What Is HubSpot? A Simple Explanation.

What is HubSpot?

When HubSpot was launched in 2005, it introduced a new take on marketing — less bugging customers, and more helping them find and get what they need. 

Even back then, it felt like the platform could do a lot, including publishing content and automating interactions with target audiences. At a high level, it managed to roll a bunch of necessary tools into one (e.g., email marketing, social media scheduling, Google Analytics, blog platform, and contact database). 

Nowadays, HubSpot has evolved into a more robust suite of CRM tools across multiple functions. So how do we define HubSpot today? 

To put it simply, HubSpot is an inbound marketing software platform that helps companies attract visitors, convert leads, and close deals. We view it as a tool designed to help companies grow by marketing, selling, and serving customers.

What is HubSpot used for?

HubSpot is used for marketing, sales, customer service, website content management (CMS), and operations. You might aggregate all of those uses and call it a holistic CRM. But whatever you call it, HubSpot is used to enable and accelerate growth.

Most new HubSpot users find the tool easier to use (and see more value) than tools like Salesforce, Pardot, Marketo, NetSuite, etc. It’s worth noting that HubSpot is well-known for integrating with other technologies, including those listed. 

Popular HubSpot Hub features

HubSpot has several Hubs that you can pay for and utilize. What’s the difference? Glad you asked. Each one focuses on a different part of growth, as follows:

How much does HubSpot cost?

For many companies, HubSpot ends up “paying for itself” in new leads and ROI. That being said, you don’t have to buy it all. Many HubSpot users buy only one of the “Hubs,” some bundle a mix, and others adopt the entire CRM Suite. 

HubSpot has built an excellent pricing page that shows you the features and pricing across the Starter, Pro, and Enterprise levels. Each is designed to fit a company’s specific size and scope so that they get the users and contacts they desire.

Tips for exploring pricing: 

• Click on the “see all features'' link towards the bottom of the Starter | Pro | Enterprise sections within each Hub to see feature comparison tables. 
• Scroll down to see the pricing tool. Adjust users, contacts, and add-ons to see your price. 
• Click on the “bundles” tab up top. This is where you’ll find the best deals. HubSpot knows that the more tools you use, the higher chance you’ll stick around as a customer (and they are incentivizing you to do so, as of mid-2022). 

Why go with HubSpot?

HubSpot isn’t just for agencies or Fortune 500 companies — it’s for anyone looking to market, sell, and deliver the remarkable results clients expect, all within a streamlined, easy-to-use platform. 

If you are cobbling together multiple tools, don’t have a clear picture of your sales pipeline, or struggle to engage your customers effectively, HubSpot can become your one source of truth for connecting the dots between marketing, sales, and service to measurable outcomes.

Will HubSpot work for your company?

HubSpot was built with the inbound methodology to “attract, convert, close, and delight.” Regardless of your industry or customer size, HubSpot can work for most companies (whether you’re B2B, B2C, or B2G). It’s one of the only softwares designed to accommodate industry versatility, and we’ve seen it work firsthand for everything from local nonprofit groups to tech companies and even transportation logistics. 

How to get the most out of HubSpot

Utilize a chatbot

Have you ever landed on a website for the first time and been greeted by a small chat feature in the lower corner of the screen? That feature is called a chatbot, and it just so happens to be one of the easiest ways for website owners to connect with their visitors. 

Chatbots work by automatically sending a series of questions and predetermined responses. Think of it as an automated FAQ resource that serves visitors by providing answers to their questions. In many ways, a chatbot is like a receptionist for your website, and it’s a great way to make a first impression. 

Chatbots are great for engaging directly with new visitors. They can also help you get quality leads, book meetings, provide customer support, and scale your one-on-one conversations. 

Take advantage of HubSpot Academy

HubSpot Academy is HubSpot’s official learning resource offering a plethora of opportunities to learn new skills, grow your business, or advance your career. Its mission is to transform the way people and companies go by offering free online training for inbound marketing, sales, and customer service professionals. 

Want to grow your skill set within the HubSpot platform itself? HubSpot Academy is the best place to start. Each course is taught by HubSpot’s team of experts with backgrounds in various professions and skill sets. And it doesn’t hurt that after successfully completing a HubSpot Academy course, you’ll receive a globally recognized certification that proves you know your stuff.

Partner with a HubSpot agency

Want to know the easiest way to get the most out of HubSpot? 

Simple — partner with a HubSpot-affiliated agency. A HubSpot Agency is a marketing or ad agency that utilizes (surprise!) HubSpot’s CMS  to help you drive growth. It’s a great way for businesses to access the enterprise tool without having an in-depth understanding of the tool itself. With your partnership, you’ll get the onboarding and consulting experience to thrive as a HubSpot user.

Ready to get started?

As a Platinum HubSpot partner, we have a deep bench of internal HubSpot gurus who know the software inside and out. In fact, we've been helping partners implement and utilize HubSpot since 2013. 

Our partnerships have led to millions in attributed revenue, all based on the foundation of HubSpot as a powerhouse platform. We have experience working within the Marketing, Sales, Service, and CMS Hubs, as well as experience integrating HubSpot with other platforms. 

If you’re ready to tap into all of HubSpot’s potential within your company, get in touch with one of Vye’s HubSpot experts today.