TABLE OF CONTENTS
Importance of HubSpot Onboarding | Insights From Our Recent Onboardings | Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them
No matter if you’re moving from Salesforce to HubSpot or ActiveCampaign to HubSpot or some other platform to HubSpot — there will always be a learning curve.
It’s inevitable.
While HubSpot Academy offers valuable training courses, it can’t fully substitute for the importance of a customized onboarding experience.
(As great as that would be!)
As a HubSpot Partner with prestigious Onboarding Accreditation, we’ve worked with a diverse range of clients over the years, and one thing is clear: there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to HubSpot onboarding.
That’s why we’re taking some extra time today to share key insights and lessons from our recent client onboarding sessions.
With these insights, you can optimize and streamline your own HubSpot journey!
Let’s dive in.
To give you a little bit of context, HubSpot is built around six core “hubs”: Sales, Marketing, Service, Content, Operations, and Commerce.
These components lay the groundwork for the platform, but as a business, you have the flexibility to choose the tools and features that align with your specific goals.
(Remember, just because HubSpot offers a particular hub, it doesn’t mean you have to use it!)
For instance, you might prioritize HubSpot’s marketing features — like creating targeted lists and automating workflows — over service tools such as ticketing or live chat.
By clearly defining your goals upfront, you’ll have a better understanding of which hubs and tools are essential for your business and which ones you can do without.
With the right approach and effective HubSpot onboarding, you can:
Now, let’s discuss a few key insights from our recent HubSpot onboarding sessions.
Personalization is essential, and your HubSpot onboarding should be tailored to reflect the unique needs of your business.
We take an objectives-based approach to onboarding, meaning no two sessions are ever the same. By identifying your goals from the outset, we customize the HubSpot onboarding process to fit your specific goals.
Often, clients don’t know what they don’t know, so it’s our job to ensure HubSpot is configured to align with their goals and to help them fully leverage the platform.
Since we take this extra time right out of the gate, our team at LAIRE is able to better develop a custom approach that fits both your business and your team’s unique requirements.
After defining your objectives, we’ll conduct an initial training session with your entire team.
HubSpot offers a lot to explore, so it can feel overwhelming at first. That’s why we prioritize a hands-on approach. For example, one of our most recent onboardings emphasized the importance of learning by doing. During their training sessions, the client’s team was initially quiet, but as they grew more comfortable, they began asking more questions.
This experience highlighted how everyone learns differently, and we always strive to accommodate those differences.
Some clients require more time and instruction while others are off to the races. Regardless, there’s a lot of power in HubSpot, and there’s always something a user wasn’t aware of.
In addition to hosting comprehensive training sessions, we meticulously document every change made in your HubSpot portal.
We understand how easy it is for important details to get lost in the shuffle, which is why thorough documentation is a priority.
Last year, we transitioned one client from Salesforce to HubSpot. While the Salesforce to HubSpot integration was beneficial, it’s even more crucial to have thorough documentation and auditing when planning a CRM (customer relationship management) change like this.
A marketing or CRM platform without integration capabilities is like storing your leftovers in the fridge without Tupperware. It may get the job done, but it’s far from ideal.
Integrating HubSpot with other business tools like Databox, PandaDoc, Unbounce, and other platforms you’re already using is crucial. These integrations enhance functionality, streamline processes, and ensure that you’re getting the most out of your technology stack.
To streamline the integration process, it’s important to communicate your specific needs to your partner that offers HubSpot onboarding services.
By being clear about the integrations you require, your HubSpot partner can ensure that everything is set up before your team starts using the platform.
If you want to get a head start, you can check out the HubSpot App Marketplace to see what integrations HubSpot offers.
Technical issues are one of the most common challenges we see with our clients. From integration problems to reporting discrepancies, technical hiccups are inevitable.
To help you navigate any technical issues you may encounter, here are our top tips:
We often hear the phrase, “But this is how we’ve always done things…”
And we understand the sentiment.
Transitioning to a new platform like HubSpot can be challenging, particularly if your team is accustomed to a different system. However, change is sometimes essential for growth, innovation, and improved efficiency.
As a leader, your team will look to you for guidance and reassurance during this transition period. Your approach can significantly influence their willingness to embrace the new system.
So, how can you effectively combat user resistance?
Lastly, data migration issues tend to pop up from time to time, and they can pose a huge headache. Before making the migration, be sure to focus on:
Take the time to clean up any unnecessary data in your system.
Do you have contacts from the early 2000s cluttering your CRM? Consider whether these records are still relevant or if they can be safely discarded.
Are there outdated or invalid email addresses in your system? Getting rid of these will not only streamline your data but also enhance your communication efforts moving forward.
Tidying up your data before the migration will save you time and frustration down the line.
To continue on that note, you will want to ensure data accuracy and completeness during migration. You can do this by double-checking to ensure that every character and letter is correct when filling out any fields.
You can also continue to recheck your data to ensure that everything that comes over during the migration is of high quality.
Leveraging the right tools can greatly facilitate a smooth data migration process. Be sure to ask your HubSpot Onboarding Partner which migration tools may make more sense for your transition.
Taking these proactive steps, you can significantly reduce the headaches associated with data migration and set your team up for success as you transition to your new system.
From embracing the importance of customized onboarding to understanding the value of effective change management, we hope that you walked away from today’s discussion with something new that you can share with your team.
Not sure if your HubSpot account is optimized for business success? Let us take a peek at it! Request a FREE HubSpot Audit with the LAIRE team.