Summer’s Here—Is Your Excavation Business Ready to Grow?

Let’s face it—summer is the go-time for excavation work. The phone should be ringing, the schedule should be packed, and your machines should be moving dirt all week long. But if you're like a lot of contractors we talk to, you might be feeling the pressure.

You’re probably wondering:

• “Why am I getting calls for small, low-paying jobs?”
  

• “How come that other guy down the road is always booked out?”
  

• “Is it worth spending money on marketing, or should I just rely on word of mouth?”

We hear it all the time—and we get it. You didn’t sign up to be a marketing expert. You’re busy running crews, pricing jobs, and keeping clients happy. But here’s the thing: summer is the biggest opportunity to grow your excavation business—if you’ve got the right marketing tactics in play.

At Excavation Marketing Pros, we specialize in helping excavation contractors just like you get more of the right jobs—without wasting time or money. We’re not a giant agency, and we like it that way. Every contractor we work with gets a custom plan that actually fits their business.

So, what’s working right now? Let’s break down 7 proven summer marketing tactics that are helping excavation businesses book jobs—and beat the competition.

1. Local SEO That Puts You on the Map (Literally)

If your business doesn’t show up on Google Maps when someone searches “excavation near me” or “septic install [your town],” you’re losing easy jobs to your competitors.

Here’s what’s working right now:

• Fully optimized Google Business Profile (with real photos, services, and correct contact info)

• Weekly updates like posting job photos, short updates, or even customer reviews

• Citations—making sure your business info matches across directories like Yelp, Angi, and HomeAdvisor (even if you don’t pay them)
  

Think of it like this: Google wants to show the most “trustworthy” local contractor. These small SEO actions signal that you’re that guy.

2. Google Ads That Actually Book Jobs

Google Ads can feel like throwing money into a black hole—unless you set them up right.

Here’s what’s working this summer:

• “Click to Call” ads: Skip the website and get straight to the phone call
  

• Targeting high-intent keywords like “septic system install cost [city]” or “driveway excavation contractor [city]”
  

• Tight radius targeting: Don’t pay for clicks from people 100 miles away—just focus on your service area

Even better? You can track exactly how many calls came from your ad spend, so you know what’s working.

3. Facebook Ads That Don’t Feel Like Ads

Facebook still works—if you do it right. Most contractors just post a “Call Now!” picture of a backhoe and hope for the best. That’s not enough.

What’s working now:

• Before-and-after photos of your projects with captions like “Same yard. One week later.”
  

• Video walkthroughs: Even a 30-second clip of your crew installing a septic system builds trust
  

• Special offers like “Book your summer install and get a free tank inspection”

The key? Make it feel real—not like a sales pitch. That’s what grabs attention and leads to messages or calls.

4. Simple Website Fixes That Convert Visitors into Leads

Many excavation websites are outdated or just plain confusing. Even if you get traffic, visitors won’t call unless it’s dead simple to do so.

Quick wins for summer:

• Add a big “Call Now” button on every page (especially mobile)
  

• Use real photos, not stock images. People want to see your work

• Have a short contact form that asks for name, number, and job type—nothing more

Your website doesn’t need to win design awards. It just needs to convert visitors into leads—fast.

5. Follow-Up Systems That Seal the Deal

How many leads are you losing because no one followed up? Maybe you missed a call or forgot to email someone back.

What’s working:

• Automated text follow-ups: “Hey, saw you called about excavation work. Want to set up a free estimate?”
  

• Call tracking so you know exactly who called and when
  

• Appointment reminders to cut down on no-shows

This isn’t just fancy software—it’s about turning more leads into paying jobs.

6. Showcasing Real Projects to Build Trust Fast

Summer is the perfect time to show off your work. When potential customers see what you’ve done, they trust you faster.

Easy ways to do this:

• Post job photos weekly on Facebook and your website
  

• Get short video testimonials from happy customers—just 15 seconds is enough
  

• Use “project highlights” in ads: “Just finished this septic install in [city]—ready for the next one!”
  

People want to hire someone who knows what they’re doing. Showing real jobs proves you’re the pro.

7. Referral Programs That Work Without Feeling Pushy

Word of mouth is still gold—but you can encourage more of it.

Here’s how:

• Simple referral rewards: “Send us a customer and get $100”
  

• Partner with local builders, realtors, or plumbers who can send you leads
  

• Ask for referrals on the job: “Know anyone who needs a system like this?”
  

You’re already doing great work—make it easy for people to spread the word.

Bonus Tip: Seasonal Offers That Create Urgency

Let’s talk about timing. Summer doesn’t last forever. One thing that works incredibly well right now is creating urgency with seasonal offers.

Example:
“Book your excavation or septic install before August 15th and get a free permit filing.”
This kind of deadline-driven offer gives homeowners a reason to take action now, not “sometime later.” It’s simple psychology. People procrastinate unless there’s a reason to act.

You don’t need to discount your services to make this work. Just add value or offer a bonus—something that feels like a deal. Maybe it’s a free site inspection, priority scheduling, or a limited-time referral bonus.

Urgency + value = more booked jobs.

Real-World Success: How One Excavator Booked Out July in 10 Days

Let me tell you about one of our clients—let’s call him Mike. Mike runs a 4-man excavation crew in the Southeast. He’d always relied on referrals and the occasional yard sign, but in June, his schedule hit a wall. Jobs slowed down. Leads dried up. He wasn’t sure what to do next.

We rolled out three of the tactics we mentioned earlier:

1. We cleaned up his Google Business Profile and started posting weekly job photos.

2. We launched targeted Google Ads focused on septic installs and driveway grading within 25 miles.

3. We added a simple “call now” button to his website and tracked every call.

In 10 days, he had 17 new leads, booked 6 jobs, and filled out his July calendar. He didn’t spend a fortune, just enough to get noticed by homeowners in his area who were already searching for help.

Mike’s not a tech guy. He doesn’t love marketing. But now he sees how small changes = big results.

Why Consistency Beats One-Off Efforts

Here’s something we see all the time:
Contractors run ads or post on Facebook for a week or two, then stop. When leads slow down, they get frustrated and assume it “didn’t work.”

The reality? Marketing is a momentum game.
Just like you can’t dig a foundation in a day, you can’t build steady lead flow with one random Facebook post or a single ad.

The contractors who win keep showing up—week after week, summer after summer. They don’t just rely on one source of leads. They build a system that feeds their business.

And here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. You just need a plan that fits your business—and someone who can help you stick to it.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Trying to Do Everything at Once

This one’s important. When contractors first try to “do marketing,” they often try to do everything at once—build a new website, run ads, post daily on social media, send emails, the whole nine yards.

It’s overwhelming. And most of the time, it ends up half-done.

Instead, we recommend this:
Pick one or two tactics from this  info. Get those working. Measure the results. Then layer on more.

For example, you could start with:

• Fixing your website so it converts better,

• And running Google Ads targeting your best services.

Once you’ve got consistent leads, then you can add Facebook ads or start a referral program. Step by step.

This Summer Could Change Everything

If you’ve been stuck at the same revenue for a while…
If you’ve been relying only on word of mouth…
If you’re ready to scale up and book better jobs…

This summer could be the turning point.

But only if you take action. The contractors who win aren’t always the biggest or the cheapest. They’re just the ones who show up where customers are looking—and make it easy to choose them.

At Excavation Marketing Pros, that’s what we help our clients do—show up, stand out, and get the job.

Final Thoughts: What Will You Try First This Summer?

Marketing doesn’t have to feel like guesswork or a waste of money. These 7 proven summer tactics are helping excavation contractors get noticed, get more leads, and book better jobs.

At Excavation Marketing Pros, we’re all about custom plans that actually fit your business, your goals, and your budget. We don’t do cookie-cutter. We don’t sell fluff. Just real marketing that brings real jobs.

If you want help putting these tactics into play—or just want to see what’s possible—we’re here for you.