FAIRFAX, Va. – For more than 30 years, April has been celebrated as National Pest Management Month, recognizing the industry for its role in protecting public health and property from significant pest threats. The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), which serves as the public outreach arm of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is conducting a consumer media campaign to educate the public about the importance of professional pest management and encourages pest control companies to do the same, helping to raise awareness within their own local communities.

“Everyday, we work to promote the industry in a positive light and to communicate the vital role pest professionals have in protecting our health, family, homes and businesses from common pests,” said Missy Henriksen, executive director or PPMA.  “National Pest Management Month is a special time when we can publicly celebrate the pride we have in our industry and further educate consumers about the value pest professionals bring to the table through their essential services.”

PPMA is also using the month to call attention to specific pest issues and initiatives. This year’s focus is on common pests such as ants, termites and spiders, which may be big problems for consumers this spring given the mild winter. The organization will also be launching “Bed Bug Awareness Week,” April 22 – 28 to spread awareness, promote public vigilance and provide essential prevention advice about bed bugs in advance of the summer travel season.

According to PPMA, companies should also use NPMM as a time to generate awareness within their local markets. “Our voice is loud, but it can be made even louder with companies joining us in our message. Issuing a press release about National Pest Management Month and the top pest concerns in your area or simply having a conversation about the commemoration on social media channels like Facebook and Twitter can help spread awareness about our industry and provide good publicity for your organization,” suggested Henriksen.

PPMA has a variety of materials to help companies communicate to their customer base. To further explain the professionalism of the industry, PPMA recently developed, “Trust A Professional,” a short consumer education video that gives a mother's perspective about why she chose to partner with a pest professional to protect her family. This video can be shared with clients or a customizable version can be downloaded for companies to use directly on their own websites, social media postings or email correspondence. PPMA also offers press release templates on a variety of pest topics, including one about NPMM. All materials are available to PPMA Guardians and Contributors on PPMATools.org, the group’s exclusive marketing hub for investors.

For more information about PPMA and its marketing programs, please visit www.NPMApestworld.org.