when it comes to getting contracts. Just don't try and make a loss as such trying if you're going after commercial contracts, just try. And obviously some contracts are brought pure revenue, but you don't want to lose money. Work out what your price is to make money, which you've probably done already, but a lot of companies when they start up, they go real low and it ends up shooting them in the foot.

31:46 Basically they go low to the point where I've got all this work, but you're not actually making any money. So that's the kind of advice I I, I would say make some social media posts. Educational posts are great. I'm very good at doing educational posts on social media. ChatGPT can help you, but obviously make sure you take out try and make it not look like ChatGPT. Check the information it's giving you. It can be good. Canvas is good things like that next door on social media is great. I've I've found it's good.

32:27 Get yourself on Google if you can. Google guarantee is a great way of getting work. That is that is if you really want to get work. You can do the click. You can do the click, but just understand on Google clicks does cost money, but you will get the work, but it's a lot more expensive. Whereas with Google guaranteed is if they ring you because it goes, it goes Google. So when it rings, it goes Google. So you know that person rang through Google Guaranteed and it worked because we use Google. Yeah, I'm not on Google Ads per click.

33:08 I'm on Google Guaranteed, which is in your local area. So if you have a look on your phone, you type pest control in and you'll see at the top sponsored and it's cool. It may have changed your name. Hold on, let's have a look. Google Guarantee, let's have a look. I'll just type my business in Open Pest Control Limited. So wait a minute, I'll get rid of that and I'll show you which bit Google Guaranteed is right. Undo the camera.

33:43 Hold on here that there is Google guaranteed and current. You can't see me on there for it don't matter that that is what Google guaranteed is. And when you call, they make a, they make a number for you. And it's a way of them knowing that you're on Google guaranteed. It is, yeah. But if you really do want work, you can do Google ads, but it's up to you. But they, they do work. But it, it, it can cost quite a lot. But you probably probably I wouldn't go if you knew I wouldn't go. Google guarantees would probably be more beneficial if you can look into that.

34:33 It's called Google My Business. If you look it up that might be more beneficial to you and try and get when you have customers that are happy try and get them to give you Google reviews because it's a good way of a lot. The algorithm or whatever how it works likes reviews because I'm at 87 reviews now. Sometimes it can be like 4 to 6 LB a call or lower, it really depends. But it does work. You only pay if you answer it. So say say if you were to have it and then ring them back quickly, it wasn't take it wouldn't charge you the money then.

35:16 But it does work. But all I'm saying is that the click adverts can work out a lot more money. We used to spend about three years, like about five, £600 a month. We got the work, but we made more money when we just use Google guaranteed to be fair, but it it's a hard just got to try. Where was it? I am looking to grow our socials. Think that's a good Rep. I mean, I use socials. I'm very I don't know whether you've seen me on socials, but obviously I run the pest perspectives. But I do open pest control and in our area I'm very well known.

35:52 I'm on everything. I'm on next door under my own personal profile. Get into the community. I'm very well known, even got called the next door celebrity once. A couple of times actually. It's a good way. You just got to learn how to react with people because you will get people that will have a go at you. It's like sometimes when I make pulp post on moles. I don't never, I never show dead animals. I don't believe you should show dead animals, but I generally ignore them because they want you to bite.

36:24 Oh, you got to be careful, you got to do it right. I generally don't get a lot of hate. Sometimes I get people saying don't kill the Wasps, you know they are beneficial but they are to a degree obviously. But I'm always nice. This guy, he, he comments on my post every year and I always thank him and I say I do realise this, but it, we are a public health industry. So mostly when we get called out, it's to stop potential stinging or, you know, children, etcetera. So it's not like, it's not like we just do it, you know, for free and go out and kill things just just for the sake of it.

37:07 That's not how it works. But yeah, it's yeah, there's Instagram, TikTok, Tik Tok's good, but I don't always know what qualifying if you see what I'm saying. I don't always know if because it's good to have, it's good to have it there a brand awareness in your local area. I can't always quantify if me putting up a Instagram post has got a call. So it's just being in the local area. Facebook groups, but don't spam them. Make sure you know the rules. Be careful how you do it. Try me educational posts or little graphics say like what moles do and little facts and stuff and I normally put if you need any help give us a call or something like that.

38:01 Not try and make it too salesy more educational. That goes down well rather than hard selling people because it's 2025 by 2026 tomorrow. Hard selling like that doesn't really work anymore. The educational routes very good a way of doing it. You don't have to give all away all the Nuggets, obviously just little bits and bobs here and there, but fun graphics and help. But it's all about getting yourself out there. But I wouldn't. I think social media does does help us definitely in our business, but I can't quantify it and say yes, age dependent work because of social media.

38:41 I don't think it is. I think it's a website and Google guaranteed to be honest. I do, yeah. It's, I'm not an expert on it. Obviously when my dad set my business many years ago and I came on in 2020, but I've learnt a lot since then. I have. But you just got to try things. Some people, some stuff works for some people and not for others. So it really depends. It does. I don't normally do live streams like this. It's normally, I've normally got a guest on. I have. I just thought I'd do a thank you show for all the support and KKR passed away.

39:22 If you, if you're following the, if you could press follow on the on the Facebook page as that's where you're watching. I'd be greatly appreciated and like if you can. And yeah, thanks for that. But everyone, I want to wish you obviously a bit late, but I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. I do, and I hope you have a good new year. I do. And happy new year, Jasmine. Jasmine's been on the podcast. I've already shouted you out, Jasmine, your addition, That's a very good addition to go back and look at, especially if you deal with eight LEDs, fly units, additional fly unit sheet, but literally debugs all the current myths within the industry.

40:11 It's a very good podcast, that is. I've done that. How apologies on TikTok did I I'll have to go and have a look. I'll have to go and have a look. I probably did. I follow a lot of people. I did. So I'll go and have a look. Drop us a thumbs up in the comments and I'll and I will reply. I will. I'm trying to remember. I am, but yeah. So, yeah, everyone, it's, it's been a good well, well, personally not been a great year, but I've lost loads of weight. I haven't we keep on, keep on that healthiest ever been.

40:52 But yeah, thanks everyone. And that book you can buy that was showing off that I got given for free. If you missed it, you can skip back. It's £15. That is a buy. It is not my book. It's Baratine's book. I just showed it off and thank you everyone. I don't really think the CPD word with this podcast. It's more of a thank you one. I probably won't be putting CPD up for this one. But if you just tuned in at the end and you do use the British Press Register and you reel back a little bit because I explain it, because you're not just going to get your points just by saying I've done the podcasters via quiz or a code.

41:39 But I think I'm leaning towards the quizzes. And then maybe the podcast for this year will be a code like like the beauties and beasties are doing to verify more that people have actually listened to the podcast. No, I don't believe you just need some way of verifying it. I think that's a better that's a better way of verifying it. But yeah, so I hope you all have a good new year. And I'm booked up to nearly March time. So there's still there's podcast booked up till I'll tell you a lot of them who have got get my calendar out.

42:15 So I've got one on a guy on personal branding because that's a big thing. So I've got a guy called Gabe Bustos and he's on LinkedIn. He's quite a good guy. All right. So I've also got David Bird coming on as well. I've got Lulu Wade environmental coming on. I've got Jim from Protex coming on as well. I've got the Bed Book Queen coming on, so that will be awesome as well going into February, But Billy McPherson coming on as well, that would be good. I've got Owen Haynes coming on that. This will be incredibly good.

43:05 That will be really good. He's got an incredible story to tell and I think it will resonate and it will show people that anyone can join the pest control industry. We're not just here for boffins. Anyone at any skill level can get into our industry. Good lad. Then we've got a panel show where I talked to Sam, Ricky and Kieran Buse about pest control folders and all sorts of things like that, like a panel podcast. And I'll leave it there for now. But yeah, everyone has a has a happy new year and thanks for supporting the show throughout 2025.

43:48 And I'll be back in 2026. So thanks everyone. Hope you'll have a good one. All right. Thank you.