The Struggle to Stand Out in a Crowded Market

If you're an excavation or septic contractor, you know the game isn't easy. You’re competing with other local contractors, online reviews, and a variety of marketing claims. Maybe you've tried a few tactics in the past, but none of them seem to bring in the steady stream of clients you're hoping for.

Sound familiar?

As a contractor, your days are busy with on-site work, paperwork, and the stress of keeping things running smoothly. The last thing you want to deal with is marketing that doesn’t bring in leads. You know you need more jobs to grow your business, but which marketing service is actually going to get the phone ringing?

At Excavation Marketing Pros, we understand how frustrating it can be to invest in marketing and see little to no return. We’re a small, dedicated firm that has worked hard to test, optimize, and refine marketing strategies specifically for businesses like yours. Our goal isn’t to make big promises—we simply want to show you what works. No fluff, no buzzwords, just real results.

So, if you're tired of trying to figure out which marketing strategy will actually work for your excavation or septic business, you've come to the right place.

Why Digital Marketing Matters for Excavation and Septic Contractors

You may be wondering why you should even invest in digital marketing. After all, word of mouth and referrals have always been the backbone of the construction and services industry. But here's the thing: in today’s digital world, your clients are online, researching contractors before they ever pick up the phone.

The reality is, if your business isn’t showing up when homeowners search for excavation or septic services, you’re missing out. A website that doesn’t rank well or isn’t optimized for local search means you’re not even in the conversation.

But we get it. It can be overwhelming to decide which marketing strategy to choose. Do you focus on paid ads, organic search, or social media? What’s going to actually drive results and bring in high-quality leads?

That’s exactly why we decided to test three popular marketing services to see which one would perform best for excavation and septic contractors.

The Three Marketing Services We Tested

We chose three tried-and-true marketing strategies that we thought would give us a good sense of which direction excavation and septic contractors should go. Here's what we tested:

1. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising
   
   

   • The classic "buy your way to the top" method.
     
     

   • Google Ads, Bing Ads, and other search engines allow contractors to show up at the top of search results for keywords like "septic tank installation" or "excavation services near me."
     
     

2. Social Media Marketing
   
   

   • With Facebook, Instagram, and even LinkedIn, social media provides a platform for contractors to build a brand, share success stories, and engage directly with their local community.
     
     

3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
   
   

   • Optimizing your website to appear in local search results organically, without paying for ads.
     
     

   • This involves improving your site structure, content, and gaining backlinks to boost your visibility in search engines.
     
     

The Results: What Actually Worked for Excavation and Septic Contractors

After several months of testing these services, we found that some strategies worked better than others—especially for long-term growth. Here’s a breakdown of each service:

Pay-Per-Click Advertising: Quick Wins, but Expensive

PPC is one of the quickest ways to get traffic. By bidding on keywords like "septic installation" or "excavation services," we were able to show ads at the top of Google’s search results. This is great for driving immediate traffic and capturing leads, but it comes with a few downsides:

• Cost: The biggest drawback we encountered with PPC was the cost. For competitive keywords like "excavation near me" or "septic installation," you can expect to pay a premium per click. Depending on your location, the average cost per click (CPC) can range from $3 to $10 or more. Over time, this can add up quickly, especially if the leads aren’t converting.
  
  

• Short-Term Gains: While PPC delivers quick results, it’s not a sustainable long-term solution. Once you stop paying for ads, the leads stop coming in. It’s a constant cycle of paying to play.
  
  

In short, PPC can be effective for short-term campaigns or specific promotions, but we wouldn’t recommend relying solely on it if you’re looking for a sustainable, long-term strategy.

Social Media Marketing: Building Trust Over Time

Social media marketing was the next service we tested. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer an excellent way to engage with your local community. The benefits here are:

• Brand Awareness: Social media is great for getting your name out there. Homeowners tend to feel more comfortable hiring contractors they’ve seen around on their feeds. Posting before-and-after photos, success stories, or behind-the-scenes looks at your work helps to build trust.
  
  

• Local Engagement: Social media gives you the ability to interact directly with potential clients. Whether it’s responding to comments, running local ads, or even posting in community groups, it’s all about creating a personal connection.
  
  

• Time Investment: The downside of social media is that it takes time to see results. While you can build a loyal following, it requires regular posting and engagement. Social media doesn’t deliver instant results like PPC, but it can pay off over time.
  
  

Overall, social media marketing works best when you’re playing the long game. It’s a great way to build relationships with your audience and establish your brand, but it needs time and consistency to see meaningful results.

SEO: The Long-Term Winner

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, was by far the most effective marketing strategy for excavation and septic contractors in our tests. Here’s why:

• Long-Term Results: With SEO, your website is optimized to show up in organic search results, which means no ongoing ad spend. Once your site starts ranking for the right keywords, the traffic just keeps coming in.
  
  

• Targeted Leads: SEO helps you get found by people who are actively searching for your services. This means the leads you generate are highly targeted, which increases the chances of converting them into paying customers.
  
  

• Credibility and Trust: Websites that rank organically are often viewed as more credible and trustworthy by users. Homeowners tend to trust organic results more than paid ads.
  
  

The downside of SEO is that it’s a long-term strategy. It can take time to see results, but the payoff is well worth it. Once you’ve built up your rankings, it’s like a snowball effect—more visibility leads to more leads, which leads to more jobs.

In the end, SEO provided the best results for excavation and septic contractors. Not only did it deliver consistent leads, but it also helped us position our clients as trusted experts in their field.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Marketing Service for Your Business

So, what’s the best marketing service for excavation and septic contractors? It really depends on your goals, budget, and how much time you’re willing to invest. Here’s a quick recap:

• PPC is great for quick, short-term wins, but it’s expensive and can be hard to sustain in the long run.
  
  

• Social Media Marketing is fantastic for building relationships and trust, but it requires consistent effort and won’t deliver immediate results.
  
  

• SEO is the best long-term strategy for sustainable growth. It’s more cost-effective than PPC, and it generates targeted leads that convert at a higher rate.
  
  

At Excavation Marketing Pros, we always recommend focusing on SEO as the core of your strategy, while supplementing it with paid ads and social media marketing when needed. It’s a balanced approach that will help you dominate your market over time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How long does SEO take to show results?
   
   

   • SEO typically takes 3-6 months to show noticeable results, depending on competition and how well your website is optimized.
     
     

2. Is PPC worth the investment?
   
   

   • PPC can be effective for short-term campaigns or specific promotions, but it’s costly in the long run without a sustainable strategy.
     
     

3. What social media platform should I focus on?
   
   

   • For excavation and septic contractors, Facebook and Instagram are the best platforms to engage with your local audience and build brand awareness.
     
     

4. Can I do all three strategies at once?
   
   

   • Yes, combining PPC, social media, and SEO can provide a comprehensive marketing approach, but it’s important to allocate your resources wisely.

Final Thoughts: Why We’re Here to Help

As a contractor, you’re probably juggling a million things at once—keeping your team busy, managing operations, and keeping clients happy. Marketing is likely the last thing on your mind, and that’s where we come in.

At Excavation Marketing Pros, we’ve been through the trenches, testing and refining marketing strategies to find what truly works for contractors like you. We don’t just offer cookie-cutter solutions—we customize our services to fit your business’s unique needs. Our goal is to empower you to grow, scale, and succeed in a competitive market.

Remember, marketing isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal. It’s about finding the right mix of strategies that works for your business. If you’ve been frustrated by past marketing efforts that didn’t deliver, don’t give up. With the right approach, you can grow your business and secure the leads you need to thrive.

Are you ready to take your excavation or septic business to the next level? Let’s talk. Whether you’re looking to optimize your SEO, get more from your PPC campaigns, or finally crack the social media code, Excavation Marketing Pros is here to help.

👉 Book a Free Strategy Call