Marketing Metal

Marketing Metal Our stupid-simple process gives job shops a killer online presence that wins them high-paying jobs.

09/04/2026

"Wait, you're Amish and you do CNC machining?”

Phil gets that one a lot. 😂

Yep. And Star Machine is designing, prototyping, machining, and producing anywhere from 100 to 5,000 parts for its customers.

We never judge a book by it's cover, right?

Small shops are American manufacturing’s biggest competitive advantage.Yeah, we said it.Emily Wilkins and Neil Ball are ...
09/01/2026

Small shops are American manufacturing’s biggest competitive advantage.

Yeah, we said it.

Emily Wilkins and Neil Ball are about to have a real talk about it at the Industrial Laser Conference at IMTS.

What’s working? What needs to change? And what can the rest of the industry take away from the Radical small shops we work with?

If you’ll be at IMTS on Wednesday, September 16, come be part of the conversation.

👉 Register for the Industrial Laser Conference here: https://www.imts.com/show/education/LIA26.cfm

Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of marketing your small shop?It doesn't have to be that way!Come to session, Marketin...
08/25/2026

Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of marketing your small shop?

It doesn't have to be that way!

Come to session, Marketing Doesn't Have to Suck, to find out how you can skip the corporate-y marketing agency BS and set your shop up for long-term growth.

She'll be sharing what she's seen actually work in her nearly 20 years helping small shops grow. And what doesn't work.

No bloated budgets required. Just a better way to decide what deserves your attention and how to attract more of the customers, people, and opportunities you actually want.

If you're ready to stop wondering what to do and/or bleeding money and energy on marketing that doesn't fit your shop, we'll see you there. 🤘

https://www.fabtechexpo.com/embedded/sessions/F086/simplify-amplify-accelerate-industrial-marketing-growth-strategies-for-the-ai-era

One sentence shows up on manufacturing websites over and over again.And every time we see it, we cringe a little."We can...
08/17/2026

One sentence shows up on manufacturing websites over and over again.

And every time we see it, we cringe a little.

"We can do it all."

The problem isn't whether it's true.

The problem is that everyone else is saying it too.

If you're trying to attract everyone, you're making it harder for the right customers to choose you.

That's exactly why The Setup exists.

If your marketing feels a little too generic, book a Fit Call with Emily. Together, we'll see whether The Setup is the right next step for your shop.

"We've been in business for 75 years."Or 50 years or four generations.The higher the number, the more impressive, right?...
08/14/2026

"We've been in business for 75 years."

Or 50 years or four generations.

The higher the number, the more impressive, right?

Building a company that survives economic downturns, industry changes, staffing challenges, and shifting markets is no small feat.

But here's the hard truth: Your customers don't choose you just because you've been around a long time. Legacy companies don't always live up to their legacy.

The number itself is meaningless...

Customers choose you because they decided that you are the one to help them solve a specific problem. A lot more goes into that decision than the number of years you've been around.

What did those 30-60-90+ years teach you?

How does that experience help your customer? Does it help you avoid mistakes, move faster, communicate better, or deliver more consistent results?

That's the story they care about.

If your website, social media, or sales materials lean heavily on your anniversary date, here's a question:

Are you just telling people how long you've existed? Or are you helping them understand why that experience matters?

If you're not sure, let's talk. https://marketingmetal.com/intro-call

"The hardest thing about IMTS...Deciding what NOT to go to.There's just so much happening.So far, we're definitely sayin...
08/11/2026

"The hardest thing about IMTS...

Deciding what NOT to go to.

There's just so much happening.

So far, we're definitely saying yes to:

⚾ MFG Champs Extra Innings on 9/15
⚡ session with Neil Ball at the Industrial Laser Conference on 9/16
🎤 MFG Mic Drop with on 9/17
🚙 RC rock crawling at the .io Community Park on 9/14-19

What are you saying yes to? 👀 scoping out as much of the show floor as we can."

08/07/2026

One of the biggest advantages small shops have...
..is that they're small.

That might sound backwards. We’ve heard shops say they want to look bigger or they wish they had bigger marketing budgets.

But being small isn't the disadvantage.

Thinking you have to market like a billion-dollar company is.

If you're ready to ditch the marketing overwhelm and start building a brand that actually fits your shop, let's talk.

Big shout out to the for having on the Fabricator Podcast!

08/01/2026

What happens when a machine shop decides not to compete on everything?

American Precision Works has built a business around doing a very specific type of work—and doing it exceptionally well.

In this upcoming Radical Job Shop Tour, Emily Joann Wilkins walks through the shop with the APW team to explore their approach to technology, automation, business systems, and why saying "no" to the wrong work has become one of their biggest competitive advantages.

Full episode drops Sunday.

Subscribe so you don't miss it.

Explore more Radical Job Shops on our website.

Our voices are shot, our feet are sore, but our hearts are full.Thank you to everyone who made this year's Advanced Manu...
07/31/2026

Our voices are shot, our feet are sore, but our hearts are full.

Thank you to everyone who made this year's Advanced Manufacturing Expo so much fun. Whether we talked marketing, machining, hiring, AI, or absolutely nothing productive at all... those conversations are why we keep coming back.

Big love to for helping us create a space where those conversations could happen.

Now it's time to turn all that inspiration into action. ❤️‍🔥

07/29/2026

Fueled by coffee and ready for a full day of conversations at Advanced Manufacturing Expo.

Swing by the Manufacturing Zen Lounge if you need a break from the show floor. We'd love to see you. 🤘

Booth #1120 next to Creston Industrial Sales.

Address

Saugatuck, MI

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16162989199

Website

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