Excavation

How to Get Clients for Excavation Work

A guide about different marketing strategies you can use to create

multiple streams of leads for your excavation business

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Lead Generation for Excavation Contractors

Why is it so important?

As an excavation contractor, you know that generating leads is essential to growing your business.


What you might not realize is just how important lead generation can be.


The truth is, generating leads is the key to success for any business, but it's especially important for excavation contractors.


That's because the construction industry is so competitive.


Leads turn into sales, and sales are the most important part of keeping a business alive and growing.


That's why contractors who focus on lead generation often have an edge over their competition.


An excavation company can get better clients by getting more leads.


With more leads flowing in, your company can be choosier with the clients it wants to work with.


It can also afford to be more selective in the projects it takes on.


Better clients means a more profitable company, because you're able to work with clients who are willing to pay what your services are worth.


It also means a better reputation for your company, as you're only taking on projects that you're confident you can complete successfully.

How to find excavation work?

A quick look at the strategies you should use

There are a number of ways to generate leads for excavation work.


It's important to make sure you're doing a great job at the core tasks that contractors should focus on in their marketing efforts.


The most valuable marketing channels for contractors are organic.


This means that they come naturally from your content marketing efforts, as opposed to from paid advertising.


In addition, online marketing channels like Google AdWords, YouTube, and Facebook can be effective for reaching new leads.


Print advertising in local publications can also be a useful way to reach new clients.

Inbound Leads

The leads are reaching out to you directly for service.

Exclusive Leads

You're not sharing the leads with your competition.

Organic Leads

The leads find you naturally, not by way of any ads.

Desire Fulfillment

The leads already want your service when reaching out.

What are the best leads for excavation contractors?

A look at why inbound organic leads are the leads you should focus on

The best leads for excavation contractors fall into these categories:


  • Inbound Leads
  • Exclusive Leads
  • Organic Leads
  • Demand Fulfillment Leads


These are the best types of leads for excavation contractors because they're the most likely to turn into sales.


The best way to generate these types of leads is to focus on your content marketing efforts.


Make sure you're creating high-quality content that will attract the right kind of attention from potential clients.



In addition, make sure you're using the right keywords in your materials so that people can find you when they're searching for contractors online.

Inbound Excavation Leads

When prospects reach out to you directly

Inbound leads are generated when someone visits your website or calls your company after seeing your marketing materials.


These are unique from other types of leads, because they've already been exposed to your brand.


This means they are interested in working with your company specifically.


To generate inbound leads, make sure your website is optimized for SEO and that your marketing materials are well-designed and informative.

Exclusive Excavation Leads

Not sharing leads means less price shoppers & less tire kickers

Exclusive leads are leads that you have exclusive access to, because you have a personal relationship with the potential client.


As compare to shared leads, they're much more likely to result in a sale.



To generate exclusive leads, focus on networking and building relationships with potential clients.

Organic Excavation Leads

Leads who find you naturally have a high regard for your company

Organic leads are generated by your content marketing efforts, like your blog posts or social media posts. Inorganic leads are generated by paid advertising.

Organic leads are more valuable because they're more likely to be interested in your services.

To generate organic leads, make sure you're creating high-quality content that will attract the right kind of attention from potential clients.

Desire Fulfillment Leads

Leads that know they need the service you're offering

Demand fulfillment leads are generated when someone expresses interest in your services and you follow up with them to see if they're ready to buy.


The opposite of these are desire generation leads, which are generated when you try to sell your services to someone who hasn't expressed any interest.


Demand fulfillment leads are more valuable because they're already looking for the services you offer.


To generate demand fulfillment leads, make sure to get in front of people who are actively searching for your services.


This is easiest to do by ranking in Google search using Contractor SEO techniques.



Make sure that you're following up with these potential clients who have expressed an interest in your services, as they are the easiest to convert to sales.

"Dream big! There are no limitations to how good you can become or how high you can rise except the limits you put on yourself.”

-Brian Tracy

Chairman and CEO,

Brian Tracy International

"If you are not taking care of your customer, your competitor will.”

-Bob Hooey

Professional Speaker, Author, Business Success Mentor

"Content marketing is a commitment, not a campaign.”

-Jon Buscall

Chief Executive Officer,

Moondog Marketing

Google Business Profile

This can be a massive source of inbound organic leads.

Contractor SEO

Website rankings are very powerful for inbound leads.

Increasing Reviews

Convert more leads to customers with great reviews.

Company Branding

Strong branding will bring more reviews online and offline.

Lead Generation Strategies for Excavation Contractors

The best tools & strategies for inbound, organic leads and more

In this section, we'll give you some insight into the best contractor lead generation strategies for excavation contractors.


We'll talk about things like creating a marketing plan, building your brand, networking with other businesses and building your contractor website.


To master this process, start implementing each of these different strategies in your business.


As you gain traction, continue to improve upon each of them with more effort.



In short time, you'll find you have leads flowing in from a number of different marketing channels.

Create Your Contractor Marketing Plan

Great results most often come from a well executed marketing plan

To create a marketing plan for your excavation business, start by brainstorming a list of marketing ideas that would be a good fit for your company.


Then, research each of these ideas to see what's working well for other contractors in your industry.


Once you have a good understanding of the different marketing strategies available to you, create a budget and timeline for implementing each one.


Start with the strategies that you think will have the biggest impact on your business and go from there.



If you fail to plan, you should plan to fail.

Get Excavation Projects by Branding Your Business

Your branding is the sum total of how your company presents itself in all situations

Your brand is what sets you apart from other businesses in your industry.


To build a strong brand, start by ensuring that all of your marketing materials are consistent in look, feel and message.


Use the same fonts, colors and logo across all of your materials for a sense of harmony among all of your branding.


Your brand is much more than just a design feature, though.


It's a collection of everything your company does - from how it answers the phone, to how it leaves a job site when it's done.


So, start by thinking about the overall experience you want your customers to have, and work backwards from there.

Networking with Other Contractors

This is especially important in the B2B heavy industry of excavation

When it comes to finding clients, personal networking is still one of the most effective methods.


After all, people do business with people they know, like, and trust.


If you want to find clients for your excavation business, start by getting out there and meeting people.


This could be anything from partnering with a local real estate company to providing discounts to members of a Chamber of Commerce.


Attend local events, join business groups, and network with other professionals in your industry.


By building these relationships, you'll be able to tap into new markets that you may not have had access to before.

Word of Mouth Referrals

Leverage the power of referrals for more easy-to-close prospects

Another one of the best ways to generate leads for excavation work through networking efforts is by word-of-mouth referrals.


When you do a great job on a project, your clients will be happy to recommend you to their friends and family members who are also in need of excavation services.


To make sure you're getting the most out of your word-of-mouth marketing efforts, it's important to always deliver quality work.



If you want clients to keep referring you, you need to make sure you're meeting their expectations and then some.

Build an Excavation Contractor Website

For best results, put your website at the core of your marketing strategy

Your contractor website should be the center of all of your marketing efforts, because it's where people will go to learn more about your business.


To make sure your website is effective, start by ensuring that it's well-designed and easy to navigate.


Your site should also be optimized for search engines so that people can easily find it when they're searching for contractors in your area.


Finally, make sure your website has engaging content that will help convert visitors into leads.


This could be anything from a blog post about the benefits of excavation to a case study highlighting a recent project you've completed.


All of your efforts should route prospects back to your website.


It's an effective tool you can use to gather more info about them, educate them, and turn them into leads.

Rank with Excavation Contractor SEO

Make sure your website ranks on page 1 of Google for your most valuable keywords

To get the most value out of your website, you need to make sure it's ranking high in search engines.


This is where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in.


SEO is the process of optimizing your website for the keywords people are searching for when they're looking for a contractor like you.


By ranking higher in search results, you'll be able to get more leads from your website.


There are a number of different factors that go into SEO.


Some of the most important ones include using the right keywords, having quality content, and building links to your site.

Consider Using Paid Contractor Ads

Get fast results with paid ads, but be prepared to follow up repeatedly

A fast and easy way to get leads for your excavation business is by using paid ads.


Paid ads are essentially online advertisements that you pay for, and they can be a great way to reach new people who are looking for contractors in your area.


There are a number of different platforms you can use for paid advertising, but some of the most popular ones include Google AdWords and Facebook Ads.



Both of these platforms allow you to target your ads to a specific audience, so you can be sure that you're reaching people who are actually in need of your services.

Social Media for Excavation Contractors

Social media can generate valuable leads who want to work with your company only

Often overlooked, social media for contractors is a great way to get new leads.


Leads that come from your consistent efforts on social media have the benefit of being "hot" leads.


This is because they already have some level of awareness about your company before you even reach out to them.


In most cases though, they'll reach out directly to YOU.


The reason is that they've been following your company closely.


They like your offerings and your company culture, and it polarizes them towards doing business with you.


The best way to get leads from social media is by being active and engaging with your audience.


Post interesting content, answer questions, and run contests or giveaways.


By doing this, you'll be able to build relationships with potential clients and turn them into leads for your business.

Generate Excavation Leads with Direct Mail

Target specific areas down to the neighborhood with USPS Every Door Direct Mail™

In addition to digital marketing efforts, don't forget about good old-fashioned direct mail.


Direct mail can be a great way to reach new people in your area who may need your services.


To make sure your direct mail campaign is effective, start by targeting a specific list of people who are likely to need your services.


You can get lists of potential leads from companies like Hoovers or InfoUSA.



Once you have your list, craft a compelling message that will grab attention and encourage people to call you for more information.

"90% trust peers on social networks (even strangers); only 15–18% trust brands.”

-Danny Brown

Award-Winning Marketer

and Author

"You can’t sell anything if you can’t tell anything.”

-Beth Comstock

Vice Chair of General Electric

"One of the best ways to sabotage your content is to not tie it to your goals. Know why you’re creating content.”

-Ellen Gomes

Senior Content Marketing Manager at Marketo

"An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail.”

-Edwin Land

Co-founder, Polaroid Corporation

"Build something 100 people love, not something 1 million people kind of like.”

-Brian Chesky

Co-Founder & CEO, Airbnb

"Marketing’s job is never done. It’s about perpetual motion. We must continue to innovate every day.”

-Beth Comstock

Former CMO & Vice Chair, GE

"When it comes to content, the best marketers know that self-promotion is good!”

-Kieran Flanagan

VP Marketing, HubSpot

Google Pay-Per-Click

Great for home services, but costly and highly competitive.

Google Call Ads

Calls instead of clicks equate

to strong buyer intent.

Facebook Ads

Facebook leads typically require lots of follow up.

Other Social Ads

Many other social platforms allow for ad placement.

Frequently Asked Questions

The excavation marketing questions we get most often

What do I need to know to get started in the excavation industry?

Business owners with previous construction experience have the best results

There are a few things you should know before getting started in the excavation industry.


The most successful excavation contractors already have experience working in the construction industry, and have hands-on knowledge of heavy machinery.


First, you'll need to have a good understanding of the equipment involved.


You'll also need to be familiar with the different types of soil and how to best excavate it.



Finally, it's important to have a strong understanding of safety procedures so that you can avoid accidents on the job site.

Can you make money with an excavator?

The more jobs you're able to do, the more money you can make

The likelihood of making money with an excavator goes up as you learn more about the excavation business.


To make the most money with an excavator, start by bidding on jobs that are within your skill set.


As you complete more jobs and develop a good reputation, you'll be able to charge more for your services.


It's also important to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends so that you can take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.

How much can you make owning a mini excavator?

There's plenty of money to be made, even with small equipment

The amount of money you can make with a mini excavator depends on some variables.


The most important ones are your experience level, the size of your excavator, and the type of work you're doing.


As you gain experience and build a reputation, you'll be able to command higher prices for your services.



It depends most on the level of competition in your area, the number of jobs you bid on, and how well you negotiate your prices.

What are some effective methods for marketing an excavation business?

Read the rest of this article to learn more details, or reach out for unique insight about your area

The most effective methods for marketing an excavation business through organic search rankings for your contractor website.


This is because when people are searching for excavation services, your website will be one of the first results that comes up.


When your website ranks high, your company commands high levels of trust.


This makes it easier to ask for higher prices, and allows you to bid on a high number of projects.


In addition to organic search rankings, other effective marketing methods for excavation businesses are paid advertising and social media.


With paid advertising, you can target your ads to a specific audience that is likely to need your services.


Social media is a great way to engage with potential clients and build relationships with them.

What are some signs that an excavation contractor is reputable and trustworthy?

Important signals that your branding & marketing content should send your customers

To show that your company is reputable, start by getting positive reviews and testimonials from past clients.


These can be posted on your website or social media pages.


Another way to show that you're a trustworthy company is to have industry-specific certifications and licenses.



This shows that you know what you're doing and that you're committed to providing quality services.

"Content marketing is really like a first date. If all you do is talk about yourself, there won’t be a second date.”

-David Beebe

Founder & CEO,

Storified Hospitality Group

"Brand equity is the sum of all the hearts and minds of every single person that comes into contact with your company.”

-Christopher Betzter

Brand Strategist

"Products are made in the factory, but brands are created in the mind.”

-Walter Landor

Founder, Landor

Shake More Hands

Get the word out about the home services you offer.

Ask For Referrals

Ask other contractors and previous customers for referrals.

Review Sites

Make sure your satisfied customers leave great reviews.

Free Websites

Some companies like Google offer free website builders.

In Conclusion - How to Get Contractor Leads

To get the best leads, start with a plan & put in a long-term effort

By following these tips, you'll be on your way to generating more leads for your excavation business.


For each of these strategies you put into place, you will gain one more source of leads for your excavation business and increase your chances of landing new clients.


Remember to always focus on delivering quality work, as this is what will really help you build long-term relationships with clients.



By always putting your customer's needs first, and showcasing this in your marketing efforts, you'll gain profitable new customers for your business.

Our Contractor Marketing Services

For help with your marketing & lead generation, reach out to us directly

If you're looking for help with marketing your excavation business, we can help.


We offer a wide range of services designed to help contractors grow their businesses, including website design, SEO, social media management and paid advertising.



To learn more about how we can help you get more leads for your business, contact us today.

Target Your Market

Knowing who your ideal customers are is the best start.

Build Your Brand

Your brand is much more than just colors and a logo.

Optimize Digital Efforts

Your website should be at the center of your efforts.

Use Offline Strategies

Strive for local awareness through community efforts.

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