A Complete Guide for HubSpot CRM Implementation
By Bill Viau
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems are an essential cornerstone of operations for many modern businesses.
HubSpot, a CRM platform that’s trusted by over 205,000 customers in countries all over the world, is among the most popular.
With tools for marketing, sales, analytics, and beyond, HubSpot comes with everything your team needs to create and execute a strong inbound marketing strategy. Whether you’ve just signed up for HubSpot or are thinking of making the switch, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about HubSpot CRM implementation.
Understanding HubSpot CRM Implementation
Let’s start by breaking down exactly what we mean by HubSpot implementation. Implementation is the process of getting your CRM up and running and typically involves several stages:
- HubSpot onboarding, which focuses on customizing your new CRM in a way that’s most useful for your teams.
- HubSpot migration is the metaphorical equivalent of “move-in day" and involves moving all your information to its new centralized home. This could include anything from contacts and forms to records and other important data.
- HubSpot integration is where you can connect your CRM to your choice of over 1,000 other pieces of software. One of the major perks of HubSpot is that it’s easy to connect with everything from email and calendar providers to software like Zoom, WordPress, Slack, and many more.
The HubSpot Implementation Process
The goal of HubSpot implementation is to ensure that you get the most out of your new CRM. The right approach can help ensure that HubSpot not only aligns with team goals but offers streamlined solutions that can help them be achieved more efficiently.
Much like any great venture, the key to successful implementation begins with creating a plan. It’s important to realize that there isn’t necessarily a single HubSpot implementation plan that will work for everyone.
HubSpot is designed to work for a wide range of different organizations, from small and medium-sized businesses to large corporations. That’s why nailing down the right implementation plan for you will largely come down to asking the right questions.
- Do you plan to tackle implementation on your own or work with a HubSpot Partner Agency that can walk you through the process?
- Which hubs do you plan to use, and what teams will be using them?
- Who will be assigned key HubSpot permissions?
- Are there pages you’ll need to install tracking codes on to monitor HubSpot analytics?
- How can you approach your HubSpot sales set up to best support your pipeline and buyer’s journey?
- What’s the most efficient way to import your contacts and any other data from your old CRM?
- What’s the best way to train your staff to maximize the benefits HubSpot has to offer?
- Which other tools do you want to connect to your HubSpot CRM to maximize productivity?
As mentioned, each company’s roadmap to HubSpot implementation will look a little different. These are just some key questions to get you thinking in the right direction.
Testing and Quality Assurance
Never underestimate the power of thorough testing along the road to HubSpot CRM implementation, especially during the migration phase. Make sure you always keep a backup of vital company assets and that any information you intend to transfer is in a compatible format.
Before going all in on your migration, it’s never a bad idea to do small test runs to make sure new datasets transfer accurately. Additionally, take the time to conduct checks after each transfer - this can help you spot potential errors before they turn into major issues.
How Long Does a HubSpot Implementation Take?
While it’s not the most convenient answer, the truth is that it depends on several different factors. For example, a small or new business without a large amount of data to transfer might be able to get up and running in a few weeks. A corporation with 20 years' worth of records to transfer, however, should likely give themselves a little more time.
The other major factor that will largely affect your timeline is expertise. Unless you have an experienced professional on staff, then working with a HubSpot Solutions Partner is definitely an investment worth considering.
Not only will your partner handle much of the heavy lifting, but they’ll also save you the hours of research needed to thoroughly understand the implementation process and provide you with one-on-one training. If you decide to go this route, then your HubSpot partner should be able to give you a much better idea of how long to expect your implementation to take after assessing your situation.
What Happens After a HubSpot Implementation?
Once your HubSpot CRM is up and running to your satisfaction, it’s time to circle back to team onboarding. This is the stage where you’ll want to focus on making sure everyone knows how to make the most of the shiny new tools at their disposal.
There are a few different ways to go about this. The first is to organize team or group training sessions, usually with guidance from your HubSpot Solutions Partner.
It’s also worth taking advantage of the HubSpot Academy, HubSpot’s free library of courses. Sit down with key stakeholders and map out a timeline, complete with goals to spot-check progress along the way.
Who Can Help Me Get Started With HubSpot Implementation?
HubSpot gets it - as awesome as their CRM is, it comes with a bit of an initial learning curve. That’s why they set up the HubSpot Solutions Partner program, a HubSpot directory of vetted agencies and other experts with proven HubSpot CRM implementation chops.
At Market Veep, we’re proud to have worked our way up to Diamonds Solutions Provider status by helping companies like yours get the most out of their HubSpot subscriptions. Feel free to reach out to find out more about how we can get you on track to HubSpot success!
Conclusion
Taking the time to perfect your approach to HubSpot implementation goes a long way toward laying a solid foundation! Whether you decide to invest the time in exploring HubSpot’s many learning resources or decide to bring on an expert to guide you through the process, a successful implementation is the first key to getting the most return out of your HubSpot investment.
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