If you run a septic business, here’s a painful stat: 96% of website visitors leave without calling. They land on your site, look around, and disappear forever. Most septic companies accept this as normal. They spend money driving traffic to their website and never think about them again. Meanwhile, those same visitors are calling competitors who figured out retargeting.

Here’s what’s happening: someone searches for septic service, visits your site while comparing options, gets distracted, and forgets about you. Three days later when their septic backs up, they can’t remember which company looked good. So they start searching again and call whoever shows up first.

That could’ve been your customer. You already paid to get them to your website. You just needed one more touchpoint to stay top-of-mind. This post is about bringing those lost visitors back. Because the real power move isn’t spending more on new traffic. It’s converting the traffic you’ve paid for.

Strategy #1: Retarget Recent Visitors With Emergency Availability Messaging

Someone visits your website on Tuesday researching septic services. Their system isn’t critical yet, so they’re just gathering information. By Friday, it backs up. If you’re not in front of them at that moment, they’re calling someone else.

Retargeting keeps you visible during that crucial 3-7 day window between research and emergency. Set up ads that follow website visitors across Facebook, Instagram, and Google Display Network for 7 days after their visit. The message should be simple and urgent:

“Septic Emergency? We’re Available 24/7 - Same Day Service” “Still Dealing With Septic Issues? Call [Your Number] Now” “We Answer After Hours - Emergency Septic Service Available”

Make your phone number huge in these ads. Include click-to-call functionality. Remove every barrier between seeing your ad and making the call.

Research shows retargeted visitors are 70% more likely to convert than new traffic. You’ve already paid to get them once. Spending a few dollars to bring them back is the smartest investment you’ll make.

Strategy #2: Target People Who Visited Your Service Pages But Didn’t Book

Not all website visitors are equal. Someone who spent 3 minutes on your “Emergency Septic Pumping” page is way more valuable than someone who bounced from your homepage in 10 seconds. Create separate retargeting audiences based on which pages people visited:

Here’s how to segment your retargeting:

• Visitors who viewed emergency service pages (high intent, immediate follow-up)

• Visitors who checked pricing or service area pages (comparison shopping, needs reassurance)

• Visitors who started but didn’t complete a contact form (almost converted, needs final push)

Each audience gets different messaging. The person who viewed your emergency page needs urgency: “Septic Backing Up? Call Now, We’re On Our Way.” The person who checked your service area needs confirmation: “Yes, We Service Memphis. Call Today.”

This targeted approach converts 3-4x better than generic “visit our website” ads because you’re addressing their specific concern.

Strategy #3: Use Seasonal Retargeting for Maintenance Services

Emergency calls are great, but maintenance contracts are where you build predictable revenue. The problem? People who visit your site during an emergency aren’t thinking about maintenance scheduling. Retargeting lets you reintroduce maintenance services to past emergency customers at the perfect time.

Set up seasonal retargeting campaigns:

Spring:

“Time for Your Annual Inspection. Book Before Summer”

Fall:

“Winter-Proof Your Septic System. Schedule Maintenance Now”

After heavy rain:

“Heavy Rain Can Damage Septic Systems. Zero-Obligation Inspection”

Target people who visited your site 3-6 months ago. They’ve either already used your service or picked a competitor. Either way, they’re due for maintenance. Include an offer that makes action easy: “$50 Off Annual Maintenance if You Book This Month” or “Free Septic System Inspection”.

Industry data shows maintenance customers are worth 5x more lifetime value than one-time emergency calls. Retargeting is how you convert emergency visitors into maintenance contracts.

Strategy #4: Geo-Fence Your Competitors and Real Estate Offices

Retargeting isn’t just about following your website visitors. You can also target people who visit specific physical locations. Set up geo-fencing around your competitors’ business locations. When someone visits their office or service area, they start seeing your ads:

“Looking for Septic Service? We’re Local and Available Today” “Compare Prices - Licensed Septic Service in [Your Area]” “Faster Response Times Than [Generic Competitor Reference]”

Even more powerful: geo-fence real estate offices. People buying homes often need septic inspections. When someone visits a real estate office in your service area, hit them with inspection-focused ads:

“Buying a Home? Get a Professional Septic Inspection For $149” “Don’t Close Without a Septic Inspection. Same Week Availability”

This strategy captures high-intent prospects before they even start searching. You’re not competing for attention anymore. You’re creating it instead.

Strategy #5: Retarget Past Customers With Review Requests and Referral Offers

Your best marketing asset isn’t new customers. It’s happy existing customers who could send referrals and leave reviews. Create a retargeting campaign specifically for people who’ve already used your service. Wait 30 days after their service call, then start showing them ads. These campaigns work because you’re asking happy customers to take simple actions:

“How Was Your Experience? Leave a Review for $25 Off Next Service” “Know Someone Who Needs Service? Refer a Friend, Both Get $50 Off” “Thanks for Choosing Us! Book Your Annual Maintenance and Save 20%”

Reviews drive new business. Referrals cost almost nothing to acquire. Maintenance contracts create predictable revenue. This single retargeting strategy generates all three.

Most septic companies never ask for reviews or referrals. The ones that do ask once via email and give up. Retargeting keeps the ask visible until they take action.

Strategy #6: Create Video Ads Showing Your Work and Results

Static image ads work. Video ads work better. Retargeting with video ads showing your actual work and real results converts at 2-3x higher rates than static ads. Film these simple videos with your phone:

• Before/after quick shots of a repair job

• 30-second time-lapse of a pump truck servicing a system

• You or your team explaining why regular maintenance matters

• Customer testimonial (even if it’s just them saying “great service, came fast”)

Use these videos in retargeting campaigns with captions like:

“This Is How Fast We Respond to Emergency Calls” “See Why Albany Homeowners Trust Us for Septic Service” “Here’s What Happens During a Professional Septic Inspection”

Video creates trust that images and text can’t match. People see your real trucks, real crew, and real work. It removes the uncertainty that keeps them from calling. Plus, Facebook and Instagram heavily favor video in their algorithms. Your retargeting ads will show up more often and cost less per impression when you use video.

Stop Letting 96% of Your Traffic Disappear

Every website visitor you don’t retarget is money left on the table. You’ve already paid to get them to your site through SEO, Google Ads, or social media. Letting them disappear without follow-up is like paying for leads and throwing them in the trash.

The septic companies growing fastest right now aren’t spending more on advertising. They’re converting more of the traffic they already have through strategic retargeting that keeps them visible until prospects are ready to call.

That’s where Slamdot can help. We bring 20+ years of proven digital marketing for septic businesses who want to close more of the leads they’re paying for. From done-for-you campaigns to ongoing reporting, we handle everything with one mission: generating ROI.

Want to turn lost website traffic into paying customers? Contact us today!

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