Like most construction & trades businesses, First Rate Excavate was running flat-out delivering for homeowners and commercial GCs across the region. Marketing was happening — sort of — but nobody owned it, and the results were a coin flip from one month to the next. That's the moment Complete Media stepped in.
The challenge
Word-of-mouth had carried them for years, but new competitors with bigger ad budgets were starting to show up at the top of every Google search — and bid jobs they should have won.
Our approach
We built a focused, construction & trades-aware plan for First Rate Excavate:
- Repositioned the brand around craftsmanship, safety, and on-time delivery
- Built a fast, mobile-first website organized around the services that actually drive revenue
- Launched Google search ads and Local Services ads tied to high-intent keywords
- Added review-generation and post-job follow-up to compound the referral engine
The partnership
From day one, First Rate Excavate got a dedicated team — strategist, designer, web developer, copywriter, and advertising manager — under one all-inclusive monthly engagement. No surprise invoices. No "out of scope." No long-term contract. Just a partner that's accountable for the outcomes.
The results
Today First Rate Excavate has more qualified bid requests, a steadier pipeline through the off-season, and a brand that finally looks as good as the work. What started as a single engagement has become a long-term partnership — exactly the kind of relationship we build with every client.
Want results like First Rate Excavate?
We've helped 250+ small and mid-sized businesses across Sioux Falls and the region grow since 2002 — across construction, real estate, restaurants, retail, healthcare, professional services, non-profits and more. If you're ready for a marketing partner that treats your business like their own, let's talk.