The #1 Mistake Wastewater Contractors Make Online

“Why Isn’t the Phone Ringing?”

You’ve spent years learning your trade. You know septic systems like the back of your hand. You’ve got the trucks, the crew, the equipment — and you do solid, honest work. But here’s the part that stings: your phone still isn’t ringing the way it should.

You’re thinking,

“I’ve got a website. I’ve paid for it. Why isn’t it helping me land more jobs?”

And maybe worse — you wonder if people are checking out your site and just... disappearing. No call. No email. Just crickets.

We get it. At Excavation Marketing Pros, we talk to contractors like you every day. Hardworking people who just want more quality jobs without wasting money on stuff that doesn’t work. The truth? There’s a good chance your website is quietly turning people away.

Let’s talk about why, and more importantly — how to fix it.

2. The Hidden Cost of an Untrustworthy Website

When a homeowner is shopping for someone to fix or install their septic system, they’re not just looking for the cheapest option. They’re looking for someone they can trust.

They’re thinking:

• “Will this company show up on time?”

• “Are they going to tear up my yard?”

• “Are they licensed and insured?”

• “Are they going to overcharge me?”

• “Can I believe what they say?”

And guess what?
They’re deciding most of that before they ever pick up the phone. Based on what?

Your website.

A confusing, outdated, or sloppy site gives off a vibe — and not a good one. People will feel it, even if they can’t explain what’s wrong. And they’ll click that back button faster than you can say "aerobic system."

3. Understanding How Homeowners Actually Think

You’ve got maybe 7 seconds to make a first impression online. Most homeowners don’t understand septic systems. They’re not comparing your technical knowledge — they’re comparing how your website makes them feel.

Here’s what’s going through their heads:

• “Does this company look professional?”

• “Can I find what I’m looking for quickly?”

• “Are there real photos and reviews?”

• “Do they service my area?”

They don’t care about how fancy your logo is. They care about confidence.

4. The #1 Mistake Wastewater Contractors Make Online

Ready for it?

👉 Your website doesn’t build trust.

That’s it. That’s the biggest mistake. And it happens in a dozen small ways:

• No photos of your team or equipment

• Stock images that scream “fake”

• No customer testimonials or reviews

• No clear list of services

• Vague or confusing copy

• No phone number at the top

• Missing service area info

• Slow page load times

It’s not that your site looks bad. It’s that it doesn’t answer the question every homeowner has:

“Can I trust these guys with my yard and my money?”

If the answer isn’t clear and obvious, they’re gone.

5. Real-World Examples: What Builds Trust (and What Breaks It)

Let’s say you’re a homeowner in a rural area. Your toilet won’t flush. You Google “septic contractor near me.” You click the first few results.

• Site A loads slowly. You see a blurry photo of a man in a suit holding blueprints. (Huh?) There’s a “Contact Us” button... somewhere. No reviews. You bail.
  
  

• Site B shows a real photo of a team standing next to a pumper truck. There’s a bold headline: “Family-Owned Septic Services Serving Smith County Since 1998.” You see reviews, services, and pricing ranges. You feel like this company knows what they’re doing. You call.
  
  

See the difference?

One site feels real. The other feels sketchy.

6. Why Your Website Needs to Work Like Your Best Employee

Your website isn’t just a digital brochure. It should be your best sales guy — available 24/7, answering questions, guiding people, building trust.

It should:

• Greet visitors like a handshake

• Clearly explain what you do (and don’t do)

• Show proof you’ve done it well for others

• Make it super easy to reach you

If your site isn’t doing these things, it’s not helping your business grow — it’s holding it back.

7. Signs Your Website Is Turning Customers Away

Here are a few red flags we see all the time:

✅ You have traffic but no calls
– People are visiting your site, but they’re not converting.

✅ You get low-quality leads
– The few people who do reach out aren’t a fit.

✅ You’re embarrassed to share your website
– If you feel like your website doesn’t reflect your quality of work... it’s probably true.

✅ You’re not showing up on Google
– Bad design and poor SEO hurt your visibility.

✅ Your competitor’s site looks 10x better
– Homeowners will often call the company that looks more trustworthy, even if you’re better.

8. Simple Fixes That Can Make a Big Impact

You don’t need a $20,000 custom website. But you do need the basics done right. Here’s where to start:

🔧 Use real photos. Show your crew, your trucks, real jobs in progress.

🔧 Put your phone number at the top. Every page. Big and bold.

🔧 List your services clearly. Homeowners don’t want to guess.

🔧 Add customer reviews. Social proof builds instant trust.

🔧 State your service area. Make it obvious where you work.

🔧 Tell them what to expect. A simple step-by-step process goes a long way.

🔧 Speed matters. A slow site kills conversions — compress your images and optimize for mobile.

🔧 Talk like a human. No jargon. No fluff. Just clear, honest info.

9. You Don’t Need Fancy—You Need Functional

At Excavation Marketing Pros, we’ve worked with enough contractors to know this: You don’t need flash. You need a website that works.

What do we mean by “works”?

• It shows up in search results

• It makes people trust you

• It gets them to call or fill out a form

• It filters out tire-kickers and time-wasters

• It helps you get more jobs you actually want to do

Most contractors are overpaying for pretty websites that don’t actually convert. Or worse, they’re settling for cheap ones that drive people away.

You deserve better. And your business needs better.

10. Final Thoughts from Excavation Marketing Pros

We’re not some giant marketing agency trying to sell you on stuff you don’t need. We’re obsessed with helping excavation and wastewater contractors grow smarter — not louder.

Your website is the first impression you make. And in this industry, trust means everything.

If your site doesn’t build that trust, it’s not doing its job.

We believe in building websites that are clear, honest, and actually help you grow. Because you shouldn’t have to guess why the phone isn’t ringing.

We’ll help you fix it.

Want to find out if your website is scaring people away?
We offer a free, no-pitch website audit just for septic and wastewater contractors. Shoot us a message — we’ll tell you the truth, even if it stings a little.👇

Schedule a free 15 minute website audit phone call here: https://calendly.com/1stbay/call-with-scott-15m?month=2025-03

Because once your site starts working for you, everything else gets easier.