HubSpot is one of the top CRM platforms currently available on the market. Thousands of businesses around the world are adopting the system and supercharging their sales, marketing, and customer service. It’s a great way to get ahead of your competition.
But HubSpot comes with a wide range of features. The problem is that the system is incredibly complex underneath the skin, so it’s not always easy to get it up and running. Once HubSpot is tailored to your business, it’ll run smoothly and the results will start coming in. It’s just the initial phase of getting the software setup properly.
You could do it yourself and save some money – but that’s not always recommended. Setting up the HubSpot CRM is not beginner friendly, and if you make any mistakes, it could cost you valuable time and money. The best way to get the CRM going for your business is to partner with an agency for HubSpot onboarding. Want to know more about HubSpot partner support? Let’s dive in.
What is HubSpot CRM?
So, what exactly is HubSpot anyway? HubSpot is a CRM (which stands for Customer Relationship Management). HubSpot’s Customer Relationship Management Platform is a centralised location to manage all your customer contacts and relationships within the HubSpot suite.
Think of it as your digital command centre for the different Hubs (marketing, sales, and customer service). Essentially, everything your business needs to do can be controlled in the CRM.
Here are the key functionalities of HubSpot CRM:
- Contact Management
- Sales Pipeline Management
- Deal Management
- Email Marketing Automation
- Reporting and Analytics
HubSpot is an incredibly powerful tool, and it’s got a ton of additional tools and features for you to use. However, it completely depends on the HubSpot package that you choose and the features you’re looking for.
4 Pro Tips for Setting Up Your HubSpot CRM
Getting started with HubSpot is not easy. It’s a system that simplifies your business processes and puts everything in one place, but on the back-end, it can become complex and difficult to understand. Nevertheless, it is possible to get the CRM up and running all by yourself – if you do opt for the DIY route, consider the tips below.
1. Clearly define your goals: Before you start setting up, first have a clear plan on what you want to achieve with your CRM. Whether it’s streamlined marketing, data-driven insights, or just a ticketing system, understanding your goals will help to ensure that the CRM is set up properly for your business.
2. Customise user roles and permissions: HubSpot allows you to assign specific user roles and permissions. It’s a good idea to pinpoint which members of your team will have access to specific insights, features, and tools. Identifying this before getting the CRM up and running will save you time in the future.
3. Integrate with existing tools: One of HubSpot’s strengths is that it’s versatile. The CRM can integrate with thousands of other tools including WordPress, Google Docs, and Accelo (just to name a few). Take a look at the tools your team is currently using and start identifying which ones you want to integrate with HubSpot.
4. Focus on data migration: When setting up your CRM, you’ll need to migrate all of your existing data into the new system. It’s a lengthy and sometimes painful process. But you need to make sure that you do the data migration properly – there is a risk that you could lose your data if you’re not careful. It’s also a good idea to clean up some of your data before starting the migration (delete anything you don’t need, update duplicate contacts etc).
Is it Worth Partnering With an Agency?
While you could go through the entire process yourself, many business owners choose to partner with a HubSpot agency to do the entire onboarding process for them. This is a good idea if you want to cut the learning curve in half, reduce the time to get the CRM setup, and ensure that you get the most out of the system.
HubSpot partners are experts in the platform. They stay up-to-date on the latest features, updates, and best practices, which means that you’ll have all the latest features and settings built into your CRM from the start.
They can also work with you to define your CRM goals, develop a data migration strategy, and create custom reports and dashboards that provide valuable insights to inform your sales and marketing decisions. If you’re feeling unsure about configuring your CRM the right way, consider working with an agency to get everything tailored to your business.
And the best part is that they can offer you ongoing training and support. HubSpot agencies won’t just setup the CRM and walk out the door. They’re fully certified and will help your team to get up to speed with the CRM as well. Make sure to ask them about their support during your discovery call.
