Marketing Meets Metalworking for New TMA Chairman
Jim Carr, new TMA chairman, uses social media to attract new customers to his shop, CARR Machine & Tool. Through the years, Mr. Carr has dedicated himself to transforming his traditional job shop into a sales and marketing-driven manufacturing company.
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The Technology and Manufacturing Association (TMA) recently elected Jim Carr as its 79th chairman of the board. He is also the president and owner of CARR Machine & Tool, located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.
Through the years, Mr. Carr has dedicated himself to transforming his traditional job shop into a sales and marketing-driven manufacturing company. In a good ‘ol boy industry, where new customers come primarily from word of mouth and handshakes, Mr. Carr has realized that times have changed dramatically.
Although Mr. Carr believes most manufacturers still consider Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs as entertainment or ways of maintaining personal relationships, he has successfully embraced social media as a means of prospecting for new business in his shop.
The social media efforts have paid off for CARR Machine & Tool. To attract new customers, Mr. Carr has seen success from leveraging online strategies, including participating in social media, hosting a popular podcast, doing a website redesign and search engine optimization (SEO). These strategies have led to qualified leads for new business for his shop.
Also through his efforts using social media, Mr. Carr has created an identity with other shop owners, creating the message, “If I can do it, you can do it, too.”
