[Hidden-tech] Experience with HubSpot ?

[Christine Takacs]

I use HubSpot with two clients and find that it pays for itself in time saved and also in reporting to clients. It provides total transparency and clarity to clients and keeps you on your toes in terms of optimizing web and content marketing. I could not personally find time to explore all of the analytics  and keep all of my conversion pages up to date. So if you want to be able to offer a rich suite of web marketing services but cannot devote tons of time to analytics and social engagement, hubspot is a great way to amplify your efforts and to be sure your work is effective. 

That all said, hubspot is only as good as the content work you put into it. It doesn't do the job on its own. Also as Rob pointed out, you do get somewhat "locked in" to the rather pricey platform whichever level you choose. There is no easy way to use it to get up to speed and then drop it.

Best Regards,
Christine Takacs, Creative Director
Rapt Creative
The Right Kind of Attention

73 Main Street, Suite #4
Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 
office:	802-490-2164 
mobile:	802-221-4692  



On Feb 15, 2013, at 8:06 AM, Rob Laporte wrote:

>   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>   ** If you did, we all thank you.
> 
> 
> Hi Ed and HTers,
> 
> It’s been over a year, maybe two, since I explored Hubspot on behalf of a client, so my impressions are dated. The information they provide seemed very good. I continuously read the best in my field, and most of what I sampled in Hubspot’s info libraries seemed good and useful. But one has to read, digest, and act on that information, which of course takes time (cost). Searching the top websites can yield equally valuable information for free, though one has to know those sites and the best authors in them. 
> 
> The keyword research tools were derivative, depending on the accuracy of major keyword research tools like Google’s tool or WordTracker, which, believe it or not, are not accurate for the important data on longer phrases (Bing’s tool seems the best of the free or cheap ones now, but still not very accurate). This and other problems with keyword research tools is on my todo list to publish in my regular contributions to VisibilityMagazine.com. Making a very long story short, the best way to do keyword research now is probably by running an actual PPC campaign and tracking well, which could cost upwards of $1000, but so too is the monthly cost of a truly useful and accurate keyword research tool, and at least the PPC will generate business in the meantime. 
> 
> Likewise, I noticed that some of Hubspot’s other tools are derivative of ones you can use for free or much less expensively, like Google Analytics and MajesticSEO. Looks like Hubspot’s A/B testing requires the $1000/mo plan, and you can do that for free with Google’s superb Content Experiments (formerly Google Website Optimizer). By the way, marketers who do such testing report that it’s the single best investment they make.
> 
> It used to be, and appears still the case for the $200/month plan, that you have to host with them for most of the tools to work. You’re website is taken hostage, unless you pay the $600 per month fee. 
> 
> On the other hand, back in early 2011 Google invested $32 million in Hubspot (not sure how much if any since), which is certainly a vote of confidence, and may mean that some tools get better access to Google’s data. Other major tool sets recently had their API connections to Google data revoked. Also, my quick glance today shows continuing improvement and innovation at Hubspot. 
> 
> All in all, I would use Hubspot only if I was really going to take the time to use at least half of the tools within 3 months or so. Otherwise, I would tackle each priority one at a time using other free or much less expensive tools. In making such investment decisions for clients, I use a spreadsheet that factors costs, client time (costs), and probable profit. Client’s time is worth at least $100/hr. OK, maybe you value your time at only $25/hr (questionable), but however you value it, add that predicted cost to the cost of Hubspot before you decide to buy.
> 
> Best Regards,
> 
> Rob Laporte
> President and CEO
> DISC, Inc. - "Making Web Sites Make Money"
> 413-584-6500
> Fax – 413-553-0745
> Rob at 2disc.com 
> www.2disc.com 
> 
> Note: Increasingly, ISPs, companies and individuals use spam blocking systems that block legitimate email too. Important emails should be followed up with a phone call if no reply happens within an expected span of time.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: Ed Bride <Ed at edbride-pr.com>
> Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:16:00 -0500
> To: <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
> Subject: [Hidden-tech] Experience with HubSpot ?
> 
>   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
> 
> 
> HTers,
> 
> Does anyone here have experience with HubSpot? It presents itself as an
> all-in-one marketing solution, and seems to be a higher-priced alternative
> to Constant Contact (not that CC would do all that HubSpot does).
> 
> Opinions/experience appreciated.
> 
> Thanks,
> Ed
> 
> 
> 
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