Running a septic service business isn’t easy. Some weeks, the phone is ringing off the hook, and other times, it’s like nobody even knows you exist. You rely on word-of-mouth and referrals, but when those slow down, you turn to Google Ads. The problem? If your ads aren’t set up the right way, you could be wasting thousands of dollars on clicks that never turn into paying jobs. Maybe you’re getting calls for DIY septic repairs, or people just asking for prices but never booking. If you don’t fix this, you’re not only burning through your ad budget—you’re losing out on the real, high-paying customers who actually need your services. But the good news? If you set up your ads the right way, you can filter out junk leads and attract only customers ready to pay for your services.
In this video, I’m going to show you how to stop wasting money on bad leads and start booking real septic jobs with Google Ads. You’ll learn how to check if you’re attracting the right customers or just wasting money, the one simple setting inside Google Ads that instantly improves lead quality, and how to use data to target only the best, highest-paying septic service jobs. If you’re tired of getting useless clicks and want to turn Google Ads into a consistent, profitable lead source, stick around.
Imagine you’re out on a septic job, pumping a tank, and you notice the customer’s yard is flooded with wastewater. But instead of fixing the problem at the source, you just keep pumping more, hoping it’ll go away. That’s exactly what happens when you run Google Ads without filtering out bad leads. You’re paying for clicks, hoping for customers, but if you don’t fix the underlying issue, your budget is just going to waste. You need to stop the overflow and make sure every dollar you spend is bringing in real paying customers, not people looking for free advice or DIY solutions. That’s what I’m going to show you today.
The first thing you need to do is check if you’re getting real leads or just junk traffic. The easiest way to do this is by looking at your search terms report inside Google Ads. This report shows exactly what people typed into Google before clicking on your ad. If you’re seeing searches like “how to pump my own septic tank” or “cheap septic service near me”, that means you’re paying for people who are either not serious about hiring you or just shopping around for the lowest price. To fix this, you need to add negative keywords—these are words you tell Google to block so your ads don’t show up for useless searches. Adding words like “DIY,” “cheap,” or “how to” can instantly cut out bad leads and make sure your budget is spent on real customers who actually need your services.
The second thing you need to do is turn on the one setting that instantly improves lead quality. Inside Google Ads, there’s an option called “Exact Match” targeting. By default, Google shows your ads for broadly related searches, which is why you might be getting bad clicks. But when you switch to Exact Match, your ads will only show up for the exact keywords you choose—like “septic tank pumping near me” or “emergency septic repair”. This stops Google from wasting your budget on random searches and only brings in customers who are specifically looking for your services.
The third and most important step is using data to target only high-paying septic jobs. Not all leads are equal. A basic septic pump-out might only make you a few hundred bucks, but a full system replacement or emergency repair can be worth thousands. Instead of just advertising for “septic services”, you need to focus on high-intent, high-value keywords. Words like “emergency septic repair,” “new septic installation,” or “drain field replacement” bring in bigger jobs, while generic terms like “septic tank service” can attract price shoppers. By adjusting your ads to focus on high-value services, you can get better-paying jobs while spending less on wasted clicks.
Now that you know how to stop wasting money on junk leads, filter out bad clicks, and target high-paying septic jobs, it’s time to put this into action. If you want more Google Ads strategies that actually work for septic service businesses, check out my other videos. See you on the next one!
