Automotive vs Cybersecurity Marketing with Zereen Ali

Zereen Ali, Cyberforce Q’s Marketing Coordinator, brings her one-person team to the podcast today. Together, we talk about being new to cybersecurity, finding educational resources for cybersecurity marketers, and growing with Cyberforce Q from regional to national. With a variety of skills under her belt and a work history that includes automotive marketing for a tier-one supplier, Zereen has become a vital part of Cyberforce Q’s success. She hopes to take this company even further with leveraging partnerships and managing data quality. 

 

Timecoded Guide:

[03:08] Transitioning from an automotive to cybersecurity marketing position

[07:07] Structuring her work calendar around her one-person digital marketing team

[12:40] Approaching Cyberforce Q’s scaling from a marketing perspective and utilizing former automotive marketing strategies

[16:15] Marketing campaigns and techniques that have worked and haven’t worked for Cyberforce Q

[20:19] Joining the cybersecurity industry during the COVID pandemic

 

What is it like moving from automotive to cybersecurity marketing? 

After leaving the automotive industry during the pandemic, Zereen saw an opportunity in cybersecurity marketing to grow her content strategy skills, as well as learn the technical side of the cybersecurity industry. Leaving behind the more rigid and traditional world of automotive marketing, Zereen joined Cyberforce Q and immediately felt the personal impact that increased security has on their clients.

“In cyber, you can really feel that impact because you’re protecting people…We’re really protecting the end users in a lot of cases, and it feels really fulfilling.”

 

What marketing educational materials have been the most helpful for you? 

New to cyber, Zereen found herself with a lot to learn about the ins and outs of Cyberforce Q and their competitors’ products and services as well. Focusing on researching and networking, she joined our Cyber Marketing Society and has found an incredible community willing to answer questions and provide feedback for people just like Zereen. New to cyber, or looking for fellow cyber security marketers? Check out the Cyber Marketing Society! 

“[Cybersecurity Marketing Society] is such a wonderful place to start because you get an instant network…you can ask anyone any questions.” 

 

How does being a one-person team impact your work and your schedule?

From her experience in automotive marketing, Zereen has gotten used to small marketing teams and high accountability. In her role at Cyberforce Q, Zereen is a one-person marketing team. From email campaigns to content marketing to website editing, she has a high volume of work and often collaborates with only an intern or two. To manage this workload, she keeps a tight schedule and a flexible calendar that allows for last minute changes. 

“The brand touches every single piece of your organization. How I interact with clients, how our sales team interacts, and how our technical team interacts all need to have some strain of our vision within it.”

 

What is the next marketing strategy for Cyberforce Q? 

In the transition from regional to national, Zereen has been focusing Cyberforce Q’s marketing strategy around leveraging strategic partnerships and increasing opportunities for Cyberforce Q to be seen as a subject matter expert. While partnering with other companies and organizations helps potential customers learn about Cyberforce Q, using speaking engagements and other educational opportunities to share knowledge and explain case studies builds trust in their knowledge of cybersecurity.

“[At Cyberforce Q], we are really trying to position ourselves as that subject matter expert.”

 

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Links:

Spend some time with our guest Zereen Ali on LinkedIn and Facebook, or shoot her an email at zali@cyberforceq.com.

Learn more about Cyberforce Q on their website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. 

Keep up with Hacker Valley on our website, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. 

Follow Gianna on LinkedIn.

Catch up with Maria on LinkedIn.

Join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, and keep up with us on Twitter.