Second Story Marketing Group

06/09/2026

AI can help, but fake is still fake. Fake workers, fake stories, and canned “we care” copy don’t build trust. People want to see the real crew, the real work, and the real pride behind the company. That’s what actually connects.

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06/04/2026

Well, well, well.

Recruitment marketing works when people can actually see the work, the culture, and the people behind the company.

Your next hire may check your Instagram first, but your website still has to seal the deal.

Social shows the culture. Your website proves there’s a real future there.

Thx. PHCPPros

Discover how mechanical contractor Cox Engineering uses creative social media marketing to bridge communication gaps, build trust, and successfully recruit the next generation of tradespeople.

06/03/2026

Very cool!

06/02/2026

This is the kind of work that deserves way more attention.

21,577 work-hours.

70 formed panels a day.
Quality checks every 10 parts.
And somehow the finished product doesn’t scream, “Look at me.”
It looks like it belongs there.

That’s the difference between just building a project and actually understanding the place you’re building in.

Big credit to Sheet Metal Works Inc., California Association of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors (CAL SMACNA), SMACNA, SMACNA of San Diego, HOK, Longfellow Real Estate Partners, and the union sheet metal workers who made this happen.

Architectural sheet metal is easy to walk past.

But when you slow down and look at the craft, the coordination, the tolerances, and the problem-solving behind it…

Dang. That’s the story.
This is exactly why the skilled trades need better storytelling.

Because work like this doesn’t just shape buildings.

It shapes skylines, careers, communities, and the next generation of people who need to see what’s possible.

https://www.smacna.org/news/smacnews/issue-archive/issue/articles/smacnews-march-april-2026/architectural--where-metal-meets-the-landscape?fbclid=IwY2xjawSJENlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFJMU9YbzlzVUlaSTA4dnhJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlZIfC3PM01UBGcTuJzG9Z6crcxiz5vUoIpLKXb0sU2XtGsZmfFNt5Fp0YOk_aem_VgB8dC0Y89EIZvBwdurHpw

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to remember the fallen.

The ones who gave everything, and the families who still carry that cost.

05/18/2026

With Oregon Tradeswomen – We just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

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05/14/2026

05/08/2026

The labor shortage isn’t just a hiring problem.

It’s a visibility problem.

Young people can’t choose a path they never see clearly.

So the real question is:

Are we waiting for schools to tell the trades story, or are we stepping up and telling it ourselves?

McKinstry

https://www.forconstructionpros.com/business/labor-workforce-development/article/22965122/vs-construction-construction-labor-shortage-persists-amid-continued-workforce-pipeline-challenges

05/08/2026

That photo tells the story before anyone reads the caption: a teacher, a student, a finished piece of work, and a proud moment in the shop.

This is exactly the kind of content unions, schools, and contractors should be sharing more often. Not polished stock photos. Not some overbuilt marketing campaign.

Just real people doing real work. Take the picture, tell the short story, tag the people involved, and show the pride behind the skill. Because one simple post like this might be what makes another student think, “Wait… maybe this could be for me too.”

Big news from Lava Bear country! Bend Senior High student welder Nikolas Tone qualified for the Project MFG National Welding Competition! He's one of just 24 students nationwide selected from 410 competitors across 154 schools.

Nick will travel to San Diego to compete for a $10,000 cash prize and will be featured on the show Clash of the Trades.

An incredible achievement and a testament to his skill and hard work. If you see Nick, be sure to congratulate him! 👏

05/07/2026

Good content does more than recap an event.

It shows the people. It explains why it matters. It gives the reader a reason to care.

That’s what we aim for at Second Story Marketing Group™

We help skilled trades organizations turn real moments into stories people actually read.

Blog link below.
https://sheetmetalinstitute.org/news/northwest-sheet-metal-apprentices-compete/