SME Interview – Entrepreneurial Marketing
Interview with Mr. Yazz Krdzalic, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Trenton Systems
Ladies and gentlemen, today I had a chance to interview Mr. Yazz Krdzalic. We met through a mutual friend and connected through the LinkedIn network. Mr. Krdzalic is a Director of Marketing and Business Development at Trenton Systems where he is responsible for the development and execution of business development and marketing initiatives to support Trenton Systems’ strategic objectives and goals.
Trenton Systems is a manufacturer of computer systems for military, industrial, and commercial applications. Trenton Systems designs, manufactures and integrates customer-driven computing solutions for mission-critical applications in diverse industries such as government & defense, communications, medical, energy, video walls, high density embedded computing, GPU computing, video processing, and test & measurement – all within their ISO 9001:2015 registered facilities located in the U.S.
Good afternoon, Mr. Krdzalic. Thank you for dedicating your time to this interview. How are you doing today?
Good afternoon, Semir. Thanks for having me! I’m doing well, thank you for asking!
Without further ado, why don’t we jump right into the questions?
- Why don’t we begin with your professional background and your current role at Trenton?
- I’ve done Marketing for most of my professional career. I’ve held roles that strengthened various arenas within Marketing and have now allowed me to move into a director-level role at Trenton Systems. I manage a team of marketing professionals that execute the strategies I implement to rank higher and gain more exposure for the company. I am also in charge of our entire CRM database that is infused with automation and assists both Sales and Support Teams.
- In your professional opinion, what role does social media marketing play for small businesses?
- Social Media for SMBs plays a key role in the company’s branding and exposure. It’s detrimental to use it frequently and build your target audience following. Part of making social media work is to also engage your employees to join in on the fun and spread the good word.
- What types of marketing strategies do you use to market your new products to new prospects and existing clients?
- It’s important to set up a process, as with any strategy, but more so with product launches/promotions. My favorite strategies are different channels working together. Content Marketing to make collateral, then share it on social media, while also promoting to your database via email marketing. Once this process gets going, you also have to ensure the collateral that you’re sharing with visitors is addressed to the different persona’s and optimized to your oft-occurring buyer’s journey.
- You also have experience in branding and brand development. In your opinion, why is branding important for a small business owner?
- Branding is what sets you apart – that’s why it’s important for SMBs (and for others as well). Don’t look much at imitating the competition. Use it as a reference point, but you must make your own brand stand out in your own way.
- What should entrepreneurs look for in a marketing firm?
- I would answer this with what should they look for as a warning sign. Most Marketing agencies focus on hot keywords like SEO, and Google Ads, and marketing automation but it’s the ones that can discuss it at length geared towards your needs. I would make it a requirement that when you get a quote, it’s personalized to your company’s goals. This will answer the question if the marketing firm has people who can strategize and people who can execute on your behalf.
- What are some of the most effective marketing strategies you recommend to entrepreneurs?
- Hire professionals first. It may seem costly, but it’s well worth it. A lot of entrepreneurs take on the marketing side themselves, and yes, it does work at times, but some of the moves may be costly. Some are costly right now, and others will cost you in the long-term.
- Do you have any suggestions for someone that would like to pursue a career in marketing?
- Get your 4-year degree then focus on certifications as your life depended on it. Research the companies that are top players in the field and study their moves. Speaking of: STUDY. All-day, every day. I make sure to tell any team member my definition of the Marketing department: You are in a constant state of a/b testing. Which really tells you that you are always learning, always testing, always tweaking. Constant improvement.
Mr. Krdzalic, thank you again for your time and for sharing your thoughts and advice with me and the audience during this interview. It was a pleasure conducting this interview and conversing with you. I appreciate your kindness in accommodating this interview, please let me know if I can ever return a favor in helping you in some way!
