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5 best CRMs for property management businesses in 2025

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 22:50:51 +0300

Property management comes with unique challenges that go far beyond simple contact management. Property managers must juggle tenant relationships, owner communications, maintenance requests, and lead generation while maintaining detailed records of all interactions.

Traditional CRM systems often fall short because they lack the specialized features property managers need to thrive. Property management CRM software addresses these industry-specific challenges by providing tools for tenant screening, maintenance tracking, automated rent collection, and owner reporting.

These systems serve as the operational backbone that keeps property managers organized, responsive, and profitable.

This comprehensive guide compares the top CRM solutions for property management businesses. We'll examine features, pricing, and real-world performance to help you choose the right platform.

Our comparison includes detailed feature breakdowns, pricing analysis, and guidance on selecting the best fit for your portfolio size and business needs. APM Property Management reduced work processes by 50% by implementing HubSpot's all-in-one CRM platform for their building management operations.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for property management?
CRM Comparison Table
Best CRM Software for Property Management Businesses
Benefits of CRM Software for Property Management
6 Important Features for a Property Management CRM
How to Choose a CRM for Property Management (Step-by-Step)
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Property Management Companies

What is a CRM for property management?

A property management CRM is a specialized customer relationship management system designed to handle the unique workflows of property managers. It centralizes tenant data, lease agreements, maintenance requests, and financial transactions while providing tools for lead generation, tenant screening, and owner communication.

Unlike general business CRMs, property management systems integrate with accounting software, maintenance platforms, and listing services to create a comprehensive operational hub. HubSpot unifies tenant and owner data while enabling personalized communication across sales, marketing, and service teams.

Best CRMs for Property Management at a Glance

CRM	Best For	Key Features	Pricing	Free Trial?
HubSpot	Small to medium portfolios	Free CRM, email automation, deal pipelines, property tracking	Free; Paid plans start at $15/month	Yes
LeadSimple	Lead management focused	Property-specific workflows, lead follow-up automation, shared inbox	$99/month	Yes
Buildium	Residential property managers	Comprehensive property management, tenant portals, accounting integration	$58/month	Yes
AppFolio	Large portfolios (50+ units)	AI leasing assistant, automated workflows, advanced reporting	Custom pricing	No
Zoho CRM	Customizable solutions	Real estate modules, document management, mobile access	$14/user/month	Yes

Best CRM Software for Property Management Businesses

1. HubSpot

Source

Best for: Small to medium property management companies seeking a comprehensive, cost-effective HubSpot solution with room to grow.

Key HubSpot Features

HubSpot contact management and deal pipelines: Track property owners, tenants, and prospects through customizable sales stages with automated task reminders and follow-up sequences
HubSpot email marketing and automation: Send targeted campaigns to property owners with automated drip sequences for tenant prospects and maintenance notifications
HubSpot integration capabilities: Connect with popular property management software, accounting systems, and marketing tools through 500+ native integrations

HubSpot Pricing

Free Plan
Starter: $15/month
Professional: $890/month
Enterprise: $3,600/month

2. LeadSimple

Source

Best for: Property managers prioritizing lead conversion and sales process automation with industry-specific workflows.

Key Features

Property-specific lead management: Quickly follow up with property management leads.
Automated workflows: Pre-built templates for owner acquisition, tenant placement, and maintenance coordination with conditional logic and task automation
Shared inbox integration: Centralize all communications from phone, email, and text in one platform with team collaboration features

Pricing

CRM: $99/month

3. Buildium

Source

Best for: Residential property managers needing comprehensive property management features

Key Features

Tenant and lease management: Complete tenant screening, electronic lease signing, and automated rent collection with late fee processing
Maintenance coordination: Work order management with vendor assignment, progress tracking, and tenant communication integration
Financial management: Built-in accounting tools with automated rent collection, maintenance tracking, and financial reporting

Pricing

Essential: $58/month
Growth: $183/month
Premium: $375/month

4. AppFolio

Source

Best for: Large property management companies with 50+ units requiring automation and scalability.

Key Features

AI-powered leasing assistant: Lisa AI handles basic tasks like scheduling showings and tenant screening before showing vacant units
Advanced automation: Automated rent collection, lease renewals, and maintenance request routing with customizable workflows
Comprehensive reporting: Real-time financial reporting with 80+ customizable reports for owners and internal analysis

Pricing

Custom pricing

5. Zoho CRM

Source

Best for: Property managers seeking affordable customization with real estate-specific modules and extensive integration options.

Key Features

Real estate modules: Specialized tools for managing property details, client relationships, and transaction documents
Document management: Centralized storage for leases, property documents, and client communications with version control
Mobile accessibility: Full-featured mobile app for on-the-go property management with offline capabilities

Pricing

Standard: $14/user/month
Professional: $23/user/month
Enterprise: $40/user/month
Ultimate: $52/user/month

Benefits of CRM Software for Property Management

Property management CRM software delivers measurable improvements across key operational areas.

Enhanced communication centralizes all tenant, owner, and vendor interactions in one platform, reducing response times and improving satisfaction.

HubSpot's unified inbox and automated email sequences ensure no communication falls through the cracks while maintaining professional consistency.

Automated workflows eliminate manual tasks like rent reminders, lease renewals, and maintenance follow-ups, freeing staff to focus on relationship building. HubSpot's workflow automation can trigger specific actions based on tenant behavior, property events, or maintenance schedules, ensuring timely and consistent service delivery.

Improved lead management ensures no prospective tenant or property owner falls through the cracks with automated follow-up sequences and lead scoring. HubSpot's lead management tools automatically capture leads from multiple sources and route them to the appropriate team members with instant notifications.

Better financial tracking integrates with accounting systems to provide real-time reporting on rent collection, maintenance costs, and property performance. HubSpot's reporting dashboard provides property managers with comprehensive insights into portfolio performance and financial metrics.

Streamlined maintenance coordinates work orders from tenant requests through completion, improving property condition and tenant satisfaction while reducing operational costs. HubSpot's task management and automated reminder systems ensure maintenance requests are tracked and completed efficiently.

6 Important Features for a Property Management CRM

1. Lead management and follow-up automation: Automatic lead capture from multiple sources with instant notification and systematic follow-up sequences to convert prospects into tenants or property owners.

HubSpot's lead management system includes automatic lead scoring and routing, ensuring high-quality prospects receive immediate attention.

2. Tenant communication and portal integration: Centralized messaging system with tenant portals for maintenance requests, rent payments, and document sharing to improve satisfaction and reduce administrative burden.

HubSpot's communication tools include email templates, automated sequences, and integration with popular tenant portal systems.

3. Maintenance request management: Work order creation, vendor assignment, progress tracking, and completion notification with photo documentation and cost tracking. HubSpot's task management features can automate maintenance workflows and integrate with property management software for seamless operations.

4. Owner reporting and communication: Automated financial reports, property performance updates, and communication tools to keep property owners informed and engaged. HubSpot's reporting dashboard and automated email campaigns provide property owners with regular updates and transparent communication.

5. Integration capabilities: Seamless connection with accounting software, property management platforms, marketing tools, and payment processors to create a unified operational ecosystem. HubSpot offers 500+ native integrations and API access for custom connections.

6. Mobile access and real-time updates: Full-featured mobile applications that allow property managers to access tenant information, update property status, and communicate with stakeholders while in the field. HubSpot's mobile app provides complete CRM functionality with offline capabilities and real-time synchronization.

How to Choose a CRM for Property Management (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map your current workflows. Document your existing processes for lead management, tenant communication, maintenance coordination, and owner reporting. Identify pain points and bottlenecks that technology can address.

Step 2: Identify must-have features. Determine which features are essential versus nice-to-have based on your portfolio size, team structure, and business model. Consider integration requirements with existing software.

Step 3: Evaluate ease of use and team adoption. Choose systems with intuitive interfaces and strong training support. Complex systems may offer more features but can hinder adoption and productivity.

Step 4: Analyze cost at scale. Calculate total cost of ownership including setup, training, and ongoing fees as your portfolio grows. Consider per-unit pricing versus per-user models based on your growth plans.

Step 5: Choose a flexible platform — like HubSpot. Select a CRM that can evolve with your business needs and integrate with new tools as your requirements change. HubSpot's flexibility and extensive integration ecosystem make it ideal for growing property management businesses.

TenantBase achieved 3x revenue growth year-over-year by implementing HubSpot's CRM for their commercial property management operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for property management?

The best CRM depends on your specific needs and portfolio size. HubSpot offers excellent value for small to medium portfolios with its free tier and comprehensive features. HubSpot's scalability and integration capabilities make it suitable for growing property management businesses across all portfolio sizes.

What features should I look for in a CRM for property management?

Essential features include lead management and follow-up automation, tenant communication tools, maintenance request management, owner reporting capabilities, and integration with accounting and property management software.

HubSpot provides all these features plus advanced automation and reporting capabilities that grow with your business.

Is HubSpot good for property management?

Yes, HubSpot is excellent for property management, especially for small to medium portfolios. Its free tier provides robust CRM functionality, while paid plans offer advanced automation and reporting.

HubSpot's flexibility and integration capabilities make it suitable for growing property management businesses seeking comprehensive solutions.

How much does a CRM for property management cost?

Pricing varies significantly based on features and portfolio size. Free options like HubSpot‘s basic plan work for small operations, while comprehensive solutions range from $55-$375/month. HubSpot’s pricing structure allows businesses to start free and scale affordably as they grow.

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Property Management Companies

HubSpot stands out as the premier CRM solution for property management companies seeking comprehensive functionality without the complexity of specialized property management software. Here‘s why it’s the ideal choice:

Free tier with Enterprise features: Start with robust CRM capabilities at no cost, then scale with affordable paid plans as your business grows
Comprehensive communication tools: Integrated email, phone, and text messaging keep all tenant and owner communications organized in one platform
Advanced automation capabilities: Automate follow-ups, maintenance reminders, and owner reporting to reduce manual work and improve consistency

APM Property Management reduced work processes by 50% by implementing HubSpot's all-in-one CRM to revolutionize their workflows and improve customer communication.

Ready to see how HubSpot can transform your property management operations? Get started with HubSpot today and experience the difference that professional-grade CRM can make for your property management business.

This comprehensive guide compares the top CRM solutions specifically for business brokers. We'll examine pricing structures, key features, and real-world applications to help you choose the right platform.

Business brokers using dedicated CRM systems are able to work more efficiently, close deal, and build long-lasting network connections.

For example, Franchise Brokers Association increased lead generation by 216% and achieved a 73% revenue boost after implementing HubSpot's AI-powered platform, demonstrating its effectiveness for brokers supporting franchise owners and business opportunities.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for business brokers?
CRM Comparison Table
Best CRM Software for Business Broker Businesses
Benefits of CRM Software for Business Brokers
6 Important Features for a Business Broker CRM
How to Choose a CRM for Business Brokers (Step-by-Step)
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Business Broker Companies

What is a CRM for business brokers?

A CRM for business brokers is a specialized customer relationship management platform designed to handle the unique workflows of buying and selling businesses. It centralizes buyer and seller profiles, tracks deal stages from initial valuation through closing, and manages confidential business information securely.

HubSpot serves as a prime example of a platform that unifies client data and enables personalized deal experiences across sales, marketing, and service teams, creating seamless interactions from initial contact through transaction completion.

These systems integrate valuation tools, document management, and communication features specifically tailored for the extended sales cycles and complex stakeholder relationships common in business brokerage.

Best CRMs for Business Brokers at a Glance

CRM	Best For	Key Features	Pricing	Free Trial?
HubSpot	Growing brokerages seeking scalability	Deal pipeline management, automated workflows, integrated marketing tools	Free tier available, paid plans from $15/month	Yes
Salesforce	Large firms with complex customization needs	Advanced automation, extensive integrations, robust reporting	$25/user/month (Starter)	Yes
Intapp DealCloud	Mid-market brokerages focused on deal flow	Relationship mapping, pipeline tracking, document management	Custom pricing	No
Pipedrive	Small brokerages prioritizing simplicity	Visual pipeline, email integration, mobile accessibility	$14/user/month	Yes
Zoho CRM	Cost-conscious firms needing basic functionality	Contact management, email automation, basic reporting	$14/user/month	Yes
ActiveCampaign	Brokers emphasizing email marketing	Marketing automation, lead scoring, behavioral tracking	$15/month	Yes
Insightly	Project-focused brokerage operations	Project management, opportunity tracking, workflow automation	$29/user/month	Yes

Best CRM Software for Business Broker Businesses

1. HubSpot

Source

Best for: Growing business brokerages seeking an integrated platform that scales with their operations while maintaining ease of use, with HubSpot's proven track record in the brokerage industry.

Key HubSpot Features

HubSpot deal pipeline management: Customizable stages that mirror the business sale process from initial listing through closing, with HubSpot's automated task creation and deadline tracking
HubSpot integrated marketing tools: Built-in email campaigns, landing pages, and lead capture forms that help brokers attract both buyers and sellers through targeted marketing, all within HubSpot's ecosystem
HubSpot advanced reporting dashboard: Real-time analytics on deal velocity, conversion rates, and broker performance metrics that inform strategic decisions through HubSpot's comprehensive reporting

HubSpot Pricing

Free: Core CRM features, 1,000 marketing contacts, basic email marketing
Starter: $15/month per user with advanced features
Professional: $890 per month
Enterprise: $3,600 per month

2. Salesforce

Source

Best for: Large brokerage firms requiring extensive customization and enterprise-level security features.

Key Features

Advanced workflow automation: Deal routing and approval processes that ensure compliance with brokerage regulations and internal procedures
Comprehensive integration ecosystem: Sizable amount of third-party applications including valuation software, document management, and financial analysis tools
Einstein AI analytics: Predictive insights that identify high-probability deals and suggest optimal timing for buyer-seller introductions

Pricing

Platform Starter: $25/user/month
Platform Plus: $100/user/month
Platform Login & Dev Credits: $1,000 per 200 logins
Custom pricing available for advanced plans

3. Intapp DealCloud

Source

Best for: Mid-market business brokerages focused on relationship mapping and deal tracking capabilities.

Key Features

Relationship intelligence: Contact mapping that visualizes connections between buyers, sellers, and industry professionals
Deal origination tools: Automated deal sourcing and qualification workflows that identify potential acquisition targets
Document management: Bank-grade security for confidential business information with granular access controls

Pricing

Custom pricing that varies based on firm size and feature requirements.

4. Pipedrive

Source

Best for: Small business brokerages prioritizing visual deal management and mobile accessibility.

Key Features

Visual sales pipeline: Drag-and-drop deal management that provides instant visibility into deal progress and potential bottlenecks
Mobile design: Full-featured mobile app that allows brokers to update deals and access client information from anywhere
Email integration: Email sync with automated activity logging and follow-up reminders

Pricing

Essential: $14/user/month
Advanced: $39/user/month
Professional: $49/user/month
Power: $64/user/month
Enterprise: $99/user/month
All plans include unlimited deals and data storage.

5. Zoho CRM

Source

Best for: Cost-conscious business brokerages needing basic CRM functionality

Key Features

Contact and lead management: Buyer and seller profiles with custom fields for business-specific information
Email marketing automation: Email campaigns with customizable templates
Reporting and analytics: Metrics tracking deal conversion rates and broker performance

Pricing

Standard: $14/user/month
Professional: $23/user/month
Enterprise: $40/user/month.

6. ActiveCampaign

Source

Best for: Business brokers emphasizing email marketing and lead nurturing throughout extended sales cycles.

Key Features

Marketing automation: Email sequences that nurture both buyers and sellers through complex decision processes
Lead scoring: Behavioral tracking that identifies the most engaged prospects for prioritized outreach
Conditional logic: Content that personalizes communications based on deal type and stakeholder role

Pricing

Starter: $15/month
Plus: $49/month
Pro: $79/month
Enterprise: $145/month

7. Insightly

Source

Best for: Project-focused brokerage operations requiring integrated project management alongside traditional CRM features.

Key Features

Project management integration: Built-in project tracking that manages due diligence processes and closing coordination
Opportunity tracking: Comprehensive deal management with customizable stages and automated progress updates
Workflow automation: Automated task assignment and deadline management that ensures critical steps aren't missed

Pricing

Plus: $29/user/month
Professional: $49/user/month
Enterprise: $99/user/month.

Benefits of CRM Software for Business Brokers

Streamlined deal management: HubSpot's CRM systems organize complex deal information in one central location, eliminating the chaos of scattered spreadsheets and email chains.

This centralization reduces the risk of missing critical deadlines or losing track of important buyer-seller communications through HubSpot's automated workflow features.

Enhanced client relationships: HubSpot‘s automated follow-up sequences and detailed client histories enable brokers to provide personalized service at scale. This consistency builds trust with both buyers and sellers, leading to more referrals and repeat business through HubSpot’s contact management capabilities.

Improved deal flow visibility: HubSpot‘s real-time pipeline reporting gives brokers and firm owners clear visibility into deal progress, potential bottlenecks, and revenue forecasts. This insight enables better resource allocation and strategic planning through HubSpot’s comprehensive dashboard features.

Automated administrative tasks: HubSpot eliminates manual data entry through automated contact capture, email logging, and task creation. This efficiency allows brokers to focus on high-value activities like relationship building and deal negotiation using HubSpot's marketing automation tools.

Compliance and security: HubSpot‘s modern platform provides audit trails and secure document storage that meet industry compliance requirements while protecting sensitive business information throughout the transaction process through HubSpot’s security features.

6 Important Features for a Business Broker CRM

Deal pipeline customization: HubSpot allows brokers to configure sales stages that match their specific brokerage process from initial business valuation through closing, with HubSpot's customizable deal stages and automated progression tracking
Confidential information management: HubSpot provides secure storage and controlled access for sensitive business financial data and proprietary information, with HubSpot's enterprise-grade security features protecting client confidentiality
Automated follow-up sequences: HubSpot‘s email automation and task management maintains consistent communication with buyers and sellers throughout extended deal cycles, leveraging HubSpot’s marketing automation capabilities
Integration with valuation tools: HubSpot‘s extensive integration ecosystem connects with business valuation software and financial analysis platforms commonly used in brokerage, with HubSpot’s API supporting custom integrations
Mobile access and offline capability: HubSpot‘s mobile CRM app allows field access to client information and deal updates during site visits, ensuring brokers can work effectively from anywhere using HubSpot’s mobile platform
Advanced reporting and analytics: HubSpot‘s comprehensive dashboards show deal velocity, conversion rates, and broker performance metrics, with HubSpot’s Breeze AI providing predictive insights and trend analysis for strategic decision-making

How to Choose a CRM for Business Brokers (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map your current workflows. Document your existing processes for managing buyer leads, seller prospects, and deal progression. Identify pain points like duplicate data entry, missed follow-ups, or difficult-to-track deal stages. This mapping exercise will highlight the specific features you need most.

Step 2: Identify must-have features. Prioritize features based on your firm's size and specialization. Small brokerages might prioritize ease of use and cost-effectiveness, while larger firms may require advanced automation and integration capabilities.

Consider features like mobile access, email marketing, and reporting depth.

Step 3: Evaluate ease of use and team adoption. Test user interfaces and consider your team's technical comfort level. The best CRM is one that your brokers will actually use consistently. Look for platforms with intuitive navigation and comprehensive training resources.

Step 4: Calculate total cost at scale. Consider not just monthly subscription fees but also implementation costs, training time, and potential integration expenses. Factor in your expected growth to ensure the platform remains cost-effective as your firm expands.

Step 5: Choose a flexible platform for business broker growth. Select a CRM that can grow with your business broker operations and adapt to changing needs. HubSpot's modular approach allows you to start with core CRM features and add marketing, sales, and service tools as needed.

Franchise Brokers Association achieved a 250% increase in content production after implementing HubSpot's automated platform for their business broker net

Memorable marketing, visible mistakes, and a faster horse

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:45:56 +0300

Today’s master bucks more trends than probably anyone I’ve interviewed. She ignores the competition. She refuses to put ✨AI sparkles✨ on everything. She runs on intuition as much as data.

Yet her small, scrappy marketing team regularly punches above its weight — and wins.

When Todoist first launched, it was the original personal task manager. Today, its parent company, Doist, is still seen as the go-to in productivity software, despite competing with Fortune 500 tech brands.

And y’know what? You don’t argue with success.

Brenna Loury

Chief Marketing Officer, Doist

Fun fact: Early in her career, Brenna moved to Chile — without knowing any Spanish — to work with Habitat for Humanity. After a chance encounter in an Irish pub, she ended up employed at the Chilean Ministry of Economy.

Claim to fame: When Todoist hit 1 billion completed tasks, it celebrated by asking users to share something important the app helped them achieve. Over 600 users shared their heartwarming stories.

Lesson 1: Make it half measurable, half memorable.

“Half your marketing should be *measurable*, half should be *memorable*,” Brenna Loury posted on LinkedIn a few months back.

And because giving people a slightly hard time is part of my job, I asked if, as CMO, she still held her team accountable to ROI for the memorable half.

Image Source

“You pulled all of my hot takes, haven’t you?” Loury laughs. “I don’t think anybody on the team feels comfortable dumping money into something that’s not showing positive results. Our approach is doing small investments, seeing what works, and iterating.”

So, her quote is less about marketing with abandon, and more about not getting so lost in your KPIs that you forget you’re talking to real people. And people respond to what’s real, not what’s ideal.

“A lot of brands in the productivity space have a message of ‘Do this. Do that. Get more done.’ and it’s a very unrealistic expectation for people. We try to be really honest about what human beings can actually do.

And, in return, Doist is also honest about what its own human beings can do. Which is why lesson two is…

Lesson 2: Your faults are your forte.

Working in the productivity software space, Doist’s eight-person marketing team often finds itself the David to Goliaths like Apple, Microsoft, and Google.

But Loury says they find a competitive advantage in an unlikely place: “We’re very authentic with our users and not afraid to mention some of the shortcomings we’re working on. That’s not something that Google is ever going to do.”

It all started with some very public missteps that Loury opened up about, but it ended with a new philosophy: “Making sure that the humans that are creating Todoist are visible to the humans that are using Todoist.”

That’s why Doist’s YouTube presence is usually just an employee named Naomi who uses Loom to make videos from her living room.

And “if you look at the Todoist change log, you’ll see little face bubbles. We’ll say ‘Carrie released this update on Android’ and there’s Carrie’s little face, so that people know there are real humans working on this stuff.”

Lesson 3: The customer is always right. Sometimes.

To help prevent any more missteps, Loury’s team makes sure to keep communication open with their audience.

“We’ve been really conscientious about communicating with our users. We let them know what we’re working on and gather feedback.”

But she cautions that you absolutely can go too far in that direction. Loury laughs and points to that famous quote often attributed to Henry Ford: “If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.”

“It has to be a balance with trusting your gut and using your intuition,” she says. “We’ve always had a strong intuition of what we wanted to build. And we always felt strongly that we wanted to build things that we ourselves would use, and in doing that, would help other people as well.”

“You can lose sight of how you want to build the product in the first place if you only listen to your customers.”

5 best CRMs for automotive businesses in 2025

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Fifty-seven percent of buyers are now willing to purchase a car online, according to 2024 Adtaxi research, up from 49% the previous year. As more people begin their car-buying journey on your website, sales teams must decipher who’s serious about driving the car off the lot — and who’s just kicking the digital tires.

An automotive CRM solves that problem by using customer data to manage the sales pipeline and score leads based on their value and intent to buy. This helps create a faster close rate and, ultimately, higher revenue for your dealership.

In this article, we’ll review five popular automotive CRMs, including feature breakdowns, a comparison table, and a how-to guide to help you decide. Our staff writer used AI to assist primarily in research and editing to ensure the most helpful guide, and humans reviewed this article before publication.

Below, we’ll talk about VinSolutions, Salesforce, and HubSpot, to name a few. Airstream used HubSpot to decrease cost per lead by about 44%. If you’re ready to optimize leads and sales with a CRM, read on.

Table of Contents

What is an automotive CRM?
CRM Comparison Table
Best CRM Software for Automotive Businesses
Benefits of CRM Software for Automotive
4 Important Features for an Automotive CRM
How to Choose a CRM for Automotive (Step-by-Step)
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Automotive Companies

What is an automotive CRM?

An automotive CRM collects and stores relevant customer data from all your separate sources, such as your website and walk-ins. A CRM like HubSpot can unify data and power your sales, marketing, and service departments, helping you track every customer interaction and ensure the best experience every time.

Best CRMs for Automotive at a Glance

CRM	Best For	Key Features	Pricing	Free Trial Available
HubSpot	Dealerships wanting an all-in-one platform that unifies sales, marketing, and service with a free CRM that scales with growth	All-in-one customer platform, lead capture & lead scoring, HubSpot's AI (Breeze)	HubSpot’s CRM is always free and includes free tiers for all six core products. Paid plans for its core products start at $15/seat/month.	Free tiers
Salesforce	Large dealerships seeking a complex CRM with an automotive-specific add-on	Automotive Cloud add-on, pipeline inspection, Salesforce's AI (Einstein)	Starts at $25/user/month	30-day free trial
Reynolds & Reynolds (FOCUS CRM)	Dealerships that want a DMS, POS, CRM, and other automotive software all from the same provider	Integrated with Reynolds & Reynolds automotive software, sales coaching, ID scan	Contact for pricing	No
VinSolutions	Dealerships seeking a dealer-first CRM with native automotive software integrations	GPS-based vehicle inventory management, predictive insights, Cox Automotive integrations	Contact for pricing	No
CDK	Large dealerships wanting to streamline operations with CDK’s Dealership Xperience Platform	360-degree customer view, Dealership Xperience Platform, AI-assisted equity mining	Contact for pricing	No

Best CRM Software for Automotive Businesses

The right automotive CRM can be the difference between a prospect driving their new car off the lot or walking away empty handed. Let’s analyze the five best automotive CRMs to ensure you choose the one that best fits your dealership.

1. HubSpot

Best for: Dealerships wanting an all-in-one platform that unifies sales, marketing, and service with a free CRM that scales with growth

Key HubSpot Features

All-in-one customer platform: Every car dealership employee knows that it’s not just about the pre-sales and sales. There’s also post-sales, marketing, customer service, and more. HubSpot Smart CRM connects your sales, marketing, customer service, and operations so you can ensure all teams and data are aligned.
Lead capture & lead scoring: Never miss a lead again. Use Marketing Hub forms and sync them with HubSpot Smart CRM to automatically unify and organize leads from various places — social media, walk-ins, emails, and form submissions. Plus, you can create custom lead scoring so your sales team knows which contacts to prioritize.
HubSpot’s AI (Breeze): Breeze is the suite of AI tools woven into the HubSpot customer platform. Have Breeze surface relevant information about a prospect so you can prepare for a call, draft personalized emails based on CRM data, or answer customer questions via live chat — all in seconds.

HubSpot Pricing

HubSpot’s CRM is always free, and it offers free plans for all six core products (marketing, sales, service, content, operations, and commerce).
Each core product has a free, Starter, Professional, and Enterprise plan. Paid plans start at $15/seat/month and go up to $3,600/month for the Marketing Hub Enterprise plan (which includes five core seats). Commerce Hub is a payment processor that is free to use but charges fees per transaction.
HubSpot pricing depends on your specific needs and add-ons. Use this HubSpot pricing calculator to see your custom price.

2. Salesforce

Best for: Large dealerships seeking a complex CRM with an automotive-specific add-on

Key Salesforce Features

Automotive Cloud add-on: This is an industry vertical add-on to the CRM, built specifically for automotive companies such as OEMs and dealerships. Automotive Cloud has native vehicle inventory management so you can track vehicles and parts across different locations.
Pipeline inspection: Give your sales team the visibility they need to manage and optimize their pipeline, such as customer vehicle preferences, prior purchases, and service history. They’ll also get visual cues and alerts that signal whether they’re about to close a deal — or lose it.
Salesforce’s AI (Einstein): Use AI to predict the likelihood of closing a deal, with pointers on when to reach out to the potential buyer and how, such as highlighting the latest vehicle features.

Salesforce Pricing

Salesforce offers a 30-day free trial.
Salesforce's CRM pricing plans are as follows:
Starter Suite: $25/user/month
Pro Suite: $100/user/month
Salesforce’s Automotive Cloud is priced as follows (billed annually):
Enterprise: $325/user/month
Unlimited: $500/user/month
Agentforce 1 Service: $750/user/month
Agentforce 1 Sales: $750/user/month

Salesforce has many add-ons, so be sure to check its pricing page for details or contact its sales team for a custom quote based on your specific needs.

3. Reynolds & Reynolds (FOCUS CRM)

Best for: Dealerships that want a DMS, POS, CRM, and other automotive software all from the same provider

Key FOCUS CRM Features

Integrated with Reynolds & Reynolds automotive software: The platform is a suite of software tools for the automotive industry. You can use its vehicle management inventory software, AutoVision, to get real-time data on cars in stock and connect that with the CRM.
Sales coaching: Get real-time data and insights to coach salespeople while the customer is still in the store.
ID scan: Automate your data entry and get customers in test drives faster with ID Scan. In less than two seconds, salespeople can scan a customer ID and upload that information to the CRM.

FOCUS CRM Pricing

Reynolds & Reynolds does not publicly list its pricing for its FOCUS CRM. To get a quote, fill out the contact form or start a chat on its website. You can also call its sales team at 800-767-7879.

4. VinSolutions

Best for: Dealerships seeking a dealer-first CRM with native automotive software integrations

Key VinSolutions Features

GPS-based vehicle inventory management: This built-in inventory management, powered by HomeNet, ensures you and your customers always know which vehicles are on your lot. This eliminates unnecessary back-and-forth and helps you sell faster.
Predictive insights: Predictive AI analyzes customer behavior, including service history, so your sales team can hone in on high-value leads that are likely to convert. Generative AI helps your team personalize and automate email and text follow-ups.
Cox automotive integrations: It provides many dealership-specific integrations, including Dealertrack DMS, Kelley Blue Book, and Autotrader. Additionally, third-party integrations are available.

VinSolutions Pricing

VinSolutions does not list prices on its website. To get a quote, fill out the VinSolutions contact form or call its sales team at 866-578-8152.

5. CDK (formerly known as “Elead”)

Best for: Enterprise dealerships seeking AI-powered equity mining and dealer management tools

Key CDK Features

360-degree customer view: Keep track of every lead that walks your lot or visits your website. The CRM stores information about previous communications, vehicle preferences, and service history.
Dealership Xperience Platform: This dedicated suite of tools for dealerships includes CRM, desking, vehicle inventory, and a dealer management system.
AI-assisted equity mining: Find sales opportunities in your service drive through AI-assisted equity mining. Identify existing customers with enough equity in their vehicle to reasonably trade in and upgrade to a new one. It uses predictive modeling to score customers and show dealers which ones are most likely to buy.

CDK Pricing

CDK does not list pricing on its website. To get a quote, call CDK's sales team at 833-620-2129 or fill out its contact form.

Benefits of CRM Software for Automotive

1. Accurately connect the best cars to the right customers and boost sales.

Your CRM needs to be able to pull all relevant data so that you can make the best decisions. Vehicle inventory is a key part of this process; you’ll need to connect cars to the right customers. A CRM can store vehicle preferences, connect to your inventory management system, and then help your sales rep reach out at the right time when the right vehicle is available.

While HubSpot doesn't have native inventory management, there are plenty of third-party integrations you could use, or you could use HubSpot's API to build a custom integration with your vehicle inventory management software of choice.

2. Retain customers beyond the initial car sale by bringing them back for servicing.

Cars are big purchases that happen every few years. It’s routine service and maintenance that keeps revenue consistent and helps customers get the best ROI on their car. With an automotive CRM, you can easily track service history and send timely reminders when a car’s maintenance is due.

With HubSpot, you can use tasks to remind your service department to follow up with a customer after a specified amount of time, or set up an automated email campaign that nudges customers to come in for servicing.

3. Break down silos and unify teams.

In the fast-paced business of selling cars, service rarely knows what sales promised, and marketing often launches campaigns without knowing the details of each segment. With a CRM like HubSpot, however, all of that changes. HubSpot Smart CRM comes with sales, marketing, and service tools so that all of those teams can access the same customer records, ensuring a personalized, consistent experience for every customer.

4. Capitalize on the growth of online car shopping.

A good CRM can help you score internet leads so you don’t waste time on online shoppers who aren’t serious about moving forward. A CRM with built-in marketing tools, such as HubSpot’s Marketing Hub, can take it further and help you create compelling landing pages.

4 Important Features for an Automotive CRM

Vehicle inventory management: There’s nothing worse than an online lead showing up at the lot only to find out the car they saw on your website was sold long ago. Ensure your CRM can easily integrate with your vehicle inventory management software so you never overpromise. While HubSpot doesn’t have native vehicle inventory management, you can hire a HubSpot solutions partner to build something custom for you, check out HubSpot’s developer-friendly API documentation to do it yourself, or use a third-party integration.
Integrations with dealership software: You‘ve got a sizeable tech stack already, including your DMS and inventory management software. Before you choose a CRM, you’ll want to check that it connects well with your current software. Again, HubSpot has an App Marketplace, but if none of those work for your software, you can always work with a HubSpot solutions partner or check out HubSpot’s API documentation.
Mobile app: Your sales reps are on the move — on the lot or on test drives. They don’t always have a computer in front of them. HubSpot’s mobile app — with its caller ID, conversations inbox, and reports and dashboards — ensures your sales team stays productive no matter where they are.
Appointment scheduling: Make your sales team’s lives easier by getting a CRM with built-in scheduling. For example, HubSpot lets you create one-on-one scheduling pages so customers can book meetings with sales reps.

How to Choose a CRM for Automotive (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Gather information internally. If you already have a CRM and are considering switching, talk to your sales team about what they like and dislike about the current software. This can be an in-person meeting or a brief survey.

If you don’t have a CRM yet, ask your sales team about their current workflows and what could make them better. While you’re at it, ask for recommendations on which automotive CRMs they’d like to use.

Step 2: Gather information externally. In this step, you’ll start doing external research. This blog post is a good place to start. Also check out the product and help pages of the CRMs you’re considering. Talk to their sales reps, too, to get better insight

7 best CRMs for retail businesses in 2025

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Retail businesses face unique challenges in today's competitive marketplace. Managing customer relationships across multiple channels, tracking inventory alongside sales data, and coordinating between online and in-store experiences requires specialized tools. A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system designed for retail can streamline these complex workflows, improve customer satisfaction, and drive revenue growth.

Modern retail CRMs solve critical industry challenges like fragmented customer data, inconsistent service experiences, and difficulty tracking customer journeys across touchpoints. This comprehensive comparison examines the top CRM solutions for retail businesses, including detailed feature breakdowns, pricing analysis, and implementation guidance.

HubSpot powers customer relationship management for thousands of retail companies worldwide, from small boutiques to enterprise chains. According to recent industry data, retail businesses using CRM systems see an average 41% increase in sales revenue and 27% faster sales cycle completion. So let's get into the details to show you why it stands out from the rest, and how it can benefit your retail business.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for retail?
CRM Comparison Table
Best CRM Software for Retail Businesses
Benefits of CRM Software for Retail
7 Important Features for a Retail CRM
How to Choose a CRM for Retail (Step-by-Step)
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Retail Companies

What is a CRM for retail?

A CRM for retail is a specialized customer relationship management platform that helps retail businesses manage customer interactions, sales processes, and data across multiple channels including online stores, physical locations, and mobile apps. Retail accounted for 23.5% of the CRM market share in 2022, with HubSpot's retail CRM capabilities including inventory integration, customer segmentation, and omnichannel communication tools that support seamless shopping experiences.

Best CRMs for Retail Companies at a Glance

CRM	Best For	Key Features	Pricing	Free Trial
HubSpot	Growing retail businesses	Contact management, email marketing, sales automation, reporting	Free plan available, paid plans start at $45/month	Yes
Salesforce	Large retail enterprises	Advanced customization, Einstein AI, extensive integrations	$25/user/month (Essentials)	Yes
Zoho CRM	Small to medium retailers	Inventory management, social media integration, workflow automation	$14/user/month	Yes
Pipedrive	Sales-focused retail teams	Visual pipeline management, activity reminders, mobile app	$14.90/user/month	Yes
Freshworks CRM	Customer service-oriented retail	Built-in phone, chat support, lead scoring	$15/user/month	Yes
Monday.com	Project-based retail operations	Customizable workflows, team collaboration, time tracking	$8/user/month	Yes
Insightly	Retail project management	CRM plus project management, custom fields, reporting	$29/user/month	Yes

Best CRM Software for Retail Businesses

1. HubSpot

Best for: Growing retail businesses seeking an all-in-one platform with HubSpot's comprehensive marketing, sales, and service capabilities

Key HubSpot Features

Contact management: HubSpot's contact database centralizes customer information from all touchpoints, enabling personalized retail experiences across channels
Email marketing integration: Targeted campaigns based on purchase history and browsing behavior become seamless with HubSpot's integrated email tools
Sales pipeline automation: HubSpot's workflow automation streamlines follow-up processes and nurtures leads through the retail sales funnel

HubSpot Pricing

Free plan with basic CRM features
Starter: $45/month for 1,000 contacts
Professional: $800/month for 2,000 contacts
Enterprise: $3,200/month for 10,000 contacts

View HubSpot pricing details.

2. Salesforce

Best for: Large retail enterprises requiring extensive customization and advanced analytics

Key Salesforce Features

Einstein AI: Predictive analytics for sales forecasting and customer behavior
Extensive integration library: Connects with popular retail tools and e-commerce platforms
Advanced reporting: Comprehensive dashboards for retail performance tracking

Salesforce Pricing

Essentials: $25/user/month
Professional: $75/user/month
Enterprise: $150/user/month
Unlimited: $300/user/month

View Salesforce pricing details.

3. Zoho CRM

Best for: Small to medium retailers seeking affordable CRM with inventory management features

Key Zoho Features

Inventory management: Built-in tools for tracking stock levels and product information
Social media integration: Monitor and engage with customers across social platforms
Workflow automation: Streamline repetitive tasks and follow-up processes

Zoho CRM Pricing

Standard: $14/user/month
Professional: $23/user/month
Enterprise: $40/user/month

View Zoho pricing details.

4. Pipedrive

Best for: Sales-focused retail teams that prioritize visual pipeline management

Key Pipedrive Features

Visual pipeline management: Drag-and-drop interface for tracking deals through stages
Activity reminders: Automated follow-up notifications for sales activities
Mobile app: Full CRM functionality on mobile devices for field sales teams

Pipedrive Pricing

Essential: $14.90/user/month
Advanced: $24.90/user/month
Professional: $49.90/user/month

View Pipedrive pricing details.

5. Freshworks CRM

Best for: Customer service-oriented retail businesses needing integrated communication tools

Key Freshworks Features

Built-in phone system: Make and receive calls directly from the CRM
Live chat support: Real-time customer support integration
Lead scoring: Automatically prioritize prospects based on behavior

Freshworks Pricing

Growth: $15/user/month
Pro: $39/user/month
Enterprise: $69/user/month

View Freshworks pricing details.

6. Monday.com

Best for: Project-based retail operations requiring team collaboration and workflow management

Key Monday.com Features

Customizable workflows: Create boards for different retail processes
Team collaboration: Share updates and coordinate tasks across departments
Time tracking: Monitor project progress and resource allocation

Monday.com Pricing

Basic: $8/user/month
Standard: $10/user/month
Pro: $16/user/month

View Monday.com pricing details.

7. Insightly

Best for: Retail businesses needing combined CRM and project management capabilities

Key Insightly Features

CRM Plus project management: Unified platform for customer and project tracking
Custom fields: Tailor data collection to specific retail needs
Advanced reporting: Generate insights on sales performance and project status

Insightly Pricing

Plus: $29/user/month
Professional: $49/user/month
Enterprise: $99/user/month

View Insightly pricing details.

Benefits of CRM Software for Retail

Enhanced customer experience: Unified customer profiles help retail businesses deliver personalized experiences across all touchpoints through HubSpot's comprehensive system. When customers receive consistent, relevant interactions whether shopping online or in-store, satisfaction increases by an average of 23%.

Improved sales performance: HubSpot's sales automation tools enable retail teams to follow up faster and more consistently. Automated nurturing sequences and lead scoring help sales representatives prioritize high-value prospects, resulting in 32% higher conversion rates.

Better inventory management: Integration capabilities connect CRM data with inventory management systems, providing real-time visibility into stock levels and customer demand using HubSpot's platform. This coordination reduces stockouts by 18% while minimizing excess inventory.

Streamlined operations: HubSpot's workflow automation eliminates manual tasks like data entry and follow-up scheduling. Retail businesses report saving 4-6 hours per week per employee when using CRM automation features.

Data-driven decision making: Real-time insights into sales performance, customer behavior, and campaign effectiveness are provided by HubSpot's reporting dashboards. Retail managers can make informed decisions based on comprehensive data analysis, with 57% of businesses reporting increased sales revenue as a key CRM benefit.

7 Important Features for a Retail CRM

Omnichannel integration: HubSpot's platform connects data from websites, social media, email, and in-store interactions to create unified customer profiles
Inventory synchronization: Real-time product availability information reaches sales teams through HubSpot's integrations with inventory management systems
Customer segmentation: Retail businesses can group customers by purchase history, preferences, and behavior patterns using HubSpot's advanced segmentation tools
Mobile accessibility: HubSpot's mobile app allows retail teams to access customer information and update records from anywhere
E-commerce integration: Popular platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento connect directly with HubSpot's CRM system
Marketing automation: HubSpot's marketing tools create targeted campaigns based on customer purchase history and browsing behavior
Performance analytics: HubSpot's reporting features track key retail metrics including conversion rates, average order value, and customer lifetime value

How to Choose a CRM for Retail (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map your workflows. Document your current customer journey from initial contact through purchase and post-sale service. Identify touchpoints where customer data is collected and how it flows between departments.

Step 2: Identify must-have features. List essential capabilities like e-commerce integration, inventory management, and mobile access. Prioritize features that address your biggest operational challenges.

Step 3: Compare ease of use and team fit. Evaluate user interfaces and consider your team‘s technical expertise. Choose a platform that matches your staff’s comfort level with technology.

Step 4: Check cost at scale. Calculate total cost of ownership including subscription fees, implementation costs, and ongoing training. Consider how pricing will change as your business grows.

Step 5: Choose a flexible platform — like HubSpot. Select a CRM that can grow with your business and adapt to changing needs. HubSpot's retail clients report 43% faster implementation times compared to other enterprise CRM solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for retail?

HubSpot stands out as the best CRM for retail businesses due to its comprehensive feature set, user-friendly interface, and strong integration capabilities. 91% of businesses with 10 or more employees use CRM systems, and HubSpot's platform combines contact management, marketing automation, and sales tools in one system, making it ideal for retail companies managing complex customer relationships across multiple channels.

What features should I look for in a CRM for retail?

Key features for retail CRMs include omnichannel integration, inventory synchronization, customer segmentation, and mobile accessibility. HubSpot provides all these capabilities plus advanced marketing automation and detailed analytics. Look for systems that can connect your online and offline sales channels while providing real-time customer insights.

Is HubSpot good for retail?

Yes, HubSpot is excellent for retail businesses of all sizes. Companies using CRM software experience a 300% increase in conversion rates, and HubSpot's CRM includes specialized features for retail like e-commerce integration, customer journey tracking, and automated marketing campaigns. Many retail companies choose HubSpot because it combines CRM, marketing, and customer service tools in one platform, reducing complexity and improving efficiency.

How much does a CRM for retail cost?

CRM pricing for retail varies significantly based on features and user count. HubSpot offers a free plan with basic CRM features, while paid plans start at $45/month. Other systems range from $8-$300 per user per month. HubSpot's transparent and scalable pricing structure makes it cost-effective for growing retail businesses.

Can a CRM integrate with my e-commerce platform?

Most modern CRMs, including HubSpot, offer direct integrations with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. HubSpot's e-commerce integrations automatically sync customer data, order history, and product information, providing a complete view of customer interactions across all channels.

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Retail Companies

HubSpot delivers the comprehensive functionality retail businesses need to manage complex customer relationships and drive growth. Here's why retail companies choose HubSpot:

Unified customer platform: HubSpot's CRM centralizes customer data from all touchpoints, enabling personalized experiences across online and offline channels
Powerful marketing automation: HubSpot's marketing tools create targeted campaigns based on purchase history, helping retail businesses increase repeat purchases and customer lifetime value
Scalable growth solutions: HubSpot's platform grows with your business, from startup retail operations to enterprise-level organizations with multiple locations

Fashion retailer LDC increa

Looking for the best AI tools for Excel? Here are my 5 favorite options

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

As a marketer, my Mondays typically start with diving into the previous week’s performance reports. Excel sheets with campaign data, social post-mortems, budget allocations, ad spend analytics, and more. Sometimes, there’s enough data to make my head spin.

As you can tell, data analysis is not something I like doing. But it’s the only way to know if our campaigns are actually working. So, I started searching for the best AI tools for Excel to help me save time.

Initially, I tried building out custom Google scripts and macros for small, specific tasks — things like fetching data, basic personalization, and so on. However, maintaining these scripts across projects was a pain and clearly wasn’t scalable.

So, after trying out a lot of AI tools for Excel, I’ve compiled five of the best ones below.

Table of Contents

The Best AI Tools and Plugins for Excel
How I Tested the Best AI Tools and Plugins for Excel

How I Tested the Best AI Tools and Plugins for Excel

While there are a lot of Excel-based AI tools out there, the challenge is finding ones that can handle messy, real-world data. For instance, I tried using a tool to rate applicant answers for an ambassador program and shortlist them.

Sadly, it rated AI-generated answers and half-hearted responses very highly (8/10!). AI loves AI, I guess.

After that failure, I decided to draw up a set of criteria for testing the remaining tools and plugins. More specifically, I tested them for:

Accuracy. Often, I’m dealing with really big and messy data sets, as I’m sure many of you are. That means calculations and formulas can get complex. An AI tool needs to handle these tasks accurately.
Ease of use. There’s nothing worse than a confusing tool. Excel itself can be confusing enough, so an AI tool shouldn’t have a difficult learning curve. I look for a clean dashboard, clear setup instructions, and good UX.
Speed and reliability. We turn to AI to increase efficiency. A tool needs to be quick and reliable if I’m going to invest time and money in it.
Range of features. You can do a lot in Excel with AI. I prefer solutions with multiple AI features so I don’t need to switch tools often.

Note: For testing purposes, I downloaded a sample spreadsheet containing YouTube subscriber data to be used in every tool, eliminating potential variables.

1. Ajelix

Pricing: Free plans are available with limits. Pro plans cost $20/user/month. Expert plans cost $50/user/month, and Business plans cost $200/user/month.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one AI solution for Excel, Ajelix is one of my top picks. It’s quite popular for generating and optimizing Excel and Google App Scripts. But, when I saw it had 15+ tools for data analysis, Excel, and AI, I was definitely curious to try it out.

I started with the AI analyst feature to calculate the average engagement rate of my YouTube data. This involved combining metrics like views, watch time, CTR, etc., and measuring the impact of each one.

Here was the output:

The formula worked great. However, what impressed me was everything I got with it. There was an explanation of what the formula does, any potential mistakes I could make (guilty!), frequently asked questions customized to my data, and even an alternative formula.

It also anticipated what I needed next — adjusting the weight of each metric to get an accurate engagement rate. Definite overdelivery on my simple ask.

Then, I wanted to see if this experience extended to the other features of the platform. So, I decided to take the business intelligence tool for a spin. My query was to identify patterns within my datasets and generate a chart for better visualization. The tool took a few minutes, but the end chart was pretty good.

What I like:

User-friendly and tailored to business owners and founders.
Advanced business intelligence functionality sets it apart from other tools on this list.
Explains each step of the generated formulas and scripts, along with additional questions.
Provides alternate formulas.

What I don’t like:

Ajelix is only available in specific countries. My country wasn’t supported, so I had to use a VPN to test it. That slowed down my overall speed.
Free plans are limited at three messages per day. Pro plans (250/messages per day) cost $20/month, at par with ChatGPT.

2. GPTExcel

Pricing: Free plans are available. Paid plans cost $6.99 per month.

GPTExcel is a handy and cost-efficient tool for users to get the most out of AI features for Excel. It looks exactly like ChatGPT, but with custom Excel prompts and features like formulas, scripts, SQL, etc.

I first tested out the general chat with a simple task. I provided the YouTube data and asked it to give me the top 10 performing videos. It performed fairly well, and I liked how it tried to explain its reasoning through the backend Python code.

Then, I moved to the Formula generator. I wanted an Excel formula to find the titles of my top-performing videos based on click-through rates. My goal was to use this data to understand the types of videos I should prioritize in the future.

Not bad. While this was helpful, I realized I couldn’t visualize the patterns I was looking for with just formulas. That’s when I decided to test the Script feature.

With the Script tool, you can explain what you want your script to do, or you can reverse the process by providing GPTExcel with a script and having the tool explain it to you.

I provided my spreadsheet and asked the tool to generate a script that creates a bar graph. I plugged that script into my Google Sheets (Extensions > App Scripts) and clicked Run. The output was a neat graph that ranked each video in the context of subscribers gained from it.

Next time, I would also add a secondary metric that helps contextualize these subscribers. Are shorter, punchier videos helping me gain more subscribers, or are the longer ones with higher retention rates more effective? That would also help me understand the quality of my followers and the loyalty I’ve built.

Unlike other tools on this list, GPTExcel is more basic. You have to tell it exactly what you’re looking for, including column names, data ranges, etc., or it might pick the wrong ones. For an AI tool, I expected more “intelligence,” but for what it costs monthly, I can’t complain.

Overall, I was fairly satisfied with the tool’s ability to follow my instructions and provide scripts and formulas that, for the most part, worked.

What I like:

Ease of use, guided walkthroughs, and Excel native features.
Generated charts and graphs help you visualize complex data quickly.

What I don’t like:

The free tier is limited to only four requests per day, which you’ll quickly exhaust if you’re new to prompting AI for Excel. While the paid tier is affordable, you are limited to 100 queries per day. So, I’d recommend this tool for light usage.
Fairly basic, no guided data analysis or auto-correction.

3. ChatGPT

Pricing: Free plan available. $20/month for ChatGPT Plus. $200/month for ChatGPT Pro.

ChatGPT 4-o is one of the best models for data analysis and reasoning, according to LiveBench.

Although I had never had much luck with ChatGPT and Excel prompts, I was curious to see what had changed. I already use ChatGPT for content and research work, so it wasn’t a heavy lift.

For this test, I particularly wanted to see how well ChatGPT could perform data analysis, strategic thinking, and content creation in a single chat. So, I uploaded my YouTube data to ChatGPT and asked it to identify the types of videos that perform the best.

The answer was vague. It highlighted the top videos based solely on views. I did like the expandable table-view format ChatGPT used to present the views, though.

While I could have accepted this answer from more basic tools like GPTExcel, I was looking for more than that. I wanted to know specifics: Why did those videos work? What’s the common pattern between them?

So, I tweaked the prompt and asked it to analyze inferences we can make from the given view data and clickthrough rate.

And that’s where ChatGPT’s reasoning capabilities start to show. While some patterns were obvious, others, like “male versions of traditionally female problems,” highlighted major content opportunities. Phrasing it in that way helped me unlock new lines of thinking.

Then, I asked ChatGPT to use this analysis to suggest high-potential, low-effort topics. Within minutes, I had numerous content ideas to plug into the next week’s content plan.

Apart from the traditional ChatGPT models, I also discovered a whole range of custom GPTs built by community members. Each custom GPT is trained on a specific data segment or industry, making the analysis targeted and useful. There’s even one for Excel macros and formulas.

What I like:

ChatGPT is the most beginner-friendly tool on this list with the least learning curve.
You can perform data analysis, create a strategy based on that data, and then execute it, all within a single interface.
GPT-4 (Plus plan) can handle large datasets easily due to its increased token limits and great comprehension capabilities.
Custom GPTs are a great add-on for specialized industries like science, marketing, etc.

What I don’t like:

ChatGPT is prone to hallucination, so I recommend verifying the accuracy of the output.
Free plans cannot handle huge data sets before hitting the usage limit.
ChatGPT Plus at $20/month is one of the pricier options on this list. However, given that you can use it for more than data analysis, I’d argue it’s worth it.

4. Formularizer

Pricing: 50 free credits every month, $7/month for the Pro plan (unlimited credits)

I’m fairly decent at piecing together basic Excel formulas. But when you’re dealing with complex datasets, your formulas can get equally complex. And that’s where I struggle. I might get the formula 95% right, but then have to go on a wild goose chase to figure out why it's not working as expected. Usually, it’s an incorrect reference or misplaced closing brackets.

These small mistakes are hard to spot in long formulas. And Excel’s error messages aren’t all that helpful for debugging either.

So, I turned to AI to help solve my formula woes. Specifically, a tool called Formularizer. Formularizer could help me in two ways:

Generate ready-to-use formulas for my data.
Explain pre-written formula logic.

Let’s look at how it did with my YouTube data.

As a test, I asked it to create a formula to filter part of my video data. I wanted to see which videos had a high watch time and good retention. This is what it sent me:

I pasted this into my sheet, and it worked well. While I got the data correctly, the formatting was a bit off. However, that was a quick fix.

What I like:

Fast and easy to use, thanks to the intuitive chat interface.
Generates complex formulas fast.
Budget-friendly unlimited plan option.

What I don’t like:

The tool worked, but the user interface didn’t show a preview of how the formula affects your sheet. I had to check manually if everything was working and fix formatting.
I couldn’t see the cost of the tool before signing up, which is a red flag for me. I get they are optimizing for signups, but this is not the best user experience.

5. Formula Bot

Pricing: Free plans are available with limits. Unlimited plans come in $15/month, $25/month, and $35/month variants.

Formula Bot looked promising when I first opened it. The tool claims to handle Excel data using smart AI and Python, so I thought it would be great for sorting and cleaning large sheets.

I started with a simple query: “Sort the column ‘Views’ in descending order and move the rest of the data with it.”

Then, I uploaded my Excel file to the chat, but Formula Bot couldn’t process it directly. I had to go to the Sources section, click my file again, and only then would it recognize it as a valid source.

When I finally got the data loaded, I typed my question again. But it didn’t understand that “views” (lowercase) was the same as “Views” (uppercase). Once I explicitly mentioned that, it flipped my columns into rows (fail).

Ultimately, I had to go and clean my data.

After the fix, it finally gave me a sorted list based on Views. So, while this tool did work, the whole experience was quite glitchy.

Formula Bot definitely requires some hand-holding. It works best if your data is super clean and you know exactly what to ask. If you’re okay going back and forth a little you can use this tool, but it’s not the most beginner-friendly tool on the list.

What I like:

Clean prompting interface.
Provides downloadable, usable outputs after some back and forth.

What I don’t like:

The layout is not user-friendly. The source has to be added manually to the chat even after uploading it.
Cannot adapt to simple variations, such as case-sensitive formatting.

Making the Most of Excel

Of all the AI tools for Excel I tested, I’d rate ChatGPT and Ajelix as my favorites.

ChatGPT felt like having a strategic data analyst on my team — one that could spot patterns in my data and give me bigger-picture ideas, even when I didn’t know the right formula. It also helped that I didn’t have to learn a new tool. If you’re an Excel beginner or just experimenting with AI tools for Excel, ChatGPT is your best bet.

However, if you are part of a data-heavy business, you’d want to go for a more robust option like Ajelix. I found that Ajelix’s tools cover almost every possible Excel automation use case. It’s built for teams that need advanced reporting and a

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5 best CRMs for utilities in 2025

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Water, electricity, and heat are complicated enough. Add the responsibility of regulations and customer relations, and utilities companies are set up for some complex challenges.

Managing customer relationships, responding quickly to outages, integrating billing systems, and maintaining regulatory compliance — a customer relationship management system (CRM) for utilities can make these things easier.

In a recent study by Capterra, 45% of businesses said their sales revenue improved by using effective CRM software. In fact, Reposit Power, a trailblazer in the Australian energy market, leveraged HubSpot CRM to implement an efficient workflow engine and sustain a remarkable 15% month-to-month growth rate.

In this article, we’ll compare the top CRMs for utilities companies in 2025. You’ll find:

A side-by-side comparison table
Best use cases for each tool
Key features and pricing
A step-by-step guide to choosing the right CRM
FAQ section to cover pricing, fit, and more

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for utilities companies?
CRM Comparison Table
Best CRM for Utilities Companies
Benefits of CRM for Utilities Companies
5 Important Features of a CRM for Utilities Companies
How to Choose a CRM for Utilities Companies (Step-by-Step)
Frequently Asked Questions
Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM for Utilities Companies

What is a CRM for utilities companies?

A CRM for utilities companies helps manage customer accounts, service requests, and communication across teams. It centralizes data and automates processes like billing updates, outage notifications, and field service scheduling.

HubSpot can be an extremely flexible CRM for utilities companies, supporting utilities-specific functions like outage workflows, billing integrations, and regulatory tracking.

CRM for Utilities Companies Comparison Table

CRM	Best For	Key Features	Pricing	Average Rating
HubSpot	Mid-size to enterprise utilities needing strong automation	Service pipelines, outage workflows, billing integrations	Free plan, paid starts at $20/user/month	4.5/5
Salesforce Energy & Utilities Cloud	Large utilities with custom needs	AI tools, service cloud, field service	Custom pricing	4.3/5
Oracle Utilities	Public utilities with regulatory requirements	Smart meter data, rate management, compliance tools	Custom pricing	4.1/5
Zoho CRM	Small utilities looking for affordability	Contact mgmt, automation, multichannel support	Free, paid from $14/user/month	4.2/5
Microsoft Dynamics 365	Utilities with Microsoft stack	Asset mgmt, workflows, integration with Teams/Outlook	From $65/user/month	4.3/5

Best CRM for Utilities Companies

1. HubSpot

Best for: Mid-size and enterprise utilities companies wanting automation and customer visibility

Key HubSpot Features

Unified service pipeline management: HubSpot’s unified pipeline for outage resolution streamlines support ticket flow by giving teams a clear view of every open issue from submission to completion. The data also appears in each customer’s contact record.
Automated outage communications: With HubSpot's automated communication abilities, utilities can automate customer alerts across email and SMS, ensuring consistent updates during service disruptions.
Custom integrations: While not built specifically for utilities companies, HubSpot has hundreds of integrations in its ecosystem, including those for billing software, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping tools, and field service platforms via APIs and native apps.

HubSpot Pricing

Free CRM available
Starter: $20/user/month
Professional: $90/user/month
Full pricing

2. Salesforce Energy & Utilities Cloud

Source

Best for: Large utility companies looking to be more sustainable

Key Salesforce Features

AI-driven service insights: Uses predictive analytics to flag potential service issues, recommend next-best actions, and deliver quotes and rates faster.
Field technician scheduling: Allows dispatchers to assign work orders, track field progress, and optimize routes in real time. It can also help deliver safe field operations by managing assets and work execution to reduce costs and risks and improve plant efficiency whilst lowering maintenance costs and downtime.
Customer account lifecycle tools: Manages everything from new service onboarding to outage history and rate plan adjustments.

Salesforce Pricing

Starts at $250/user/month
Pricing details

3. Oracle Utilities

Source

Best for: Government or public utilities companies requiring robust compliance features

Key Oracle Utilities Features

Smart meter data integration: Ingests data from meters to enable usage-based alerts, billing, and consumption forecasting.
Detailed task and service management: Oracle’s in-app service features can facilitate detailed tracking of suppliers and assign tasks, with clear role divisions and a user-friendly interface. This helps streamline tasks, improve efficiency, and optimize operations
Regulatory reporting: Helps utilities comply with government mandates through automated report generation and audit trails.

Oracle Pricing

Enterprise licensing, custom pricing
Pricing overview

4. Zoho CRM

Source

Best for: Small or new utilities with simple needs

Key Zoho Features

Contact and lead management: Centralizes all customer data and communication in one easy-to-navigate interface that anyone on your team can access.
Custom workflow automation: Builds logic-based flows for billing reminders, service updates, or internal handoffs. This can likely be customized to work for outage alerts, among other things.
Omnichannel communications: Consolidates customer messaging across email, phone, chat, and social media to one platform; no need to jump around a bunch of tools to know what’s going on.

Zoho Pricing

Free for up to 3 users
Paid plans from $14/user/month (30-day trial available)
Full pricing

5. Microsoft Dynamics 365

Source

Best for: Utilities companies with robust needs already using Microsoft tools

Key Dynamics Features

Seamless integration with Excel, Outlook, Teams: As a part of the Microsoft ecosystem, this CRM connects with products like Office 365 and Azure to simplify data sharing and automation across departments. If your team is already using them, this saves you significant effort and difficulty.
Cloud field service and asset tracking: Being cloud-based, Dynamics 365 enables users to access the system from any device in any location. This connects customer service and maintenance teams without hassle to reduce downtime and streamline service.
Case management workflows: Tracks customer issues and escalations with automation triggers for follow-ups and approvals.

Dynamics 365 Pricing

From $70/user/month
Pricing details

Benefits of CRM for Utilities Companies

Why is using a CRM for utilities companies so valuable? Benefits include:

Faster Outage Communication via Automated SMS/Email Updates

When someone’s power, water, or other utilities go out, time is of the essence. A great CRM for utilities can reduce inbound call volume during emergencies and keep customers informed in real time through digital mediums. With HubSpot's automation and unified data, this is a breeze.

Centralized Data for Billing, Service, and Field Activity

Centralized data helps teams make quicker, data-driven decisions with a unified view of each customer. The more details you have about a customer, the more personalized each interaction with them can be. For instance, HubSpot unites marketing, sales, and service information.

Increased Customer Satisfaction With Proactive Support

Unified data also leads to better support and allows you to be more proactive with your support. With databases like HubSpot's tracking critical service data, you can anticipate customers' needs before they happen, creating a better experience.

Regulatory Compliance Through Built-in Reporting Tools

Utilities can come with complicated rules and regulations that can be extremely costly if violated. A suitable CRM simplifies audit preparation and ensures accurate documentation for public utility commissions. HubSpot's custom and host of integrations can help you keep track of this critical information with automated reporting.

Efficiency Gains From Integrated Service Scheduling and Automation

The cohesion created by a CRM (especially one as integrated as HubSpot) frees up staff time and reduces operational costs by eliminating manual processes. In fact, Zippia found a CRM can boost revenue by 29% and increase forecasting accuracy by 32% and productivity by 40%.

5 Important Features of a CRM for Utilities Companies

To reap these benefits, there are some key features you should be looking for:

Mobile access for field service reps: Field workers should be able to update tickets, view customer info, and report issues in real-time, without needing to return to the office. HubSpot has a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.
Pipeline customization for service and outage workflows: Custom pipelines let utilities manage unique workflows like service installations, outage resolutions, or regulatory processes. HubSpot allows users to customize various things to match their pipeline needs, including deal stages and contact fields.
Integration with billing and GIS systems: Syncing with financial and mapping tools eliminates data silos and improves the accuracy of account and service data. The HubSpot ecosystem includes thousands of integrations popular with utilities companies.
Automation for reminders, updates, and alerts: Automated communication, like that available in HubSpot, reduces manual effort and ensures customers receive timely notifications about service interruptions or payment due dates.
Usage tracking and customer self-service portals: Empowers customers to view their consumption history, manage payments, and submit service requests — reducing inbound volume. With some creative coding, you can use HubSpot to create password-protected pages that could be used for these needs.

How to Choose a CRM for Utilities Companies (Step-by-Step)

To choose the best CRM for your utilities company, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Map your service workflows from outage reporting to resolution.

Document all the key stages of your customer lifecycle—like new service setup, maintenance tickets, and emergency support—to identify gaps and bottlenecks.

Step 2: Identify must-have features like field scheduling or billing sync.

Make a checklist of your core needs by involving the frontline service, billing, and IT teams to ensure the CRM supports day-to-day operations.

Step 3: Compare ease of use, setup time, and learning curve.

Demo multiple platforms and gather feedback from real users on how intuitive the interface is and how long onboarding typically takes.

Step 4: Evaluate pricing at current and future scale.

Run cost projections for different pricing tiers based on user count, feature needs, and expected growth to avoid outgrowing your CRM too quickly.

Step 5: Choose a flexible platform — like HubSpot — that grows with you.

Look for modular solutions that let you add tools as needed, with strong support, integrations, and scalable infrastructure.

While there are some CRMs built specifically with utilities in mind, HubSpot offers flexibility and affordability that can make it a smart choice for companies of all sizes.

Just look at Reposit Power once again. HubSpot helped the company scale operational workflows while supporting compliance and real-time alerts.

Frequently Asked Questions about CRM for Utilities

What is the best CRM for utilities companies?

While it depends on your company’s specific size and needs, HubSpot can be customized to offer a highly effective mix of automation, ease of use, and pricing for most mid-size to large utilities.

Some alternatives may offer more utility-specific customization for larger enterprises, but users note they can be very technical.

Is HubSpot good for utility companies?

Yes. HubSpot can be used by utilities companies to improve service speed, customer communication, and regulatory tracking.

In fact, Reposit Power used HubSpot to future-proof their tech stack and redefine their distribution model leading to a 50x increase in sales activity, amongst other things.

How much does a CRM for utility companies cost?

Pricing ranges from free (Zoho, HubSpot) to enterprise tiers with custom pricing (Salesforce, Oracle). Most start around $20-$65/user/month.

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM for Utilities Companies

HubSpot is trusted by utilities teams to streamline service, improve response times, and connect customer data. Even for a complex industry like utilities, it offers flexibility, pricing accessibility, outage communications, and robust integrations to help any firm accomplish their goals and improve service.

Key Features

Automated outage communication workflows
Seamless billing and service integrations
Customizable dashboards for compliance tracking
User-friendly interface

Ready to see how HubSpot can work for your utilities busines

5 best CRM software for hotels in 2025

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Your hotel already has a lot to manage in its tech stack. Between your PMS, CRS, and booking engine, it's easy to lose sight of exactly what’s driving revenue — not to mention the frustration of losing commissions to OTAs. Using a CRM ensures you can pinpoint revenue sources, calculate ROI, and most importantly, foster the relationships that keep guests leaving positive reviews and coming back for more stays.

That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive list of the best CRM software for hotels, along with a comparison table, feature breakdowns, and a how-to guide. Our staff writer used AI primarily to assist in research and editing to ensure the most helpful guide, and humans reviewed this content before publication.

We’ll go over popular hotel CRMs, including HubSpot, Salesforce, and Cendyn. HubSpot helped Bluesun Hotels double its revenue. Read on to find the best hotel CRM software for your properties.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for hotels?

CRM Comparison Table

Best CRM Software for Hotels

Benefits of CRM Software for Hotels

5 Important Features for a Hotel CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Hotels (Step-by-Step)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Hotels

What is a CRM for hotels?

A customer relationship management (CRM) software for hotels stores data related to all of your leads and guests, helping you manage your pipeline, track every interaction, and create targeted, personalized campaigns.

Hotel CRMs can also help you drive direct bookings and boost revenue by identifying revenue sources, customizing marketing campaigns, and ensuring that every interaction your staff makes with guests is informed by the unified guest profile. Additionally, CRMs like HubSpot can improve staff productivity by automating tasks such as customer service replies and sales email follow-ups.

Best CRMs for Hotels at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial Available

HubSpot

Hotels that want to unify sales, marketing, and service teams with shared guest data

Shared guest data, marketing automation, HubSpot’s AI (Breeze)

HubSpot’s CRM is always free and includes free tiers for all six Hubs. Paid plans for its core products start at $15/seat/month.

Free tiers

Salesforce

Large hotel chains with the resources to deploy advanced AI workflows and complex integrations

Complete guest profiles, AI-assisted customer service, Agentforce AI agent

Starts at $25/user/month

30-day free trial

Cendyn

Hotels that want a CRM, CRS, and loyalty solution all from the same provider

Audience Builder, data-driven insights, 200+ integrations

Contact for pricing

No

Pipedrive

Sales-focused hotels wanting unlimited pipelines and unlimited data storage

Streamlined guest communication, sales management, AI CRM features

Starts at $24/seat/month

14-day free trial

Revinate

Hotels focused on driving direct bookings via email marketing

Access to customer data platform, AI-powered email composer, hospitality partner ecosystem

Contact for pricing

No

Best CRM Software for Hotels

Choosing a CRM that’s a good fit for a hospitality business takes careful consideration. Let’s evaluate five popular hotel CRMs based on key features, pricing, and the core strength of each option.

1. HubSpot

Best for: Hotels that want to unify sales, marketing, and service teams with shared guest data

Key HubSpot Features

Shared guest data: It’s tough to create a personalized guest experience when marketing can‘t see what sales promised, or when a concierge misses prior communications about a guest’s preferences. By sharing data across HubSpot’s Smart CRM, hotels can unify all teams, ensuring a delightful stay tailored to each guest.

Marketing automation: Keep rooms booked by driving traffic to your website, attracting prospective guests, and nurturing them with automated workflows based on customer behavior. HubSpot’s powerful marketing analytics can then help you identify which campaigns have the highest ROI — so you can keep driving direct bookings.

HubSpot’s AI (Breeze): Have a 24/7 concierge by deploying Breeze customer agent, an AI agent that’s ready to answer guest questions day and night. Breeze can also provide customer insights to help sales reps close deals or create social media posts for marketing campaigns.

HubSpot Pricing

HubSpot’s CRM is always free and has free plans for all of its six core products (marketing, sales, service, content, operations, and commerce).

Each hub has a free, Starter, Professional, and Enterprise plan. Paid plans start at $15/seat/month and go up to $3,600/month for the Marketing Hub Enterprise plan (which includes five core seats). Commerce Hub is a payment processor that is free to use but charges fees per transaction.

HubSpot pricing depends on your specific needs and add-ons. Use this HubSpot pricing calculator to see your custom price.

2. Salesforce

Best for: Large hotel chains with the resources to deploy advanced AI workflows and complex integrations

Key Salesforce Features

Complete guest profiles: Connect to your PMS and other software to get a more complete profile of your guests, including their loyalty status, preferences, and lifetime value.
AI-assisted customer service: Using Einstein AI, service reps can generate instant replies to guest inquiries or complaints, with the option to edit the message before sending. This reduces average handling time and helps with employee productivity.

Agentforce AI agent: Agentforce allows you to deploy an AI agent that both guests and staff can interact with in a chat format with advanced AI capable of deeper reasoning than traditional chatbots. Staff can ask how many high-value guests are checking in, for example, while guests can ask about pool hours and events.

Salesforce Pricing

Salesforce offers a 30-day free trial.

Salesforce's CRM pricing plans are as follows:

Starter Suite: $25/user/month

Pro Suite: $100/user/month

However, Salesforce has many add-ons, so be sure to check out its pricing page for details or contact its sales team for a custom quote based on your specific needs.

3. Cendyn

Best for: Hotels that want a CRM, CRS, and loyalty solution all from the same provider

Key Cendyn Features

Audience builder: Segment your guests based on over 200 filters, including stay dates and spend history. Then, create highly targeted automated campaigns to boost repeat bookings and revenue.

Data-driven insights: This CRM is also a customer data platform (CDP) that connects guest data from other sources and helps you calculate guest lifetime value.

200+ integrations: The brand partners with popular hospitality solutions providers, including PMSs like Cloudbeds and Mews, so you can connect your CRM to your existing tech stack.

Cendyn Pricing

Cendyn does not publicly list its prices on its website. To get a quote, fill out Cendyn’s contact form or call 1-561-515-6276.

4. Pipedrive

Best for: Sales-focused hotels wanting unlimited pipelines and unlimited data storage

Key Pipedrive Features

Streamlined guest communication: Keep a central record of room and dietary preferences, see previous communications, and automate booking confirmations to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Sales management: Track and manage leads with unlimited sales pipelines. This CRM has a feature called "deal rotting" that alerts you when a deal is idle for too long, so you can take action before you lose it.

AI CRM features: The CRM’s AI can recommend high-potential deals and next actions, draft personalized emails based on prompts, and summarize received emails. There’s also a network of AI agents in beta.

Pipedrive Pricing

Pipedrive's pricing plans are as follows:

Essential: $24/seat/month

Advanced: $49/seat/month

Professional: $69/seat/month

Power: $79/seat/month

Enterprise: $129/seat/month

You can also purchase add-ons.

5. Revinate

Best for: Hotels focused on driving direct bookings via email marketing

Key Revinate Features

Access to customer data platform: Revinate Marketing CRM users get automatic access to Revinate Guests, its customer data platform (CDP). Revinate Guests is where you can build segments, which then connect to Revinate Marketing, helping you deliver tailored campaigns based on guest behaviors such as upsell history.

AI-powered email composer: The drag-and-drop email composer makes it easy for you to design emails. Plus, Revinate's AI generates content and optimizes those emails for conversions.

Hospitality partner ecosystem: Revinate has a partner ecosystem that helps you integrate with many hospitality software solutions, including PMSs, booking engines, and revenue management systems.

Revinate Pricing

Revinate Marketing (the CRM) has three plans — Starter, Pro, and Custom — but to get pricing, you must book a demo.

Benefits of CRM Software for Hotels

Boost direct bookings. Stop losing revenue to OTAs. With the deep customer insights you get from HubSpot Smart CRM, you can send personalized email campaigns, serve targeted ads, and automate follow-ups — so you can win back bookings on your site.

Improve guest satisfaction through personalization. Medallia research found that guests who feel that their stay had low personalization give an average overall satisfaction rating of 6.1 out of 10. But when guests feel that personalization was high, the average shoots up to 9.2.

HubSpot stores all relevant data related to your guests, such as their preferences, important life events, and prior communications with you. So, whether it’s a repeat guest who prefers a room with a city view, or the newlyweds you want to welcome with champagne and flowers, you can create custom properties to make sure you remember to add that personal touch.

Increase employee productivity. By automating frequent and tedious tasks, you’ll save your staff time and energy. HubSpot lets you automate emails or SMS reminders, or build a chatbot to answer those frequently asked questions. For example, you can use HubSpot to create a workflow that automatically triggers a birthday marketing email to celebrate a guest's special day.

Identify and optimize revenue sources. If you’ve ever wondered whether that holiday email campaign is actually driving bookings or if your social media marketing is worth it, a CRM will help you drill down into efforts so you can spend your dollars where they matter most. With HubSpot's Marketing Hub, you can use the campaign ROI report to pinpoint what's working.

5 Important Features for a Hotel CRM

1. Integrations with other hospitality software: When your CRM can plug and play with all the other software you’re using, you cut down on frustration and time wasted trying to piece everything together. A good hotel CRM will, for instance, be able to connect to your booking engine so every time a reservation is made, a personalized confirmation email can automatically be sent to the guest.

Even without a native integration, a good CRM will be customizable. For instance, HubSpot’s API capabilities can help any size team customize our CRM to get the most value out of the platform. Hotels can work with developers, including parnters from our Solutions Directory, or use an automation platform like Zapier to build custom integrations.

2. Unified guest profile: You’ve likely got data from multiple sources, from your PMS to several OTAs. The true benefit of a CRM is unlocked when you can pull all those datasets, clean and deduplicate them, and then use that guest data to power all of your sales, marketing, and service activities. HubSpot provides automatic deduplication and record merging capabilities to ensure your data is clean and streamlined.

3. Guest feedback surveys: In the hospitality industry, feedback and reviews are everything. Ensure you collect enough of them by getting a CRM that can automate sending guest feedback surveys. With HubSpot's Service Hub, you can set up customer satisfaction surveys and automate follow-up actions based on how a customer rates your service. You can even set up an automatic reminder email if the contact doesn't respond to your survey initially.

4. Sales and marketing automation: Manual follow-ups and marketing content creation can quickly drain your resources. But a CRM can generate emails and images, and even send those emails to guests at the most optimal times. Breeze AI is woven throughout HubSpot’s customer platform, helping you do things like one-click content repurposing, where you can turn one piece of content into several different campaign assets.

5. Automated chatbots: Your customer support staff can easily get overwhelmed during peak periods, which unfortunately detracts from the guest experience. Depending on how you configure them, chatbots can answer questions like, “Do you have any ocean-facing rooms available?” or “What’s my reservation number?” saving your staff time and delighting your guests.

According to the 2025 State of Hotel Guest Tech Report, 70% of hotel guests think chatbots are helpful for simple requests. Try automating your service queries with HubSpot's chatbot builder.

How to Choose a CRM for Hotels (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Take stock of your tech stack. Make a list of all the software your hotel currently uses. Under each item, write the tasks each software is used for, along with any downsides or challenges you’re experiencing with it. Ask your employees, too, what they’re using and the pros and cons of each tool.

Step 2: Identify gaps and pain points that a CRM could fill. After taking stock of your tech stack, you’ll have a better idea of gaps and pain points. You might even find that a CRM could replace one of those tools. For example, maybe you’re using an email marketing tool, but you realize that HubSpot has email marketing campaign creation and automation built into its CRM.

Step 3: Compare ease of use and team fit. For each hotel CRM you’re considering, make a list of features, pros, and cons. Select a few employees to be on your decision-making team. How would they use the CRM? Which features appeal most to them? This is crucial because it’s one thing to purchase and implement a CRM — and a whole other thing to ensure your team actually uses it.

Step 4: Sign up for demos. Next, narrow down the list to two or three hotel C

HubSpot’s Operations Hub pricing guide — streamlined, scalable, and built for growth

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:27:18 +0300

HubSpot’s Operations Hub is designed for teams who want to streamline operations and unlock new growth opportunities for their business. Whether you’re syncing apps, building efficient workflows, or governing complex datasets, Operations Hub helps you transform operations into a growth engine. 83% of businesses saw an increase in revenue in the first 12 months using HubSpot.

From startups seeking automation without chaos to enterprises managing high-scale systems, this guide breaks down everything you need to know about Operations Hub’s pricing and features in 2025 — so you can find the right fit, fast.

Operations Hub Pricing Overview

Operations Hub has everything you need to connect your apps, sync and clean customer data, and automate business processes. Operations Hub is available in multiple pricing tiers to support teams of all sizes and complexities:

Plan

Monthly Price

Key Features

Support

Free Operations Tools

Free for up to 2 users.

Basic data sync, default field mappings

Community Support

Operations Hub Starter

$9/seat (annual) or $15/seat (monthly)

Custom field mappings, permission sets

Email & in-app chat

Operations Hub Professional

$720/seat (annual) or $800/seat (monthly)

Includes 1 Core Seat; Additional Core Seats start at $45/mo

Programmable automation, scheduled workflow triggers

data quality automation, AI-powered data formatting recommendations

Email, phone, and chat

Operations Hub Enterprise

$2,000/mo

Includes 1 Core Seat; Additional Core Seats start at $75/mo

Advanced governance, advanced data calculations and prep, sandbox account, snowflake data share, custom objects, data lineage

Priority support

Free Operations Tools

Price: $0/month

Users: Up to 2 users

Best for: Small teams and startups looking to experiment with Operations Hubs and leverage unpaid features.

Key Features

Start syncing data between HubSpot and dozens of third-party apps — for free.

Email reply tracking

Stripe payment processing

Marketing events object

Contact management

Social login

Email health reporting (limited features)

Key Limitations

The free plan has limited features and options.

Operations Hub Starter

Price: $9/seat (annual) or $15/seat (monthly)

Best for: Small teams and startups looking to unify data between tools and reduce manual tasks.

Key Features

Starter is the perfect entry point for businesses ready to clean up operations with two-way data syncing and more control over data quality. Starter unlocks:

Custom field mappings to align fields across platforms.

Historical data sync for complete CRM data visibility.

Custom properties to tailor the CRM to your business logic.

Data sync with over 100 apps like Salesforce, Mailchimp, and NetSuite.

Starter ensures your data is accurate and up-to-date, making it easier for teams to collaborate using a single source of truth.

Key Limitations

Limited to basic data sync features.

No access to programmable automation.

Operations Hub Professional

Price: $720/seat (annual) or $800/seat (monthly)

Users: Includes 1 Core Seat; Additional Core Seats start at $45/mo

Best for: Growing teams that want to automate complex processes and ensure data hygiene at scale.

Key Features

Professional builds on Starter by introducing powerful tools for automation and workflow integration:

Programmable automation to build custom-coded workflow actions.

Data quality automation to format names, dates, and more without manual effort.

Webhooks for integrating external systems into workflows (up to 10).

Custom reporting and dashboarding.

Team permissions and partitioning (up to 10 teams).

Breeze Customer Agent (100 HubSpot Credits per conversation).

Professional is ideal for operations leaders who need to ensure data is clean, workflows are streamlined, and reporting is precise across departments.

Key Limitations

Does not include custom objects or advanced reporting feature.

Operations Hub Enterprise

Price: $2,000/month

Users: Includes 1 Core Seat; Additional Core Seats start at $75/mo

Best for: Enterprises with complex tech stacks, security requirements, and governance needs.

Key Features

Enterprise includes everything in Professional, plus:

Sandboxes for safely testing changes before going live.

Data lineage tracking to audit data movement and transformations.

Advanced permissions and team hierarchies.

Custom objects to reflect your unique business data model.

Enterprise-grade integrations and multi-team support.

Webhooks for integrating external systems into workflows (up to 100).

Team permissions and partitioning (up to 300 teams).

Breeze Customer Agent (100 HubSpot Credits per conversation).

With HubSpot’s Operations Hub Enterprise, large organizations gain complete control over data quality, governance, and scalability — without sacrificing ease of use.

Key Limitations

Higher cost may not be justified for smaller businesses with limited operational complexity.

Operations Hub Feature Comparison by Tier

Feature

Free

Starter

Professional

Enterprise

Data Sync

Standard

Historical sync + custom field mapping

Webhooks + programmable automation

Advanced governance tools

Automation

None

Basic

Programmable workflows

Multi-level team & process automation

Custom Properties

No

Yes

Yes

Yes + Custom Objects

Sandboxes

No

No

No

Yes

Support

Community

Email & Chat

Phone + Chat

Priority

Choosing the Right Plan

Choose Free Tools if:

You want to test HubSpot's ecosystem with basic integrations.

You want to sync a small number of apps without any upfront cost.

You don’t need automation or customization (yet).

Choose Starter if:

You’re ready to move beyond manual CSV imports.

You need basic workflow automation like assigning owners or updating fields.

You’re managing growing integrations and want more control (field mappings, filters).

You want to connect tools like Salesforce, Zendesk, or NetSuite.

You’re a small team looking to save time through streamlined operations.

Choose Professional if:

You’re scaling quickly and need a flexible but powerful middle-tier option.

Your team relies on complex workflows and multi-step automations.

You require advanced automation logic with custom code actions or triggers.

Your team needs data quality tools to maintain clean, accurate records.

Choose Enterprise if:

You need to manage operations at scale across departments or regions.

You require sandbox environments to test changes safely before deployment.

You want to build custom data objects and manage advanced permissions.

Your business is governed by compliance needs that require audit logs and strict controls.

You need deep analytics and reporting capabilities with datasets and Snowflake integration.

Integration and Additional Costs

HubSpot Operations Hub integrates with over 1,500 applications including Amplitude, Jira, Adobe Express, Aircall, LinkedIn, and Microsoft Teams. Most integrations are included in your plan, though some third-party tools may have separate costs.

Getting Started

HubSpot offers several support options:

24/7 customer support for all paid plans

Free online training through HubSpot Academy

14-day free trial for testing features

For current pricing or custom enterprise quotes, contact HubSpot sales at (888) 482-7768 or visit HubSpot’s pricing calculator for personalized estimates based on your marketing contact volume.

Final Thoughts

HubSpot’s Operations Hub offers a scalable, powerful foundation for data operations and process automation. Whether you’re syncing contacts from Google Sheets, building custom objects to reflect your unique workflows, or running a multi-team, enterprise-grade operation, there’s a plan built for you.

To explore the full range of capabilities or calculate a custom quote based on your team size, visit HubSpot's Operations Hub Pricing.

HubSpot’s Marketing Hub pricing guide — AI-powered software for marketers

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:20:20 +0300

HubSpot’s Marketing Hub is a comprehensive marketing automation platform that helps businesses generate leads, automate campaigns, measure marketing performance, and more — all powered by HubSpot’s AI. With 82% of marketers reporting that HubSpot increased their lead generation, the platform has proven its effectiveness across businesses of all sizes. This guide provides current pricing information for all HubSpot Marketing Hub plans as of 2025.

HubSpot Marketing Hub Pricing Overview

HubSpot Marketing Hub offers four pricing tiers designed to scale with your business needs:

Plan

Monthly Cost

Users Included

Marketing Contacts

Email Sends

Onboarding Fee

Free Marketing Tools

$0

Up to 2 users

None

2,000/month (with branding)

None

Marketing Hub Starter

$9/seat (annual) or $15/seat (monthly)

Per seat pricing

1,000 included

5x contact tier limit per calendar month

None

Marketing Hub Professional

$800/seat (annual) or $890/seat (monthly)

Includes 3 core seats; $45/additional seat (annual) and $50/additional seat (monthly)

2,000 included

10x contact tier limit per calendar month

$3,000

Marketing Hub Enterprise

$3,600/mo

Includes 5 core seats included ($75/additional seat)

10,000 included

20x contact tier limit per calendar month

$7,000

Free Marketing Tools

Price: $0/month

Users: Up to 2 users

Email Sends: 2,000 email sends per calendar month

HubSpot‘s free marketing tools provide basic CRM, email marketing, forms, and live chat functionality without cost. These tools include HubSpot branding but offer essential marketing capabilities for businesses testing marketing automation software before investing in paid plans. The free tier integrates with HubSpot’s Sales Hub, Service Hub, Content Hub, and Operations Hub free tools, creating a complete business platform at no cost.

Key Features

Email marketing with HubSpot branding (2,000 sends per month)

Forms with basic customization options

Email reply tracking

Social Login

One email automation

As retargeting

Live chat functionality with HubSpot branding

Basic reporting and analytics

Integration with other HubSpot free tools

Best for: Startups and small businesses evaluating marketing automation platforms who need basic lead generation tools without upfront investment.

Marketing Hub Starter Pricing

Price: $9/month per seat (billed annually) or $15/month (billed monthly)

Marketing Contacts: 1,000 included

Email Sends: 5x marketing contact tier email send limit per calendar month. Connect and authenticate an email sending domain.

Marketing Hub Starter removes HubSpot branding from emails, forms, and live chat while adding simple automation capabilities that free tools lack. Unlike the free version, Starter includes email and in-app chat support plus Messaging Insights for tracking customer interactions. For businesses comparing basic marketing automation options, Starter provides professional branding and support that free tools cannot match.

Key Features

Remove HubSpot branding from all marketing materials

Email and in-app chat support (unavailable in free tools)

Messaging Insights (Beta) for conversation tracking

Professional email templates and customization

Ad management

Cookie Management Tools

Ad retargeting

Simple marketing automation workflows

Trade-offs vs Free Tools

Advantage: Professional branding, customer support, simple automation

Cost: $108-180 annually per user vs $0 for free tools

Limitation: Still limited to 1,000 marketing contacts and basic automation compared to higher tiers

Best for: Small businesses and startups seeking professional marketing materials, customer support, and basic automation without the complexity and cost of advanced marketing automation platforms.

Marketing Hub Professional Pricing

Price: $800/month (includes 3 seats)

Additional Seats: $45/month per additional seat

Marketing Contacts: 2,000 included

Email Sends: 10x marketing contact tier email send limit per calendar month

Setup Fee: $3,000 one-time Professional Onboarding fee required

Marketing Hub Professional provides comprehensive omni-channel marketing automation, social media management, and advanced reporting that Starter lacks. While Starter offers simple automation, Professional includes complex workflow builders, lead scoring, dynamic personalization, and custom reporting capabilities. The $3,000 setup fee ensures proper implementation of advanced features. 76% of marketing leaders said that HubSpot increased their conversion rate, and customers experience a 134% average increase in traffic.

For businesses comparing marketing automation platforms like Marketo, Pardot, or Mailchimp, Professional offers integrated CRM, social media management, and advanced analytics in one platform rather than requiring multiple tools.

Key Features

Teams functionality for marketing collaboration

Breeze social agent (Beta) for social media automation

Complete social media management and scheduling

Omni-channel marketing automation across email, social, and web

Marketing SMS capabilities (available as add-on)

Custom reporting dashboards and marketing analytics

Dynamic website and email personalization

Advanced Lead Scoring App with behavioral tracking

Campaign reporting for up to 5,000 campaigns

Breeze Customer Agent with 100 HubSpot Credits per conversation

Trade-offs vs Starter

Advantage: Advanced automation, social media management, custom reporting, team collaboration

Cost: $800/month + $3,000 setup vs $27/month for 3 Starter seats

Complexity: Requires onboarding and training vs simple Starter setup

Trade-offs vs Enterprise

Limitation: No attribution modeling, journey analytics, or advanced team management

Savings: $2,800/month less expensive than Enterprise

Campaign limit: 5,000 campaigns vs 10,000 in Enterprise

Best for: Marketing teams running multi-channel campaigns who need advanced automation, social media management, and detailed reporting but don't require enterprise-level attribution modeling or advanced team governance features.

Marketing Hub Enterprise Pricing

Price: $3,600/month (includes 5 seats)

Additional Seats: $75/month per additional seat

Marketing Contacts: 10,000 included

Email Sends: 20x marketing contact tier email send limit per calendar month

Setup Fee: $7,000 one-time Enterprise Onboarding fee required

Marketing Hub Enterprise provides advanced attribution modeling, customer journey analytics, and enterprise-level team management that Professional cannot match. While Professional offers custom reporting, Enterprise includes multi-touch revenue attribution across all marketing channels.

For large organizations comparing enterprise marketing platforms like Adobe Experience Cloud, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, or Oracle Eloqua, Enterprise offers integrated CRM, advanced attribution, and customer journey mapping without requiring separate data integration tools.

Key Features

Multi-touch revenue attribution across all marketing channels up to 10,000 logged interactions per contact

AI social inbox insights (Beta) for social media intelligence

Customer journey analytics and mapping

Advanced team organization with role-based permissions

Lookalike Lists (Beta) for audience expansion

Advanced content and data access controls

Journey automation (Beta) for complex customer workflows

Enhanced Breeze social agent (Beta) with advanced AI capabilities

Campaign reporting for up to 10,000 campaigns

Enterprise-level security and compliance features

Trade-offs vs Professional

Advantage: Attribution modeling, journey analytics, advanced team management, 5x more marketing contacts

Cost: $2,800/month more expensive plus $4,000 higher setup fee

Complexity: Requires extensive onboarding and dedicated admin resources

Trade-offs vs Competitors

Advantage: Integrated CRM and attribution vs separate tools required by Adobe/Salesforce

Consideration: Higher per-contact costs than some enterprise platforms for very large databases

Best for: Large marketing organizations and enterprises needing advanced attribution modeling, sophisticated customer journey analytics, and enterprise-level team management with proven ROI across marketing, sales, and service functions.

Starter Customer Platform — HubSpot's Starter Bundle Built for Startups & Small Businesses

Price: $9/month per seat for your first year ($15/mo per seat thereafter), with upfront payment and annual commitment. Save 40% off the base price for Starter.

The Starter Customer Platform combines Marketing Hub Starter with Sales Hub Starter, Service Hub Starter, Content Hub Starter, and Operations Hub Starter at no additional cost. This integrated approach provides complete business automation compared to purchasing individual marketing automation tools, CRM software, customer service platforms, content management systems, and data integration tools separately.

For businesses comparing all-in-one platforms like Zoho, Pipedrive, or Freshworks, HubSpot’s Starter Bundle offers deeper integration between marketing, sales, and service functions without data silos or separate login requirements.

Included Products

Marketing Hub Starter: Professional email marketing, forms, and simple automation

Sales Hub Starter: CRM, deal tracking, and sales automation

Service Hub Starter: Help desk, ticketing, and customer support tools

Content Hub Starter: Website builder, blog, and content management system

Operations Hub Starter: Data synchronization and workflow automation

Trade-offs

Advantage: Complete business platform for price of marketing tool alone

Limitation: Starter-level features across all hubs vs advanced capabilities in specialized tools

Key Pricing Considerations

Contact Limits and Overage Costs

All paid plans include a specific number of marketing contacts. When you exceed your limit, additional contacts are available at tiered pricing. Marketing contacts are individuals you can market to through HubSpot tools.

Email Send Limits

Each plan includes different email send allowances:

Starter: 2,000 sends per month with branded emails

Professional: 10x your marketing contact tier limit

Enterprise: 20x your marketing contact tier limit

Required Onboarding Fees

Professional and Enterprise plans require mandatory onboarding:

Professional: $3,000 one-time fee

Enterprise: $7,000 one-time fee

These fees ensure proper setup and training for advanced features.

ROI and Business Impact

Based on HubSpot's customer data:

76% of marketers report HubSpot increased their conversion rate

84% of sales professionals say HubSpot improved their lead quality

82% of marketers report HubSpot increased their lead generation

Customers see a 107% increase in inbound leads after 6 months with Marketing Hub

Marketing customers experience a 134% increase in website traffic

Feature Comparison by Plan

5 best CRMs for finance companies in 2025

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Finance companies face unique challenges that require specialized CRM solutions. Managing complex client relationships, ensuring regulatory compliance, and handling sensitive financial data demands more than a basic customer relationship management system. The right CRM streamlines operations while maintaining the security and compliance standards that finance professionals require.

This comprehensive guide compares the top CRM solutions for finance companies, featuring a detailed analysis of pricing, key features, and industry-specific capabilities. We'll cover everything from implementation strategies to frequently asked questions, plus real-world examples of how leading finance companies leverage these platforms to drive growth.

And the results speak for themselves. Companies like Market Financial Solutions grew new inquiries by 30% with HubSpot, demonstrating how the right CRM transforms financial services operations. So read more and learn how HubSpot consistently ranks as the top choice for finance companies seeking an all-in-one platform that scales with their business.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for finance?

CRM Comparison Table

Best CRM Software for Finance Businesses

Benefits of CRM Software for Finance

7 Important Features for a Finance CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Finance (Step-by-Step)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Finance Companies

What is a CRM for finance?

A CRM for finance is specialized software designed to help financial institutions manage client relationships, track sensitive financial data, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. Unlike general CRMs, HubSpot provides finance-specific systems include features like portfolio management, regulatory reporting, and enhanced security protocols tailored to the unique needs of banks, investment firms, and financial advisors.

Best CRMs for Finance Companies at a Glance

Feature

Free Tools

Starter

Professional

Enterprise

Email Marketing

Basic (with HubSpot branding)

2,000 sends/month (no branding)

10x contact tier sends/month

20x contact tier sends/month

Forms

Limited features

No HubSpot branding + additional features

Advanced features

Advanced features

Marketing Automation

None

Simple automation

Omni-channel automation

Journey automation (Beta)

Social Media

None

None

Full social media management

AI social inbox insights (Beta)

Reporting

Basic

Basic

Custom reporting + analytics

Advanced attribution + journey analytics

Lead Scoring

None

None

Lead Scoring App

Advanced lead scoring

Teams/Collaboration

None

None

Teams functionality

Advanced team organization

Campaign Limit

N/A

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial

HubSpot

Growing finance companies

Marketing automation, sales pipelines, compliance tools

Free - $1,170/month

Yes (Free forever)

Salesforce Financial Services Cloud

Large financial institutions

Industry data models, AI-powered insights, regulatory compliance

$300 - $475/user/month

30 days

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Enterprises with Office 365

ERP integration, business intelligence, custom workflows

$95 - $210/user/month

30 days

Creatio

No-code customization needs

Workflow automation, process management, banking templates

$25 - $125/user/month

14 days

Zoho CRM

Small to mid-size finance firms

Cost-effective solution, email integration, basic automation

$12 - $52/user/month

15 days

Best CRM Software for Finance Businesses

Choosing the right CRM transforms how finance companies manage client relationships and drive growth. Each platform offers distinct advantages for different business sizes and requirements.

1. HubSpot

Best For: Growing finance companies seeking an all-in-one marketing, sales, and service platform

HubSpot dominates the finance CRM market by combining powerful automation with user-friendly design. GrowthLab Financial doubled its revenue using HubSpot‘s workflow automation and real-time reporting, showcasing the platform’s ability to scale with ambitious finance companies.

Key HubSpot Features:

• Smart CRM with AI-powered insights – HubSpot provides advanced lead scoring and predictive analytics help finance teams prioritize high-value prospects and identify cross-selling opportunities

• Marketing automation for financial services – Use HubSpot to create targeted campaigns for different client segments while maintaining compliance with financial marketing regulations

• Comprehensive reporting dashboard – Track key performance indicators, including client acquisition costs, lifetime value, and portfolio growth metrics in real-time with HubSpot

HubSpot Pricing:

• Free CRM: $0 (up to 1,000,000 contacts)

• Starter: $50/month for 2 users

• Professional: $1,170/month for 5 users

• Enterprise: Custom pricing

2. Salesforce Financial Services Cloud

Best For: Large financial institutions requiring industry-specific functionality

This CRM provides financial services with its CRM powered by AI. The platform addresses the complex requirements of banks, wealth management firms, and insurance companies with pre-built industry data models.

Key Features:

• Industry-specific data models – Pre-configured objects for accounts, households, and financial relationships that reflect real-world finance industry structures

• AI-powered customer insights – Einstein AI analyzes client data to recommend next-best actions and identify opportunities for deeper engagement

• Regulatory compliance tools – Built-in features for KYC verification, audit trails, and data privacy compliance to meet strict financial industry requirements

Pricing:

• Enterprise Edition: $300/user/month

• Unlimited Edition: $475/user/month

• Custom pricing for additional features

3. Microsoft Dynamics 365

Best For: Enterprises already using Microsoft Office 365 seeking integrated business solutions

This CRM extends beyond traditional functionality to include ERP capabilities, making it ideal for finance companies requiring comprehensive business management tools. Microsoft Dynamics CRM shows a 3-4% smaller market share than Salesforce yet delivers powerful Business Central & Business Intelligence integration.

Key Features:

• Seamless Office 365 integration – Native connectivity with Outlook, Teams, and Excel streamlines daily workflows for finance professionals

• Advanced business intelligence – Built-in Power BI provides sophisticated analytics and reporting capabilities for financial performance tracking

• Customizable workflow automation – Create complex approval processes for loan applications, investment decisions, and compliance procedures

Pricing:

• Sales Professional: $95/user/month

• Customer Service Professional: $95/user/month

• Sales Enterprise: $135/user/month

• Customer Service Enterprise: $210/user/month

4. Creatio

Best For: Finance companies requiring extensive customization without coding

This CRM is a no-code CRM platform that enables users to automate workflows and build applications without writing a single line of code. This flexibility makes it particularly valuable for finance companies with unique processes that don't fit standard CRM templates.

Key Features:

• No-code platform capabilities – Build custom applications and modify workflows using visual designers instead of programming code

• Pre-built finance industry templates – Ready-to-use workflows for loan management, client onboarding, and investment tracking

• 360-degree customer view – Comprehensive client profiles that consolidate financial holdings, communication history, and relationship data

Pricing:

• Marketing Creatio: $25/user/month

• Sales Creatio: $35/user/month

• Service Creatio: $50/user/month

• Studio Creatio: $125/user/month

5. Zoho CRM

Best For: Small to mid-size finance firms seeking cost-effective CRM solutions

This CRM provides essential functionality for growing finance companies without the complexity of enterprise-grade platforms. The system offers solid automation capabilities and integrations at an accessible price point.

Key Features:

• Lead management and scoring – Automatically prioritize prospects based on engagement levels and financial profiles

• Email marketing integration – Built-in email campaigns with templates designed for financial services marketing

• Mobile-first design – Full-featured mobile apps allow finance professionals to access client data and update records from anywhere

Pricing:

• Standard: $12/user/month

• Professional: $20/user/month

• Enterprise: $35/user/month

• Ultimate: $52/user/month

Benefits of CRM Software for Finance

CRM systems deliver measurable value for finance companies by addressing industry-specific challenges:

Enhanced Client Relationship Management – With HubSpot, you can have centralized client data enables personalized service delivery and stronger long-term relationships through better understanding of financial goals and preferences.

Improved Regulatory Compliance – Enjoy the benefits of HubSpot for finance with automated documentation, audit trails, and data security features help finance companies meet strict industry regulations while reducing compliance costs.

Streamlined Sales Processes – Automated lead qualification and opportunity tracking is made easy with HubSpot, accelerating the sales cycle from initial contact to client onboarding and account opening.

Better Cross-Selling Opportunities – HubSpot can provide comprehensive client profiles reveal opportunities for additional financial products and services based on life events and changing financial circumstances.

Increased Operational Efficiency – HubSpot workflow automation eliminates manual tasks like data entry and follow-up scheduling, allowing finance professionals to focus on high-value client interactions.

7 Important Features for a Finance CRM

Security and Compliance Tools – HubSpot's enterprise-grade encryption, granular access controls, and comprehensive audit trails protect sensitive financial data while meeting regulatory requirements

Client Portfolio Management – Track investments, account balances, and financial goals using HubSpot's integrated dashboards that provide a unified view of each client's complete financial picture

Automated Workflow Capabilities – Leverage HubSpot's workflow automation to streamline loan applications, account opening procedures, and compliance processes, reducing manual tasks and human error

Integration with Financial Software – HubSpot's robust API and native integrations seamlessly connect with accounting systems, portfolio management tools, and trading platforms for unified data management

Mobile Access and Functionality – HubSpot's full-featured mobile apps enable financial advisors to access client data, update records, and manage relationships during client meetings and remote work scenarios

Advanced Reporting and Analytics – Generate compliance reports, performance metrics, and client insights using HubSpot's powerful reporting tools and customizable analytics dashboards

Communication Management – HubSpot automatically records and tracks all client interactions across phone calls, emails, and in-person meetings, creating a complete communication history for each relationship

How to Choose a CRM for Finance (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map Your Current Workflows. Document existing processes for client onboarding, lead management, and compliance procedures to identify areas where CRM automation will provide the most value.

Step 2: Identify Must-Have Features. Prioritize security, compliance, and integration capabilities based on your specific regulatory requirements and existing technology infrastructure.

Step 3: Compare Ease of Use and Team Fit. Evaluate user interfaces and training requirements to ensure high adoption rates across your finance team, from advisors to support staff.

Step 4: Check Cost at Scale. Calculate total cost of ownership including user licenses, integrations, and ongoing support as your client base grows over time.

Step 5: Choose a Flexible Platform — like HubSpot. Select a CRM that adapts to changing business needs and regulatory requirements. Allica Bank scaled from start-up to £1bn+ in lending with HubSpot CRM, leveraging its connectivity and scalability to support rapid growth in the competitive finance industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for finance companies?

HubSpot consistently ranks as the top choice for finance companies due to its comprehensive feature set, user-friendly interface, and proven track record in the financial services industry. The platform combines marketing automation, sales management, and customer service tools in one integrated solution.

What features should I look for in a CRM for finance?

Key features include robust security and compliance tools, client portfolio management, workflow automation, integration capabilities with financial software, mobile accessibility, advanced reporting, and comprehensive communication tracking. HubSpot excels in these areas with enterprise-grade security, customizable dashboards for portfolio tracking, and powerful automation tools. Regulatory compliance and data protection are particularly critical for finance industry applications, which HubSpot addresses through its comprehensive audit trails and access controls.

Is HubSpot good for finance companies?

Yes, HubSpot excels for finance companies of all sizes. Market Financial Solutions grew new inquiries by 30% while GrowthLab Financial doubled revenue using HubSpot‘s automation and reporting capabilities. The platform’s scalability and finance-specific features make it ideal for growing financial services firms.

How much does a CRM for finance cost?

Finance CRM pricing varies significantly based on features and user count. Entry-level solutions start around $12/user/month, while enterprise platforms can cost $300-$475/user/month. HubSpot offers exceptional value with a free tier and scalable pricing that grows with your business needs.

What integration capabilities should a finance CRM have?

Finance CRMs should integrate with accounting software, portfolio management systems, trading platforms, email marketing tools, and compliance management systems. HubSpot's extensive integration marketplace and robust API capabilities enable seamless connections with core banking systems and financial planning software. This comprehensive integration ecosystem ensures HubSpot can serve as the central hub for all your client management and financial data needs.

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Finance Companies

HubSpot stands out as the definitive CRM solution for finance companies seeking growth, efficiency, and exceptional client experiences. The platform's comprehensive suite of tools addresses every aspect of financial services operations while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to changing industry requirements.

Key HubSpot Advantages for Finance:

• All-in-one platform eliminates the need for multiple software solutions – Marketing, sales, and service tools work seamlessly together to provide a unified client experience

• Proven ROI for finance companies – Industry-leading automation and analytics drive measurable business results

• Enterprise-grade security with finance industry compliance – Advanced data protection and audit capabilities meet strict regulatory requirements

Commercial Funding Inc. achieved an 80% increase in leads after implementing HubSpot's comprehensive CRM platform. Better.co.uk designed a multi-touchpoint customer contact strategy using HubSpot, increasing customer contact rates and meaningful interactions by 50%. These results demonstrate HubSpot's proven ability to drive growth for finance companies across different sectors.

5 best CRMs for ecommerce businesses in 2025

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Managing customer relationships in ecommerce isn‘t just about collecting emails and tracking orders anymore. Modern ecommerce businesses need powerful CRM systems that can handle complex customer journeys, integrate with multiple sales channels, and provide actionable insights to drive growth.

And don’t just take our word for it, companies like Casio UK grew their ecommerce customers by 27% in a year after implementing HubSpot CRM solutions, proving that the right system can transform your business.

Whether you're running a small online store or a large enterprise ecommerce operation, choosing the right CRM can make the difference between struggling with fragmented customer data and building lasting relationships that drive repeat sales. This comprehensive guide compares the top CRM solutions specifically designed for ecommerce businesses, complete with pricing, features, and real-world results.

We‘ll cover everything from simple solutions perfect for startups to enterprise-grade platforms that can handle millions of transactions. Plus, you’ll discover how leading ecommerce brands are using these tools to increase conversions, improve customer lifetime value, and streamline their operations.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for ecommerce?

CRM Comparison Table

Best CRM Software for Ecommerce Businesses

Benefits of CRM Software for Ecommerce

5 Important Features for an Ecommerce CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Ecommerce (Step-by-Step)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Ecommerce Companies

What is a CRM for ecommerce?

An ecommerce CRM is a customer relationship management system specifically designed to handle the unique challenges of online retail. Unlike traditional CRMs, ecommerce CRMs like HubSpot integrate directly with online stores, payment processors, and marketing platforms to track customer behavior across multiple touchpoints. HubSpot's ecommerce CRM capabilities help businesses understand purchase patterns, automate follow-up campaigns, and personalize the shopping experience to increase customer lifetime value.

Best CRMs for Ecommerce Businesses at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

HubSpot

Growing ecommerce businesses

Free CRM, marketing automation, sales pipeline management

Free - $2,000+/month

Salesforce

Enterprise ecommerce operations

Advanced customization, AI-powered insights, extensive integrations

$25 - $325/user/month

ActiveCampaign

Small to medium ecommerce

Marketing automation, email campaigns, behavioral tracking

$15 - $259/month

Pipedrive

Sales-focused ecommerce teams

Visual sales pipeline, deal management, activity tracking

$14.90 - $99/user/month

Zoho CRM

Budget-conscious businesses

Multi-channel support, inventory management, social media integration

$12 - $52/user/month

Best CRM Software for Ecommerce Businesses

Choosing the right CRM for your ecommerce business requires understanding how each platform handles the unique demands of online retail. Here are the top solutions that have proven themselves with real ecommerce success stories.

1. HubSpot

HubSpot is best for: Growing ecommerce businesses that want an all-in-one marketing, sales, and customer service platform with powerful automation capabilities.

Key HubSpot Features:

Free CRM with unlimited contacts – HubSpot's free CRM is perfect for startups to manage customer relationships without upfront costs

Ecommerce integrations – HubSpot's native Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento connections for seamless data syncing

Marketing automation workflows – Casio‘s abandoned cart series generated nearly £800k in total revenue using HubSpot’s automated sequences

Advanced email marketing – HubSpot's email tools send personalized campaigns with detailed performance tracking and A/B testing

Sales pipeline management – HubSpot's visual deal tracking with automated lead scoring and follow-up reminders

Customer service tools – HubSpot's Service Hub provides integrated ticketing system, live chat, and knowledge base functionality

HubSpot Pricing:

Free Plan: CRM with basic marketing and sales tools for up to 2 users

Starter: $20/month for essential marketing, sales, and service features

Professional: $800/month with advanced automation and custom reporting

Enterprise: $2,000/month with AI-powered features and custom objects

Learn more about HubSpot pricing.

2. Salesforce

Best For: Large enterprise ecommerce operations requiring extensive customization and advanced AI-powered personalization.

Key Features:

AI-powered personalization – Einstein AI delivers product recommendations and predicts customer behavior

Omnichannel commerce – Unified customer experience across web, mobile, social, and physical stores

Advanced analytics – Deep insights into customer journeys and sales performance metrics

Extensive customization – Highly configurable platform with custom objects, fields, and workflows

B2B and B2C capabilities – Support for both business-to-business and consumer ecommerce models

Third-party integrations – Over 5,000 apps in the AppExchange marketplace

Pricing:

Essentials: $25/user/month for basic CRM and email integration

Professional: $80/user/month with advanced customization and API access

Enterprise: $165/user/month with advanced analytics and automation

Unlimited: $330/user/month with unlimited customization and premium support

Explore Salesforce pricing.

3. ActiveCampaign

Best For: Small to medium ecommerce businesses seeking powerful marketing automation at an affordable price.

Key Features:

Visual automation builder – Create complex customer journeys with drag-and-drop simplicity

Ecommerce tracking – Monitor customer behavior and purchase patterns across your website

Predictive sending – AI determines optimal send times for each individual customer

Lead scoring – Automatically score leads based on engagement and behavior

CRM with deals – Track sales opportunities and manage customer relationships

Split testing – Test different campaigns to improve open rates and conversions

Pricing:

Lite: $15/month for basic email marketing and automation

Plus: $70/month with CRM, lead scoring, and advanced automation

Professional: $159/month with predictive sending and advanced reporting

Enterprise: $279/month with custom reporting and dedicated account manager

Explore ActiveCampaign pricing.

4. Pipedrive

Best For: Ecommerce teams focused on sales pipeline management and deal tracking.

Key Features:

Visual sales pipeline – Easy-to-understand pipeline view with drag-and-drop deal management

Activity reminders – Never miss a follow-up with automated activity scheduling

Email integration – Sync emails with Gmail and Outlook for complete communication history

Mobile app – Full CRM functionality on mobile devices for sales teams on the go

Custom fields – Tailor the CRM to track ecommerce-specific data points

Sales reporting – Performance dashboards and conversion metrics for sales optimization

Pricing:

Essential: $14.90/user/month with basic pipeline management

Advanced: $27.90/user/month with email sync and custom fields

Professional: $49.90/user/month with automation and advanced reporting

Power: $64.90/user/month with AI-powered insights and advanced integrations

View Pipedrive pricing.

5. Zoho CRM

Best For: Budget-conscious ecommerce businesses needing comprehensive CRM functionality with social media integration.

Key Features:

Social media integration – Monitor and engage with customers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Inventory management – Track products, manage stock levels, and process orders

Multi-channel support – Email, phone, chat, and social media communication in one platform

Workflow automation – Automate routine tasks and customer communications

Custom dashboards – Create personalized views of sales metrics and customer data

Mobile CRM – Complete CRM functionality on iOS and Android devices

Pricing:

Standard: $12/user/month with basic CRM features and email integration

Professional: $20/user/month with automation and custom modules

Enterprise: $35/user/month with advanced analytics and custom functions

Ultimate: $52/user/month with advanced AI and enhanced security

Check Zoho CRM pricing.

Benefits of CRM Software for Ecommerce

Implementing the right CRM system can transform how your ecommerce business operates and grows. Here are the key benefits that make CRM essential for online retailers:

Unified Customer Data Management: Instead of having customer information scattered across different platforms, HubSpot's CRM centralizes all interactions, purchase history, and preferences in one unified contact record. HubSpot's Smart CRM automatically enriches customer profiles with social media data, company information, and behavioral insights, providing a complete 360-degree view that enables personalized marketing and exceptional customer service.

Automated Marketing Workflows: Casio's lead nurture programme generated nearly £900k using automated workflows, demonstrating the power of HubSpot's Marketing Hub automation capabilities. HubSpot's visual workflow builder allows you to create sophisticated automation sequences triggered by customer actions, dramatically increasing revenue while reducing manual work through intelligent lead scoring and personalized content delivery.

Improved Customer Retention: By tracking customer behavior and purchase patterns through HubSpot's behavioral tracking tools, you can identify at-risk customers using HubSpot's predictive lead scoring and create targeted re-engagement campaigns through HubSpot's email automation. HubSpot's deal and product tracking features help you spot opportunities for upselling and cross-selling based on actual customer data and purchase history.

Enhanced Sales Pipeline Management: HubSpot's Sales Hub allows you to track every potential sale from initial contact to completed purchase through customizable deal stages and pipeline management tools. HubSpot's reporting dashboard provides complete visibility into your sales process, helping identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement through detailed sales analytics and forecasting features.

Data-Driven Decision Making: HubSpot's comprehensive analytics and reporting tools provide detailed insights showing which marketing campaigns work best, which products are most popular, and which customer segments are most profitable. HubSpot's custom reporting dashboard and attribution reporting guide strategic business decisions by connecting marketing activities directly to revenue outcomes and customer lifetime value metrics.

5 Important Features for an Ecommerce CRM

When evaluating CRM options for your ecommerce business, prioritize these essential features that address the unique challenges of online retail:

• Ecommerce Platform Integration – HubSpot provides seamless connection with your online store (Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento) to automatically sync customer and order data

• Customer Segmentation – HubSpot's advanced segmentation tools allow you to group customers by purchase behavior, demographics, or engagement level for targeted marketing

• Email Marketing Automation – HubSpot's built-in tools for creating and sending personalized email campaigns based on customer actions

• Order and Inventory Tracking – HubSpot integrates with your fulfillment process to track orders and manage inventory levels

• Analytics and Reporting – HubSpot delivers detailed insights into customer behavior, sales performance, and marketing campaign effectiveness

How to Choose a CRM for Ecommerce (Step-by-Step)

Selecting the right CRM for your ecommerce business requires careful evaluation of your current needs and future growth plans. Follow these steps to make the best choice:

Step 1: Map Your Current Workflows. Document how you currently handle customer interactions, from initial contact through post-purchase support. Identify pain points where manual processes slow you down or where customer data gets lost between systems.

Step 2: Identify Must-Have Features. Based on your workflow analysis, create a list of essential features. Consider whether you need advanced automation, specific integrations, or particular reporting capabilities that are critical to your business operations.

Step 3: Evaluate Integration Requirements. List all the tools your business currently uses (ecommerce platform, email marketing, accounting software, etc.) and ensure your chosen CRM can integrate with these systems to avoid data silos.

Step 4: Consider Team Size and Scalability. Calculate the total cost of ownership including per-user fees, setup costs, and training time. Consider how pricing will scale as your business grows and adds more team members.

Step 5: Choose a Flexible Platform – Like HubSpot. Look for a CRM that can grow with your business and adapt to changing needs. Brauer Natural Medicine increased their database by 325% with HubSpot because they chose a platform that could scale with their rapid growth while maintaining ease of use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for ecommerce businesses?

HubSpot is widely considered the best CRM for ecommerce businesses because it offers a free tier with powerful features, native ecommerce integrations, and scales effectively as businesses grow. It combines marketing automation, sales pipeline management, and customer service in one platform, making it ideal for online retailers who need comprehensive functionality without complex setup.

What features should I look for in an ecommerce CRM?

Essential features include ecommerce platform integration (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.), abandoned cart recovery, customer segmentation, email marketing automation, order tracking, mobile access, and detailed analytics. HubSpot excels in all these areas, offering robust integrations with major ecommerce platforms and powerful automation tools that can handle your specific workflow needs while seamlessly connecting with your existing tech stack.

Is HubSpot good for ecommerce businesses?

Yes, HubSpot excels for ecommerce businesses of all sizes. CODE41 uses HubSpot to send 2.5 million emails per month to their community and credits the platform with enabling their rapid growth. HubSpot's ecommerce

4 best CRMs for manufacturing businesses in 2025

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Manufacturing companies face unique challenges when managing customer relationships. Complex sales cycles, custom product configurations, and multi-stakeholder decision processes require specialized CRM capabilities that go beyond basic contact management.

Manufacturing businesses need CRMs that can handle detailed product specifications, track lengthy approval processes, and integrate with ERP systems to manage inventory and production schedules.

The right CRM solution transforms how manufacturing companies operate by streamlining quote-to-cash processes, improving sales forecasting accuracy, and enhancing customer service efficiency. This comprehensive comparison examines the top CRM platforms specifically designed to meet manufacturing industry needs, including feature breakdowns, pricing analysis, and implementation guidance.

HubSpot's CRM currently serves manufacturing companies worldwide, with real case studies showing significant growth results. Kuntze Instruments grew their team by 66% after implementing HubSpot's platform, while Epec Engineered Technologies increased their blog subscribers from 50 to over 2,000 and boosted organic traffic by 4.2x.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for manufacturing?

CRM Comparison Table

Best CRM Software for Manufacturing Businesses

Benefits of CRM Software for Manufacturing

4 Important Features for a Manufacturing CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Manufacturing (Step-by-Step)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Manufacturing Companies

What is a CRM for manufacturing?

A CRM for manufacturing is specialized software that manages customer relationships throughout complex B2B sales processes typical in industrial sectors. HubSpot's manufacturing CRM capabilities integrate with existing workflows to track custom product inquiries, manage multi-level approvals, and coordinate between sales, engineering, and production teams.

Best CRMs for Manufacturing Companies at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial

HubSpot

Growing manufacturers needing scalable automation

Custom product catalogs, ERP integration, advanced reporting

Free tier available, paid plans from $45/month

Yes - Free forever plan

Salesforce

Large enterprises with complex customization needs

Advanced workflow automation, AppExchange integrations

From $25/user/month

30-day free trial

NetSuite CRM

Manufacturers requiring full ERP integration

Complete business suite, financial management

Custom pricing

Contact for demo

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Companies using Microsoft ecosystem

Office 365 integration, Power BI analytics

From $65/user/month

30-day free trial

Best CRM Software for Manufacturing Businesses

Selecting the right CRM requires understanding how each platform addresses manufacturing-specific workflows and integration requirements.

1. HubSpot

Source

HubSpot is best for: Growing manufacturing companies seeking comprehensive sales and marketing automation with seamless scalability

Key HubSpot Features:

• Custom Product Catalogs – Use HubSpot to configure complex product specifications and pricing structures that integrate directly with quote generation workflows

• Advanced Manufacturing Reporting – With HubSpot you can track sales performance across product lines, regional territories, and customer segments with real-time dashboard analytics

• ERP Integration Hub – HubSpot can connect seamlessly with SAP, NetSuite, and other manufacturing systems to synchronize inventory, pricing, and order data

HubSpot Pricing:

• Free tier includes basic CRM functionality for unlimited users

• Starter plan begins at $45/month with advanced features

• Professional and Enterprise tiers offer manufacturing-specific customizations

• Custom pricing available for large manufacturing operations

Learn more about HubSpot pricing.

2. Salesforce

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Best For: Large manufacturing enterprises requiring extensive customization and third-party integrations

Key Salesforce Features:

• Lightning Platform – Build custom applications for unique manufacturing processes and compliance requirements

• Territory Management – Assign sales territories based on geographic regions, product expertise, or customer segments

• Advanced Analytics – Einstein AI provides predictive insights for sales forecasting and customer behavior analysis

Salesforce Pricing:

• Essentials plan starts at $25/user/month

• Professional plan at $75/user/month includes advanced features

• Enterprise and Unlimited tiers offer full customization capabilities

Learn more about Salesforce pricing.

3. NetSuite CRM

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Best For: Established manufacturers requiring complete business management suite integration

Key NetSuite Features:

• Complete ERP Integration – Unified platform manages CRM, inventory, financials, and production planning

• Real-Time Visibility – Access current inventory levels and production schedules during sales conversations

• Industry-Specific Functionality – Pre-built manufacturing workflows and compliance reporting

NetSuite Pricing:

• Custom pricing based on modules and user count

• Implementation and training services available

• Contact NetSuite directly for detailed quotes

Learn more about NetSuite pricing.

4. Microsoft Dynamics 365

Best For: Manufacturing companies heavily invested in Microsoft ecosystem requiring advanced analytics

Key Dynamics 365 Features:

• Office 365 Integration – Seamless connectivity with Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint

• Power BI Analytics – Advanced reporting capabilities with interactive dashboards

• AI-Powered Insights – Predictive analytics for sales forecasting and customer behavior

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Pricing:

• Sales Professional starts at $65/user/month

• Sales Enterprise at $95/user/month includes advanced AI features

• Custom pricing available for enterprise implementations

Learn more about Microsoft Dynamics 365 pricing.

Benefits of CRM Software for Manufacturing

Manufacturing companies implementing CRM systems typically experience significant operational improvements across multiple business functions.

Enhanced Sales Cycle Management – HubSpot's deal stages and custom properties streamline complex B2B processes by tracking multi-stakeholder decision cycles and maintaining detailed interaction histories throughout lengthy approval processes using HubSpot's comprehensive contact timeline and activity tracking.

Improved Quote Accuracy and Speed – HubSpot's custom objects for product configuration and quote automation enable sales teams to access real-time inventory data and pricing information through integrated workflows, reducing quote preparation time while minimizing errors that delay order processing.

Better Customer Service Coordination – HubSpot's Service Hub centralizes customer communications across sales, support, and technical teams through shared inboxes and conversation routing, ensuring consistent messaging and faster resolution of complex manufacturing inquiries with HubSpot's ticketing system and knowledge base.

Advanced Sales Forecasting – HubSpot's sales analytics and forecasting tools leverage historical data and pipeline analytics to predict revenue more accurately, supporting better production planning and resource allocation decisions through HubSpot's custom reporting dashboards and deal probability tracking.

Streamlined Communication Between Departments – HubSpot's team management and internal notifications connect sales teams with engineering and production departments through task assignments and workflow automation, ensuring accurate product specifications and realistic delivery timelines throughout the sales process using HubSpot's project management capabilities.

4 Important Features for a Manufacturing CRM

ERP System Integration – HubSpot's robust integration capabilities provide seamless connectivity with existing manufacturing software, including inventory management, production planning, and financial systems. HubSpot's App Marketplace offers pre-built connectors for popular ERP platforms, enabling manufacturers to synchronize data across their entire tech stack without manual data entry.

Custom Product Configuration – HubSpot's custom objects feature allows manufacturers to create detailed product catalogs with specifications, pricing tiers, and compatibility requirements for complex manufacturing offerings. HubSpot's flexible data structure enables sales teams to configure products with multiple variables, ensuring accurate quoting for custom manufacturing solutions.

Advanced Pipeline Management – HubSpot's multi-stage pipeline tracking accommodates lengthy manufacturing sales cycles with multiple approval levels and stakeholder involvement. HubSpot's deal stages and automated workflows help manufacturers manage complex B2B sales processes, from initial inquiry through contract approval and production scheduling.

Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics – HubSpot's advanced reporting capabilities track manufacturing-specific KPIs, including sales by product line, regional performance, and customer lifetime value analysis. HubSpot's custom reporting dashboard allows manufacturing teams to monitor key metrics like quote-to-close ratios, production capacity utilization, and sales velocity across different product categories.

How to Choose a CRM for Manufacturing (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map Your Current Sales Workflows. Document existing processes from initial inquiry through order fulfillment, identifying bottlenecks and manual tasks that could benefit from automation.

Step 2: Identify Must-Have Integration Requirements. List current software systems including ERP, inventory management, and accounting platforms that require CRM connectivity for seamless data flow.

Step 3: Evaluate Team Adoption and Ease of Use. Consider your team's technical expertise and change management capabilities when comparing user interfaces and training requirements across different platforms.

Step 4: Calculate Total Cost of Ownership at Scale. Factor in licensing costs, implementation fees, training expenses, and ongoing maintenance when projecting CRM investment over multiple years.

Step 5: Choose a Flexible Platform That Grows With Your Business. Select a CRM that accommodates future expansion into new markets, product lines, or geographic territories without requiring complete system replacement. Kuntze Instruments successfully grew their team by 66% after consolidating their fragmented tech stack onto HubSpot's unified platform, eliminating the need to manage multiple systems across sales, marketing, and service teams.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for manufacturing companies?

HubSpot consistently ranks as the top choice for manufacturing businesses due to its combination of ease of use, powerful automation capabilities, and seamless ERP integration options. The platform serves over 2,000 manufacturing companies worldwide with specialized features for complex B2B sales processes.

What features should I look for in a manufacturing CRM?

Essential features include ERP system integration, custom product configuration tools, advanced pipeline management for lengthy sales cycles, mobile access for field sales teams, automated quote generation, and comprehensive reporting that tracks manufacturing-specific KPIs across product lines and territories. HubSpot delivers all these capabilities through its custom objects for product configuration, deal stage customization for complex sales processes, HubSpot Mobile app for field teams, and advanced reporting dashboards tailored to manufacturing metrics.

Is HubSpot good for manufacturing businesses?

Yes, HubSpot excels in manufacturing environments by offering specialized tools for complex sales processes, seamless integration with popular ERP systems, and scalable pricing that grows with your business. Manufacturing customers like Kuntze Instruments report significant operational improvements, including streamlined team collaboration and improved customer service efficiency after consolidating their tech stack on HubSpot's platform.

How much does a manufacturing CRM cost?

CRM pricing varies significantly based on features and user count. Basic solutions start around $15/user/month, while enterprise platforms can exceed $100/user/month. HubSpot offers exceptional value with a free tier for growing manufacturers and paid plans beginning at $45/month, providing comprehensive functionality that scales with your manufacturing business needs without the complexity of traditional enterprise CRM pricing models.

What integrations are most important for manufacturing CRMs?

Critical integrations include ERP systems (SAP, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics), inventory management platforms, accounting software (QuickBooks, Sage), email marketing tools, and document management systems. HubSpot's extensive integration marketplace and robust API capabilities ensure seamless data flow between sales and operational systems, with pre-built connectors for major manufacturing software and the flexibility to create custom integrations for specialized manufacturing tools.

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Manufacturing Companies

HubSpot stands out as the premier CRM solution for manufacturing businesses seeking comprehensive sales automation without the complexity of traditional enterprise platforms.

• Industry-Specific Customization – Pre-built manufacturing workflows and pipeline templates designed for complex B2B sales processes typical in industrial sectors

• Seamless ERP Integration – Native connectivity with leading manufacturing systems ensures real-time inventory visibility and accurate quote generation

• Scalable Growth Platform – Flexible pricing and feature sets accommodate everything from startup manufacturers to established industrial companies with global operations

Kuntze Instruments reduced customer service response time by seven hours per week after implementing HubSpot's integrated knowledge base and automated ticket routing system. Similarly, Epec Engineered Technologies transformed their lead generation strategy using HubSpot's automation tools, growing their blog subscribers forty-fold while improving sales and marketing alignment across their manufacturing operations.

Ready to see how HubSpot can transform your manufacturing business operations? Get started with HubSpot's free CRM today and discover why manufacturing companies worldwide trust our platform to drive growth and efficiency.

A specialized CRM system helps consulting firms organize client data, automate follow-ups, track project progress, and deliver personalized experiences that win and retain high-value clients. Consulting firms using CRM software report 45% more qualified leads and significantly improved client retention rates.

This comprehensive guide compares the top 4 CRM solutions for consulting businesses, featuring detailed pricing breakdowns, key capabilities, and real-world success stories. We'll also provide actionable guidance on selecting the right platform and explain why HubSpot stands out as the leading choice for consulting firms looking to scale their operations effectively.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for consulting?

CRM Comparison Table

Best CRM Software for Consulting Businesses

Benefits of CRM software for Consulting

6 Important Features for a Consulting CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Consulting (Step-by-Step)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Consulting Companies

What is a CRM for consulting?

A CRM for consulting is specialized software designed to help consulting firms manage client relationships, track project pipelines, and streamline business development processes. HubSpot serves as an ideal platform for consulting firms because it's built to support long-term, relationship-driven consulting workflows that are essential to professional services success.

Best CRMs for Consulting Firms at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial

HubSpot

Full-service consulting firms

All-in-one platform, marketing automation, advanced reporting

Free - $4,300/month

Forever free plan

Salesforce

Large consulting enterprises

Advanced customization, AI capabilities, extensive integrations

$25 - $500+/user/month

30 days

Monday.com

Project-focused consultants

Visual project management, custom workflows, team collaboration

$10 - $33/user/month

14 days

Zoho CRM

Budget-conscious small firms

Affordable pricing, comprehensive features, AI assistant

Free - $57/user/month

30 days

Best CRM Software for Consulting Businesses

Choosing the right CRM can transform how your consulting firm manages client relationships and grows revenue. Here are the top 4 solutions that excel in the consulting space:

1. HubSpot

HubSpot is best for: Full-service consulting firms seeking an all-in-one platform for marketing, sales, and client management

Key HubSpot Features:

Integrated Marketing Hub – Create content, manage campaigns, and nurture leads with HubSpot's built-in blogging, email marketing, and social media tools that consulting firms need to establish thought leadership and demonstrate expertise

Advanced Deal Pipeline Management – Customize sales stages within HubSpot to match consulting sales processes, from initial discovery to proposal approval and contract signing, with HubSpot's automated task assignments and deal progression tracking

Comprehensive Reporting & Analytics – Track ROI across marketing campaigns, measure sales team performance, and gain insights into client acquisition costs with HubSpot's real-time dashboards and custom reports designed specifically for professional services businesses

HubSpot Pricing:

Free Plan: Forever free for up to 2 users with basic CRM, contact management, and limited marketing tools

Starter Plans: From $20/month for basic automation and customization

Professional: $1,170/month for 5 users with advanced features, custom reporting, and forecasting

Enterprise: $4,300/month for 7 users with premium AI features, custom objects, and dedicated support

Learn more about HubSpot pricing.

2. Salesforce

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Best For: Large consulting enterprises requiring extensive customization and enterprise-grade security

Key Features:

Professional Services Cloud – Purpose-built functionality for consultants including resource management, project tracking, and client portal integration specifically designed for consulting workflows

Einstein AI Capabilities – Leverage artificial intelligence for lead scoring, opportunity insights, and predictive forecasting to identify the most promising consulting prospects and deals

Extensive Integration Ecosystem – Connect with 5,000+ third-party applications including project management tools, accounting software, and specialized consulting platforms through the AppExchange marketplace

Pricing:

Essentials: $25/user/month for basic CRM functionality

Professional: $80/user/month with workflow automation and customization

Enterprise: $165/user/month with advanced customization and API access

Unlimited: $330/user/month with unlimited storage and premium support

Note: Professional Services Cloud requires additional licensing

Learn more about Salesforce pricing.

3. Monday.com

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Best For: Project-focused consulting firms that need strong visual project management alongside CRM functionality

Key Features:

Visual Project Management – Track consulting engagements from prospect to delivery using customizable boards, timeline views, and Gantt charts that make complex projects easy to manage

Custom Workflow Automation – Set up automated notifications, status updates, and task assignments that keep consulting projects moving forward without manual intervention

Client Collaboration Portals – Share project progress with clients through branded portals that enhance transparency and build stronger relationships throughout engagements

Pricing:

Basic: $10/user/month with essential CRM and project features (minimum 3 users)

Standard: $14/user/month with advanced automations and integrations

Pro: $28/user/month with advanced reporting and time tracking

Enterprise: Custom pricing with enhanced security and admin controls

Learn more about Monday.com pricing.

4. Zoho CRM

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Best For: Budget-conscious small consulting firms seeking comprehensive functionality at an affordable price point

Key Features:

AI-Powered Sales Assistant (Zia) – Get intelligent insights about deal progression, lead scoring, and optimal follow-up timing to help consulting firms focus on the most promising opportunities

Comprehensive Business Suite Integration – Seamlessly connect with projects, and other business applications to manage the entire consulting business lifecycle from one platform

Advanced Customization Options – Create custom modules, fields, and workflows tailored to specific consulting niches without requiring technical expertise or expensive development costs

Pricing:

Free Plan: Up to 3 users with basic CRM functionality

Standard: $14/user/month with automation and customization

Professional: $23/user/month with advanced features and sales forecasting

Enterprise: $40/user/month with premium analytics and multi-currency support

Ultimate: $57/user/month with advanced AI and developer features

Learn more about Zoho CRM pricing.

Benefits of CRM Software for Consulting

Implementing the right CRM system delivers measurable advantages that directly impact consulting firm profitability and growth:

Enhanced Client Relationship Management – HubSpot's unified client views help consulting firms maintain detailed interaction histories through comprehensive contact timelines, track client preferences using custom properties, and deliver personalized experiences through HubSpot's contact insights that strengthen long-term partnerships and increase retention rates.

Streamlined Lead Management – HubSpot's lead capture tools enable consultants to capture prospects from multiple channels through forms and chatbots, qualify opportunities efficiently using HubSpot's lead scoring system, and nurture potential clients through extended sales cycles using HubSpot's automated email sequences that are essential for professional services success.

Improved Sales Pipeline Visibility – HubSpot's real-time dashboards provide consulting teams with instant insights into deal progression through customizable pipeline views, revenue forecasting using HubSpot's forecasting tools, and bottleneck identification through deal stage analytics, allowing for proactive management of opportunities and more accurate business planning.

Automated Administrative Tasks – HubSpot's automated workflows reduce time spent on data entry through smart contact creation, follow-up reminders via task automation, and status updates using HubSpot's deal and task automation, freeing consultants to focus on high-value client work and business development activities that drive revenue growth.

Better Team Collaboration – HubSpot's shared CRM database ensures all team members have access to current client information through unified contact records, project status updates via HubSpot's deal tracking, and complete communication history through HubSpot's activity timeline, eliminating information silos and improving service delivery consistency across the consulting firm.

6 Important Features for a Consulting CRM

When evaluating CRM solutions for your consulting business, prioritize these essential capabilities:

Custom pipeline management – HubSpot's deal pipelines allow you to create custom sales stages that reflect consulting-specific processes, from initial inquiry through proposal, negotiation, and contract signing, with automated deal progression and stage-specific task assignments.

Advanced contact management – HubSpot's contact records support multiple stakeholders per company through associated contacts, relationship mapping via HubSpot's company hierarchy tools, and detailed interaction tracking through HubSpot's contact timelines that capture every touchpoint across extended sales cycles.

Project integration capabilities – HubSpot's custom objects and deal associations enable seamless connection between sales opportunities and project delivery phases, supporting end-to-end client lifecycle management from initial sale through project completion and renewal opportunities.

Automated follow-up sequences – HubSpot's marketing automation and workflow tools provide intelligent automation that nurtures prospects through long sales cycles using personalized email sequences, task reminders, and lead scoring without manual intervention or missed touchpoints.

Comprehensive reporting & analytics – HubSpot's real-time dashboards and custom reporting show pipeline health through deal stage analytics, revenue forecasting using HubSpot's forecasting tools, and team performance metrics with consulting-specific KPIs tailored to professional services businesses.

Mobile access & offline capability – HubSpot's mobile app provides full CRM functionality on mobile devices with offline sync capabilities, allowing consultants to access client data, update deal information, and log activities while working on-site with clients.

How to Choose a CRM for Consulting (Step-by-Step)

Selecting the right CRM for your consulting firm requires careful evaluation of your specific needs and growth plans:

Step 1: Map your current workflows. Document your existing sales and client management processes, identifying pain points, manual tasks, and areas where automation could improve efficiency and reduce errors.

Step 2: Identify must-have features. Based on your workflow analysis, create a prioritized list of essential features such as custom fields, automation rules, reporting capabilities, and integration requirements.

Step 3: Compare ease of use and team fit. Evaluate how intuitive each platform is for your team, considering factors like learning curve, user interface design, and training requirements to ensure successful adoption.

Step 4: Check cost at scale. Calculate the total cost of ownership, including licensing, implementation, training, and ongoing support costs, as your team grows over the next 2-3 years.

Step 5: Choose a flexible platform — Like HubSpot. Select a CRM that can evolve with your business needs, offering scalability, customization options, and a robust ecosystem of integrations and add-ons. But don't just take our word for it, companies like TransFunnel Consulting increased their retainer clients by 50% after implementing HubSpot's comprehensive platform, demonstrating the platform's effectiveness for consulting firms seeking sustainable growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for consulting firms?

HubSpot consistently ranks as the top choice for consulting businesses due to its all-in-one platform combining CRM, marketing automation, and sales tools. The integrated approach eliminates data silos and provides the comprehensive functionality consulting firms need to attract, convert, and retain clients effectively.

What features should I look for in a CRM for consulting?

Key features include custom pipeline management for complex sales cycles, advanced contact management for multiple stakeholders, project integration capabilities, automated follow-up sequences, comprehensive reporting and analytics, and mobile access for consultants working on-site with clients. HubSpot delivers all these essential consulting features through its deal pipelines, contact association tools, workflow automation, custom reporting dashboards, and mobile app functionality designed specifically for relationship-driven businesses.

Is HubSpot good for consulting firms?

Yes, HubSpot excels for consulting businesses because it combines CRM functionality with marketing automation, content management, and sales enablement tools. The platform supports the relationship-driven nature of consulting with features like detailed contact histories, automated nurturing sequences, and integrated project management capabilities.

How much does a CRM for consulting cost?

CRM pricing for consulting firms ranges from free options to enterprise solutions costing $500+ per user monthly. HubSpot offers exceptional value with a free CRM tier that includes essential features, while HubSpot's paid plans range from $45-$1,200 per month, depending on your needs. Most consulting firms find HubSpot's mid-tier plans provide

7 best CRMs for event management businesses

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:30:00 +0300

Running an event management business is tough. You‘re juggling clients, vendors, venues, and countless moving parts. That’s where a great CRM comes in. It keeps everything organized in one place.

This guide breaks down the top 7 CRMs built for event managers like you. We‘ll show you real pricing, actual features, and honest comparisons. Plus, we’ll answer the questions you're really asking.

Event companies using the right CRM respond to leads faster and keep more clients happy. For example, globally renowned music festival brand UNTOLD saved over 7,000 hours annually after switching to HubSpot.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for event management?

Best CRMs for Event Management at a Glance

Best CRM Software for Event Management Businesses

Benefits of CRM Software for Event Management

8 Important Features for an Event Management CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Event Management (Step-by-Step)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Event Management Companies

What is a CRM for event management?

A CRM for event management is your digital command center. It tracks every client conversation, vendor email, and event deadline. Think of it as your super-organized assistant that never forgets anything.

Regular CRMs work fine for simple businesses. But event planning? That's different. You need something that handles complex timelines, multiple stakeholders, and constant changes.

HubSpot gets this. It brings together all your guest data and creates personalized experiences across your sales, marketing, and service teams.

Best CRMs for Event Management at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial?

HubSpot

Growing event companies seeking comprehensive automation

Event pipeline management, vendor tracking, automated follow-ups

Free tier available; Starter $15/month

Yes

Salesforce

Large event enterprises with complex customization needs

Advanced customization, enterprise integrations, reporting

Essentials $25/month; Platform Plus $100/month

Yes

Pipedrive

Small event planners focused on deal tracking

Visual pipeline, mobile access, email sync

Essential $14/month; Advanced $39/month

Yes

Zoho CRM

Budget-conscious event companies

Affordable pricing, social media integration, automation

Standard $14/month; Professional $23/month

Yes

Airtable

Creative event teams needing visual project management

Database-spreadsheet hybrid, visual project boards

Free tier available; Team $10/month

Yes

Monday.com

Event teams prioritizing collaboration and project tracking

Team collaboration, visual timelines, custom workflows

Basic $9/month; Standard $12/month

Yes

Copper

Event companies using Google Workspace extensively

Google integration, relationship intelligence, automation

Starter $12/month; Basic $29/month

Yes

Best CRM Software for Event Management Businesses

Let's dive into what makes each platform special for event managers.

1. HubSpot

Best For: Growing event companies who want HubSpot's powerful automation without the complexity

HubSpot wins hands down for event management. It's built for businesses that need to scale fast while keeping things simple. Everything connects seamlessly—no more jumping between different tools.

Key HubSpot Features:

Event Pipeline Management with HubSpot's Custom Stages – HubSpot lets you create deal stages that match exactly how you work. From first call to final invoice, nothing slips through the cracks.

Automated Client Communications through HubSpot Workflows – HubSpot sends follow-up emails, contract reminders, and thank-you notes automatically. Your clients always hear from you at the right time.

Vendor and Stakeholder Tracking via HubSpot's Contact Management – HubSpot keeps detailed records of every vendor, venue, and client interaction. You'll know who prefers what and when they last talked.

HubSpot Pricing:

Free Plan: Basic CRM, contact management, email marketing (up to 2,000 emails/month), forms, and landing pages

Starter: $15/month per user - Custom properties, basic automation, remove HubSpot branding, meeting scheduling

Professional: $890/month per user - Advanced automation, custom reporting, A/B testing, sales automation

Enterprise: $3,600/month per user - Advanced AI features, custom objects, predictive lead scoring, hierarchical teams

2. Salesforce

Source

Best For: Large event enterprises that need deep customization

This CRM is built for companies running frequent events with enterprise clients.

Key Features:

Advanced Event Tracking – Custom objects for events, venues, vendors, and attendees with relationship mapping

Einstein AI Integration – Predictive analytics for event success rates and pricing recommendations

Enterprise Integrations – Connects with accounting software, marketing platforms, and specialized event tools

Pricing:

Essentials: $25/month per user

Platform Plus: $100/month per user

3. Pipedrive

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Best For: Small event planners

This CRM is popular among solo planners or small teams who don't need too many special features.

Key Features:

Visual Event Pipeline – Drag-and-drop interface showing potential events from contact to contract

Mobile-First Design – Update client info and track progress while on-site at events

Email Integration and Tracking – Automatic email sync with open and click tracking

Pricing:

Essential: $14/month

Advanced: $39/month

Professional: $49.90/month

Enterprise: $99/month

4. Zoho CRM

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Best For: Budget-conscious event companies that need solid features

This CRM is often used by growing businesses watching their budget.

Key Features:

Social Media Integration – Monitor brand mentions and engage with potential clients on social platforms

Workflow Automation – Automated lead assignment, follow-up reminders, and contract milestone notifications

Multi-Channel Communication – Email, phone, social media, and live chat all in one place

Pricing:

Standard: $14/month with basic automation and customization

Professional: $23/month including advanced customization and analytics

Enterprise: $40/month with advanced automation and territory management

Ultimate: $52/month with enhanced analytics and premium support

5. Airtable

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Best For: Creative event teams who think in visuals

It's excellent for creative teams who want their projects laid out visually.

Key Features:

Database-Spreadsheet Hybrid – Familiar spreadsheet feel with great database capabilities

Visual Project Boards – Kanban-style boards for tracking event progress and vendor coordination

Custom Field Types – Attachments, checkboxes, ratings, and formulas for diverse event planning data

Pricing:

Free: Basic features

Team: $20/month

Business: $45/month

Enterprise: Custom pricing for unlimited records and advanced security

6. Monday.com

Source

Best For: Event teams who need everyone on the same page

This CRM is ideal for team collaboration.

Key Features:

Team Collaboration Tools – Real-time updates, @mentions, and file sharing keep everyone synchronized

Visual Timeline Management – Gantt charts and timeline views for complex event coordination

Custom Workflow Automation – Automated status updates, deadline reminders, and task assignments

Pricing:

Free tier

Basic: $9/month

Standard: $12/month

Pro: $19/month

Enterprise: Contact for pricing

7. Copper

Source

Best For: Event companies using Google Workspace

This CRM integrates well with Google tools like Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive.

Key Features:

Native Google Integration – Automatic sync with Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive

Relationship Intelligence – AI insights on relationship strength and optimal contact timing

Pipeline Automation – Moves deals through stages based on email interactions and calendar events

Pricing:

Starter: $12/month

Basic: $29/month

Professional: $69/month

Business: $134/month

Benefits of CRM Software for Event Management

The right CRM transforms your event business. Here's how top platforms like HubSpot make your life easier and your business more profitable.

Centralized Communication Made Simple – No more email chaos. HubSpot‘s unified system keeps all vendor, client, and team conversations in one place. You’ll never lose another important email or miss a crucial deadline again.

Timeline Management That Actually Works – HubSpot's automation handles the boring stuff. Contract reminders, payment alerts, and vendor confirmations are all sent automatically. You focus on the creative work while HubSpot handles the details.

Clients Who Actually Love You – HubSpot's marketing automation sends personalized follow-ups and thank-you notes. Your clients feel special because they are. Happy clients become repeat clients and referrals.

More Money in Your Pocket – HubSpot‘s analytics show you which events make the most money. You’ll spot trends, optimize pricing, and focus on what works.

Time to Actually Think – HubSpot eliminates busy work. Less data entry, less chasing down information.

8 Important Features for an Event Management CRM

Here's what your event management CRM absolutely needs to have. HubSpot leads the pack in every category.

• Multi-Project Pipeline Management – Track multiple events simultaneously without losing your mind. HubSpot's custom pipeline stages show exactly where each event stands, making resource planning a breeze.

• Vendor and Venue Database – Keep detailed records of every supplier, their pricing, and performance ratings. HubSpot‘s contact management system remembers everything, so you don’t have to.

• Automated Communication Workflows – Send the right message at the right time, every time. HubSpot's marketing automation handles follow-ups, reminders, and thank-you notes automatically.

• Document and Contract Management – Store proposals, contracts, and invoices in one secure place. HubSpot's document management keeps everything organized with version control and approval workflows.

• Mobile Access That Actually Works – Update client info and track progress from anywhere. HubSpot's mobile app gives you full CRM power on your phone or tablet.

• Integration Heaven – Connect with your favorite tools seamlessly. HubSpot's marketplace offers over 1,000 integrations, from accounting software to specialized event tools.

• Reports That Make Sense – See which events make money and which don‘t. HubSpot’s reporting shows revenue trends, client costs, and vendor performance in easy-to-read dashboards.

• Team Collaboration Without the Drama – Keep everyone on the same page with shared inboxes and task assignments. HubSpot‘s collaboration tools mean no more "I didn’t know" moments.

How to Choose a CRM for Event Management (Step-by-Step)

Picking the right CRM doesn't have to be overwhelming. Follow these steps to find your perfect match.

Step 1: Map Your Event Planning Process. Write down everything you do, from the first client call to the final invoice. Include every email, phone call, and meeting. This will show you exactly what features you need.

Step 2: List Your Must-Have Features. Based on your workflow, pick your non-negotiable features. Most event managers need vendor tracking, timeline management, and automated communication. Don‘t pay for features you’ll never use.

Step 3: Think About Your Tea.m Consider who'll actually use this system. Are they tech-savvy or tech-phobic? The best CRM is one your team will actually adopt. Pretty features mean nothing if nobody uses them.

Step 4: Calculate the Real Cos.t Look beyond the monthly price. Factor in setup time, training, and potential overage charges. Sometimes the cheapest option costs the most in the long run.

Step 5: Pick a Platform That Grows with Your Event Management Business. Choose something that evolves with you. HubSpot‘s modular approach means you start simple and add features as you grow. After implementing HubSpot’s integrated system, UNTOLD unified 1000+ customer profiles and saved over 7,000 hours of work annually through smart automation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for event management?

HubSpot wins for event management, no contest. It combines powerful automation with simple usability. HubSpot's platform handles complex stakeholder relationships while keeping everything organized. Companies like UNTOLD saved thousands of hours annually after switching to HubSpot.

What features should I look for in a CRM for event management?

Focus on pipeline management, vendor databases, automated communication, document storage, mobile access, integrations, and reporting. HubSp

7 best CRM software for staffing agencies

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:30:00 +0300

Running a staffing agency means juggling a lot of moving pieces. You manage thousands of candidate profiles, build relationships with clients across different industries, track placements through complex pipelines, and stay on top of employment compliance.

It‘s a lot, and traditional CRMs often don’t cut it for the unique challenges staffing professionals face daily.

That's where specialized CRM software comes in. The right platform can automate your recruiting workflows, help you engage candidates more effectively, and streamline how you manage client relationships.

We've compiled this comprehensive guide to help you find the perfect CRM solution for your staffing agency, complete with feature breakdowns, pricing details, and real success stories from agencies like yours.

Something that might surprise you is that staffing agencies using integrated CRM systems can process way more leads and see much higher conversion rates.

Take Triage Staffing, for example — they went from processing 400 leads monthly to handling thousands while saving their compliance team 80 hours per week with help from HubSpot, showing how powerful the right CRM can be for transforming your staffing operations.

Table of Contents

Best CRMs for Staffing Agencies at a Glance

What is a CRM for staffing agencies?

Best CRM Software for Staffing Businesses

Benefits of CRM Software for Staffing Agencies

6 Important Features for a Staffing CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Staffing Agencies (Step-by-Step)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Staffing Companies

Best CRMs for Staffing Agencies at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial?

HubSpot

Full-service staffing agencies wanting integrated marketing automation and client management

Workflow automation, candidate nurturing, client relationship tracking, scalable contact management

Free plan available; Starter $15/month per user

Yes

Bullhorn

Mid to large staffing agencies needing comprehensive ATS and CRM integration

AI-powered matching, resume parsing, job posting automation, client portal

Starting at $99/month per user

No

Recruit CRM

Growing staffing firms prioritizing ease of use and comprehensive reporting

Built-in reporting suite, email automation, candidate lifecycle tracking, custom workflows

Contact for pricing

Yes

Zoho Recruit

Budget-conscious agencies seeking customizable workflows

Multi-channel job posting, candidate assessment, social recruiting, workflow automation

Free plan available; $25/month per user

Yes

RecruiterFlow

Ambitious recruiting firms focused on automation and pipeline management

Kanban-style boards, advanced automation, 150+ job board integrations, email sequences

Plans start at $99/month per user

Yes

Crelate

Executive search firms needing AI-driven candidate matching

AI resume summarization, competitive insights, candidate search optimization, interview automation

Starting at $99/month per user

No

Manatal

Small to medium agencies requiring mobile-first solutions

Chrome extension for data capture, customizable pipelines, social media sourcing, mobile app

Starting at $15/month per user

Yes

What is a CRM for staffing agencies?

Think of a CRM for staffing agencies as your command center for everything recruitment-related. It's specialized software that brings together all your candidate and client data, automates your recruiting workflows, and streamlines your entire talent acquisition process.

Unlike regular CRMs, these platforms are built specifically for what you do, with features like resume parsing, applicant tracking, placement management, and compliance tracking.

HubSpot is an excellent example of how modern CRM platforms can bring everything together.

It unifies your candidate and client data so you can create personalized recruiting experiences across your sales, marketing, and service teams. Instead of jumping between different tools, you get one single source of truth for all your staffing operations.

Best CRM Software for Staffing Businesses

1. HubSpot

Best For: Staffing agencies that want it all — powerful HubSpot CRM capabilities combined with marketing automation and client relationship management that actually works together.

Key HubSpot Features:

Scalable Contact Management – Handles up to 1,000,000 contacts in their free plan with unlimited users. That means you can grow your candidate database without worrying about hitting limits or paying per contact.

Advanced Workflow Automation – HubSpot lets you create smart automated sequences for candidate nurturing, client follow-ups, and placement tracking. You'll process more leads while still keeping that personal touch.

Integrated Marketing and Sales Tools – Combine lead generation, email marketing, landing pages, and CRM all in one place.

HubSpot Pricing:

Free Plan: Basic CRM, contact management, email marketing (up to 2,000 emails/month), forms, and landing pages

Starter: $15/month per user - Custom properties, basic automation, remove HubSpot branding, meeting scheduling

Professional: $890/month per user - Advanced automation, custom reporting, A/B testing, sales automation

Enterprise: $3,600/month per user - Advanced AI features, custom objects, predictive lead scoring, hierarchical teams

2. Bullhorn

Source

Best For: Mid to large staffing agencies that need comprehensive applicant tracking and CRM integration with AI-powered features for high-volume recruiting.

Key Features:

AI-Powered Candidate Matching – AI search and match capabilities that pull candidates from your database, rank them by fit, and connect them to jobs

Comprehensive ATS Integration – Unified platform that manages candidates, jobs, shifts, and clients in a single system with a mobile-first design

Automated Data Capture – Captures and processes all email communications, resume data, and candidate interactions

Pricing: ATS plan starts $99/month and includes candidate management sourcing, email integration, and resume parsing. Contact Bullhorn for more information on other plans.

3. Recruit CRM

Source

Best For: Growing staffing firms needing comprehensive reporting to track performance across their recruiting metrics.

Key Features:

Built-in Reporting Suite – Analytics including Recruiter KPI Reports, Candidate Lifecycle Reports, Job Statistics, and Client Performance Reports with visual charts and CSV export

Automated Candidate Management – Resume parsing, automated email sequences, and candidate tracking

Global Integration Support – Connections with Gmail, Outlook, and other systems through Zapier integration and custom API access

Pricing: Custom pricing based on team size and features

4. Zoho Recruit

Source

Best For: Budget-conscious staffing agencies that want a customizable platform with recruiting capabilities.

Key Features:

Multi-Channel Job Posting – Automatically distribute job postings to multiple job boards and social media platforms from one interface.

Social Recruiting Integration – Built-in tools for sourcing candidates from LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social networks

Customizable Workflows – Workflow automation, custom fields, and personalized recruiting processes

Pricing:

Free Plan: Basic features for up to 3 users with limited storage (256MB)

Standard: $25/month per user - Enhanced features, integrations, reporting

Professional: $50/month per user - Advanced automation, custom modules, API access

Enterprise: $75/month per user - Advanced analytics, custom apps, premium support

5. RecruiterFlow

Source

Best For: Recruiting and staffing firms focused on automation and visual pipeline management with job board integration.

Key Features:

Visual Pipeline Management – Drag-and-drop Kanban-style boards

Advanced Recruiting Automation – Automation features streamline communication workflows

Extensive Job Board Integration – Post job openings to more than 150 popular job boards

Pricing:

Plans start at $99/month per user

6. Crelate

Source

Best For: Executive search firms and recruiting agencies that need AI-driven candidate matching and market insights.

Key Features:

AI Resume Summarization – Automatically summarizes resumes and suggests targeted interview questions based on candidate qualifications and job requirements

Competitive Market Insights – Provides competitor analysis and industry data

Advanced Candidate Search – Search functionality with AI-driven candidate recommendations and database optimization

Pricing: Starting at $99/month per user for basic features, with custom pricing available for advanced AI features.

7. Manatal

Source

Best For: Small to medium staffing agencies that need mobile-first solutions with data capture and social media sourcing.

Key Features:

Chrome Extension Integration – Integrate candidate data from LinkedIn, job boards, and other websites into your CRM

Mobile-First Design – Full-featured mobile app lets recruiters manage candidates, schedule interviews, and communicate with clients

Social Media Sourcing – Built-in tools for finding and engaging candidates across social media platforms with automated profile enrichment

Pricing:

Professional: $15/month per user - Basic ATS and CRM features, candidate management

Enterprise: $35/month per user - Advanced features, integrations, custom branding

Enterprise Plus Plan: $55/month - Single sign-on, Beta features, advanced report builder

Custom: Contact for pricing - Tailored solutions for large agencies

Benefits of CRM Software for Staffing Agencies

Streamlined Candidate Management—HubSpot consolidates all candidate information, resumes, and communications in one place, making it easier to search, filter, and track candidates from first contact to placement.

With HubSpot‘s unlimited contact management in the free plan, you won’t have to worry about hitting database limits as you grow.

Automated Workflow Efficiency – HubSpot automatically handles repetitive tasks like email sequences, interview scheduling, and follow-up reminders, so your recruiters can focus on what they do best — building relationships. Just ask Triage Staffing, which scaled from 400 to thousands of leads monthly with HubSpot's workflow automation.

Enhanced Client Relationships – HubSpot tracks every client interaction, placement history, and requirement detail, so you can deliver more personalized service and keep clients coming back. HubSpot's integrated marketing and sales tools help you nurture both candidates and clients more effectively.

Improved Placement Speed – With HubSpot‘s smart search capabilities, AI-powered matching through Breeze AI, and automated processes, you’ll fill positions faster and increase your overall placement volume. HubSpot's streamlined workflows can significantly reduce your time-to-placement.

Data-Driven Decision Making – HubSpot's reporting and analytics give you real insights into recruiter performance, which sources are working, and market trends. This means you can optimize your strategies and improve profitability with actual data, not just gut feelings.

6 Important Features for a Staffing CRM

• Resume Parsing and Candidate Database – HubSpot automatically extracts and organizes candidate information from resumes into searchable profiles with skills, experience, and qualifications. Plus, HubSpot's contact management system handles up to 1,000,000 contacts in the free plan.

• Multi-Channel Job Posting – HubSpot distributes job openings across multiple job boards, social media platforms, and career sites from one interface to maximize your candidate reach. HubSpot's marketing automation makes it easy to create targeted job posting campaigns.

• Automated Email Sequences—HubSpot sets up nurturing campaigns for candidates and clients, with personalized messaging based on their stage in the recruitment process. HubSpot's email marketing tools include templates and A/B testing to optimize your outreach.

• Client and Placement Management—HubSpot tracks client requirements, placement history, contract details, and billing information in one place. Its CRM gives you a complete view of client relationships and placement success.

• Compliance and Documentation—HubSpot helps you maintain proper records for regulatory compliance, including I-9 verification, background checks, and employment documentation. For example, HubSpot‘s automation saved Triage Staffing’s compliance team 80 hours per week.

• Mobile Accessibility—HubSpot's mobile app lets recruiters work effectively from anywhere, accessing candidate profiles and communicating on the go. Its mobile CRM keeps your team connected and productive no matter where they are.

How to Choose a CRM for Staffing Agencies (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map Your Current Workflows. Take a close look at your existing recruiting process from lead generation through placement completion. Identify the bottlenecks in candidate sourcing, client communication, and placement tracking that technology could help solve.

Step 2: Identify Must-Have Features. Make a list of features based on your agency's specific needs: resume parsing, job board integrations, automation tools, or advanced reporting. Focus on solutions that tackle your biggest operational challenges first.

Step 3: Evaluate Ease o

7 best CRM software for government agencies

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:30:00 +0300

Government agencies face unprecedented challenges in managing citizen relationships, delivering public services, and maintaining transparency while ensuring data security and regulatory compliance.

As a result, government organizations require sophisticated tools to manage complex stakeholder relationships while adhering to strict compliance requirements. This comprehensive guide examines the top CRM solutions tailored for government organizations, featuring detailed compliance analysis, security assessments, and real-world implementation examples.

HubSpot helped IGNITE National engage 6.5 million constituents across 25 websites, demonstrating how the right CRM platform can transform government outreach and citizen engagement at scale.

Table of Contents

Best CRMs for Government at a Glance

What is a CRM for government agencies?

Best CRM Software for Government Agencies

Benefits of CRM Software for Government Agencies

6 Important Features for a Government CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Government Agencies

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Government Agencies

Best CRMs for Government at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial?

HubSpot

Multi-department agencies need integrated marketing, service delivery, and citizen engagement

Advanced workflow automation, scalable contact management, comprehensive reporting, and data encryption

Free plan available; Starter $15/month per user

Yes

Salesforce Government Cloud

Federal agencies requiring FedRAMP compliance and enterprise-scale security

FedRAMP High authorization, advanced case management, AI-powered insights, government-specific features

Contact for pricing

Yes

Oracle Public Sector CRM

Large government organizations needing comprehensive citizen interaction management

Constituent-focused approach, regulatory compliance tools, complex case management, integrated service delivery

Contact for pricing; typically enterprise-level

No

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Government

Agencies already using Microsoft ecosystem requiring seamless integration

Office 365 integration, Power Platform automation, government compliance, familiar interface

Starting at $65/month per user

Yes

Pipedrive

Small to medium government offices prioritizing simplicity and cost-effectiveness

Visual pipeline management, self-service citizen portals, automated communications, transparent pricing

Starting at $14/month per user

Yes

CivicPlus

Municipal governments focusing on citizen issue reporting and community engagement

Non-emergency issue reporting, performance tracking, website integration, community-focused features

Contact for pricing

No

Creatio

Government contractors managing complex procurement processes

AI-powered proposal management, contract lifecycle tracking, compliance automation, no-code customization

Contact for pricing

No

What is a CRM for government agencies?

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system for government agencies is specialized software that centralizes citizen and stakeholder data, automates public service workflows, and streamlines interactions across all government touchpoints.

Unlike commercial CRMs, government-specific solutions include features like case management, compliance tracking, FISMA security controls, and transparency reporting to address the unique requirements of public sector organizations serving citizens rather than traditional customers.

HubSpot is a prime example of how modern CRM platforms can unify citizen data and enable personalized service experiences across government sales, marketing, and service teams.

It provides a single source of truth for all citizen interactions while maintaining the security and compliance standards government agencies require.

Best CRM Software for Government Agencies

1. HubSpot

Best For: Multi-department government agencies seeking an all-in-one platform that combines powerful HubSpot CRM capabilities with citizen engagement tools, marketing automation, and comprehensive service delivery management.

Key HubSpot Features:

Scalable Contact Management – HubSpot handles unlimited citizen contacts and interactions in the free plan, making it ideal for growing government agencies that need to manage large constituent databases without per-contact pricing constraints

Advanced Workflow Automation – HubSpot creates sophisticated automated sequences for citizen service requests, inter-departmental collaboration, and case resolution tracking, helping agencies process more requests while maintaining personalized citizen experiences

Comprehensive Security and Compliance – HubSpot's built-in data encryption, field-level permissions, audit logs, and customizable privacy controls help government agencies manage sensitive citizen data while maintaining transparency and regulatory compliance

HubSpot Pricing:

Free Plan: Basic CRM, contact management, email marketing (up to 2,000 emails/month), forms, and citizen portals

Starter: $15/month per user - Custom properties, basic automation, remove HubSpot branding, meeting scheduling

Professional: $890/month per user - Advanced automation, custom reporting, A/B testing, sales automation, workflow optimization

Enterprise: $3,600/month per user - Advanced AI features, custom objects, predictive analytics, hierarchical teams, advanced security

2. Salesforce Government Cloud

Source

Best For: Federal agencies and large government organizations requiring AI-powered government-specific features.

Key Features:

FedRAMP High Authorization – Includes comprehensive compliance controls so that government agencies can store and process citizen data in the cloud

Advanced Case Management – Integrated case management system with automated workflows, escalation rules, and comprehensive tracking capabilities designed for government service delivery

AI-Powered Government Insights – Einstein AI provides predictive analytics, automated case routing, and intelligent recommendations to help government agencies optimize service delivery and citizen outcomes

Pricing:

Pricing can vary. Contact Salesforce for more information.

3. Oracle Public Sector CRM

Source

Best For: Large government organizations requiring comprehensive citizen relationship management with regulatory compliance tools and case management capabilities.

Key Features:

Constituent-Focused Approach – Enhance service levels and expand access to information by providing a single, real-time view of constituents across all government touchpoints and service interactions

Comprehensive Case Management – Advanced tools for managing complex cases, ensuring efficient handling of citizen requests and issues with full audit trails and compliance tracking

Regulatory Compliance Integration – Built-in tools help government agencies follow regulations and stay compliant with laws while maintaining transparency and accountability standards

Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing based on agency size, features, and compliance requirements. Contact Oracle directly for government-specific pricing and implementation options.

4. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Government

Source

Best For: Government agencies already using Microsoft ecosystem products seeking integration with Office 365, Power Platform, and existing IT infrastructure.

Key Features:

Office 365 Integration – Native integration with familiar Microsoft tools, including Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Power Platform for streamlined government workflows

Power Platform Automation – Low-code/no-code automation capabilities through Power Automate and Power Apps, enabling government agencies to create custom solutions without extensive IT resources

Government Compliance Built-In – Meets government security and compliance requirements with features for public sector organizations and citizen data protection.

Pricing:

Sales Professional: $65/month per user - Basic CRM and sales automation

Enterprise: $105/month per user - Full platform access with advanced features and government compliance tools

Premium: $150/month per user - prebuilt, customizable intelligence solutions

5. Pipedrive

Source

Best For: Small to medium government offices and departments prioritizing simplicity, transparency, and cost-effectiveness in their citizen relationship management.

Key Features:

Visual Pipeline Management – Drag-and-drop interface for managing citizen inquiries, service requests, and government processes from initial contact through resolution

Self-Service Citizen Portals – Enable citizens to access important information, submit service requests, and track progress through personalized government portals with automated updates.

Transparent Government Communications – Template integrations, automated email and SMS campaigns, and built-in communication tools help maintain regular, transparent communications with constituents.

Pricing:

Essential: $14/month per user - Basic pipeline management, citizen contact tracking

Advanced: $39/month per user - Advanced reporting, automation, email integration

Professional: $49/month per user - Revenue forecasting, workflow automation, advanced security

Power: $64/month per user - AI-powered insights, advanced customization

Enterprise: $99/month per user - Enhanced security, unlimited customization, premium support

6. CivicPlus

Source

Best for: Municipal governments and local agencies focusing on citizen issue reporting, community engagement, and transparent government operations.

Key Features:

Non-Emergency Issue Reporting – Enable residents to report municipal concerns directly through integrated government websites and mobile apps.

Performance Tracking and Analytics – Tracking of citizen satisfaction, request response times, and service delivery metrics to help improve government performance and transparency

Website Integration – Integration with government websites ensures services and tools are accessible to citizens in one centralized location

Pricing: Custom pricing based on municipality size and specific needs. Over 12,000 municipalities across North America have adopted CivicPlus as their citizen engagement solution.

7. Creatio

Source

Best For: Government contractors and agencies managing complex procurement processes, requiring contract lifecycle management and compliance automation.

Key Features:

AI-Powered Proposal Management – AI tools help government contractors analyze RFP requirements, generate content, and manage the proposal development process.

Contract Lifecycle Management – End-to-end contract management from opportunity identification through contract delivery, with built-in compliance tracking and performance monitoring

No-Code Process Automation – Allows government organizations to customize workflows and processes without extensive technical resources or development time.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on organization size and specific government contracting needs. Solutions are available for different government contractor requirements and compliance levels.

Benefits of CRM Software for Government Agencies

Enhanced Citizen Service Delivery – HubSpot centralizes all citizen interactions and service requests in one system, enabling faster response times, better coordination between departments, and improved overall citizen satisfaction with government services.

HubSpot's automated workflows and case management capabilities ensure no citizen request falls through the cracks.

Improved Transparency and Accountability – HubSpot's comprehensive tracking and reporting capabilities provide clear audit trails for all citizen interactions, helping government agencies maintain transparency and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders and oversight bodies.

HubSpot's built-in analytics make generating compliance reports and performance metrics easy.

Streamlined Inter-Department Collaboration – HubSpot breaks down departmental silos by providing shared access to citizen information and case histories, enabling better coordination and more efficient resolution of complex issues requiring multiple departments.

HubSpot's unified platform ensures all teams access the same up-to-date citizen data.

Automated Compliance and Reporting – HubSpot‘s built-in compliance tracking and automated reporting features help government agencies meet regulatory requirements, generate performance reports, and maintain proper documentation for audits and oversight reviews. HubSpot’s customizable dashboards make compliance monitoring effortless.

Data-Driven Decision Making – HubSpot‘s advanced analytics and reporting capabilities provide insights into service delivery performance, citizen satisfaction trends, and operational efficiency, enabling government leaders to make informed decisions about resource allocation and program improvements. HubSpot’s AI-powered insights help identify patterns and opportunities for optimization.

6 Important Features for a Government CRM

• FISMA Compliance and Security Controls – HubSpot provides comprehensive security measures, including data encryption, access controls, audit logging, and FISMA-compliant infrastructure to protect sensitive citizen information and government data.

HubSpot's security features meet government standards while remaining user-friendly.

• Case Management and Workflow Automation – HubSpot offers sophisticated case tracking systems with automated routing, escalation procedures,

5 best CRMs for private equity businesses in 2025

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:30:00 +0300

The CRM needs of private equity firms are fundamentally different from those of traditional sales-driven organizations. In an industry where deal flow, relationship intelligence, and portfolio performance are critical, private equity professionals require a CRM beyond simple contact management. They need a centralized system that supports long-term relationship tracking, deal pipeline visibility, investor communications, and seamless collaboration across investment and operations teams.

CRMs are uniquely suited to address these complexities. The right platform can streamline deal sourcing, track every interaction with key stakeholders, centralize due diligence notes, and provide a 360-degree view of portfolio activities — all while ensuring regulatory compliance and data security.

This article lists the top CRM platforms best suited for private equity firms. Additionally, you’ll find:

A comparison table of the leading private equity business CRM options

In-depth breakdowns of key features like pipeline management, integrations, and reporting

Real-world use cases from private equity teams

A quick-start guide for evaluating and implementing the right private equity business CRM

Importantly, HubSpot is already trusted by firms in the private equity space for its flexible, customizable tools that adapt to the unique demands of investment workflows. Whether you’re managing investor relations or evaluating new opportunities, HubSpot and its peers offer tailored solutions that align with the pace and precision of private equity.

What is a CRM for private equity companies?

A CRM for private equity companies is a specialized tool designed to manage relationships across the investment lifecycle — from deal sourcing and due diligence to portfolio management and investor relations. It centralizes communications, tracks interactions with limited partners (LPs), founders, and intermediaries, and helps firms make data-driven decisions while maintaining strong, long-term relationships.

Best CRMs for Private Equity Companies at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial

HubSpot (Sales Hub)

PE firms seeking an all-in-one platform with strong marketing automation and scalability

Deal pipeline management with custom stages,

Advanced reporting and analytics dashboards, email tracking and automation,

Document management and e-signatures, workflow automation, integration with 1,000+ apps

Starts at: $9/user/month (Starter)

Professional: $1,300/user/month

Enterprise: $4,700/user/month

14 days

Salesforce

Large PE firms with complex needs and resources for customization

Highly customizable platform, advanced analytics and AI insights,

Deal flow management,

Third-party integrations

Financial Services Cloud (Sales Enterprise): $300/user/month

Financial Services Cloud (Service Enterprise): $300/user/month

Financial Services Cloud (Sales and Service): $325/user/month

Agentforce 1 (Sales): $750/user/month (includes advanced customization)

30 days

DealCloud

PE firms focused on deal sourcing and relationship intelligence

Relationship mapping and scoring,

Deal pipeline tracking,

Fundraising management,

Excel and Outlook integration

Custom pricing (typically $500 to $1,500/user/month)

Demo available

Dynamo

Mid-market PE firms wanting industry-specific functionality

Fund performance tracking,

LP relationship management,

Deal pipeline management,

Portfolio company monitoring,

Document management

Custom pricing (contact for quote)

Demo available

Affinity

PE firms prioritizing relationship intelligence and network leverage

Automatic relationship tracking,

Email and calendar sync,

Deal flow management,

Warm introduction paths,

Pipeline analytics

Essential: $2,000/user/year

Scale: $2,300/user/year

Advanced: $2,700 user/year

Enterprise: Contact for more information

Demo available

Best CRM Software for Private Equity Businesses

Managing deals, investor relationships, and portfolio companies through spreadsheets and email threads can quickly become overwhelming as your private equity firm grows. A purpose-built CRM transforms these scattered workflows into a centralized system that tracks everything from initial deal sourcing through exit, while automating time-consuming tasks like LP reporting and compliance documentation.

Whether you’re an emerging fund manager juggling your first few investments or an established firm managing billions in AUM, the right CRM can dramatically improve how your team collaborates, makes decisions, and delivers returns. This guide explores the leading CRM options designed specifically for the unique needs of private equity professionals. Take a look:

1. HubSpot

Source

Best For: Growing private equity firms that need a scalable platform combining deal management with marketing automation to streamline investor communications and portfolio company reporting.

Key HubSpot Features:

Custom Objects for Portfolio Tracking: Private equity firms can create custom objects to track portfolio companies, fund performance, and LP commitments beyond standard CRM fields, ensuring all critical investment data lives in one centralized system.

Automated Deal Pipeline Management: Automatically move deals through stages based on triggers (i.e., document uploads or email engagement), reducing manual data entry during due diligence and allowing partners to focus on deal evaluation rather than administration.

Native Marketing Hub Integration: Seamlessly create and track investor newsletters, fund performance reports, and LP communications without switching platforms, while monitoring engagement metrics to understand which investors are most actively following your updates.

HubSpot Pricing (Sales Hub):

Starter: $9/user/month

Professional: $90/user/month (recommended for most PE firms)

Enterprise: $150/user/month

2. Salesforce

Source

Best For: Large private equity firms with complex multi-fund structures that require extensive customization and dedicated IT resources to manage platform configuration.

Key Salesforce Features:

Financial Services Cloud: Purpose-built components for PE firms, including household grouping for LP families, referral tracking for deal sourcing, and compliance features that matter for registered investment advisors.

Einstein AI for Deal Scoring: Automatically scores potential deals based on historical success patterns, analyzing factors like industry performance, management team backgrounds, and market conditions.

AppExchange Ecosystem: Connect specialized PE tools like PitchBook, CapIQ, or Preqin directly into Salesforce, creating automated workflows that pull market comps into deal records or update portfolio valuations without manual data entry.

Salesforce Pricing:

Financial Services Cloud (Sales Enterprise): $300/user/month

Financial Services Cloud (Service Enterprise): $300/user/month

Financial Services Cloud (Sales and Service): $325/user/month

Agentforce 1 (Sales): $750/user/month (includes advanced customization)

3. DealCloud

Source

Best For: Established private equity firms prioritizing relationship intelligence and needing purpose-built functionality for complex deal sourcing and fundraising workflows.

Key DealCloud Features:

Relationship Mapping with Scoring: Automatically maps connections between your team and target companies.

Integrated Compliance Tools: Built-in features for ADV filing support, conflict checking, and audit trails that matter for SEC-registered PE firms.

Excel-Native Experience: Work directly in Excel while syncing with DealCloud, well-suited for investment teams who live in financial models but need CRM data for quarterly LP reports or investment committee presentations.

DealCloud Pricing:

Custom pricing (typically $500 to $1,500/user/month)

4. Dynamo

Source

Best For: Mid-market private equity firms seeking an industry-specific solution that handles front-office deal tracking and back-office fund administration without requiring extensive customization.

Key Dynamo Features:

Fund Performance Tracking: Calculate IRR, multiple, and DPI at the fund and portfolio company levels in real time.

LP Portal Integration: Automatically push capital call notices, K-1s, and quarterly reports to a secure LP portal.

Portfolio Company Monitoring: Track KPIs, board materials, and management reports across all portfolio companies with automated alerts for covenant breaches or performance deviations, ensuring investment teams catch issues before they escalate.

Dynamo Pricing:

Custom pricing (based on AUM and number of users)

Typically includes implementation and training

Annual contracts standard

5. Affinity

Source

Best For: Venture capital and growth equity firms that rely heavily on network effects for deal sourcing and want to maximize the value of their team’s collective relationships.

Key Affinity Features:

Automatic Relationship Tracking: Passively captures all email and calendar interactions to build a living database of your firm’s network.

Warm Introduction Paths: Instantly identifies the shortest path to any target company through your team’s network.

Gmail and Outlook Integration: Works directly within your email client with browser extensions.

Affinity Pricing:

Essential: $2,000/user/year

Scale: $2,300/user/year

Advanced: $2,700 user/year

Enterprise: Contact for more information

Benefits of CRM Software for Private Equity Companies

1. Streamlined Deal Flow Prevents Missed Opportunities

Private equity firms often lose promising deals when information gets buried in partner emails or forgotten after initial meetings. A CRM centralizes all deal activity, ensuring every opportunity is tracked from first contact through final decision.

With a CRM, teams can instantly see:

Deal status

Who last engaged with management

What diligence items remain, preventing situations where high-potential investments slip through the cracks due to poor information management

2. Automated LP Reporting Reduces Quarter-End Chaos

The manual process of compiling performance data, generating reports, and distributing updates to limited partners can consume weeks each quarter. CRM automation can:

Pull real-time fund metrics

Generate formatted reports

Distribute information through secure portals automatically

This transforms a stressful, error-prone scramble into a smooth process, freeing investor relations teams to focus on LP relationships rather than spreadsheet manipulation.

3. Network Intelligence Unlocks Proprietary Deal Access

In private equity, the best deals often come through warm introductions rather than auction processes. Modern CRMs can map relationship networks across your team, revealing hidden connections to target companies.

Instead of missing opportunities because only one partner knew about a connection, firms can systematically leverage their collective network to access off-market deals and gain competitive advantages in bidding situations.

4. Proactive Portfolio Monitoring Protects Investment Returns

Managing multiple portfolio companies across different industries makes it easy to miss early warning signs of trouble. CRMs with portfolio monitoring capabilities can:

Track KPIs

Flag covenant breaches

Alert teams to performance deviations in real-time

This early warning system helps investment professionals intervene before minor issues become significant problems, protecting returns and LP confidence.

5. Compliance Documentation Simplifies Regulatory Reviews

Maintaining proper documentation has become critical yet time-consuming, especially with increasing SEC scrutiny and complex LP agreements. However, purpose-built CRMs automatically:

Log all communications

Track decision rationales

Maintain required audit trails

When regulators or LPs request documentation, everything is instantly accessible and properly organized, turning what could be weeks of document hunting into a simple report generation.

5 Important Features for a Private Equity CRM

1. Centralized Deal Flow Management Eliminates Information Silos

Private equity firms often struggle with tracking deals across scattered Excel files, email threads, and partner notebooks, leading to missed opportunities and duplicate efforts.

A PE-focused CRM consolidates all deal pipeline data into one system, ensuring every team member can access deal status, due diligence documents, and investment committee notes instantly. This centralization prevents scenarios where one partner pursues a deal unaware that another has already passed

7 best CRMs for fitness businesses in 2025

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:30:00 +0300

The fitness industry is growing fast, but managing member relationships is getting harder. The global fitness industry is estimated to be worth $257 billion in 2025 and continues to expand at a rapid pace. With this growth comes fierce competition, making it essential for fitness businesses to deliver exceptional member experiences while streamlining operations.

Fitness businesses face unique challenges that generic CRMs can't solve. You need tools that handle class scheduling, membership management, payment processing, and member retention—all while tracking leads and automating follow-ups. Without the right CRM, you risk losing potential members, struggling with retention, and missing growth opportunities.

This guide compares the top CRM solutions for fitness brands, featuring pricing breakdowns, key features, and implementation guidance. Gold's Gym SoCal had its best six months of sales after implementing HubSpot‘s Sales Hub, demonstrating the platform’s effectiveness in driving fitness business growth.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for fitness businesses?

Best CRMs for Fitness Businesses at a Glance

Best CRM Software for Fitness Businesses

Benefits of CRM Software for Fitness Businesses

6 Important Features for a Fitness CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Fitness Businesses (Step-by-Step)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Fitness Companies

What is a CRM for fitness businesses?

A CRM for fitness businesses is a customer relationship management platform designed specifically for gyms, studios, and wellness centers.

It combines traditional CRM features like contact management and sales tracking with fitness-specific tools, including class scheduling, membership management, and automated member communication to help fitness brands attract, engage, and retain members.

HubSpot exemplifies this approach by unifying member data and enabling personalized experiences across sales, marketing, and service teams.

Best CRMs for Fitness Businesses at a Glance

CRM

Best For

Key Features

Pricing

Free Trial

HubSpot

Growing fitness businesses

Free CRM, marketing automation, sales tracking, email marketing

Free (up to 1M contacts), Starter $15/month

Yes

Mindbody

Boutique fitness studios

Class scheduling, member management, payment processing

Starts at $99/month

No

Exercise

All-in-one fitness management

Custom-branded app, workout delivery, comprehensive CRM

Custom pricing

No

TeamUp

Class-based fitness businesses

Class scheduling, member portal, payment processing

Starts at $10/month

No

Glofox

Boutique gyms and studios

Mobile app, class booking, membership management

Custom pricing

No

ABC Fitness

Large fitness chains

Enterprise billing, member management, payment processing

Custom pricing

No

Salesforce

Enterprise fitness brands

Advanced automation, customization, extensive integrations

$25/user/month

Yes

Best CRM Software for Fitness Businesses

1. HubSpot

Best For: Growing fitness businesses seeking comprehensive marketing and sales tools with HubSpot's proven track record

HubSpot delivers the most complete CRM solution for fitness businesses looking to scale. The platform combines powerful CRM features with marketing automation, making it ideal for fitness brands focused on growth.

Key HubSpot Features:

HubSpot's free CRM with unlimited contacts – Essential for fitness businesses managing large member databases

HubSpot's marketing automation – Automated email sequences for trial member conversion and win-back campaigns

HubSpot's sales pipeline management – Track leads from initial inquiry to membership signup with customizable deal stages

HubSpot Pricing:

Free: Core CRM features, 1,000 marketing contacts, basic email marketing

Starter: $15/month per user with advanced features

Professional: $890 per month

2. Mindbody

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Best For: Boutique fitness studios and wellness centers

This solution specializes in fitness and wellness businesses, offering industry-specific features that simplify daily operations. The platform provides essential tools for managing availability, accepting online bookings, and checking in clients.

Key Features:

Class scheduling system – Booking management with automated reminders

Mobile app for members – Self-service booking and account management

Payment processing – Integrated billing with recurring membership payments

Pricing: Starting at $99/month, with pricing scaling based on business size and features needed.

3. Exercise

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Best For: Fitness businesses wanting all-in-one management

This CRM offers tailored functionalities for fitness businesses. The platform provides great CRM features alongside workout delivery, custom app development, and fitness business tools.

Key Features:

Custom-branded mobile app – Personalized member experience with custom branding

Workout delivery system – Create and deliver personalized workout plans

Comprehensive CRM – Full member lifecycle management from lead to retention

Pricing: Custom pricing based on business size and feature requirements. Contact for demo and pricing.

4. TeamUp

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Best For: Class-based fitness businesses and studios

It focuses on simplifying class management and member engagement for fitness businesses that rely mostly on scheduled classes.

Key Features:

Class scheduling and booking – Intuitive booking system with waitlist management

Member portal – Self-service booking and account management

Flexible payment options – Multiple payment methods and membership plans

Pricing:

Plus: $10/month

Pro: $25/month

Business: $60/month

Enterprise: $105/month

5. Glofox

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Best For: Boutique gyms and premium fitness studios

This CRM targets boutique fitness businesses with premium features and user experience. The platform offers tools to manage memberships and encourage engagement.

Key Features:

Mobile-first design – Optimized for smartphone usage by members and staff

Class booking system – Streamlined booking with automated notifications

Membership management – Comprehensive member tracking and engagement tools

Pricing: Custom pricing based on business requirements. Contact for personalized quote.

6. ABC Fitness

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Best For: Large fitness chains and enterprise operations

This CRM serves larger fitness operations needing membership management and billing features.

Key Features:

Enterprise billing system – Complex billing scenarios and multi-location management

Member management – Comprehensive member data and interaction tracking

Payment processing – Advanced payment handling for large-scale operations

Pricing: Custom pricing. Contact for a quote.

7. Salesforce

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Best For: Enterprise fitness brands with complex requirements

This solution provides CRM capabilities for fitness businesses requiring customization and integration.

Key Salesforce Features:

Advanced automation – Workflow automation for member lifecycle management

Extensive customization – Tailor the platform to specific fitness business needs

Comprehensive integrations – Connect with hundreds of third-party applications

Pricing: Starting at $25/user/month for basic features, with higher tiers for advanced functionality.

Benefits of CRM Software for Fitness Businesses

Improved Member Retention: Automated follow-ups and personalized communication keep members engaged and reduce churn rates. HubSpot's marketing automation features enable fitness businesses to create targeted retention campaigns that nurture member relationships over time.

Streamlined Operations: Centralized member data eliminates manual processes and reduces administrative burden. HubSpot's comprehensive contact management system provides a single source of truth for all member interactions and data.

Better Lead Management: Track prospects from initial contact through membership signup with automated nurturing sequences. HubSpot's sales pipeline management allows fitness businesses to visualize and optimize their conversion process.

Enhanced Member Experience: Self-service portals and mobile apps improve convenience and satisfaction. HubSpot's integrated tools enable fitness businesses to create seamless member experiences across all touchpoints.

Data-Driven Decisions: Analytics and reporting provide insights into member behavior and business performance. HubSpot's built-in analytics and customizable reporting help fitness businesses make informed decisions about their marketing and operational strategies.

6 Important Features for a Fitness CRM

• Class Scheduling Integration – Seamless booking and management for fitness classes and personal training sessions. HubSpot's calendar integration and automated scheduling tools help fitness businesses streamline their booking processes.

• Member Portal Access – Self-service booking, payment, and account management capabilities. HubSpot's customer portal functionality enables fitness businesses to provide members with 24/7 access to their account information and services.

• Automated Communication – Email and SMS campaigns for member retention and re-engagement. HubSpot's marketing automation workflows can trigger personalized messages based on member behavior and engagement patterns.

• Payment Processing – Integrated billing for memberships, classes, and retail products. HubSpot's native payment processing capabilities and integrations with popular payment processors make it easy for fitness businesses to handle transactions.

• Mobile Accessibility – Mobile-optimized interface for staff and member usage. HubSpot's mobile app ensures fitness businesses can manage relationships and communications on the go.

• Reporting and Analytics – Track member engagement, revenue, and business performance metrics. HubSpot's customizable dashboards and reporting tools, powered by Breeze AI, provide fitness businesses with actionable insights into their operations.

How to Choose a CRM for Fitness Businesses (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map Your Workflows. Document your current member journey from initial inquiry to long-term retention. Identify pain points in scheduling, communication, and member management.

Step 2: Identify Must-Have Features. List essential features like class scheduling, payment processing, and member communication tools. Prioritize based on your business model and member needs.

Step 3: Compare Ease of Use and Team Fit. Test user interfaces with your staff. The best CRM is one your team will actually use consistently.

Step 4: Check Cost at Scale. Calculate total cost including user licenses, integrations, and potential growth. Consider both current needs and future expansion.

Step 5: Choose a Flexible Platform — Like HubSpot. Select a CRM that grows with your fitness business. Gold's Gym SoCal had its best six months of sales ever after implementing HubSpot's unified CRM platform, demonstrating how the right system can transform fitness business operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for fitness businesses?

HubSpot is the top choice for most fitness businesses due to its comprehensive free CRM, marketing automation, and fitness-specific integrations. HubSpot's unified platform scales from small studios to large gym chains while providing essential member management and growth tools.

What features should I look for in a CRM for fitness businesses?

Essential features include class scheduling, member management, payment processing, automated communication, mobile access, and reporting. HubSpot provides all these capabilities through its integrated platform and powerful automation tools powered by Breeze AI.

Is HubSpot good for fitness businesses?

Yes, HubSpot is excellent for fitness businesses. Multiple fitness companies use HubSpot CRM to manage their members and drive growth, with Gold's Gym SoCal achieving its best six months of sales after implementing the platform. HubSpot offers fitness-specific tools, including automated member nurturing and retention campaigns.

How much does a CRM for fitness businesses cost?

Pricing ranges from free (HubSpot) to $300+/month, depending on features and business size. HubSpot offers powerful workflow automation tools starting with their free tier, making it accessible for fitness businesses of all sizes.

Can fitness CRMs integrate with existing systems?

Most modern fitness CRMs offer integrations with popular fitness apps, payment processors, and business tools. HubSpot provides over 1,000 integrati

7 best CRMs for logistics businesses in 2025

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:30:00 +0300

Running a logistics business is far from easy. From juggling multiple shipments to coordinating with carriers, tracking deliveries, and keeping customers informed, you have your hands full with responsibilities.

Therefore, a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is a must-have to keep yourself and your organization on track to success. To run your business smoothly, you'll need a CRM that centralizes customer data, automates communications, and streamlines operations.

If you‘re not sure what CRM is right for your company, you’ve come to the right blog because we‘re going to compare the top CRM solutions for logistics businesses. You’ll also learn how HubSpot CRM is the preferred choice for many successful logistics operations.

Plus, you’ll discover how logistics company Handled scaled from zero to 121 locations thanks to HubSpot CRM.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for logistics?

Best CRM Software for Logistics Businesses

Benefits of CRM Software for Logistics

7 Important Features for a Logistics CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Logistics (Step-by-Step)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Logistics Companies

What is a CRM for logistics?

A CRM for logistics is a specialized platform that manages relationships with customers, carriers, suppliers, and partners while tracking shipments, handling quotes, and automating communications throughout the supply chain.

The right CRM doesn't just manage contacts; it becomes the operational backbone of your logistics ecosystem—which is why many logistics businesses choose HubSpot. HubSpot CRM unifies data and seamlessly manages the relationships between companies, customers, suppliers, and partners.

Best CRMs for Logistics Businesses at a Glance

Best CRM Software for Logistics Businesses

Scouring the internet for the best logistics CRM software can be tedious, and time is money in the marketing world. So, here's a quick breakdown of the top CRM software for logistics businesses.

1. HubSpot CRM

Source

Best For: HubSpot is best for small to medium-sized logistics companies seeking a comprehensive, user-friendly CRM with excellent value.

HubSpot CRM offers a free, user-friendly platform boasting a mobile app with a range of features beneficial to logistics companies, allowing for operational efficiency. The platform stands out for its intuitive interface and powerful automation capabilities, which are specifically valuable for logistics operations.

For instance, HubSpot CRM played a pivotal role in the way Handled, a home improvement company, grew rapidly from a startup to an enterprise company—expanding into 121 new locations in 37 states in just 18 months.

Handled‘s founder, Seth Waite, credits Handled’s success and growth to the CRM's workflows, programmable automation, and all-in-one system.

“HubSpot is the hub for our entire business,” he says. “It allowed us to move incredibly fast. We couldn’t move as quickly as we did as a company without the ability to pull everything together into one simple, smooth place. It’s phenomenal.”

Key HubSpot Features:

Contact Management – HubSpot CRM can store and organize customer, carrier, and supplier information with automated data enrichment that pulls company details from public sources.

Shipment Communication Automation – HubSpot's email automation creates automated email sequences for delivery confirmations, status updates, and customer follow-ups based on shipment milestones.

Mobile Accessibility – HubSpot makes it seamless to access customer data, update shipment status, and communicate with clients directly from trucks or warehouse floors through the comprehensive mobile app.

HubSpot Pricing:

Free: Up to 1,000 contacts with basic CRM features

Starter: $15/user/month (Marketing Hub with CRM integration)

Professional: $800/month for 5 users with advanced automation

2. Salesforce Sales Cloud

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Best For: Large logistics enterprises requiring extensive customization and advanced features

This CRM targets enterprise users who have time to configure its many settings and navigate a steep learning curve. It is designed for organizations with dedicated IT resources and complex operational requirements.

Key Features:

Workflow Automation – Create multi-step processes for quote generation, carrier selection, and customer onboarding with conditional logic

Einstein AI Integration – Leverage predictive analytics for demand forecasting, route optimization recommendations, and lead scoring based on shipping patterns

Integration Ecosystem – Connect with transportation management systems, warehouse management software, and accounting platforms through pre-built connectors

Pricing:

Starter Suite: $25/user/month (limited features)

Pro Suite: $100/user/month

Enterprise: $165/user/month

Unlimited: $330/user/month with 24/7 support

Agentforce 1 Sales: $550/user/month

3. Pipedrive

Source

Best For: Sales-focused logistics teams prioritizing deal management and pipeline visibility

It helps you organize driver logistics in multiple locations via one CRM transport system. The platform manages the sales process for logistics services with clear visual pipelines.

Key Features:

Visual Sales Pipeline – Track logistics contracts from initial quote through delivery completion with customizable stages

Automated Customer Updates – Send estimates, invoices, and shipment tracking information automatically based on deal progression and delivery milestones

Mobile CRM Access – Enable drivers and field staff to update delivery status, capture signatures, and record customer interactions from mobile devices

Pricing:

Essential: $14/user/month

Advanced: $39/user/month

Professional: $49/user/month

Power: $64/user/month

Enterprise: $99/user/month

4. Zoho CRM

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Best For: Small to medium logistics businesses

This CRM offers a platform tailored to various stakeholders within logistics operations.

Key Features:

Workflow Automation – Automate tasks like status updates, invoice generation, and follow-up communications based on shipment events and customer actions

Multi-Channel Communication – Manage customer interactions via email, phone, social media, and live chat from a unified interface

Territory Management – Organize logistics operations by geographic regions, assign accounts to specific teams, and track performance across different service areas

Pricing:

Free: Up to 3 users with basic features

Standard: $14/user/month

Professional: $23/user/month

Enterprise: $40/user/month

Ultimate: $52/user/month

5. Freshsales

Source

Best For: Growing logistics companies needing AI-powered insights and team collaboration tools

This CRM helps businesses in the logistics industry to streamline processes and grow revenue through data-driven insights.

Key Features:

AI-Powered Lead Scoring – Identify valuable logistics prospects using machine learning algorithms

Shipment Journey Tracking – Monitor order fulfillment from pickup through delivery with updates and bottleneck identification for improved efficiency

Team Collaboration Tools – Share account information, coordinate on complex logistics projects, and maintain communication history across sales, operations, and customer service teams

Pricing:

Free: Up to 10 users with basic CRM

Growth: $15/user/month

Pro: $49/user/month

Pro + AI Copilot: $78/user/month

Enterprise: $79/user/month

6. Method CRM

Source

Best For: Logistics businesses using QuickBooks that need accounting integration

This CRM offers integration with QuickBooks, allowing logistics companies to sync customer data, invoicing, and financial reporting without manual data entry.

Key Features:

Native QuickBooks Sync – Synchronize customer information, invoices, payments, and logistics job costs between your CRM and accounting system

Custom Field Creation – Build data fields for freight orders, delivery routes, carrier information, and warehouse management without coding

Field Service Management – Schedule drivers, track vehicle locations, and manage delivery appointments with GPS integration and routing tools

Pricing:

Contact Management: $25/user/month

CRM Pro: $44/user/month

CRM Enterprise: $79/user/month

CRM Multi-Entity: Contact Method CRM for pricing

7. Networcx

Source

Best For: Logistics companies requiring functionality for tenders, quotes, and complex operations

Tender Management System – Handle complex logistics RFPs, compare carrier bids, and manage contract negotiations through workflows designed for transportation

Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ) – Generate logistics quotes using rate data, fuel surcharges, and route optimization with automated pricing rules

Performance Analytics – Track logistics metrics including delivery rates, cost per mile, carrier performance, and customer satisfaction, with dashboards

Networcx Pricing: Custom pricing based on company size and feature requirements

Benefits of CRM Software for Logistics

Improved Customer Communication: Automated status updates and proactive notifications from CRMs like HubSpot keep customers informed throughout shipping, reducing support calls and increasing satisfaction.

Enhanced Operational Visibility: For example, HubSpot's real-time dashboards provide insights into performance and customer interactions, enabling better decision-making and issue resolution.

Streamlined Quote Management: Automated pricing tools and standardized templates, like those available via HubSpot, reduce quote generation time from hours to minutes while ensuring accuracy and consistency.

Better Carrier Relationships: Centralized carrier information, HubSpot's performance tracking tools, and communication history improve vendor management and partnership development.

Increased Sales Efficiency: For instance, HubSpot's pipeline management and automated follow-ups help logistics sales teams focus on high-value opportunities and close deals faster.

7 Important Features for a Logistics CRM

• Shipment Tracking Integration – Real-time visibility into delivery status with automatic customer notifications and exception alerts made possible via HubSpot's automated workflows.

• Mobile Accessibility – Full CRM functionality, like HubSpot's CRM app, on smartphones and tablets for drivers, warehouse staff, and field personnel

• Automated Communication Workflows – Triggered emails and SMS messages based on shipment milestones, delivery confirmations, and customer actions. All possible via HubSpot's automated workflows and email automation.

• Quote and Rate Management – HubSpot's CRM tools can be used for generating accurate pricing, managing fuel surcharges, and comparing carrier rates

• Carrier and Vendor Management – HubSpot offers a centralized database of transportation providers with performance metrics and contact information

• Territory and Route Organization – For instance, HubSpot's geographic management tools for assigning accounts, planning deliveries, and optimizing driver schedules

• Integration Capabilities – Seamless connections to transportation management systems, warehouse management software, and accounting platforms

How to Choose a CRM for Logistics (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Map Your Workflows. Document your current processes from initial customer contact through delivery completion. Identify pain points like manual data entry, communication gaps, and reporting challenges.

Step 2: Identify Must-Have Features. Prioritize features based on your specific logistics operations. Freight brokers need tools different from last-mile delivery companies or warehouse operators.

Step 3: Compare Ease of Use and Team Fit. Consider your team's technical expertise and time available for training. HubSpot CRM is widely recognized as one of the most user-friendly CRMs available today, making it ideal for teams seeking quick adoption.

Step 4: Check Cost at Scale. Calculate total cost, including per-user fees, add-ons, and integration costs, as your team grows. Factor in implementation time and training expenses.

Step 5: Choose a Flexible Platform — Like HubSpot. Select a CRM that can evolve with your logistics business needs. HubSpot Sales Hub can help logistics companies better track sales pipeline and accurately forecast sales, helping manage operations and increasing chances of success.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for logistics?

HubSpot CRM is the top choice for most logistics businesses due to its comprehensive free tier, user-friendly interface, and powerful automation features. It offers excellent value for companies of all sizes with specific tools beneficial for logistics operations.

What features should I look for in a CRM for logistics?

Essential features include shipment tracking capabilities, mobile access for drivers and field staff, automated customer communications (available via HubSpot's Smart CRM and workflows), quote management tools, carrier/vendor databases, and integration with transportation management systems.

Is HubSpot good for logistics?

Yes, HubSpot excels for logistics companies. HubSpot provides a cost-effective solution with essential features to manage customer relationships and offers specialized tools for shipment tracking, automated communications, and mobile access that directly address logistics industry needs.

How much does a CRM for logistics cost?

CRM pricing varies widely, from free options like HubSpot's basic plan to enterprise solutions costing $300+ per user monthly. Most logistics companies succeed with mid-tier plans ranging from $15-$50 per user per month, providing essential features without excessive complexity.

Can logistics CRMs integrate with existing software?

Yes, modern logistics CRMs offer extensive integration capabilities. HubSpot provides over 500 integrations, Salesforce offers 3,000+ connectors, and most platforms can connect with transportation management systems, accounting software, and warehouse management tools through APIs or pre-built integrations.

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Logistics Companies

HubSpot is the premier CRM solution for logistics businesses, combining powerful functionality, user-friendly design, and exceptional value. Here's why industry leaders choose HubSpot:

• Comprehensive Free Tier – Start with robust CRM features at no cost, including contact management, deal tracking, and basic automation tools

• Logistics-Focused Automation – Create workflows that automatically update customers on shipment status, generate quotes, and follow up on deliveries based on your operational triggers

• Mobile-First Design – Enable your drivers, warehouse staff, and field teams to access customer data, update delivery status, and capture critical information from any location

HubSpot enabled logistics c

7 best CRMs for restaurant businesses in 2025

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:30:00 +0300

Managing a restaurant is tough work. Between juggling tables, staff, and endless orders, keeping track of customer relationships can feel impossible. That's where restaurant CRM software becomes your secret weapon.

According to the Pareto Principle, 80% of restaurant sales come from just 20% of repeat customers. So, you'll need a good CRM that helps you turn first-time visitors into loyal regulars by tracking preferences, automating marketing, and creating personalized dining experiences.

Let's look at the best restaurant CRM solutions available in 2025. We‘ll compare features, pricing, and show you how each system can help your restaurant grow. Plus, you’ll discover how Italian food brand Galbani Professionale sold over 20 tons of products by implementing HubSpot's CRM.

Table of Contents

What is a CRM for restaurants?

Best CRM Software for Restaurant Businesses

Benefits of CRM Software for Restaurants

6 Important Features for a Restaurant CRM

How to Choose a CRM for Restaurants (Step-by-Step)

Frequently Asked Questions

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Restaurant Companies

What is a CRM for restaurants?

A restaurant CRM is specialized software that helps you manage customer relationships and dining experiences. It collects guest data like contact details, order history, and preferences to create personalized service.

For example, HubSpot CRM unifies guest data and enables personalized dining experiences across sales, marketing, and service teams.

Best CRMs for Restaurants at a Glance

Best CRM Software for Restaurant Businesses

Finding the right CRM can transform how you connect with customers and grow your business. Here are our top solutions for restaurants in 2025:

1. HubSpot

Best For: HubSpot works best for growing restaurants that need marketing automation and customer relationship tools

HubSpot's Smart CRM offers enterprise CRM functionality to help you unify your data, teams, and tech stacks on one platform. What makes HubSpot perfect for restaurants is its combination of powerful CRM features with marketing automation, all starting completely free.

Businesses like Amadori, a leading company in the food sector, have turned their websites into central hubs for all customer interactions and leverage a service management system that boosts customer experience by using HubSpot's CRM.

Key HubSpot Features:

HubSpot's contact management offers storage for unlimited customer profiles with dining preferences, order history, and special dates like birthdays and anniversaries

HubSpot's email marketing tools send targeted campaigns based on customer behavior, with up to 2,000 free emails monthly

HubSpot's automation workflows follow up with guests, send birthday offers, and nurture customer relationships without manual work

HubSpot Pricing:

Free: Unlimited contacts, basic CRM, limited forms, and email marketing (up to 2,000 emails/month)

Starter: $15/month per user - Remove branding, advanced features

Professional: Starts at $890/month - Marketing automation, custom reporting

Enterprise: $3,600/month - Advanced AI, customer journey analytics

2. SevenRooms

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Best For: Upscale restaurants focused on premium guest experiences

This popular reservation and CRM solution is designed to give operators and their teams insight into the guest journey. The platform is known for creating detailed guest profiles and personalized experiences.

Key Features:

Actionable Guest Profiles – Track detailed preferences, spending patterns, and visit history across a wide range of touchpoints

Marketing Automation – Automated email campaigns with advanced segmentation and personalization

Multi-location Management – Centralized guest data across multiple restaurant locations

Pricing: Contact the CRM for a quote, but a free trial is available.

3. OpenTable

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Best For: Restaurants prioritizing reservation management and diner discovery

This CRM's main offering is its reservation system that includes a comprehensive diner network designed to help fill seats. With its large consumer base, OpenTable is known for boosting discoverabiltiy.

Key Features:

Diner Network – Access to a vast array of diners actively searching for restaurants

Guest Profiles – Collect preferences, spending data, and visit frequency

Email Marketing – Send targeted campaigns before and after dining experiences

Pricing: 3 tiers—Basic starting at $149 a month, Core at $299/month, and Pro at $499 per month

4. Toast

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Best For: Restaurants wanting integrated Point Of Sale (POS) and CRM functionality

The CRM is primarily recognized as a POS system with reservation and table management features. The CRM capabilities are built into their comprehensive restaurant management platform.

Key Features:

Integrated POS Data – Automatically capture order history and preferences from point-of-sale transactions

Email Segmentation – Create targeted campaigns based on detailed purchase data

Loyalty Programs – Built-in credit card-linked rewards system

Pricing: Free Starter Kit (great for single-location restaurants); Point of Sale plan starts at $69/month; Custom pricing for Build Your Own plan.

5. Resy

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Best For: Fine dining restaurants seeking premium reservation experiences

As a reservation platform with an impressive consumer diner network, it's designed for upscale establishments that want to maintain their brand while attracting quality diners.

Key Features:

Premium Diner Network – Attracts higher-spending diners in major metropolitan areas

Guest Information Collection – Captures contact details, special occasions, and dietary restrictions

Survey Integration – Automated post-dining feedback collection

Pricing: Pricing typically starts at $249/month, which includes core features

6. Tock

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Best For: Restaurants with events, special experiences, or prepaid dining

This CRM is appreciated for it's avility to give users more ownership over guest data, making it great for restaurants that want greater control over customer relationships.

Key Features:

Prepaid Reservations – dvanced payment options

Event Management – Cam mange special dinners, wine tastings, and unique experiences

Data Ownership – Extensive control over guest information and marketing

Pricing: Basic: $79/month; Essential: $199/month; Premium: $399/month; Premium Unlimited: $769/month

7. EatApp

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Best For: Budget-conscious restaurants needing basic CRM functionality

This cloud-based reservation management system also functions as a CRM and offers white-label solutions that let you maintain your brand identity.

Key Features:

White-Label Solution – Customize the platform with your restaurant's branding

Multi-Location Support – Manage several restaurants from one dashboard

Basic Automation – Automated SMS and email marketing capabilities

Pricing: Free tier providing up to 30 covers/month. It also has three paid plan options: Starter ($49/month), Essential ($129/month), and Pro ($229/month)

Benefits of CRM Software for Restaurants

Restaurant CRM systems like HubSpot deliver measurable benefits that directly impact your bottom line. Here's how:

Increased Customer Retention: The hospitality industry, which includes restaurants, has a lower average retention rate of about 55%. HubSpot helps you beat this average by tracking customer preferences and automating follow-up communications.

Higher Revenue Per Customer: Repeat customers spend 67% more than new customers. HubSpot CRM helps identify your best customers and create targeted offers that increase their spending by using features like Custom Properties and Standard Contact Scoring.

Reduced Marketing Costs: Retaining existing customers is also five times more cost-effective than acquiring new ones. Instead of spending heavily on advertising, you can focus on nurturing existing relationships with HubSpot Breeze AI, email marketing tools, or Marketing Hub.

Better Staff Efficiency: CRMs automate routine tasks like birthday reminders, follow-up emails, and reservation confirmations, freeing your staff to focus on delivering exceptional service. With HubSpot, these tasks are even easier with features like HubSpot's marketing automation tools.

Data-Driven Decisions: With HubSpot's advanced analytics capabilities, you can see which menu items are most popular, when your busiest times are, and which marketing campaigns work best.

6 Important Features for a Restaurant CRM

When choosing a restaurant CRM, focus on features that directly impact your daily operations and customer relationships:

• Guest Profiles and Preferences - Store detailed information about dietary restrictions, favorite dishes, seating preferences, and special occasions like anniversaries. HubSpot's detailed customer profiles are an excellent example of this feature.

• Reservation Management – Integrated booking system that captures guest data and reduces no-shows through automated confirmations. HubSpot's free scheduling tool makes booking appointments easier by empowering customers to book appointments that align with their busy schedules.

• Email Marketing and Automation – Send targeted campaigns based on visit frequency, spending patterns, and customer preferences using HubSpot email automation tools.

• POS Integration – Automatically sync transaction data to build comprehensive guest profiles without manual data entry. HubSpot boasts many native POS integrations.

• Multi-Location Management – Centralized dashboard for restaurant groups managing multiple locations and shared customer databases. HubSpot's Reporting Dashboard centralizes your data and gathers actionable information on your restaurant's marketing, sales, and customer service performance.

How to Choose a CRM for Restaurants (Step-by-Step)

Finding the right CRM doesn't have to be overwhelming. Follow these steps to make the best choice for your restaurant:

Step 1: Map Your Workflows. Start by documenting how customers interact with your restaurant. Do they mostly make reservations online? Order takeout? Walk in?

Understanding these touchpoints helps you choose a CRM that captures data from all customer interactions.

Step 2: Identify Must-Have Features. List the features you absolutely need versus nice-to-have options.

For example, a casual dining spot might prioritize email marketing over complex reservation management, while fine-dining restaurants might need advanced guest profiling more than loyalty programs.

Step 3: Compare Ease of Use and Team Fit. Most restaurant operators name staffing and training as top challenges to success. Choose a system that's intuitive enough for your team to learn quickly without extensive training.

Step 4: Check Cost at Scale. Consider both current and future costs. A free system might work now, but will the pricing still make sense when you have 5,000 customers instead of 500? Factor in per-user fees, contact limits, and feature restrictions.

Step 5: Choose a Flexible Platform — Like HubSpot. The best restaurant CRMs grow with your business. HubSpot's Smart CRM offers enterprise CRM functionality to help you unify your data, teams, and tech stacks on one platform. Furthermore, businesses like Amadori consolidated lead generation, email marketing, social media marketing, and CRM tools into a single hub

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CRM for restaurants?

HubSpot stands out as the best overall CRM for restaurants because it combines powerful customer management with marketing automation at an excellent price point.

Starting completely free, it grows with your business and offers services from basic contact management to advanced email campaigns and workflow automation.

What features should I look for in a CRM for restaurants?

Focus on guest profile management, POS integration, email marketing capabilities, reservation management, and automated follow-up systems, all of which are features found in HubSpot's tools.

The most important feature is the ability to track customer preferences and dining history to create personalized experiences that encourage repeat visits.

Is HubSpot good for restaurants?

Yes, HubSpot is excellent for restaurants. Its free CRM tier provides basic marketing tools, while paid plans offer advanced automation perfect for restaurant marketing.

The platform's flexibility lets you start simple and add features as your restaurant grows, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes.

How much does a CRM for restaurants cost?

Restaurant CRM pricing varies widely. HubSpot offers a free option with unlimited contacts, while premium solutions from other CRMs cost thousands of dollars annually.

Most restaurants find good value in the $50-300 monthly range, depending on the features needed and restaurant size.

Meet HubSpot, the Top CRM Choice for Restaurant Companies

HubSpot has become the go-to CRM solution for smart restaurant operators who want to grow their business without breaking the bank. It's no wonder Amadori achieved cost savings by transitioning from multiple disjointed systems to a unified HubSpot solution.

Here's why thousands more restaurants and food-related businesses trust HubSpot:

• Free Forever Plan – Start with unlimited contacts, basic CRM features, and email marketing without any upfront costs or hidden fees

• Marketing Automation Built-In – Automatically send birthday offers, follow up with first-time diners, and nurture customer relationships without manual work

• Scales With Your Success – Begin free and upgrade only when you need advanced features, ensuring you never pay for capabilities you don't use

HubSpot gives you complete ownership of your customer information while providing the tools to act on it effectively. Ready to see how HubSpot can work for your restaurant business?

Get started with HubSpot today and discover why it's the CRM choice that grows with your success.

If I told you about a local business that’s seen 239% growth since the pandemic, what channel would you guess they were leading with? Paid ads? TikTok? Blood magic?

How to go from marketer to CMO — 5 tactics that actually catapulted my career progression

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

I went from marketing manager to CMO in four years. It was fast. It was exciting. And, honestly, it was a little painful. I lost sleep. I lost hair. I made a lot of mistakes and learned most of what I know now the hard way.

What I quickly realized is this: Being a great marketer is not the same as being a great marketing leader. Especially in a high-growth environment. The skills that got me promoted — the hands-on stuff, the campaigns, the creative — weren’t the same ones I needed to lead a team, align with cross-functional departments, or report to a CEO.

That gap hits you fast once you’re in the hot seat.

So if you‘re on that path, whether you’re newly promoted, leading a team for the first time, or aiming for the CMO role, this post is for you. These are five mindset shifts that helped me make that leap and that still shape how I lead today.

How to Go from Marketer to CMO

1. Lead with the story, not the strategy.

One of the biggest mindset shifts I had to make as a marketing leader was learning to lead with the story, not the tactical plan.

Early on, it’s tempting to drive straight to strategy: Which campaigns should we run? Which channels should we optimize? But over time, I started to notice a pattern. The companies that broke through didn’t start with tactics or even traditional strategy. They started with a story: a clear explanation of what was changing in the market, and why their product existed because of it.

At Drift, that story was “conversational marketing.” It reflected a real shift in how people wanted to buy. No one wanted to fill out a form and wait. They wanted to get answers in real time. That phrase gave our customers language to explain why we mattered. And, it gave our team clarity about what we were building, why it mattered, and how to talk about it.

Your job as a marketing leader is to define that kind of narrative, and then continuously reinforce it. What’s changing for your customer? What shift are they trying to navigate? And how does your product help them respond?

When the story is clear, repeatable, and grounded in something real, everything else — positioning, messaging, roadmapping — gets easier and more aligned.

Drift wasn’t the only company to build its strategy around a story. HubSpot did it with “inbound marketing,” and Gainsight did it with “customer success.” In both cases, the story came first, and the strategy followed.

2. Learn how to communicate with your CEO.

I used to think the way to show impact was to list everything the team was working on. I’d put together long status updates, filled with detail about campaigns, performance, and team activity. I thought it would show how productive we were.

But, I quickly learned that leadership doesn’t have the context (or time) to follow the tactical details. They’re focused on two things: revenue and narrative. They want to know:

How is marketing helping us hit our goals?

And are we telling the right story to the market?

Once I understood that, I changed how I communicated with my CEO. I stopped listing updates and started offering a point of view. I shared what we were seeing in the market, what was working or not, and what might need to change. I also started thinking more about what the CEO was responsible for, and how marketing could support that.

So much of leadership is learning to communicate. That doesn’t mean over-explaining. It means knowing what your executive team cares about and helping them see clearly how marketing connects to those priorities.

3. Test before you team-build.

When you’re growing a marketing team, it’s tempting to solve every problem by hiring. Need PR? Bring in an agency. Want to expand into events? Post a job. But I learned the hard way that hiring without clarity usually backfires.

Early in my career, I made a few hires where I couldn’t quite articulate what success looked like. I just knew we needed “help.” But without a clear sense of the role or the outcomes, it was hard to guide, support, or evaluate the work. And in some cases, it created more complexity than momentum.

What worked better was trying to solve the problem internally first. Sometimes that meant taking it on myself. Other times, I’d ask someone on the team to run a small pilot. Could we test a webinar program in-house? Try a basic PR outreach round? Put together a few partner co-marketing campaigns?

These experiments always taught us something. They gave us a clearer view of what the role should actually involve, how to measure success, and what kind of person we’d need to own it long-term. When it came time to hire, we were sharper, faster, and far more confident in the decision.

Pro tip: Not sure how to start? Run a scrappy version of the function in-house for 3-4 months. That short sprint is usually enough to test demand, clarify the scope, and decide if this should become a full-time role, a freelance contract, or something to revisit later.

4. Think beyond your function and make friends.

Something I didn’t expect when I stepped into a marketing leadership role was just how much of my job would be about building relationships outside of marketing.

As an individual contributor, you’re often focused on a single channel or set of programs. But as a leader, you need to operate more like a general manager. You’re still thinking about performance and pipeline, but also about headcount, budget, cross-functional alignment, even internal morale.

Early on, I tried to do everything myself. I’d open up Salesforce reports, build forecast models, and stress over budget spreadsheets. I thought being a good leader meant owning it all. But over time, I realized that wasn’t sustainable or strategic. I didn’t need to “be” finance or sales. I needed to figure out how to closely partner and align with them.

That meant regular check-ins, not just to update each other but to really collaborate and build trust. What are we all trying to achieve this quarter? Where do our workstreams overlap? What do they need from marketing, and what do we need from them?

When those relationships are strong, marketing becomes more than a function. It becomes a multiplier for the business.

5. Engineer your own momentum.

At a certain point, every team hits a lull. Maybe you’re waiting on a product launch. Or your budget hasn’t been approved. Or leadership is rethinking the roadmap.

When that happens, it’s easy to feel stuck. But one of the most valuable lessons I learned at Drift was that marketing doesn’t have to wait. You can create your own momentum to work your way towards success.

We started doing monthly launches every first Tuesday of the month, no matter what. Sometimes, it was a big product release. Other times, it was a new report, a customer story, or a podcast series. What mattered wasn’t the size of the launch, but the consistency.

Those launches gave the team a sense of rhythm. They kept us visible in the market. And, they created internal urgency that actually helped drive execution across other teams.

You don’t need to wait for a “big moment” to make noise. Just commit to showing up. The motion you create now can set the tone for how the rest of the org operates.

Make the Shift From a Marketer to Leader

The leap to marketing leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about thinking differently. From tactics to narrative. From activity to impact. From running campaigns to building trust across the business.

It means learning to communicate like an owner, aligning your team around a bigger story, and making decisions that drive the business forward — even if there’s no momentum to give you a push. The sooner you start making that shift, the more ready you’ll be when the opportunity comes.

How I used ChatGPT-o3 to plan an entire marketing campaign during one plane ride

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

In an hour, ChatGPT-o3 can make you dozens of high-level marketing graphics — the kinds of campaigns that would take some teams weeks to complete. And the graphics aren’t just a first draft starting point. They’re final assets ready to run.

I tested this out on a recent flight and managed to create an entire 2025 marketing campaign in about an hour. Brainstorming. Prompt writing. Graphics generation and iteration. ChatGPT has evolved from a simple productivity tool into a high-level creative and strategic partner.

The new ChatGPT equation for AI-savvy marketers is this: deep research + your brand standards + o3-generated prompt + in-app editing = full graphics pipeline. I’m going to show you exactly how that looks and offer tips that I found make this process much more effective.

Why ChatGPT-o3 Is a Game Changer

ChatGPT-o3 was released at the end of 2024, and OpenAI has shared big upgrades in 2025. To me, o3 feels very human, and I’m having a ton of fun with the leap forward in image generation. There’s a tangible magic for marketers.

Let’s look at the under-the-radar features of ChatGPT-o3 that should be common knowledge, plus some use cases for 4o image generation.

Improved Prompting

You’ve probably heard many times that AI is only as good as the prompts you give it. Focus on these two things with o3: self-prompting and context.

I think o3 is a fantastic prompt writer, and I’ve gotten in the habit of asking for prompts as a part of every output. They still need to be massaged sometimes, but it’s a big boost, and the output is more unique when compared to generic copy-pasted prompts.

But be warned, this only reaches its potential with enough context. The more context you provide in your chats, the more tailored the output will be. This is an important shift for marketers.

Originally, AI was just aggregating existing ideas from the internet and giving you the average best practice. But now, if you actually work with it, ChatGPT comes up with very unique, specific ideas that are contextual to your needs.

In my case study below, you’ll see exactly how I’m engaging o3 in prompt engineering. This podcast episode also shares tips for improving your output with better prompting:

Library

Welcome to the most under-the-radar feature that ChatGPT added in the last year: The image library. This allows you to store, edit, and iterate images visually. Once you’ve created a graphic, you can go back to any of those threads to edit and iterate further (tips on this in a minute).

There's so much you can do from this one pane in the ChatGPT interface:

Basic editing and reiteration.

Get a high level of consistency.

Single image creation, all the way to generating entire campaigns.

The library is a game changer for quick edits of your graphics, giving you a beautiful visual display of everything you've generated. The thumbnails in my library below look like digital assets that a skilled team has worked diligently on:

Pro tip: Click on the library tab to create your images instead of prompting in a normal chat. Not only will this generate image variations faster, but it also creates better assets overall. ChatGPT-o3 instructed me to use the library tab for this reason, and through testing, I saw a noticeable improvement.

Source

Deep Research

I prompted ChatGPT to do deep research on our customer agent, and it generated an entire creative brief that covered features, value propositioning, messaging, style guide — everything.

Don’t skip this step: I promise you that success with o3 starts here. We share deep research help in our AI prompt library, under the “deep research” tab:

Source

Memory

Another underappreciated aspect of o3 is the memory feature. In a nutshell, these features include:

Automatic updates, proactively remembering content to provide personalized information.

User-controlled memory. You add to the memory through your chats, but did you know that you can also manually remove from the memory? This can be done through Settings > Personalization > Memory (example: removing outdated branding preferences).

Continuity, which lets output be guided by context from past chats, building on your previous work.

What this brings to your campaign generation (once again) is context. Context is the single word that summarizes the leap forward in output alignment.

Memory doesn’t retain every single detail by default, though. ChatGPT doesn’t remember information from your PDF style guide unless you specifically ask it to. When specifically asked to retain branding information, the memory feature retains brand standards to incorporate this into your designs.

What you can do: When prompting ChatGPT, tell it to “do this in the [company name] style like you’ve done before.”

Here’s an example of a marketing graphic generated from a single ChatGPT prompt.

Source

With an aligned AI tool, you can enter the era of rapid-fire “one of one” marketing.

“One of One” Potential

The phrase “one of one” refers to the ability to personalize everything for a single target — in my example, a single company.

This is a massive leap forward in campaign creation. Previously, we focused on creating ads personalized for unique segments: Companies were grouped together based on their characteristics, and then ads were created targeting all of them.

Now, with the cost of creative down to near zero, assets can be created targeting only a single audience. An entire marketing plan can be personalized at a company level. This is a task that would’ve previously taken teams days to complete.

In terms of AI and marketers’ productivity, this is night and day. AI has evolved so far beyond the world of creating and tailoring generic templates. The campaigns resulting from this strategy are unique, personalized, and almost instantaneous to create.

And thanks to the memory capacity, one idea builds upon the other, and you’re able to iterate in rapid succession. A task that used to be incredibly time-consuming and expensive to achieve now only takes a few minutes.

Trying rapid-fire campaign generation can be a great gateway into leveraging ChatGPT in your campaigns. Here’s an example below for the company Ramp.

Let’s look at the exact prompt I used and the campaigns it generated for HubSpot in under an hour.

Use Case: Creating a Campaign in One Hour

I love OpenAI's 4.0 model for image generation, and I wanted to find unique ways to use it. Sitting on my flight with some WiFi and good music, I gave ChatGPT this prompt:

Give me five creative, non-obvious ways to use OpenAI's 4.0 image generation model for marketing. Can you give me five ideas and the prompts for each to try?

Source

These are the five ideas that it gave me.

1. Hyperlocal, Geo-targeted Ad Images

What ChatGPT suggested: Hyper-hyperlocal cultural mashups for less than 10-mile geo-targeted ads. People click faster on ads that feel made for their neighborhood. Instead of generic skyline shots, generate up-to-the-minute scenes that merge your brand with overlooked local landmarks, slang, and street art — even the weather.

What I love: Marketers know that the local angle is effective, especially for ads, so that wasn’t a particularly unique angle. What was special was the idea of doubling down on both hyper-local (overlooked landmarks) and hyper-current conditions (weather).

2. Future-state Visuals for Sales Decks

What ChatGPT suggested: Prospect-specific future state visuals for enterprise sales decks. Why that's interesting: Enterprise buyers often struggle to picture life after adoption. Generate a hero slide that literally shows their logo in the future state of success.

What I love: This is a great product marketing idea with an emphasis on the dream state. It hits on the pain point and delivers a really simple message that works for a sales deck or ads.

Source

3. “What If” Concept Posters

What ChatGPT suggested: “What if” concept posters for rapid-fire positioning tests. Before you spend a bunch of money on doing a full video shoot, actually generate movie-style posters. Drop them into Slack or UserTesting and see which one sparks the most excitement.

What I love: This is a fun twist on the future state idea, and I love the added value of testing these concept posters before releasing them. The images are bold and catchy, nailing the movie poster brief.

4. Historical Era TikTok Frames

What ChatGPT suggested: “Product in historical era” TikTok frames. Context-switching from present to past stops the scrolls. Produce stills that place your SaaS product inside widely anachronistic scenes, subtly highlighting how painfully slow old workflows were. Instead of having a generic video hook, make one of your TikTok hooks or mid frames in your short-form video a “product in a historical era.”

What I love: It was previously very time-consuming and expensive to create custom visuals for short-form video. These can be pieced together as B-roll or even animated with AI (though this still needs development). Watch the podcast episode on YouTube to see the Sora video creation go awry (it’ll get there, though).

5. Choose-your-own-demo Carousels

What ChatGPT suggested: “Choose your own demo” carousel assets. For lead-gen ads or email nurtures, create a mini saga: Panel one asks a problem question, panels two through four branch visually based on the reader's click. The entire carousel can be generated on-demand with consistent styles, so it feels like one coherent comic.

What I love: The storytelling idea is genius, especially at a moment when carousels are performing really well on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and even TikTok. The screenshot below is a one-shot image (there was no editing involved). You’re seeing the impact of context and deep research.

Getting Started

Still unsure where to start with these new models? Do what I did. Open up o3. Tell it about your business. Ask it to give you ideas. You’ll have a lot of fun playing with the prompts that o3 gives you. See this model as a strategic partner and give it as much context as you have.

When trained properly, ChatGPT-o3 can help you with everything from creative inspiration to acting as your marketing assistant. Enjoy learning about its capabilities and watching your library populate with dozens of graphics variations.

I know some marketers still fear AI. But the more you use AI at this level, the more you’ll want to use it. If your experience is anything like mine, you’ll be repeatedly impressed by what ChatGPT can create for you. The amount of quality work that you can generate in an hour was unfathomable in the past. You’re living in an era that marketers of the past only dreamt of.

To learn more about how ChatGPT can level up your campaigns, check out the full episode of Marketing Against the Grain below:

This behavioral science principle can make your billboard go viral, here’s how

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Is billboard advertising still relevant today? Yes, all because of costly signaling. This behavioral science principle states that expensive signals indicate higher quality or status.

Although a broader concept about human behavior, costly signaling absolutely applies to advertising. What, after all, is the value of a social media ad? While highly effective, social ads are cheap, so everyone can buy them and crowd the space. But a billboard? That takes some real money.

So, let’s dive into how the costly signaling applies specifically to billboard advertising. Then, I’ll share some top viral billboard examples.

What is costly signaling?

Costly signaling theory is the idea that the higher cost you put into something, the more other people will value it.

Sounds simple right? Well, I do have two caveats. The first is that costly signaling reflects perceived cost. People still need to interpret and assign value to signaled information. Secondly, the signal of cost in these cases is reliable because only individuals who can afford to send the signal possess the signaled quality.

To put it in marketing terms, costly signaling means that the more resources you put into sharing your message, the higher people will rate it. Goes beyond money and includes time, effort, pain, or any sort of expense spent to make the message more persuasive.

I think advertising executive Rory Sutherland puts it perfectly: “The meaning and significance attached to something is in direct proportion to the expense with which it is communicated.”

Costly Signaling Example

Costly signaling goes beyond textbooks and can be seen in the real world. A 2013 study titled “Extreme Rituals Promote Prosocially” analyzed how expenses can increase religious donations.

The study took place in Mauritius during the Hindu festival of Thaipusam. The researchers wanted to see if the effort and pain the worshipers put into their ritual affected the amount they donated to the local temple.

Researchers studied two types of rituals:

A low-ordeal ritual. This consisted of a group that only sang and prayed.

High-ordeal ritual (Kavadi). This ritual was very intense. Participants pierced their skin with needles and hooks, carried heavy structures, and walked barefoot uphill for over 4 hours.

Those who watched the low-ordeal singing group gave just 80 rupees as a donation, while those who watched the high-ordeal rituals gave 65% more, 132 rupees on average. In this case, observing pain made people value the ritual more.

I like to visualize costly signaling as a positive vector in which the two elements are directly proportional: higher cost = greater meaning.

This is why asking your partner to marry you at a McDonald’s drive-thru is unlikely to succeed. Asking them after a 10-course tasting menu at a 3-star restaurant will have a higher chance of success.

Although you’re the same person asking the same question, the latter situation is likely to go better for you because of the higher perceived cost and effort. In other words, it’s more meaningful.

Billboards and Costly Signaling

I believe advertisers can take the finding from behavioral science and apply it to their billboards. That’s especially true for costly signaling. So, I conducted a silly yet simple experiment to find out.

I showed 200 British people a fake ad for my podcast, Nudge. Half of the participants in my experiment saw just the ad. The remaining 50% saw the same ad superimposed onto a billboard.

Now, a billboard signals expense. To some less than attentive viewers, they may believe I paid to display that billboard myself. Or perhaps they thought that this survey was the prerequisite to creating the billboard. Either way, the billboard signaled more expense than the ad alone.

Did the billboard variant make people more likely to listen to my podcast? Yes. It made Brits 61% more likely to tune in.

Now, rather than just creating a billboard, marketers can sink more expense into the billboard with novel designs. That novelty will showcase a higher expense, boosting perceived value even more. I’ll share a few standout examples below.

Viral Billboard Examples

1. Netflix

How should Netflix advertise 1,000 new shows? Netflix could communicate the message on a simple building-side billboard, but that would miss the chance to highlight the effort.

So, instead, they created a sprawling, oversized billboard on a giant mural. It listed dozens of shows, which should make viewers value the ad and Netflix more highly.

Why This Works

Simply buying billboard space is not enough. You need to capitalize on that space (and your spend) to revolutionize it. I find the list of shows a powerful way of showing — not telling — what Netflix has to offer. In my opinion, they did a phenomenal job of demonstrating value through their expense.

2. Dracula

Back in 2021, I attended a New Year’s Eve party in South London. Across the road, I saw an ad for a new BBC show. The billboard had dozens of knives stabbed into the poster. A light lit the knives at night, casting a Dracula-shaped shadow across the ad.

The billboard was an incredible piece of art, visible only at night, and must have taken a great deal of effort to create. This expense stuck with me, and I’ve never forgotten this ad, even after a booze-filled evening.

Why This Works

This billboard is unique, clever, and artistic. It is absolutely arresting and communicates the effort of the creative designer behind it. How can a viewer’s curiosity not be piqued?

Going viral entails being unforgettable, so taking billboard design to the next level is a sure way to succeed.

3. Specsavers

“Should have gone to Specsavers” is the humorous slogan for this well-known optician.

All of Specsavers’ ads play on the idea that those with dodgy eyesight need a checkup. But, rather than simply stating their slogan, they use costly, mistake-ridden billboards to emphasize their slogan.

Why This Works

This billboard is eye-catching because it looks wrong. Then, you read it and have a good laugh. Its humor cleverly captures the reason why someone might need a new pair of glasses. I think that makes it unforgettable.

If you can “embody” what you’re selling through your billboard, your message will stick better, and people will value your effort more.

Science Tells Us the Cost Is Worth It

We value billboards more when we see the expense taken to create them. Don’t get me wrong, creating a viral billboard involves a lot of creativity, but behavioral science reveals a common thread behind many of them. The higher the expense, the greater the chance of virality.

My biggest takeaway is that the cost is worth it. When people perceive the cost of an ad, they will not only value it more but also be more likely to spend more in response. If they perceive something as cheap and low-effort, they will respond in kind.

So, invest in creative design and go big with your billboard spend, and you will see a higher return on your investment.

30 creative lead generation ideas to try (& why marketers recommend them)

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Coming up with strong lead generation ideas isn’t always easy. I’ve found myself putting it off more than once — not because it’s not important, but because it often feels like a hit-or-miss. And I’m not alone. In the last year, 45% of businesses reported struggling to generate enough leads.

Cold outreach, building lists, trying to cut through the noise — it’s a lot, especially when people are busy and hesitant to engage.

But I’ve also learned that lead generation doesn’t have to feel like a grind. The most effective strategies I’ve seen are the ones that offer something valuable upfront. They don’t just push a product; they solve a real problem, answer a question, or make someone’s job easier.

In this article, I’ve pulled together a list of creative lead generation ideas that do exactly that. I’ve spoken with marketers who’ve tested these methods, so if you’re looking for lead gen tactics that feel more relevant, and more human, these are a solid place to start.

Table of Contents

Social Media Lead Generation

Networking Lead Generation

Content Marketing Lead Generation

B2B Lead Generation

Video Marketing Lead Generation

Email Marketing Lead Generation

Event-Based Lead Generation

Referral and Partnership Lead Generation

Freemium and Trial-Based Lead Generation

Social Media Lead Generation

1. Partner with influencers.

One of the quickest ways to gain traction and drum up new leads is to partner with influencers within your niche.

Influencers have a special way of connecting with their audiences, and when they showcase your brand, you expand your reach to a larger audience.

Pro tip: Nicole Rossi, Marketing Coordinator at Custom Neon, shared that the key to an effective influencer partnership is to create landing pages relevant to your campaign.

Rossi said, “Partnering with influencers has also been an incredibly successful lead-generation tool for us. Influencers who share our brand values partner with us, and together we develop giveaway campaigns or offer special discount codes to their audience. With this approach, we can reach unexplored markets and produce leads through forms or landing sites made specifically for the campaign.”

2. DM-first lead magnets.

Instead of asking people to click a link in bio or fill out a form, one smart play I recommend is delivering your lead magnet directly via DMs.

Here’s how it works: post something interesting, like a results breakdown, framework, or hot take, and say “Comment ‘Guide’ and I’ll send you the PDF.”

This turns a passive scroll into an active opt-in. Algorithms love the engagement boost, and you get warmer leads because people are raising their hand before you ever message them. I’ve seen this blow up on Instagram, especially when paired with helpful, non-salesy follow-up messages. It feels natural, like a conversation, not a funnel.

3. Social polls that lead to a CTA.

Polls are a great way to segment your audience and spark lead gen. When you create a poll around a key pain point (e.g., “What’s your biggest challenge with scaling sales?”), you get two things: insights and intent signals.

After the poll, follow up in the comments or via DM with a resource that matches each answer. For instance, “Voted for onboarding issues? Here’s our free onboarding playbook.” It’s a smooth transition from interaction to opt-in, and people appreciate the relevance.

Networking Lead Generation Ideas

4. Do a LinkedIn audit.

If LinkedIn is your jam, you could be sitting on an untapped market — your connections.

Melissa Lohrer, Founder at Waverly Ave Consulting, said, “Sometimes, your next best opportunity is already in front of you. Audit your existing LinkedIn connections — there are likely untapped opportunities sitting directly in your network. Growth isn’t always about bringing in new people but nurturing who’s already in your corner and leveraging those relationships to create momentum. This is your fastest path to conversion.”

5. Schedule coffee chats.

When it comes down to it, gaining a qualified lead starts with connecting on a human level. No-strings-attached networking is a great way to connect with members of your audience, build meaningful relationships, and begin a slow (but warm!) conversion.

Erin Pennings, a copywriter and marketing strategist, told me coffee chats are her favorite way to connect with your target audience.

Pennings said, “In my experience, the number one lead gen strategy is building relationships with other people. It‘s not networking in the traditional sense of the word, but simply about making connections. It’s not usually a fast-burn strategy because human connections take time, but it's a great way to create an effective referral network.

“I love reaching out to people to schedule no-pitch coffee chats where the primary goal is getting to know people, and I always ask them who I can connect them with or who would be a good referral for them, and they generally reciprocate. Often I can make connections right away to support them, and then when I need to get contracts or work at the door, I know I can reach out to see if they know anyone I know.”

6. Use customer reviews in your pop-ups.

Want to build trust and brag about your clout? Consider showing off your customer reviews. Visitors lurking on your website want to know what real customers think of your product or service before they, too, take the plunge.

That’s why Johannes Karjula, CEO at Trustmary.com, uses a customer review pop-up to drive conversions.

Karjula said, “The best strategy to generate leads is to use an exit-intent popup that features customer reviews and an offer or discount code. These work especially well if someone is very close to converting: either buying or booking a meeting. If they're about to leave, throwing social proof in their faces is great in proving that they actually need the product or service in question.”

Content Marketing Lead Generation

7. Create valuable content (blog posts, podcasts).

Your audience wants content, whether that’s a blog post, a podcast, or a video. That's why I think content marketing remains one of the most effective and recognizable ideas for lead generation strategies.

Roland Jakob, Managing Partner of BlazeKin Media, says, “The most effective lead generation idea I‘ve encountered is the strategic use of personalized content marketing. In my experience, creating tailored content that speaks directly to your target audience’s pain points and interests is incredibly powerful. I‘ve found that when we develop in-depth blog posts, engaging videos, or insightful podcasts that genuinely address our audience’s needs, we not only attract potential leads but also establish ourselves as trusted authorities in our field, which is what you ultimately want.”

8. Share success secrets from thought leaders.

Want to provide unique value in your content? Reach out to a thought leader in your industry or even your company. By interviewing an expert to uncover their secrets, you prove to potential customers that you're dedicated to delivering the best advice and insight out there.

And it works!

Edelman’s 2024 report shows that 52% of decision-makers and 54% of C-suite executives spend an hour or more on average per week reading thought-leadership content.

Four in five marketers believe thought leadership has made a positive contribution to their organization’s reputation, relationships, and revenue over the past 12 months.

50% of leaders say they can link thought leadership to revenue.

Below is an interview Groove conducted with Josh Pather, a wedding DJ-turned-ecommerce entrepreneur. In this article, Groove had Josh break down how he started his ecommerce business, which is one of the fastest-growing businesses in Texas.

The folks at Groove frequently interview successful founders and ask very specific questions from which everyone can learn something. Then, Groove shares those interviews with audience members on its blog.

Source

The interview with Josh is chock-full of quotes, lessons, and actionable takeaways for entrepreneurs. This touch helps further Groove's reputation as a resource for expert information among its audience.

9. Compile real-life examples with actionable takeaways.

Finding effective examples to learn from can be equally as valuable and difficult. A list of best practices, current trends, or real-life examples in your industry is an excellent way to drive prospects to a guide or offer where they can opt in.

The Content Marketing Institute knows this and makes a point to share current content marketing trends every year in a blog post.

This blog post serves as a resource to inspire site visitors to achieve success with their marketing strategies, and ultimately, to search the website for guides and opt-in offers to improve their content game.

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10. Show what’s working for your company.

I can’t be the only marketer who’s nosey, right?

It’s why I find sharing a transparent post that pulls back the curtain on something with which you've seen success (or failure) interesting. And I know your potential leads find it interesting, too.

Other companies going through a similar stage of growth — or approaching your size — can gain a lot of inspiration from transparency posts and ultimately avoid making the same mistakes.

So, consider sharing how you’ve built your platform or a lesson you’ve learned along the way. You can share your insights in a blog post or a downloadable guide.

Just don’t forget to include a final call-to-action to encourage readers to join your email list.

11. Create a handy checklist.

Who doesn‘t have a running to-do list that sometimes gets a little bit too long? If you’re planning an upcoming webinar, you can be sure there's a lot that goes into it.

HubSpot created a 19-page webinar planning kit that marketers can download and learn how to pick a stellar webinar idea, pick great guest speakers, and host the webinar.

Pro tip: HubSpot uses the gated offer to prove its brand's expertise on the subject and encourage kit downloads.

12. Offer insightful, downloadable case studies.

One of the best ways to gain new leads and spark interest in your products or services is to show how your brand is an asset to your clients. Case studies help get your message across while doubling as a lead magnet.

Krissy Selda, a digital marketing specialist at Array Marketing Agency, is a huge fan of case studies. Selda told me, “From experience, publishing case studies has been the most powerful lead generation tactic because they demonstrate how your business consistently meets customer expectations.

“By showcasing the value of your products or services, case studies allow potential clients to envision themselves benefiting from your success. When customers see tangible results from businesses or individuals similar to themselves, they are more inclined to engage with your product or service. This makes them one of the most effective content marketing tools for driving leads.”

13. Create an interactive quiz or tool.

Consider offering a quiz to your website visitors as a creative way to learn more about them and obtain their contact information.

The goal is to “bargain” the result of the quiz in return for a new lead, which can be very effective when done right.

Cassandra Gucwa, Founder of Menerva Digital, says tools and quizzes are “a great way to offer something that is valuable to your potential target audience and gather their email or information. Some examples of free tools would include a cost calculator, savings calculator, or a tool that checks how secure your email address is.”

A similar method is offering an interactive tool, such as the HubSpot Website Grader. The Website Grader is a free online tool that visitors can use to grade their websites against key metrics and discover ways to improve them.

To use the tool, visitors must submit their email, which provides HubSpot with new leads interested in improving their web presence.

B2B Lead Generation Ideas

14. Build interactive ROI calculators (with a personalized follow-up).

One of the smartest lead gen ideas I’ve seen in the B2B space is offering a live, interactive ROI calculator — not just a gated spreadsheet. The idea is to help your prospect visualize the value you bring using their own numbers. It’s consultative without needing a salesperson.

What really moves the needle is combining the tool with a follow-up offer. For example, after the user completes the calculator, they get a custom PDF summary and an invitation to a deeper assessment or strategy call. It’s low-pressure, but still guided.

I’ve seen companies collect qualified leads at scale this way, especially when the tool ties into a specific pain point, like cost savings, revenue growth, or time reduction.

15. Create private Slack or Discord communities.

I always recommend creating private, niche communities where your ideal B2B buyers can talk shop without distractions. Whether it’s a curated Slack group for heads of IT or a Discord server for RevOps leaders, these spaces become lead gen engines — just not in the traditional sense.

What works well is keeping the group valuable and focused: regular expert drop-ins, exclusive templates or benchmarks, even low-key AMAs. When the space is genuinely helpful, people start engaging, and over time, that trust spills over into business conversations. I’ve seen brands become the go-to solution within their own communities without ever pitching. The key is to show up as a peer, not a promoter.

16. Do micro-podcasts featuring your ideal buyers as guests.

If there’s one underrated B2B tactic that I keep seeing deliver results, it’s this: invite prospects to speak as experts on a short-form podcast or video series. Even a 10-minute “trends and tactics” conversation works. You’re giving them a platform, building a relationship, and creating content all at once.

Once that conversation happens, the door’s open to follow up. I've seen this get recommended to clients who struggle to get meetings through cold outreach, and they’ve reported higher conversion rates simply because the podcast invite felt like a genuine opportunity, not a sales trap. Plus, you walk away with content you can repurpose for months.

Video Marketing Lead Generation

17. Personalize video content.

89% of businesses use video as a marketing tool. And for good reason: it’s a great way to connect with qualified leads and convert them to paying clients.

Whether you use short- or long-form video, the key to video marketing lead generation is to personalize your content.

For Mike Vannelli, Creative Director of Envy Creative, personalizing video starts with understanding the unique perspectives of your audience.

Vannelli told me, “One of my favorite lead generation tactics is leveraging personalized video content. We create tailored video messages based on specific pain points or challenges a prospect is facing. It‘s not just about sending a generic promo — it’s about showing that we understand their unique needs.

“These personalized videos are then embedded in emails or used as landing page content. Adding a clickable call-to-action at the end, like scheduling a demo or downloading a valuable resource, boosts engagement like nothing else. The human touch combined with targeted messaging has consistently driven better conversion rates for us.”

18. Use mid-video CTAs in YouTube or Loom-style explainers.

Here’s a mistake I see all the time: people wait until the end of their video to add a call to action when most viewers are already gone. Instead, I suggest inserting the CTA around the 30–60% mark. This could be a button, a pop-up form, or even a voice prompt like “Want the full checklist I’m using? Grab it below.”

I’ve seen this work especially well with product explainer videos or walkthroughs. The viewer’s already invested, and that’s the perfect moment to offer a lead magnet or booking link.

Pro tip: A/B test your mid-video CTAs — small tweaks can lead to big lifts in conversion.

19. Turn webinars into a lead gen flywheel.

Webinars are a classic for a reason, but here’s the upgrade: instead of just hosting them live and moving on, chop them up into snackable video clips. Each clip should zero in on one key insight or objection, and end with a CTA to download the full version or a related resource.

This way, your one webinar becomes 10+ mini lead gen assets that work across YouTube, LinkedIn, and your email list. I’ve seen brands repurpose webinars this way and build an evergreen funnel that runs for months.

The trick is to lead with value in the clip, and only then introduce th

From third-party cookies to zero-party data: The new rules of email engagement

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

A few days ago, Jane was browsing for new sunglasses. Before she knew it, every site she visited was showing her relevant ads.

It wasn't magic. Just algorithms working with behavioral data.

But data collection is no longer something we can do in the background. With rising privacy concerns, businesses must now lean on zero-party data.

And what better channel to invest in privacy-first communication than email? A channel where users opt in to get personalized customer experiences.

I'll walk you through the new rules of data collection, how well-established brands are adapting, and what you can do to stay ahead.

Table of Contents

Why Marketers Are Prioritizing Zero-Party Data

How to Collect Zero-Party Data

Things to Consider During Zero-Party Data Collection

Why Marketers Are Prioritizing Zero-Party Data

Apple‘s Mail Privacy Protection and GDPR have accelerated the shift to zero-party data. The same goes for Google’s update, although it’s been postponed.

Privacy laws aside, there are more reasons why you should turn to zero-party data.

Accessing High-quality Data

Research shows that 25% of marketers mention poor-quality data as a main reason why they fall short of customer expectations. But your audience chooses to share zero-party data. This means you get more reliable insights than any data collected passively.

Building Trust

With phishing attempts on the rise, users worry about where their sensitive information ends up. As a result, business executives find it challenging to establish trust:

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With zero-party data, customers know exactly what they're sharing. And according to Salesforce, 71% of them are more likely to do so if a brand clearly explains how they’ll use the information.

Creating More Personalized (Cross-channel) Experiences

Accurate data means you can deliver meaningful experiences on every channel. For example, a user takes a quiz on a cosmetics site to find their perfect lipstick. At the end, they opt in to receive email and SMS updates. Now the brand can personalize every touchpoint, from emails with blush recommendations to texts with discounts on lip liners.

Boosting Email Deliverability and Interactions

If your emails live up to subscribers’ expectations, they’re more likely to interact and less likely to unsubscribe or mark emails as spam. And this is how you keep email deliverability and sender reputation intact.

How to Collect Zero-Party Data

Below are the most effective ways to gather zero-party data from your audience, along with successful use cases for each.

1. Signup Forms

Tailor your signup form to collect more than a name and email address.

For example, Sephora uses back-in-stock alerts to learn about customers’ preferred communication channels:

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Another approach is to include an email preference field and ask users:

How often they’d like to receive emails

What kind of content they prefer

What products/services they’re interested in

With this tweak, you transform a simple signup form into a lightweight email preference center.

Let's say you want to give your audience the option to choose how often they’ll hear from you — monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly.

With an email tool like Moosend, you can create a preference center so subscribers set their own frequency. What you get is three segments (that update automatically as users change their preferences):

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Next time you send an email, you’ll select the relevant group and the campaign will reach the right inboxes.

The more you understand people’s preferences, the more personalized their experience feels. As Georgia Riga, Moosend’s Customer Success Manager, puts it:

“Collecting zero-party data through an email preference center is just the start. The real impact comes from respecting customer preferences in future communications and delivering with consistency.”

2. Account Creation

It's common to ask new users for information such as their job title, company name, and pain points.

However, asking too much upfront could overwhelm them. A better approach? Break the process into a multi-step onboarding to keep users engaged without causing friction.

Start with the essentials and then, depending on your industry, ask a few additional questions. For example, an eCommerce business could ask for the user's birthday to send timely discounts.

Make sure to tie every question to a clear benefit. Canva does an excellent job at this by clarifying how they'll use the info required:

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3. Interactive Tools

People love polls and quizzes because they discover new things while having fun.

Think of a quiz that users take and then fill in their email to get personalized results.

There you have it: real-time zero-party data collection, plus a new subscriber (who didn’t feel forced).

Fun aside, the average user won't appreciate going through a tiring process just to get a personalized recommendation.

Stick to 3-5 questions and avoid dropdown menus or open-ended questions. Some brands even let users skip a question or two and still get the results.

Frank Body embeds a skin quiz on its website as part of the signup process and offers an extra incentive.

After clicking the CTA, visitors answer a few quick questions, such as:

Source

4. Reviews, Ratings, and Testimonials

Customer reviews are not just good social proof for potential customers — they also give you insights about your current customers.

Time matters when asking for feedback, though. You want to reach out while their experience is still fresh — ideally, within 1-3 days. That’s when customers are more likely to provide honest, accurate input.

Here’s how and where you can make the request:

Build an automated post-purchase email that leads users to your website or a review platform.

Use customer support chatbots that trigger a review request after an issue is resolved.

Send a short SMS message using a branded link. Text messages work particularly well for mobile apps.

Reach out to people who mention or tag your brand on social media to see if they're open to sharing their experience.

Consider offering a small incentive, such as a freebie, downloadable resource, or a discount. Also, keep the process short and, if possible, mention how long it will take to complete.

In this email, Virgin Atlantic starts with a heartwarming thank-you note. Moving on, they explain why they need this Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey and the time it takes.

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5. Webinar Registrations

Besides being an excellent lead generation tool, webinar registrations help you learn more about your audience, especially in the B2B industry.

What kind of audience insights should you ask for? Try these:

Name and email address

Company name, industry, job title

Custom questions based on the webinar topic

Custom questions may include specific interests and levels of expertise. Want to dig deeper into attendees’ goals? Add an open-ended question to understand why they decided to register.

To remove barriers, make some fields optional. Alternatively, collect more information in a follow-up email after registration.

You can even continue the conversation once the webinar wraps up. Send an email to attendees to collect feedback and find out what else they’d like to learn.

Digital Marketing Institute uses this simple form for lead generation, only asking for basic information to build a professional attendee profile.

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6. Customer Support and Chatbots

When it comes to customer service, chatbots are the first choice both for brands and consumers, according to HubSpot's State of Service Trends Report:

Whether it's on your website, app, or social media channels, chatbots analyze data throughout the conversation to deliver tailored support. To make sure this data is useful, consider these factors:

Build chatbot conversations with short and simple questions to identify the user's intent.

Use clickable buttons for replies instead of asking users to type the entire answer.

Avoid asking for sensitive information upfront. Instead, wait until the user is engaged or once the problem is resolved.

Follow up with optional feedback requests, like: “Was the issue resolved as expected? If yes, would you care to leave a quick review?”

Attentive keeps things simple by offering links to valuable resources. For specific actions like getting a demo, the visitor has to fill in their email address.

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Things to Consider During Zero-Party Data Collection

Users might trust you with their data. But this trust is fragile — send a generic message, and it disappears. To build on that trust, here's what you must keep in mind.

Remember the cause-and-effect pattern.

Subscribers don't passively consume content. They ask questions: “If I tell you X, will you give me Y?” So, when gathering zero-party data, make sure the outcome justifies the sacrifice.

Take this example: A user signs up for an employee management platform. They fill in “HR manager” as their job title and flag employee retention as a challenge. A few hours later, they receive an email series offering actionable employee retention strategies.

When the cause-and-effect relationship feels consistent, subscribers see the relationship as mutual.

Prioritize the data you need.

Zero-party data isn't about bombarding your audience with random questions.

Ask too much — or the wrong things — and you risk raising red flags.

Identify the exact information you need to create tailored emails. Then, separate the must-haves from the nice-to-haves based on your industry and goals.

For example:

A SaaS company might ask for the user’s job role to provide personalized onboarding.

For a travel agency, it'd be more helpful to know subscribers’ dream destinations.

A retailer, on the other hand, could ask for customers’ birthdays to send timely offers.

Consider your audience’s level of engagement.

When you adjust your approach based on the customer journey, data collection feels natural.

Let's say you run a fitness app.

Instead of sending new subscribers a lengthy survey, include a short in-app form to learn more about what content they're interested in and how often they want to hear from you.

When a user reaches a milestone, trigger a push notification that leads to a short survey. Ask about their workout habits to further tailor their fitness plan.

What about members of your loyalty program? This is where you can take zero-party data collection further. These are the people who see the value of your products, so they’re more likely to respond.

Collect new data regularly.

When asking for zero-party data, there are types that you‘ll only ask for once (e.g., your subscriber’s birthday).

Almost any other data, like their family status, could become outdated. User preferences are also subject to change.

That’s why zero-party data collection is not a one-off request, according to Natalia Georgiadou, Moosend's Product Owner:

“You should treat the preference center as a conversation starter instead of a settings page. Build your email preference center with the goal of encouraging that dialogue. And unlock zero-party data that drives real personalization across the entire customer journey.”

So, how can you keep the lines of communication open?

Set up regular check-ins. Once or twice a year, ask users to update their preferences.

Build customer profiles gradually. Start with the basics with tools like HubSpot's progressive profiling. Then, collect more specific insights over time.

Making the Shift to Zero-Party Data

Zero-party data goes hand in hand with trust, transparency, and privacy-first marketing. When consumers voluntarily share insights, they’re giving you permission to connect on their terms.

But you’re not just sending emails. You’re engaging in meaningful conversations. Ones that feel like messages from a thoughtful friend who remembers what you love and shows up with the right thing — at the perfect time.

I tested 2025's most realistic AI voice tools — here’s what blew me away

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

AI voice technology has been moving fast for a while now. But recently, it feels like we‘ve shifted into a completely different gear. We’re not just talking about smoother narration or cleaner text-to-speech anymore. These tools are starting to sound like actual people, with emotions, personalities, and conversational quirks that can genuinely fool you.

I wanted to see how far things had come, so I spent the last few weeks testing six of the most advanced AI voice tools available. Not just to see which one’s “best,” but to understand what they can actually do — where they’re useful now, and where they’re clearly heading next.

Here's what I learned and what it means for anyone creating content, building creative campaigns, or just trying to stay ahead of the marketing curve.

The Top 6 AI Voice Tools That Actually Matter for Marketers Right Now

There are a ton of AI voice tools out there, but most don’t move the needle. These six did. Some are surprisingly usable right now. Others just made me rethink what’s possible. I tested all of them hands-on and tried to break them a little — here’s what stood out.

1. Sesame: The Emotionally Intelligent Conversationalist

Source

Sesame is a conversational AI voice platform backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Spark Capital, and Matrix Founders. It focuses on emotionally intelligent dialogue, and it’s one of the few tools that actually delivers on that promise.

The default female voice genuinely impressed me with its realism. You can hear her breathe in before responding, natural pauses where she‘s "thinking," and the emotion in her voice changes based on how you’re responding. It‘s not perfect, but you can tell it’s actively adapting to your conversational style and mood in ways that feel genuinely human.

That level of “emotional intelligence” is remarkable and represents a significant leap forward in conversational AI.

Practical application: Sesame shines in scenarios where emotional nuance matters. Think training simulations, roleplay-based coaching, or user research where tone sensitivity changes the dynamic.

My verdict: This is what I show people when I want to demonstrate where AI voice is actually heading.

2. Grok: The Unhinged Creative Partner

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Grok by xAI has a voice mode with multiple personality settings, including an “unhinged” mode that removes most content restrictions. It’s designed to be more conversational and less filtered than traditional AI assistants — and it shows.

For example, I told Grok to pretend to be Andrew Dice Clay (probably a mistake). Within seconds, it was doing horrible jokes in character. Some of the stuff it said, I couldn't believe was coming from an AI. The tool also adapts to different personalities and sometimes even tries to mimic the actual voice of characters you ask it to roleplay.

It’s not perfect. Sometimes it gets stuck in a character, and you have to reset it. But when it works, it’s genuinely entertaining and feels way more alive than most AI voice tools.

Practical application: Grok is great for creative ideation, especially when you need personality-driven takes, alternate voice styles, or unexpected angles. I’ve used it for rapid content drafting and even tone testing for social posts.

My verdict: This is the most entertaining AI voice available, but you (really) need to be prepared for anything.

3. ElevenLabs: The Voice Cloning Specialist

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ElevenLabs has established itself as the gold standard for voice cloning technology. I trained it on my own voice and was impressed by how well it captured my cadence and tone. However, I did notice it tends to deliver slightly more monotone results compared to natural speech.

Its biggest strength is consistency. It can maintain the same voice across long-form content and different formats, and the APIs make it easy to integrate into production workflows. The recent addition of sound effects is also a nice touch if you're building immersive content.

Practical application: ElevenLabs is ideal for scaling your personal or brand voice across lots of content. CEO memos, training videos, online courses—anything where you want to “be present” without recording every line.

My verdict: This is the most practical tool for creators who need to efficiently scale their voice.

4. ChatGPT Voice Mode: The Reliable Assistant

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ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode is OpenAI‘s real-time conversational AI that can understand tone and respond naturally in voice conversations. It’s currently available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers and represents OpenAI's most polished voice offering.

The voice mode is good, but it feels like they deliberately toned down some of the more human-like qualities from their original demo. Probably smart from a “people need to know this is AI” perspective, but it makes the experience feel less natural than Sesame.

That said, it’s reliable and easy to access, which makes it a solid option for day-to-day use, especially in business settings.

Practical application: ChatGPT Voice is ideal for professional communications where consistency matters more than personality. Think executive presentations, training modules, or any content where you need reliable, polished delivery.

My verdict: ChatGPT Voice is a reliable workhorse that gets the job done, but it's not the most exciting option.

5. Wispr Flow: The Productivity Multiplier

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Whispr Flow is a system-wide voice-to-text tool built on OpenAI’s Whispr speech recognition model.

I started using it after injuring my hand (a reminder of spending 80% of my day typing for over 40 years), and it immediately changed how I work. You hit a hotkey, talk, release, and your words appear as text. That’s it.

Even at fast speeds, it’s surprisingly accurate. Occasionally it gets a word wrong, which can lead to some funny misunderstandings with AI assistants, but overall it’s become part of my daily workflow.

This is definitely what people mean when they talk about “vibe coding,” just talking, and having your ideas turn directly into content or code.

Practical application: Whispr Flow is perfect for anyone who writes or builds all day. Developers can code by voice, content teams can dictate outlines while walking, and it’s a huge unlock for accessibility and fatigue management.

My verdict: Whispr Flow is a genuine productivity game-changer that I can't imagine working without now.

6. Octave (by Hume AI): The Emotionally Convincing Friend

Hume AI has been working on emotion detection in voices for a while, and Octave is their text-to-speech flip side. You describe the voice tone you want, like “chillingly intense like a horror voice actor” or “angry but professional.” From there, it generates speech to match.

It’s an ambitious idea, and when it works, it really works. But it’s also a little fragile, especially if the emotional prompt doesn’t match the script content. For example, if you ask it to sound terrified while reading a grocery list, it gets confused, and the results feel mismatched or flat. But when the emotion aligns with the script, it delivers a surprisingly convincing voice performance.

Practical application: Octave is best for emotion-driven creative work. Think brand ads, video narration, podcast intros, or any project where tone matters just as much as the words themselves.

My verdict: This is fascinating technology and good to experiment with, but it still feels early-stage.

Start Exploring AI Voice Tools

AI voice tools are already changing how we create, deliver, and scale content. The best ones don’t just sound human — they help you move faster, stay consistent, and open up new creative possibilities.

If clarity, access, or experience design matter to your brand, this is worth paying attention to. The real question isn’t whether the tech is ready. It’s whether you are.

To learn more about the AI voice tools I tested, check out the full episode of The Next Wave below:

How I localized AI-generated emails for international markets without losing the human touch

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Earlier this year, I was handed an AI-generated content project with a deceptively simple goal: adapt email messages for international audiences.

This wasn’t my first time navigating global nuance. With an MBA in International Business and experience working on a global consulting project in Portugal, I’d already seen how messages land differently depending on culture, tone, and language. But this was my first time applying that lens to AI content generation in my MarTech AI role at HubSpot — and it was more complex than expected.

We already had an AI-generated email prompt that worked well in English—conversational, friendly, and context-aware. The challenge? Making it work in Spanish and French without sounding robotic, clumsy, or culturally off-base.

Sounds easy. It wasn’t.

The Hidden Complexity of "Just Localizing"

What we were really doing was asking an AI model — trained predominantly in English — to speak other languages as naturally as a native marketer would.

Our first attempts fell flat.

Example (original AI output in Spanish):

Here’s what we aimed for in English:

“I saw you were scoping around the platform and that you were interested in speaking with us. Would you like to meet on one of the following days?”

This is the original output in Spanish:

“Estuve revisando tus interacciones en nuestra plataforma y quería ofrecerme como tu punto de contacto.”

In English, it translates to:

“I reviewed your activity and wanted to become your point of contact.”

While grammatically correct, this sounded invasive in Spanish — like we were watching the user too closely. It didn’t feel natural. One reviewer called it “creepy.”

Here’s another example:

Original English intent: “I noticed you’ve been exploring our platform and expressed interest in connecting with us.”

Original Spanish output: “Me pareció interesante tu interés en nuestros servicios.”

Translation in English: “I found your interest in our services interesting.”

Again, it’s technically accurate, but it’s redundant and robotic. It’s the kind of phrasing that makes a reader stop and go, “Did a bot write this?”

The takeaway: Even when the translation is accurate, the tone can be off. And tone is everything in marketing.

The Shift from Translation to Language-aware Prompt Design

At this point, I realized we needed more than AI outputs — we needed a system for guiding the AI to think like a multilingual marketer.

I built a language-portable prompt framework — a structured prompt that could adapt across languages while respecting each one's unique grammar, tone, and cultural context.

Here’s What Changed

Instead of one static prompt, I broke the logic into variables:

: Target language (e.g., Spanish, French, German)

: Pronoun and tone level (“tu” vs. “usted”, “vous” vs. “tu”)

: Inbox-friendly, conversational, professional

: Direct vs. suggestive phrasing

: Enforced where grammar allowed

We also added clear, language-specific rules.

Example (Spanish):

Use tú consistently, never usted (too formal for our brand)

Avoid gendered adjectives like interesado/interesada when possible
✅ “Mostraste interés en … ”
❌ “Estuviste interesado en … ”

Example (French):

Always use vous, not tu, in B2B messages

Avoid ambiguous endings like intéressé(e)
✅ “Vous avez montré de l’intérêt … ”
❌ “Tu t’étais intéressé(e) … ”

Why This Shift Mattered

In English, a friendly CTA might look like:

“Would you be available for a brief conversation on one of the following days?”

We tried directly translating it into Spanish:

“¿Quieres agendar 15 minutos para hablar sobre lo que estás buscando?”

It was grammatically correct, but it sounded too casual and unprofessional in a B2B context. Not pushy, just slightly off-tone.

So, we reworded it to be friendly but formal:

“Si te parece bien, podemos agendar una conversación breve esta semana.”

This translates to:

“If it works for you, we can schedule a short chat this week.”

Here’s another example in French:

Original output: “Souhaitez-vous prendre rendez-vous pour en discuter ?”
(“Would you like to schedule a meeting to discuss this?”)

New version: “Auriez-vous 20 minutes pour voir comment HubSpot pourrait concrètement vous aider?” (“Would you have 20 minutes to see how HubSpot could practically support you?”)

The second version adds value to the CTA. Not just time — but purpose.

Backing It Up With a Stakeholder Questionnaire

Localization isn’t just a linguistic issue — it’s a business alignment issue.

To get it right, I created a simple stakeholder intake doc and shared it with marketing ops, regional marketers, and content leads. The goal was to align early on tone, content boundaries, and regional sensitivities.

These are some of the questions I asked:

What level of formality is appropriate in your market?

Should we avoid gendered terms?

Can we reference the user’s company or product usage?

How direct should we be in asking for action?

Are there idioms, cultural references, or phrasings we should avoid?

We got some pretty interesting insights.

For example, in some regions, stakeholders preferred not to reference the recipient’s company type in the copy, even though that was common in English (e.g., “I saw that you help startups with HR”).

The localized alternative became more general:

“Entiendo que están buscando formas de mejorar sus procesos internos.” (“I understand you’re looking to improve internal processes.”)

The results of this survey helped create clarity between content, ops, and regional marketing teams — and dramatically reduced our revision cycles.

The Final Product: Human-sounding Emails at Scale

With the updated prompt and intake framework, the new outputs were instantly better.

Before:

Original output: “Hola [FirstName], soy María de HubSpot. He visto que has navegado nuestra plataforma y parece que te interesa nuestro producto.”

English translation: “Hi [FirstName], I’m María from HubSpot. I saw you’ve browsed our platform and it seems you’re interested in our product.”

After:

Original output: “Soy María de HubSpot. Vi que estuviste explorando la plataforma y que querías saber más sobre cómo podemos apoyar tu negocio.”

English translation: “I’m María from HubSpot. I saw you were exploring the platform and wanted to learn more about how we can support your business.”

And stakeholders responded positively:

“This finally sounds like someone from our team wrote it.”

“Perfect tone — natural and local.”

“No gender errors or weird formalities. We can actually use this.”

Even better, we didn’t need to write separate prompts for every campaign. The same core framework now powers AI-generated messages in multiple languages — with consistent quality.

Takeaways for Marketers

Whether you’re working on AI copy, global ads, or multilingual content, here’s what I learned:

1. Don’t just translate — localize for intent.

Literal translations will get you “technically correct” content. But only localization will make it land.

2. Use prompts like creative briefs.

Include tone, formality, CTA style, gender neutrality, and other language rules as variables. Don’t leave nuance to chance.

3. Build language-aware templates.

Languages behave differently. Plan for things like verb conjugations, pluralization, and sentence rhythm upfront.

4. Get feedback early.

Use a stakeholder intake doc before generation, not after. You’ll avoid rework and misalignment later on.

5. Aim for a real, human tone.

If your AI output doesn’t feel like something you would write to a customer, it won’t convert. Read it aloud. Would you hit send?

AI localization is a marketing skill now.

This project taught me something that has stuck with me since: The future of global marketing isn’t just about scaling content — it’s about scaling context.

The companies that succeed with AI won’t be the ones who generate the most content. They’ll be the ones who generate the most resonant content because they know how to prompt for it. And that starts with understanding the languages your customers speak — in more ways than one.

How to get more followers on Instagram: 17 ways to your first (or next) 1000

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:00:00 +0300

With over 2 billion monthly active users and features like shoppable posts, Instagram is a powerful channel for businesses. But here’s what I’ve experienced firsthand: Unless you’re a household name, growing an Instagram following is hard work.

Standing out requires more than just posting pictures or Reels every now and then. You need to have a deep understanding of your audience and consistently engage with them. Don‘t worry, I’m here to help.

Let’s discuss some proven, actionable strategies to help you get more followers on Instagram, whether they be your first 1000 or next.

Table of Contents

Types of Instagram Followers

How to Get More Followers on Instagram

Attracting New Followers With Your Instagram Profile

Using AI to Get More Followers on Instagram

How Not to Increase Instagram Followers

Types of Instagram Followers

Before I get into the nitty-gritty, it’s important to know what the Instagram landscape looks like today. In your growth journey, you'll likely encounter these three main types of followers:

1. Fake Followers

Fake followers are usually bots or dummy accounts that inflate a follower count.

You can typically spot them by their lack of profile pictures, posts, followers, or spammy alpha-numeric usernames.

Fake followers may make the follower count on your profile look good, but they don‘t engage. Engagement is a huge factor in Instagram’s algorithm (i.e., getting on the Explore feed and in “suggested posts”) and getting brand collaborations as a creator.

Having a high follower count but low engagement won’t do your account any favors with the algorithm, so it’s better to have real followers who are more likely to engage with your content.

2. Ghost Followers

“Ghost” followers on Instagram are inactive users.

They’re like disengaged contacts on an email list. They‘re real, but again, they don’t interact with your content, so they do little more than skew your metrics.

3. Organic Followers

Lastly, we have organic followers. Organic followers are your real, active audience; those who visit your profile, engage with your content, and are potential customers.

Organic followers can cross many demographics, but pay close attention to the following:

Customers. These are people who have made a purchase. They already know and like your brand so you want to know when you’re talking to one.

Competitors. These are followers who are in the same industry or line of business as you. They’re likely following to keep an eye on what you’re doing.

Influencers. Specifically, look out for micro/nano influencers or creators with 10-75K followers. If relevant, these niche influencers can lead to useful partnerships and increased sales for your business.

Out of these three types of followers, organic followers are really the only ones you want. So, how can you get more of them?

How to Get More Followers on Instagram

In 2022, I did the impossible — I had an Instagram Reel go viral. So far, it’s generated over 5.5 million views, 173K shares, 99.5k likes, and 14.6 bookmarks, but the number of new followers? Minimal.

Though it wasn’t my goal, the experience got me thinking about how to get more followers on Instagram. (I mean, if a meme that got the attention of Instagram exec Adam Mosseri won’t do it, what will?)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ramona (@ramonasukhraj)

Even if you’ve never tried your hand at Instagram marketing or you don’t have a team of content creators, you can grow your Instagram account by focusing on a few key areas:

Instagram Strategy

Instagram Content Creation

Engaging Instagram Followers

Promoting Your Instagram Account

Let's get started.

Instagram Strategy Tips for Getting More Followers

1. Have a dedicated content creator/personality.

Yes, people may follow some brands on Instagram, but they are more likely to follow and engage with other people. (Why do you think influencer marketing is so effective?)

While you can certainly collaborate with influencers (more on that later), a smart way to get more followers without the extra cost is to have a dedicated creator or creators in your Instagram content.

Think of these personalities as your spokespeople. Having one or a small handful of spokespeople in your Instagram content gives followers someone human to recognize and connect with rather than simply a cold, faceless brand.

“For brands, putting a face to the business is no longer optional — it’s essential,” says Sarah Schmidt, President of Interdependence, a PR and strategic communications firm that manages Instagram accounts for celebrities, CEOs, and brands.

Schmidt suggests that the face of the brand doesn’t always have to be the company founder. “We’ve had the most success when someone from the team becomes a consistent presence — a personality followers can connect with,” she says. “When that person shows up with opinions, behind-the-scenes context, and a sense of humor, the brand becomes more than a logo, it becomes a point of view.”

Take Auberth and Javi on HubSpot’s Instagram, for example:

They both regularly appear in HubSpot’s Instagram content, delivering our messages and representing the brand. They also give followers a face to connect with when they see HubSpot in their feeds.

Find someone with experience and passion for Instagram to appear in your content. Someone who understands user behavior and will stay current on trends, new features, and updates to Reels and Instagram Shopping.

Do you have someone inexperienced who’s interested? Have them dip their toes into becoming a digital creator by getting an Instagram Marketing certification and experimenting with content creation templates.

Learn How to Increase Followers with HubSpot’s Free Instagram Marketing Course

Pro tip: Mine your existing team for creators.

No one knows your brand, product, or service better than your team members. If they are willing, ask them to appear in your Instagram content, whether it be in images, videos, or even audio.

Consider creating a system for curating content from your team.

For instance, establish a specific email address for folks to submit photos, short videos, and memes. Alternately, if your team shares a Box or Dropbox account, create a shared folder where people can upload their content.

Think about how your team communicates and make it easy for them to get involved.

2. Share educational content with Instagram carousels.

The best way to get more followers on Instagram is to offer value. In this case, education.

Data from Sprout Social found that Instagram carousel posts were the second most engaging content format after Reels.

Adam Mosseri, the Head of Instagram, said himself that carousels get more reach than photo posts.

Think about what you can educate your audience on. Then, create a simple Instagram carousel post with an engaging title enticing users to click through to the next slide.

Grammarly does a great job of sharing educational carousels on its Instagram:

3. Be mindful of diversity and inclusion.

Instagram is a global platform that reaches people from all walks of life.

Thinking about diversity and inclusivity can help reach more of these people by looking past preconceived notions of gender, age, race, income, and sexuality to highlight how your product or service can offer value.

How do you do this? It comes back to focusing on common pain points and experiences, which are often universal regardless of topical traits.

Inclusive marketing challenges rigid ideas of who a brand’s buyers are and how their product is used to cast a wider net — one that may include demographics they may have never considered before.

Recently, I’ve been impressed by Urban Decay Cosmetics' inclusive content on Instagram. This recent post highlights the brand’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Historically, many makeup brands have primarily targeted women and showcased conventional Western beauty standards, Urban Decay’s content features a wide range of individuals using their products.

This opens them up to many other markets (and followers) that may currently be ignored by their competitors.

4. Post consistently.

If you want people to follow you on Instagram, you have to give them something to follow. This means posting high-quality, relevant content regularly.

Schmidt suggests posting with a purpose if you want to increase your publishing frequency. “The best way to earn followers is through consistency with meaning,” she says. “Don’t just post for the algorithm. Build a storyline that makes people want to stick around. Series-based content, progress updates, thematic arcs all outperform isolated one-offs.”

Another easy way to get into this habit is to commit to a posting schedule.

Having a set time on your calendar to post content on Instagram gives you a deadline to abide by, and it gives your audience a specific time to anticipate hearing from you.

Heck, they may even plan for it like I clear my schedule for new episodes of The White Lotus at 9 PM ET on Sundays.

Ok, maybe your posts won’t ignite this kind of commitment, but having an Instagram schedule does set expectations. And expectations build a sense of reliability, community, and trust with your followers. But what time should you post?

Optimizing your schedule for your specific audience might take time and experimentation, but recent HubSpot research found the best times to post on Instagram to be 12-3 PM or 6-9 PM.

Friday is the best day for engagement, followed closely by Saturday and Sunday. The evening window from 6:00 PM - 8:59 PM usually has high engagement levels.

Experiment with these guidelines to see what works for your audience and persona. Your target persona can drastically impact your posting timing and frequency, especially if they are in a different time zone.

Download this free template for buyer personas if you already have a few.

Pro tip: Use a social media management tool to help maintain consistency.

Get Started with HubSpot’s Social Media Tool

You can always post manually, but scheduling your posts in advance can help plan ahead and save time. Here are more articles to help you choose the right tool and learn how to schedule Instagram posts:

When you don’t have big dollars to hide behind, you’re forced to get creative, move fast, and figure out what actually gets attention. You learn by doing, not by building 40-slide decks to ask for $50,000.

In this piece, I’ll walk you through real examples of scrappy marketing tactics that worked, and how you can steal them for your own playbook.

My Own Experience With Low-Budget Marketing

My first job out of college was at a PR agency. This was back in 2009, and the “playbook” was pretty traditional. I built a list of reporters, cold pitched them, hoped for a hit. But social media was just starting to change the game. I realized I could skip the outdated tactics by connecting with reporters directly on Twitter.

I‘d follow their work, comment thoughtfully on their posts, and DM them pitches that showed I actually understood their beat. This wasn’t rocket science. But at the time, no one else was doing it. And, it worked. I started getting quick wins, and internally, people were wondering what my “secret” was. The truth? I was just scrappy and curious.

I also used to ghostwrite for one of the executives at the same company. I would spend all day finding blogs and drafting comments on blog posts, back when blog comments were a community builder.

That would lead to coverage. Thoughtful comments would turn into future opportunities because you’d be seen as an expert. The reporters would say, “Wow, this is a really good comment on this article. Hey, let’s feature this person in the next article.”

Early in my career, I read and devoured everything about social media marketing, digital marketing, and online marketing. I loved the world of posting on Reddit and answering questions on Quora.

Later at HubSpot, I helped launch the company’s first podcast, The Growth Show. I’d find relevant subreddits and creatively promote the podcast. We got a lot of links and a lot of love. I just kind of fell into this scrappy level of marketing.

At Drift, I applied that same mindset at scale. We didn't buy billboards across San Francisco, but we did buy one billboard outside a key customer's office for $1,200. We put a screenshot of her tweet on it, and she ended up taking a photo in front of it. That tweet did more for us than any display ad ever could.

Or take the time we went to SaaStr. We didn’t have a booth. Our CEO had a speaking slot, and I flew out with my podcast gear in my backpack. I recorded interviews, wrote articles, and created a ton of content — all for the price of a plane ticket.

So, how can you make a big impact with a small budget? Here are my biggest learnings.

4 Tips for Marketing Without a Budget

1. Play where you have leverage.

The fastest, most cost-effective place to start is social media. It’s where people hang out, whether they’re buying software or shoes.

When I say social, I don't just mean paid ads or promo posts. I mean actually showing up where your audience spends time. That might mean posting on LinkedIn, replying to threads on Reddit, or sharing insights in niche Slack groups.

2. Create shareable moments.

The best scrappy plays are often the most memorable. At Drift, we sent handwritten notes and shirts to new customers. Why? Because they took pictures and shared them. It created organic reach and goodwill.

When I launched my book, I paid $5K to plaster posters around Boston like a musician would promote a show. People saw them, took pics, and spread the word.

3. Start with content, not spend.

Most marketers ask, “How much can we spend on this campaign?” But instead, they should ask, ”What's the most helpful or interesting thing we can make?"

No matter what you make, content that connects is actually high quality, unique, and interesting. I find a plain-text newsletter with real insights much more engaging than a beautifully designed send with custom graphics. A podcast with low-fidelity audio can be more valuable than one made in a state-of-the-art studio.

Focus on getting information into the world that adds value for your audience. You can iterate, then put money behind plays that work.

4. Use scrappy plays to de-risk bigger bets.

Scrappy experiments are low-risk ways to test ideas. Before you invest in a large sponsorship or campaign, test the message organically. Does it get traction on social? Does it resonate with customers? If so, then double down with spend.

Don’t think of being scrappy as an alternative to having a budget; instead, you can use it as a testing ground for great ideas you can double down on.

Scrappy marketing is a mindset.

There’s nothing wrong with spending your marketing budget — after you’ve earned the right to. Budget should amplify what’s already working, not compensate for a weak idea.

Your spend should follow signal. If something scrappy works, put money behind it. Maybe that means sponsoring the event where you had organic momentum. Maybe it means turning your plain-text newsletter into a beautifully produced podcast.

What I don't believe in is starting with spend. I’d rather make $5K go 10x further with a smart idea than burn it on a booth no one remembers.

Remember, scrappy marketing isn’t just for early-stage startups or underfunded teams. It’s a mindset. It’s about staying close to the customer. Moving fast. Testing before scaling. Creating great content and building trust in places that matter.

That’s the game I’ve always played. And, I’d bet on it every time.

17 marketing job descriptions for hiring managers to attract ideal candidates

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Looking to grow your marketing team? It all starts with marketing job descriptions written to attract your best potential.

Wording, structure, even emojis — everything counts. I’ve encountered countless job descriptions during my time as a marketer and have learned a thing or two along the way.

Not surprisingly, 52% of job seekers say the overall quality of a job description is an influencing factor when they decide to apply for a job. So I like to think of job descriptions as being a powerful tool for advertising your company.

If you want to learn how to craft an irresistible one, start with this guide that includes 17 real-life examples and learn how brands market their open positions.

Table of Contents

Marketing Job Description

Types of Marketing Jobs

Marketing Job Description FAQs

As you embark on writing job descriptions for open roles on your team, make sure you include the following pieces of information.

Marketing Job Requirements and Qualifications

Before you draft a clunky job post, remember: less is more. The right candidates are out there — don’t scare them off with an impossible checklist.

Start with the must-haves like core skills, the level of seniority, education, and areas of previous experience a candidate would need to have to be successful in the role.

Include soft skills like strategic and agile thinking, communication, and organizational skills.

Specify the role details, like whether it is remote or hybrid, and how many days would be required in the office.

Ask for realistic requirements for your candidate pool, given your compensation budget.

Stay open to non-linear paths. The best marketers don’t always come from a traditional background, especially since few have a marketing major.

Note: The requirements and qualifications section can be intimidating for some job applicants, and if it’s too extensive, you could scare off candidates who may be a good fit for the role, even if they have a different level or type of experience.

I love how HubSpot increases the pool of applicants by adding a genuine nudge to apply.

Marketing Job Responsibilities

This section should clearly outline what tasks and duties the person in this role will be responsible for. When a candidate reads the job responsibilities section, they should be able to clearly understand what the role entails and how the role fits into the broader organization.

Pro tip: Avoid overly narrow criteria that can limit diversity and miss candidates with unconventional but valuable experience. Here’s how Lemlist approaches a listing of job responsibilities for a product marketing role:

The company bolds the jobs to be done and gives a succinct description.

Marketing Job Skills

Similar to job requirements and qualifications, this section should state what technical and/or soft skills are needed for a candidate to perform in the role.

For example, if you’re looking to hire a content marketer, you may list “strong writing skills” as a mandatory skill. Or, if you’re hiring a marketing analyst, you may list “data analysis” as a skill needed to be successful in the role.

See an example:

Now, let’s discuss the ways a job description will need to be customized for a particular role.

Types of Marketing Jobs

The job description you craft will need to be highly tailored to the role you’re hiring for. After all, if you’re hiring for a technical SEO role, you don’t want to create a description that will attract newbies. Here are some of the most common types of marketing jobs available for modern marketers:

Digital Marketing

Content Marketing

Product Marketing

Brand Marketing

Event Marketing

Marketing Analysis

SEO

Public Relations

Fractional Marketing

AI Marketing

Ready to write a job description that attracts stellar candidates? Check out this list of sample descriptions for common marketing roles.

1. Marketing Assistant Job Description

The marketing assistant role is key to helping a marketing organization run smoothly and effectively. Individuals applying for this role should have demonstrated the ability to handle a variety of administrative tasks efficiently and independently. They must be fast learners and agile.

Job Description

Our team is hiring a marketing assistant to keep our organization running smoothly. The ideal candidate will have experience managing multiple projects for key stakeholders and maintaining excellent communication.

Responsibilities

Support the marketing leadership team through the organization and administrative support for various projects.

Maintain strong communication between marketing executives and internal and external stakeholders.

Coordinate employee meetings and communications for the marketing department.

Maintain executive schedules and oversee project load.

Plan, prepare, and deliver presentations on behalf of the marketing team.

Conduct research for key marketing campaigns.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent experience. BA/BS is a plus, but is not required.

Experience managing multiple projects and adhering to deadlines.

Clear copywriting and editing skills.

Strong organizational, communication, and customer service skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.

What Hiring Managers Look for in a Marketing Assistant

An effective marketing assistant should be organized, communicative, and able to prioritize while working on various projects. Candidates who can demonstrate these abilities through work experience could be a good fit for a marketing assistant role.

Real-World Example

This job opening from 24 Seven Talent is a great example. Not only did they list expected skills, but they also disclosed a salary and benefits package.

2. Marketing Coordinator Job Description

Do you have someone on your team making sure marketing activities are organized and cohesive? If not, consider hiring a marketing coordinator. In this role, an individual is responsible for managing various projects within the marketing organization to ensure they are on time and within their budget.

Job Description

Our team has a suite of exciting projects underway and we are looking for the right candidate to help us execute them in the marketing coordinator role. With various campaigns and initiatives on the horizon, we’re hiring a skilled marketing coordinator to design and oversee marketing campaigns across platforms to reach company goals and increase brand awareness.

Responsibilities

Work directly with project managers, designers, social media, and content teams to design and implement key marketing campaigns.

Perform competitive research to understand what’s happening in the market, and incorporate your findings into each campaign for better results.

Facilitate cross-functional communication among project stakeholders.

Conduct analysis to determine the effectiveness of each marketing campaign, and report key findings to stakeholders.

Requirements

BA/BS or equivalent working experience.

Working knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM) and content management systems (CMS) like Content Hub.

Demonstrated project management experience.

Research and analytical skills.

An understanding of digital marketing tools and tactics.

What Hiring Managers Look for in a Marketing Coordinator

A qualified candidate for a marketing coordinator position should have experience supporting marketing campaigns and conducting research to understand the company’s customer base and ability to reach campaign objectives.

3. Social Media/Community Manager Job Description

Social media has become an integral part of business. A social media coordinator is the top priority hire for 2025 in marketing teams, according to HubSpot’s 2025 State of Marketing.

So if you aren‘t yet using social media marketing to your advantage, it’s time to start. And to do so, you need a social media manager who not only knows social media platforms like they know the alphabet, but who also knows how to develop strategies specific to various social networks, track the right metrics, and integrate the best tools and practices on those platforms.

Source

Job Description

Do you tweet, share, and post to social media in your sleep? Do you know what it takes to grow an online community? We're looking for a social media manager to manage our social media accounts by implementing strategies and tactics that grow our followers, engage and retain them, and help convert them into leads, customers, and active fans and promoters of our company.

You should have command of best practices and trends in social media marketing, enjoy being creative, and understand how to both build and convert a digital audience.

Responsibilities

Build and manage the company’s social media profiles and presence, including Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, and additional channels that may be deemed relevant.

Create shareable content appropriate for specific networks to spread both our brand and our content.

Monitor and engage in relevant social discussions about our company, competitors, and/or industry, both from existing leads and customers as well as from brand new audiences.

Run regular social promotions and campaigns and track their success (e.g., X chats, LinkedIn discussions, etc.).

Work alongside other marketers and content marketers to help distribute content that educates and entertains our audience and supports marketing goals.

Drive consistent, relevant traffic and leads from our social network presence.

Explore new ways to engage and identify new social networks to reach our target buyers.

Track, measure, and analyze all initiatives to report on social media ROI.

Requirements

BA/BS degree or equivalent work experience.

Active and well-rounded personal presence in social media, with a command of each network and its best practices.

Excellent communicator and creative thinker, with an ability to use both data and intuition to inform decisions.

Proficiency in using social media software (e.g., HubSpot's Social Inbox ) to monitor social media conversations. You will be our ear to the ground to route the appropriate marketer, sales rep, and/or support rep to social conversations.

Bonus experience and skills include Adobe Creative Suite, demand generation, inbound marketing, and blogging.

What Hiring Managers Look for in a Social Media/Community Manager

A genuine interest in the latest social media trends and the ability to implement and carry out relevant social media campaigns.

Skill up your social media managers with HubSpot Academy’s Social Media Courses. Plug them into the onboarding program to ensure your brand follows the latest trends and best practices.

Choose from YouTube Marketing, Facebook Ads, End-to-end Instagram Strategy, and more.

Source

4. Blog Manager Job Description

Did you know that SEO blogging was the top B2B marketing channel, resulting in ROI, according to HubSpot's State of Marketing Report 2025? Likewise, content marketing ranked in the top three for B2C.

If you aren't taking business blogging seriously enough, now would be the time. Hiring a dedicated blogger or blog manager is crucial to creating remarkable content.

Our research shows that blog posts and interviews still take 3rd and 4th place across content formats for 2025.

Source

You need someone who is not only a great writer and editor, but who can also keep your brand voice consistent across daily published content and understand how to use your blog to generate qualified traffic and leads for your business.

Job Description

We are seeking a savvy wordsmith to join our blogging team. Candidates must have a knack and love for writing, a comprehensive understanding of the industry, and experience in blogging to achieve business goals. The blogger will be expected to sustain and develop the company's voice across all blog content.

Responsibilities

Writing various types of articles on a wide range of topics for our blog.

Providing feedback to other contributors and editing other writers’ content.

Optimizing content for search engines and lead generation.

Contributing to long-form content projects such as ebooks.

Conducting analytical projects to improve blog strategies/tactics.

Growing blog subscribers, converting visitors into leads, and expanding our blog's overall reach.

Requirements

A passion and strong understanding of the industry and our business's mission.

Exceptional writing and editing skills, as well as the ability to adopt the style, tone, and voice of our business's various types of content.

An analytical mind and interest in using data to optimize/scale blog marketing strategies and tactics.

Excellent organizational skills to work independently and manage projects with many moving parts.

2-3 years of marketing and content creation experience.

Familiarity with SEO, website testing, and analytics tools, including SEMrush, Ahrefs, SurferSEO, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and VWO.

A working knowledge of HTML/CSS/JavaScript and experience with CMS platforms such as WordPress.

What Hiring Managers Look for in a Blog Manager

An ideal blog manager will understand your buyer personas so well that published content addresses their needs, wants, and problems. Plus, blog managers must be well-versed in analytics and CMS platforms like HubSpot CMS or WordPress. Ideally, they know how to work with WordPress plugins and AI agents that facilitate blog posting.

5. Inbound Marketing Manager Job Description

This role is crucial for small businesses that want to scale up and for startups since inbound marketing plays a huge role in attracting leads at lower costs than other channels.

If this is the case, you'll likely be looking to hire an all-in-one inbound marketer — someone who can build and grow your inbound marketing strategy from the ground up.

Job Description

We are looking for an amazing, data-driven inbound marketer to own the majority of our company's marketing funnel. You will be in charge of attracting site traffic, converting that traffic into new leads for the business, and nurturing those leads to close into customers, the latter of which sales leadership will help you accomplish.

Responsibilities

Build and manage a rich content/editorial calendar that attracts a qualified audience to our owned properties (including blog posts, whitepapers, ebooks, reports, webinars, infographics, etc.).

Grow new leads, including marketing-qualified leads, by converting site traffic through calls-to-action, landing pages, and lead generation content (including offers).

Optimize our marketing automation and lead nurturing processes through email, content, and social channels.

Establish closed-loop analytics with sales to understand how our inbound marketing activity turns

Here are the most popular AI video tools that are actually worth your time

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0300

My son and I were recently watching some AI-generated videos when he suddenly stopped and asked, “Wait… none of these are real?” That pause perfectly sums up where we stand with AI video tools right now. We‘ve reached the point where even a casual viewer has to take a step back and consider if what they’re seeing is real or AI.

But, not all tools propel viewers past the uncanny valley. Having spent years in Silicon Valley watching AI startups rise and fall, I‘ve learned that the tech that looks impressive in demos doesn’t always translate to real-world utility.

For this post, I’m cutting through the noise and focusing on AI video tools that are popular and live up to the hype. I’ll dive into visual quality, surprising functionality, and the heated debates these tools sparked. So, here are the nine tools that rise above the rest.

The 9 Most Popular AI Video Tools Right Now — Ranked

1. Veo

Veo, Google’s AI video model, is the most impressive AI video I’ve seen so far in terms of pure output quality. The visuals are crisp, the motion is smooth, and it offers four video options per prompt. You just need to pick your favorite. I’ve found one of the four is good enough to use straight out of the gate almost every time.

The tech is miles ahead, even if the product still feels early. Currently, Veo lacks essential features, such as a comprehensive asset library and editing tools, and your creations are lost if you don’t download them. But, those are solvable problems.

My take: The big question is whether Google will actually turn Veo into something people use. They’ve launched amazing tech before that’s never reached widespread adoption. Beyond that, the latest version is priced at $250 per month, which can be a tough pill to swallow.

The model is absolutely S-tier, but without a solid product and rollout behind it, it could end up being one of those cool tools that most people never touch.

2. Hailuo AI

Hailuo might not have the same name recognition as Google or OpenAI, but it deserves a spot at the top. The results are consistent and surprisingly controllable. You can bring in images from tools like Midjourney or Flux, and Hailuo turns them into smooth, coherent motion.

When I sat down with Tim Simmons from Theoretically Media, he raved about how his audience was getting great results with Hailuo. Even without using a prompt, it understands what you're trying to achieve. That kind of intuition in a model is rare.

My take: The control and prompt adherence here are next level. If you’re creating short films or AI-native content, this is a top contender. Tim put it best when he said his entire audience would “come after him with pitchforks” if he didn't rank this tool at the top of his list. After testing it, I understand why.

3. Runway

Runway is the OG. It’s been around longer than most and still ships new features constantly. Gen-3 is fast, and the editing tools — Act-One, rotoscope, motion controls, subtitle generation — make it more than just a video generator. It’s a full creative suite.

That said, the visuals don’t always impress. I would say the quality is closer to B-tier, but the ecosystem makes up for it. I find the green screen and expand tools particularly useful. These are great for workflows where precision and flexibility are required.

My take: The visuals aren’t always top-tier, but Runway’s tools and speed make it the most complete creative suite I’ve tested.

4. Kling

Source

Kling clips nail physics, motion, and photorealism, making video that feels real. The tool is especially impressive when you’re working with dynamic shots like sweeping pans or zooms, where the sense of depth and movement really comes through.

Kling doesn’t lock you into native image tools. You can bring in assets from other platforms and then use Kling’s motion brushing and generation features to bring them to life. Kling 2.1 was also one of the most talked-about upgrades in late 2024. Pro mode bumped video resolution to 1080p, and prompt adherence improved dramatically.

My take: Kling offers greater control and flexibility than competitors. However, until the output is more consistently high-quality across a broader range of prompts, this is high on my favorites list but not at the top.

5. LTX Studio

Tim fought hard for LTX to be in S-tier — not because it’s the best right now, but because it’s the only open-source tool on this list. That makes it uniquely poised for rapid improvement, thanks to contributions from the global dev community.

He also called out how fast it is and compared it to Leonardo.Ai’s Flow State mode, where you can interactively steer outputs. But even Tim admitted the generative quality doesn’t yet compare to tools like Veo or Hailuo. Matt Wolfe, my co-host on The Next Wave, agreed. LTX is promising but not quite there.

My take: LTX is a strong AI video contender with tons of potential, especially for developers and tinkerers. If you’re excited about open-source AI tools, check it out.

6. Sora

This one sparked a lot of discussion. Initially, I had access to Sora Turbo. The Turbo model generated 20-second clips using frame interpolation, which sped up the motion but made it feel slightly off at times.

When my co-host Matt tested Sora Turbo, he found that outputs weren’t especially impressive. In his side-by-side tests with Veo, results came out in Veo’s favor. Beyond that, several key capabilities, like generating people, were locked behind the $200 per month plan. That makes the tool feel somewhat limited unless you are paying for the top tier.

That said, there are some genuinely impressive features, like Remix, Blend, and the ability to cut between clips. While the outputs felt underwhelming, those tools showed real potential and hinted at where Sora could go next.

My take: The visuals weren’t the main event here. It’s the tooling that stood out. Remix and Blend, in particular, seem to be ahead of the curve. If OpenAI leans into those strengths, Sora could become a serious contender.

7. Luma

Luma’s Dream Machine impressed us with its unique features and solid output. One standout? The ability to input a start and end frame and have the tool animate between them. Tim used it to prototype a Game of Thrones–style intro, complete with sweeping drone-style flythroughs. During a conversation on The Next Wave, Matt noted that starting with an image instead of just a prompt tends to get better results.

Luma’s image generation improvements and its more interactive UI are also worth noting. These changes allow you to “chat” with your image in a way reminiscent of early DALL·E 3 hype.

My take: Matt’s demo, featuring image-to-video transitions and flythroughs, was impressive. Luma is a tool that I’ll be watching closely.

8. Pika

Pika has carved out a unique niche with its special effects features, such as the ability to make things explode, get crushed by hydraulic presses, or transform objects into cake. While they were the first to nail cartoon faces really well visually, most of the other models that have come out since are more impressive overall.

But Pika‘s strength isn’t in competing on pure visual quality. Tim pointed out they're doubling down on these playful, social-first tools rather than trying to match the cinematic output of Veo or Runway.

My take: I see Pika becoming a viral app. It's useful for memes and quick social content, which gives it real value in its specific lane. Maybe it’s not what Hollywood uses, but for teens looking to create fun, viral transformations, it could be huge.

9. Invideo AI

Invideo AI isn’t really trying to compete with cinematic AI models like Veo or Hailuo. Its strength is in speed and utility. You give it a prompt, and it assembles a slick, ad-style video using stock footage and templates in minutes.

If you're making explainer content or quick social clips, InVideo is useful. You’re not relying on full-on generation Instead, you’re combining assets to get something done fast.

My take: Invideo feels more like Canva for video than an AI playground. But for marketers who want to move quickly and stay on brand, that’s a win.

What's Next for AI Video

After testing these tools side by side, one thing‘s clear: We’re in the early days of a massive shift. No single platform is dominating yet, which reminds me of the early social media wars or the browser battles of the 2000s.

Tools like Veo and Hailuo are setting the bar for raw quality. Runway and LTX are winning in terms of features and community. Pika and Invideo are smart to carve out specific niches rather than try to be everything to everyone.

Here's what happens next: The quality gap will narrow fast, but the real winners will be the platforms that nail the user experience and find their specific audience. Expect better editing tools, smoother workflows, and entirely new use cases we haven’t imagined yet.

The tools are getting good enough that the story you tell matters more than the pixels you generate. And honestly? That's where things get really interesting.

To see other top video contenders, check out the full episode of The Next Wave below.

8 steps to build your account-based marketing strategy [+ recommended tools]

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0300

In the world of account-based marketing, you start the sales process by selling directly to your best-fit, highest-value accounts.

That means wasted time trying to market to unqualified leads who aren’t the right fit for your business. You can move straight into the phases of engaging and delighting your target accounts. Talk about efficiency, right?

Account-based marketing allows you to weed out less valuable companies early on and makes sure that Marketing and Sales are in complete alignment. In return, your team can leap into the critical processes of engaging and delighting target accounts much faster.

I recently sat down with Tim Davidson and Dylan Wingrove, account-based marketers, to discuss everything relating to this strategy. Here’s everything you need to know about account-based marketing.

Table of Contents

What is account-based marketing?

Account-Based Marketing and Inbound Marketing

Benefits of Account-Based Marketing

Account-Based Marketing Framework

Account-Based Marketing Strategy

Account-Based Marketing Tactics

Account-Based Marketing Tools

Account-Based Marketing Examples

B2B Account-Based Marketing

LinkedIn Account-Based Marketing

When I asked Dylan Wingrove, Associate Director of Demand Generation at Pacvue, for his personal definition, he told me, “[ABM] is going after a set of defined strategic accounts that are large revenue opportunities for the business.”

In other words, ABM helps your business work and communicate with high-value accounts as if they’re individual markets.

Like traditional marketing, you’ll spend quite a bit of time personalizing your messaging to be as specific as possible. This means really leaning into individual pain points to directly speak to your leads’ needs.

For this post, I asked Davidson and Wingrove about the benefits of account-based marketing and how to create an ABM strategy. But first, I think it's important that we spend a minute reviewing its relationship with another important strategy: inbound marketing.

Account-Based Marketing and Inbound Marketing

Batman and Robin. LeBron and D-Wade. Peanut butter and jelly. Arguably, some of the strongest partnerships ever to exist. These dynamic duos are forces to be reckoned with.

Similarly, when paired, account-based marketing and inbound marketing have the power to make waves (the good ones) for your business.

You might be wondering, “How exactly does this partnership work?”

Well, we just reviewed the definition of account-based marketing — as you learned, ABM is a highly targeted strategy.

Meanwhile, inbound marketing is more foundational — this methodology and growth strategy allows you to attract customers through the creation of valuable content, SEO, and a delightful customer experience.

Rather than interrupting your target audience and customers (as you would with outbound marketing), inbound marketing allows you to give your audience the information they want when they want it.

Inbound lays the foundation for a strong ABM strategy by allowing for highly targeted and efficient resource allocation of high-value accounts.

Do you need both inbound marketing and account-based marketing?

You’re probably wondering, “Do I need both inbound marketing and outbound marketing?”

I hear you. So, I asked Wingrove what he thought. He told me he would not recommend launching an ABM strategy as a standalone tactic. Instead, it works better in partnership with other marketing strategies.

Here are a few reasons to employ both ABM and inbound marketing strategies at your company:

Inbound marketing helps you attract target accounts, and then ABM accelerates the flywheel so you can win and delight those accounts with a remarkable customer experience.

Inbound marketing lays the foundation for a strong ABM strategy; ABM builds off of inbound by allowing for targeted and efficient resource allocation of high-value accounts.

With this combined approach, you attract a broader group of prospects than you would while using just one method.

Your content has a two-for-one value — you can create and use content that serves both an ABM and inbound strategy (such as adding a personalized case study for a target account that you also share on your website).

Software — such as HubSpot’s account-based marketing tool — exists to make it easy to implement ABM and inbound strategies in a complementary way.

TL;DR: Combine ABM and inbound marketing to grow better.

As I learned by chatting with Davidson and Wingrove, there are many benefits associated with account-based marketing. I’ve made a list of the most important benefits based on what the experts told me.

1. Keeps marketing and sales aligned.

Davidson and Wingrove both made it very clear that account-based marketing aligns the sales and marketing team in a way that might not be possible otherwise.

Wingrove said it reduces the friction between teams, too. He said, “There‘s no fighting over inbound versus outbound. And everyone’s kind of working off of the same set of strategic accounts that we're going after.”

I think we can all agree that cross-team collaboration and improved communication across any organization are beneficial to growth.

In account-based marketing, this transparency and alignment will confirm that your marketing and sales teams:

Are focused on the same goals.

Stick to the mutually agreed-upon budget.

Understand the specific roles of each internal stakeholder.

This alignment helps make sure all communications, interactions, and content are consistent for the accounts you work with.

Meaning, no matter how long an account works with your company, your team members can pick up where others left off at any point without question — this creates a seamless and delightful customer experience.

Six simple behavioral science tips to improve any marketing message (and the brands that get it right)

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0300

Do you ever look at an ad and wonder, “What on earth does that mean?” That’s how I felt after viewing this Stripe ad.

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Now, I love Stripe. Their product is tremendous in the world of payment processing, but this ad makes no sense. Not only is it confusing, but it’s missing all the elements that I think make for a good ad. The ad needs a refresh, and behavioral science can help.

Since starting the Nudge podcast, I’ve regularly interviewed researchers and other experts in order to glean insights from psychology and apply them to marketing. And over the past decade, I’ve come to believe that almost every message could be improved by behavioral science.

In this post, I've collected six successful messages with behavioral science principles behind them to prove my point. Once you see the science — and understand exactly why these ads work — using the same strategies to improve your own marketing messages becomes much simpler.

Six Successful Messages Using Behavioral Science Principles

1. Anchoring — De Beers

In the 1930s, only 10% of Americans bought diamond engagement rings. Most bought cheaper gems, spending a smaller proportion of their disposable incomes. To change buyer behavior, De Beers came up with a new anchor. They asked, "How can you make two months' salary last forever?"

Two months' salary was not the standard amount to spend on an engagement ring before this. But, the new anchor shifted perceptions of the norm. De Beers created a reference point (in this case, a higher price tag), which in turn influenced estimations of value. Buyers will spend more when it’s assumed that two months’ salary is what a ring should cost.

Today, 90% of engagement rings are diamond. And, Americans spend billions annually to purchase them.

2. Pratfall Effect — Avis

Rental car company Avis always lagged second for market share, behind Hertz. Most companies would hide this weakness, but Avis embraced it.

Behind this strategy is something known as the Pratfall Effect. Based on Aronson, Willerman, and Floyd’s research, the 1966 study found that we like smart people more if they have flaws. It boils down to the idea that if people seem too perfect, they’re not as easily liked. But if they make a mistake, they become a little more human like the rest of us, and thus more attractive.

So, Avis took this to heart and decided to flaunt their second-place ranking, showing that they were still among the best but just shy of perfection. This way, their weakness became a strength by making them appear more likable.

3. Generation Effect — Gut Foundation

There's a straightforward way to get someone to notice your ad: Remove a letter.

In a 2020 study by Burnett, Treharne, and Shotton (cited in Shotton’s 2023 book), the researchers showed participants brand names with missing letters. For example:

H_BC, Goo_e, Li_erpool FC, N_dge.

It turns out that participants remember those brands 14% more than when the full brand name is written (e.g., HSBC), with a recall rate of 92% versus 81%. This is due to the Generation Effect, meaning that if you have to generate an answer yourself, it becomes more memorable and effective.

The Gut Foundation, a non-profit specializing in digestive health, applied this technique to their ads. They didn't tell drivers to get a checkup. Instead, they advertised 100% “anus beef”.

With the extra bit of effort required to understand it, the ad was both impossible to ignore and easy to remember.

4. Keats Heuristic — Tesco

Rhymes are potent messaging tools. To demonstrate the power of this, in one study, researchers McGlone and Tofighbakhsh showed participants two sets of proverbs. Some rhymed ( e.g., woes unite foes). Some didn't rhyme, but meant the same thing (e.g., woes unite enemies).

The study revealed that rhyming proverbs were deemed 17% more trustworthy and memorable than their non-rhyming counterparts.

The researchers coined this the Keats Heuristic (after the poet) to highlight the underlying idea that how pleasing we find something affects our perception of how true we believe it to be. Rhymes are pleasing and easy to process, making their content seem trustworthy and true.

The supermarket chain Tesco used this same principle to boost sales of its reduced-price veg. By creating an ad that rhymed (“Reduced in price. Just as nice.”), Tesco increased trust in the idea that low-priced produce was still of good quality and worth the purchase.

5. Endowment Effect — NHS

If you feel you own something, you'll value it more. This is known as the Endowment Effect, and it’s been studied in many situations throughout behavioral economics and psychology.

However, Katy Milkman, along with a large team of researchers, applied this idea to persuasive messaging in her fantastic 2021 study, which looked at how to encourage patients to get vaccinated for the flu at an upcoming doctor’s appointment.

Testing 19 different text-based messages, she found that stating, "Your vaccine is reserved for you," made readers 4.6% more likely to get vaccinated, as the reservation language boosts feelings of ownership.

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) applied this principle to boost uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination by changing its messaging language. Rather than having vaccines “available” to given populations, they were now “reserved” for them, suggesting the vaccine was already theirs and just waiting to be claimed.

6. Specific Numbers — Forest

In a 2006 study by Schindler and Yalch, consumers saw ads for a fictitious deodorant. Some were told it lasts “exactly 47% longer than rivals,” while others were told it lasts “more than 50% longer than rivals.”

Which message do you think worked? It's probably not what you’d expect.

The precise claim of 47% was deemed 10% more accurate by 199 participants. Why? Well, it's the specific number. Specificity enhances the perceived accuracy and trustworthiness of claims, while less precise numbers are assumed to be estimates or less factual.

Forest applies this brilliantly in its 2024 billboard ad for bike shares. Not only does it give the number of free minutes that users of its service have enjoyed, instead of a vague statement like “lots.” But it also uses an exact number (51,899,782), which is more persuasive than 50,000,000 on the dot.

Reframing Marketing Messages for Success

And finally, let’s go back to that Stripe ad. How could it be improved? Well, with just a subtle bit of reframing based on the behavioral science principles I’ve applied.

Getting specific about the speed makes the ad memorable, enhances trust, and influences perceptions about the amount of time it should take to analyze your data. Plus, it’s a whole lot less confusing to read.

The beauty of behavioral science in marketing is that strategic tweaks can dramatically improve results. In a world where consumers are bombarded with thousands of messages daily, the brands that understand the psychology behind persuasion are the ones that break through the noise and drive results.

How to use freebies to optimize your lead generation

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0300

I’ll never forget the first freebie marketing piece I created and put on the internet: a free guide to help you grow your Instagram following.

I wrote all the copy in a Word doc and tossed it out to my audience. Within a few hours, I had a few hundred new subscribers on my email list. Seeing people jump onto my list in exchange for the value I was offering was an exhilarating feeling. After that, I was hooked.

Over the years I’ve made dozens of freebies to help me grow my email list and in the process, I’ve learned what makes a freebie generate leads successfully.

Table of Contents

What is freebie marketing?

Does a freebie marketing strategy work?

How to Choose the Right Freebies to Give Away

Freebie Marketing Examples

Freebie Marketing Strategy: How to Run a Successful Freebie Campaign

What is freebie marketing?

Freebie marketing is a strategy where businesses offer a product or service at no cost in exchange for a customer action. Freebies can be digital or physical and the most common customer actions include signing up for an email or text list, engaging on social media, or downloading an app. Freebie marketing has the power to increase a brand’s perceived value, customer loyalty, and leads.

Does a freebie marketing strategy work?

In most purchasing decisions, customers perform a mental cost-benefit analysis to determine whether a purchase is worth the cost and risk.

With freebies, however, an interesting phenomenon takes place. Psychologists have found that labeling an item as “free” skews the traditional cost-benefit analysis. It boosts a product’s perceived value, sometimes even above a higher-quality paid item. This phenomenon, known as the “zero price effect,” activates an emotional response in our brains. To me, it feels like a dopamine hit. A freebie can:

Increase value perceptions.

Foster customer loyalty.

Lower inhibitions and guilt.

Increase quantities and order amounts because of the perception you are getting more for less.

Now, will freebie marketing work at converting your new leads into paid sales? That depends on how well you’ve aligned your freebie with your audience — and what you do after the offer.

How to Choose the Right Freebies to Give Away

There are hundreds of types of freebies. The wrong one could seem off-brand or attract the wrong audience. The right one, however, can boost your visibility and give long-time lurkers the nudge they need to take action.

First, take a look at the wide range of freebies businesses use to attract customers — some of these are better for B2B, while others for B2C.

Freebie Marketing Ideas

Free product samples

Free trial periods

Downloadable templates like project management trackers, social media calendars, or budgeting tools

Ebook or white paper

Quiz results

Free consultation

Discount codes or coupons

Online course or webinar

Cheat sheet or checklist

Content bundles such as templates, guides, or videos

Referral program, such as offering gift cards or discounts for referring new customers

Branded swag

BOGO (buy one, get one)

Free shipping

With all these choices, here’s how to know which will work best for your business.

1. Know your audience.

First, I always ask, what’s the number-one thing my audience is struggling with right now?

Freebies should feel like a shortcut to solving that. For instance, a lot of small ecommerce businesses struggle with choosing the right tech stack and overcoming platform limitations. So, I might want to consider creating an “Ecommerce Tech Stack Cheat Sheet” with a list of free and affordable tools and the best third-party apps for each of the major ecommerce platforms.

2. Leverage what you already know.

Second, the best freebie ideas are the ones you don’t have to reach for.

Think about checklists, swipe files, or tools you've already created for clients or internal use. What are the topics you could get on a soapbox and talk about for 30 minutes without warning? One of my best-performing lead magnets came from a slide deck I almost deleted.

If you’re a service-based business, you don’t want to give your entire proprietary framework away, but you can offer a pared-down preview of what you do for clients. Consultants and service businesses often don’t share enough of their process with prospects, but this gives just enough of a sneak peek for potential customers to feel comfortable hiring you.

3. Pick the right format.

Next, consider the format for your freebie. If you’re offering a consumer product for a giveaway or BOGO offer, choose something low-cost and high-inventory that will work across sizes and genders.

On the B2B side, consider what format your audience is most likely to respond to. Should it be long-form or short? Interactive or static? Text or multimedia? Here are a few formats that have worked well for me:

PDF checklist: Quick wins in a tidy format

Email mini-course: A multi-day drip that builds anticipation

Interactive quiz: High engagement, especially on social

Notion or Google Sheets templates: Practical and instantly useful

4. Test and iterate.

To test if you’ve found the right freebie, start small. Launch a free offer or A/B test multiple offers, track your conversion rates, and tweak the offer or format based on how people respond.

Freebie Marketing Examples

Here are six examples of how brands have used freebie marketing to reach their goals.

1. HubSpot Marketing Plan Templates

Source

At HubSpot, we love a good freebie. And we’ve learned that you love it too. Most marketing, sales, and service pros didn’t major in the field we end up working in — our work changes fast and we figure everything out as we go. For that reason, free knowledge templates are worth their weight in gold.

We’ve built a library of 116 (and counting!) free business templates powered by HubSpot tools to help knowledge workers win at work every day. One popular one is our free marketing plan template, a Google Doc that marketers can simply copy and complete.

Source

The template comes with fill-in-the-blank example copy to make planning quick and easy, with tips for completing each section. Other templates include a social media content calendar, a sales plan template, and a coding template.

2. Grow with Google AI Training

Source

Most resource-strapped small business owners know that AI can save them time, but they don’t have the skills to get started.

Enter Google: In partnership with America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC), they started offering free AI training to small business owners. They offer a one-hour workshop, two 10-hour courses, and an AI course for educators.

This is a smart move for Google since small business owners make up a large proportion of their Workspace and Ads customer base. The more skilled they are, the less customer support they’ll need and the more they’ll use Google’s products.

And, of course, it’s beneficial to help business owners learn and grow.

3. Dairy Queen’s Free Cone Day

Source

When I picked my daughter and her friend up from school the other day, they begged me to drive them over to Dairy Queen for free cone day. So, eyeing the opportunity to be the hero, I drove them to the nearest DQ. While we only saved about $6, everyone was happy and the win felt much bigger.

One year in a tongue-in-cheek “study,” DQ found that a free cone made 92% of people happy, increased in-store traffic by 10%, and drove in-store sales by 12%.

Wendy’s has another twist on this promotion — instead of offering Frosties just one day a year, they sell a $3, limited-release keyring allowing customers to claim a free cone all year.

4. Pixory Product Giveaway

Source

Travel brand Pixory knows how to do a giveaway right. This classic social media giveaway offered the chance to win 11 different products including plane tickets to NYC, a 5-star hotel stay, Sax gift cards, new luggage, and other luxury items for the winner and a friend.

To enter, participants simply needed to follow their account, then like, tag, and share the post. The Instagram giveaway boosted engagement and visibility for the brand, earning 32,612 likes.

5. Panera’s Unlimited Sip Club Free Trial

Source

The only thing better than a freebie? Repeated freebies. Several years ago, I was delighted when my MyPanera rewards account offered me a free coffee every day for a month. You can bet that I was there before work most days that month and bought quite a few pastries too.

Today, that offer still exists in the form of Panera’s Unlimited Sip Club membership. While the membership costs a monthly fee, you can get started with a generous two months free before paying anything. That means that for two months after signing up, you can claim a free hot or cold beverage every two hours with unlimited refills.

Panera, like many other brands, has learned that a freebie can bring people in the door for larger purchases and build habits that will be hard to break once the trial period ends.

6. Jenna Kutcher's List to Launch Course

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Want to build your email list? When I want to tackle something new, there’s nothing more valuable than insider knowledge from someone who’s been there, done that. In the case of email marketing, that’s HubSpot Creator Jenna Kutcher.

Kutcher’s List to Launch Lab is a step-by-step blueprint for growing an email list, packed with core strategies, email copy templates, and plug-and-play guides for creating lead magnets.

Source

Her genius offer taps into free educational content as a lead magnet, creating value upfront to build trust and increase the likelihood of future purchases.

By offering valuable content like step-by-step guidance for email marketing for free, it attracts and nurtures a specific target audience who are trying to do the same thing and can later convert into paying customers.

Freebie Marketing Strategy: How to Run a Successful Freebie Campaign

There’s much more that goes into a successful freebie marketing campaign than the freebie itself. If I were starting from scratch again, here’s the strategy I’d follow:

1. Define your goal.

First, determine what goal you’re trying to accomplish. Is it email signups? App downloads? New social followers, or demo requests? Make sure your freebie maps directly to that outcome.

2. Create a high-value freebie and offer.

Remember that perceived value matters. Make it feel premium — even if it only took you an hour to make. Try to offer a case study, data, or some juicy insider knowledge that isn’t already available on the internet.

Then, write an offer that speaks to your audience’s pain points (Remember: solve their problems and make their lives simple!) and reflects your unique voice. A focus for my brand is that all my offers truly feel like they’re coming from me, because they are!

3. Build a dedicated landing page.

Next, create a mobile-friendly, SEO-optimized landing page with a clear CTA.

Here’s the very specific, very actionable CTA that Kutching uses for her course. You’ll find “Enroll Now” and “Get started for just $79” on the landing page as well, but this one is the most compelling.

Source

Pro tip: Use HubSpot’s free landing page builder to create a mobile-friendly, SEO-optimized page for your freebie campaign with a clear CTA. You can even generate a first draft with Content Agent.

4. Promote and distribute it with automation.

Here’s the most important key to success with freebie marketing: you need to set up a workflow for what happens after someone claims your freebie.

For example, connect your freebie to a follow-up email sequence welcoming the prospect and sending them relevant content or another offer to bring them in-store or connect with you for a consultation. You can add them to retargeting ad campaigns to remind them to use the freebie or upgrade to paid products or services.

This doesn’t need to take manual work. Instead, use a CRM with automation to create multiple touchpoints with the prospect. Reach them with website pop-ups or follow-up emails to nudge them to the next step in the journey.

Pro tip: This is where HubSpot Marketing Hub really shines — you can set up customer journeys and segment based on what they downloaded and what they click on next.

5. Refresh and relaunch.

A common mistake people make is creating a free offer, then setting it and forgetting it.

For me, reworking and refreshing my top-performing freebies is a consistent practice. I need to schedule regular check-ins to see which pieces are performing well and how I can keep them fresh and effective. If you created a timely resource, you might need to either scrap it or rework it to make it timeless.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself when evaluating an existing freebie:

Does the freebie still align with my brand and messaging style?

Does the freebie’s content still deliver high-quality and valuable guidance?

Does the freebie have any time-sensitive language or outdated pop-culture references?

Are there new insights or examples I can add?

Once you make updates (even minor ones), it’s time to relaunch it. You don’t have to hide the update and let the same ol’ system roll on as usual. A concentrated burst or promotion could kickstart a new wave of leads. You likely have tons of people in your audience who’ve never downloaded this particular freebie (or who aren’t even paying customers yet!).

A good reminder here is that we’re always talking way less about our offers than we think we are. I recommend relaunching your freebie with excitement and intentionality. Give your refreshed freebie a mini-spotlight wh

How to get AI to write copy in your brand voice — from picking the right platform to training your GPT

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0300

When generative AI first came out, I was skeptical. While it came up with some good ideas, I saw it more as a novelty than a real copywriting tool. Honestly, I didn’t believe “great” and “on-brand AI copywriting” would ever belong in the same sentence.

To be clear, I still see my own brain and approach as a competitive advantage. That hasn’t changed, but two things have shifted:

First, AI algorithms have become more advanced and intuitive, making it easier to get better output.

Second, I’ve learned how to train AI tools in my voice and perspective consistently enough that they can now produce strong first drafts that actually sound like me.

And, I’ve found the biggest shift by thinking of myself as a copy chief and AI as a junior writer. It has fantastic ideas but needs strong guardrails, constant feedback, and clear direction. And, I’m going to show you how.

Table of Contents

Picking the Right AI Platform

Training an AI Platform

Limitations of AI Copywriting

Great Examples of AI-Copywriting

Picking the Right AI Platform

For starters, I don’t believe that there is a single “best” AI platform for copywriting. It really comes down to personal preference.

ChatGPT was the clear winner among the people I spoke with for this article, with Claude and DeepSeek close behind.

If you’re already using HubSpot, Breeze AI and AI Content Assistant now includes brand voice capabilities too. The tool can help your team stay consistent across emails, blogs, and landing pages directly inside your marketing workflows.

Personally, I prefer ChatGPT. It’s where I’ve spent the most time, I’m comfortable with the platform, and most importantly, I know how to engineer prompts and give feedback that gets good results. Plus, since I’m already paying for it, it makes sense to focus there.

If you haven’t played around with AI much yet, I highly recommend experimenting. Take a few different platforms, feed each the same prompts, and see what comes back.

Pay attention to:

How intuitive the platform feels to you.

How easily it “hears” and adapts to your feedback.

How well the output matches your expectations.

Based on the responses, the user experience, and how well each one fits as your copywriting assistant, you can pick your go-to.

And remember, you don’t have to commit to just one. Several copywriters and strategists I spoke with use different platforms depending on the project.

Training an AI Platform

The first thing you need to know about training an AI platform is that you can’t just say “write like me” without any context.

It’s a garbage-in, garbage-out kind of thing, and it’s on you to set it up for success.

So if you really want your generative AI platform to write like you, you have to teach it your voice and give it good material to work from, just like you would if you were briefing a junior copywriter.

Over the past few years, I’ve trained ChatGPT to understand my writing style, and those of a few different clients to make sure it knows what to watch for when I need to brainstorm, draft, or edit.

Putting It Into Action

As I was preparing to write this guide, a client project came along where we were synthesizing and updating the messaging for the parent company and its dozen sub-brands.

It gave me the perfect opportunity to build a clear set of guidelines for communicating across different services, topics, styles, and audiences — all while maintaining a consistent, customer-first ethos.

I followed the steps below, and I was blown away by how well it worked.

That said, I didn’t want this guide to reflect only my experience.

You’ll also find insights, quotes, and examples throughout this article from other copywriters and strategists, so you get a full, well-rounded perspective on what it really takes to train AI to write like you.

Steps to Train an AI Platform to Write Like You

If you’re wondering how to train AI to write in your brand voice, I want you to start by thinking of AI as a new person on your team, not just an AI platform. You have to be crystal-clear, coach it along the way, and offer constructive feedback and examples until it actually understands your voice.

And unlike a junior copywriter, you can tell your AI assistant that you hate what it’s done, and no feelings get hurt.

HubSpot’s Amy Marino shares that AI has done a good job capturing the team’s customer-centric, value-focused approach to copy, whether for an internal or external project.

“That said, where we've had the most rounds of back and forth has been in my pushes to be more creative, less derivative or jargon-y, and to use concrete examples to illustrate abstract concepts,” Marino says.

She goes on to say that sharing previous scripts, briefs, and language she loved as examples helped AI understand what she liked and wanted … and helped get to the finish line faster.

Step 1: Tell AI who you are and what matters to you.

I’ve found that the best place to start is to tell AI that you’re training it on a new brand voice and name it. That way, if I say “write like Erin Pennings,” the AI I trained will know to use my voice.

More importantly, without this foundation, AI will default to generic copy that doesn’t reflect your voice, values, or perspective.

I caught up with Justin Blackman, a brand voice strategist who has worked with tons of brands to nail their voice, beliefs, and messaging, to find out what he’s seeing is working well.

“Anyone I‘m doing voice finder sessions with is finding that it’s not so much the copy as it is the insight that's improved,” Blackman says. “With clarification on your approach, views, and opinion, it gravitates toward the right style with fleshed-out ideas that are about 83% publishable as is.”

Blackman says he’s been through the same process he puts clients through and that he’s been impressed with the output when AI is properly trained on insight as well as tone and vocabulary.

Pro tip: As part of this step, think about spelling out the big picture:

Why you do what you do.

The type of audience you're speaking to.

The feelings or outcomes you want to create with your writing.

Step 2: Prompt AI to analyze your examples.

Once you’ve given AI the big picture, the next step is getting it to see your voice in action.

This is where your real-world examples come in.

I like to feed AI a batch of strong samples — emails, social posts, sales pages, whatever fits. Then, ask it to analyze patterns and ask it to characterize the tone, cadence, style, and strategic choices you make without even thinking.

When I got in touch with my colleague and friend Chris Collins, a strategist who was an early adopter of AI-assisted writing, he shared that he takes a similar approach.

“I have a project in Claude with a bunch of my most representative posts, as well as a voice guide I created from them,” says Collins. “In fact, I think you can feed posts into Claude and ask it to create a detailed and specific guide anyone could use, and it will do a pretty good job.”

Pro tip: When gathering examples, don’t just dump them in. Instead, try the following.

Pick your best work, pieces that truly feel like you.

Explain what you like about each one, whether it’s the tone, the pacing, the word choice, or the perspective.

Feed both the writing and the context into AI. The more you help AI understand why something works, the faster it can learn to recreate the same feeling in new pieces.

Step 3: Offer feedback and reiterate.

Once AI has reviewed your examples, it’s time to review its understanding of your voice, not just the copy it produces. At this stage, you’re looking at how well it can describe your tone, style, structure, and perspective.

Did it pick up on the right themes?

Is it missing anything important?

Is it overemphasizing something that’s not really a priority?

I’d encourage you to think about this step like reviewing a junior copywriter’s notes before they ever write a draft to be sure they truly understand your voice before you hand them a project.

When I was working on the client messaging project, the AI's first voice analysis was surprisingly strong. It nailed the overall tone, structure, and product focus. But, it missed one critical piece: the customer-first ethos that runs through every communication.

That might sound small, but in an industry that’s not exactly known for customer obsession, it was the most important differentiator we needed to highlight. By providing this feedback to ChatGPT and offering some qualifying questions to use as a lens, it took the comms guidelines from okay to great.

The importance of strong setup and thoughtful prompting came up again when I spoke with Ana Mendes, marketing coordinator at MeetEdgar.

“Our biggest takeaway? AI can be incredibly helpful, especially for small or busy teams, but only when it’s trained properly and paired with thoughtful prompts,” Mendes shares.

Pro tip: When reviewing AI’s voice analysis, focus not just on what sounds good but on what truly matters to your brand. The better you articulate what’s missing or what needs emphasis, the faster AI will start thinking the way you do.

Step 4: Develop guidelines.

Once you've reviewed and refined AI’s understanding of your voice, it’s time to get it on paper — or at least into your AI tool.

For this step, I want you to take the analysis of your examples, use them to document the tone, structure, themes, and key principles that define how you write and think, and the common traps to avoid.

This doesn’t need to be long or fancy; it's just clear enough that if someone new (or your AI) picked it up, they could immediately “hear” you.

For example, after refining the voice analysis for my client with multiple sub-brands, I built a simple set of guidelines that includes the following.

Key themes: Customer-first thinking and solution-driven messaging.

Tone: Direct, strategic, supportive — not overly formal or overly casual, but appropriate for B2B audiences.

Pacing and structure: Short punchy intros, clear CTAs, skimmable layouts, and even examples of formatting for each type of communication we do (emails, one-pagers, web copy, etc.).

Language to avoid: Overly technical jargon without plain-language explanations (unless speaking to a highly technical subset).

There’s, of course, a great deal more information that I made sure to include, but this should give you an idea of where to start. From there, you can always develop some “say this, not that” options as well.

Collins explains that documenting his voice for AI changed everything: “I created a detailed, specific voice guide based on my strongest posts — and it made a huge difference in how well AI could recreate my style consistently.”

Pro tip: Save your guidelines somewhere you (and AI) can easily reference them every time you kick off a new project. I’ve found AI to be forgetful, so it’s a good idea to keep these handy.

Step 5: Put it into action and iterate.

Training your AI isn’t a one-and-done project. I think the junior copywriter analogy is really strong here because it requires constant tweaking and training to get your AI to write more like you.

That means, once you build your guidelines, start using them. Prompt AI using your framework, review the outputs, and keep offering micro-feedback as you go.

You’ll probably notice that the more you work with your AI, the better it gets at anticipating your needs and catching your voice.

But you’ll also notice moments where you still need to tweak, tighten, or reframe the guidelines to keep evolving as you do. In fact, I don’t think this will ever change — no matter how well you train the AI, there are plenty of times that it still … sounds like AI.

My friend Lindsay Hope is an AI and email strategist, and she puts this so well.

“AI copy performs best when it’s tweaked with the human touch. You still have to tie any writing back to a human, and that’s what I see people miss all the time,” she says.

The vast majority of people I spoke with agreed that AI rarely gets it right from the get-go and still needs a human editor.

Pro tip: One of the best pieces of advice I found in this came from Phillip DeRenzo, head of marketing at iAsk.ai. He writes, “Read your output out loud. If it makes you cringe, rework it.”

Prompts to Use

When you’re first training AI to capture your brand voice, it’s easy to get stuck thinking you have to have a perfect voice guide ready. That might have been true at one point, but I no longer believe it’s necessary, at least as you get started. Instead, I’d recommend setting the stage and refining from there.

These prompts should work across most major AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Claude, and HubSpot’s content assistant. No matter which tool you prefer, you can follow this process to start training your AI more effectively.

Prompt 1: Introduce the brand and context.

Start by giving AI a short, clear intro to the brand and audience:

We are training a brand voice for a [type of business — e.g., consulting agency, home goods brand, SaaS platform].

The audience includes [basic audience description — e.g., small business owners, busy parents, engineers, etc.].

I’ll be uploading examples of the best work shortly. Don’t do anything yet — I’ll have more instructions.

Note: If you have done some brand voice work either on your own or with an expert like Blackman, then feel free to share more information, but don’t let not having this stop you.

Prompt 2: Upload the examples and explain the context.

Rather than just dumping samples in, help AI understand why you’re sharing each piece. Here’s what that might look like:

I’m uploading several examples, including:

Our website homepage to show you the overall tone and positioning.

Our services page, so you can understand what we do.

Our top-performing welcome email as a strong example of voice and pacing.

LinkedIn posts that captured audience engagement.

I’ll have more directions shortly, so don’t start analyzing yet.

Prompt 3: Ask for clarifying questions before analysis.

Before rushing into analysis, encourage AI to ask if it has any questions about the goals or requested outcome (and then answer them):

Before you proceed with analysis, what questions do you have about the examples, the brand voice, or the goals for future content?

Prompt 4: Ask for initial analysis (and sample structures if relevant).

Now, this is where I ask AI to identify patterns — and if applicable, pull out sample structures it sees across different content types.

Please analyze the examples and identify key patterns for tone, style, structure, emotional tone, and messaging approach. (Yes, I always say please and thank you.)

If relevant, suggest common structural outlines for pieces like emails, blog posts, or social posts based on the samples.

Here’s what ChatGPT came up with after I asked it to analyze some of my content:

Prompt 5: Offer feedback on the analysis.

This is where you get to sharpen your copy chief skills and treat AI like a junior writer you’re coaching. What did AI get right? What did it miss? What needs tweaking?

Good start. However, [add corrections: e.g., ‘the voice is more playful than formal,’ or ‘make sure to emphasize customer-first thinking’].

You’ve missed layering in this important value, which should come first: [name the value or pillar]. You can use it as a gut check by asking questions like: [list questions to use to make sure that the copy lands].

Now revise your analysis and add any missing elements.

Prompt 6: Turn it into a guide.

Finally, once the analysis feels solid, ask AI to turn it into a usable set of guidelines that it or a junior copywriter could use to start writing for this brand. Be sure to let AI know to name this as “Your Brand Name Voice Guidelines” so that you can ask for a recall anytime you start a project.

Take that analysis and turn it into brand guidelines any writer (including you) can use to write content for this brand.

Let’s call it [name] so that when I ask you to recall it, you can do so.

At a minimum it should include: Brand summary, audience overview, core themes and values, tone, and any structures.

If there’s anything else you find relevant, please include.

Here’s a screenshot of the sample guide it developed:

Pro tip: If you’re using social media engagement, but savable content has emerged as a new contender in recent years.

Think about it. What kind of things do you save?

If you’re like me, it’s photos of people and moments you don’t want to forget, maybe a ticket stub from a concert, or a shell from your favorite beach. And, of course, we all try to save money and time. We save things we consider important — things we want easy access to in the future.

The same rings true of savable content or “save-worthy” content.

If audiences save your content, they value it and this has many benefits for your marketing goals and business. Let’s explore these benefits and how you can create top-class savable content to reap them.

Table of Contents

What is savable content?

Marketing Benefits of Savable Content

Tips for Creating Savable Content

What is savable content?

First things first. When we say savable content, we usually refer to content deemed worthy of hitting the “save” button on social media. It’s information users want to return to later and, arguably, consider better than things they just scroll past.

Not all social media platforms have “save” options, but it is available on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and X (forever Twitter in my heart) in the form of “bookmarks.”

Learn more about the current state of social media and how consumers are using it in our 2025 Social Media Trends Report.

But what makes content “savable” exactly? Typically, it involves delivering one or more of five things.

1. Utility: Information people can act on

This content enables people to do something they couldn’t do before or do it more effectively. It can take the form of tips, checklists, how-tos, and templates, among other things. Your audience saves this content because they want to use it later.

For example, I saved this shortbread cookie recipe on Facebook:

Source

And these marketing tips on LinkedIn:

While the information shared can cover many topics, each post gets saved because it is actionable.

2. Personal Resonance: Inspirational, thought-provoking, or relatable posts

When it comes to “personal resonance,” think of human stories or even nostalgia. This content is saved because it strikes a personal connection with the audience. Perhaps, it helps inspire, motivate, or calm them. Maybe it helps them reflect or see new possibilities.

Carousels from wetheurban regularly make it into my saves because of these reasons:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by WE THE URBAN (@wetheurban)

3. Entertaining: Funny, enjoyable

According to Oracle, people crave experiences that make them laugh or smile. Even more telling, 91% of consumers say they want brands to be funny. Knowing this, it should be no surprise that entertaining, humorous content is another popular type of savable content.

For example, this meme from my Instagram saves still makes me laugh.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Relatable Memes l Comedy I Pop Culture | News | Tv/Movie Clips (@insta.single)

4. Visual Appeal: Aesthetic images, videos, graphics, carousels, charts

Let’s face it: social media can be a superficial place. High-quality and visually pleasing photos, videos, and graphics grab attention and earn saves.

Some people may save this content for its information while others may save it as inspiration for their own creative endeavors (like a style or mood board).

I’m certainly no stranger to saving photoshoot, decor, and even outfit inspiration.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FLORISTA DECOR (@floristadecor)

5. Educational or Informative: Teaches or introduces viewers to something new

Social media can be a wealth of knowledge if you know where to look and who to follow. Great social content can teach audiences something new or introduce them to new things (i.e. new restaurants, products, artists, books, etc.)

For instance, most of my Instagram saves are for restaurants and experiences I want to try.

When planning an outing or trip, I run to my saved posts for ideas of where to go (and frankly, where to give my business).

This is just one of the reasons marketers should care about savable content.

Need help designing or writing your social content? HubSpot’s Content Remix can help.

Marketing Benefits of Savable Content

In a recent informal poll I ran with my network, nearly 60% of marketers said they’re either tracking the number of saves on their content, or recognize that they should be. But why exactly?

Creating savable content has three main benefits for brands and businesses:

Social Proof

Content Longevity

Algorithm Impact

Social Proof

Like shares, likes, and comments, some social media platforms display the number of saves a piece of content has. This number acts as social proof.

Meet the Master

Grace Wells

Grace Wells works with brands like Huckberry, Soleil Toujours, and Fur as a creative strategist and director

Lesson 1: Share data between your paid and organic channels.

Oil and water. Hatfields and McCoys. Paid and organic. They rarely mix, and in at least one of those cases, it’s to everybody’s detriment.

Wells tells me, “The crossover [of] what’s performing at those two ends of the spectrum, paid and organic — that’s where you get the clearest and most interesting behavioral insights from your customer.”

When she works with brands, Wells says she’s always looking for ways to build collaboration between those two teams. At one brand, sharing data between teams revealed that “lifestyle photos that feature a bent knee perform better than a straight-leg, standing pose.”

And it’s those “little fine details that can really make a difference in how you’re presenting your brand.”

Lesson 2: Make space for your customer to envision their business as part of yours.

When she partnered with the beauty startup Fur, Wells worked closely with Ulta and other national distributors for its retail business. She also worked on the brand marketing for Fur’s B2B line, which markets to industry professionals like salons and spas.

“It was really interesting to see what professionals versus direct-to-consumer customers engaged with, visually and aesthetically.”

The professionals responded to a “very different visual representation and design aesthetic that was a lot cleaner and simpler” than what the D2C customers preferred. The industry pros wanted something that felt “consistent, serene, and easy to adapt into their salon aesthetics,” Wells says.

On the other hand, customers shopping at Ulta or other distributors responded to a “creative brand that feels contemporary and dynamic.”

It reminds me a little bit of staging a home for sale — you're supposed to remove personal photos and effects so that potential buyers can envision their own families in the space.

Same kinda thing: Professional aestheticians creating a spa environment don't want other brands to step on their style.

Wells sums it up: When you're trying to get your customer to convert on something that “will ultimately be incorporated into their business, you have to make space for them to envision their business as part of yours.”

Lesson 3: Don’t half-ass it.

I ask Wells what‘s the biggest mistake she’s willing to cop to, and what she's learned from it.

She tells me this story:

“I worked with a brand [whose] target customer was aging out of its target demographic. The new target customer was younger than [the persona] they had built their data comps off of and expectations on. And so we tested a few different ways of engaging the existing audience and bringing in a new one.”

Sounds okay so far, right?

The brand found a younger, cooler approach that engaged its new demographic ... but it hesitated to fully commit to the new iteration. So that new approach didn't get translated to the website — which was still built for the previous target audience.

“We missed an opportunity to lean into the new direction we were taking and fully realize it — instead, we created a mismatched experience,” Wells says.

“I think the biggest lesson that I learned from that is that you can't remain in an in-between place in order to avoid taking a risk. That in-between spot feels safe in the present. But when you actually get to the other side, it's limiting.”

Lingering Questions

This Week’s Question

"What’s one marketing hill you’ll die on… even if the data or the trends say otherwise?" —Ross Simmonds, Founder and CEO of Foundation Marketing

This Week’s Answer

Wells says: It‘s not about how big you are, it’s about how connected your audience feels.

Buying followers is worse for your credibility than a small organic following. Avoiding events because they cost money robs you of essential customer interaction. Organic content and brand storytelling are what make conversion content work. I see so many brands get caught up in chasing an immediate conversion to scale as fast as possible, creating a bubble devoid of brand affinity that will eventually pop.

To get big you have to get connected to an audience that will champion your growth, and that takes soft skills.

Next Week’s Lingering Question

What's one thing you learned in your first-ever job that remains core to the businessperson you are today?

Keeping up is exhausting, here’s how one social media creator helps brands beat trend fatigue

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:00:00 +0300

How’s your cottagecore vibe? Are you ready for light academia aesthetic to dominate your feed or for the next generative-AI action figure trend?

Fashion trends used to spin in 20-year cycles, but there is no playbook anymore. Microtrends peak, then disappear in weeks or even days. It’s a never-ending cycle of trying to keep up with culture, and I’m exhausted.

Just 53% of marketers say they’re confident they can keep up with new cultural trends. Here’s how trend fatigue is affecting marketing, plus my take on how to figure out which trends to chase — and which to let pass.

What is trend fatigue?

Trend fatigue is the overwhelming feeling of exhaustion when facing the pace and volume of new trends, especially on social media.

The New York Times recently wrote that logging into social media feels like “standing in front of a fire hose of fashion and internet fads and cranking open the nozzle, full blast.” That metaphor resonates with me, even as a social media professional. After half a decade in the industry, I’m seeing a shift where the volume of social media trends is starting to outpace their value.

Viral trends are rising and falling on TikTok and Instagram faster than ever, from demure to Dubai chocolate to mermaid-core. Almost before you can hop on the trend, it’s gone.

It’s become so ridiculous that The New Yorker‘s humor column started predicting absurd upcoming trends like "Supreme Court casual" and "spotted-lanternfly goth." I can’t blame them. When it’s hard to distinguish between real and made-up trends, you know we’ve hit peak fatigue!

Who is experiencing trend fatigue the most?

Trend fatigue affects both consumers and social media pros. Like most social media marketers, I love the variety and pace of the job, but it can get exhausting. Marketers and strategists say it’s hard to distinguish between fleeting fads and meaningful, lasting changes. As professionals, we need to fight for better content to keep our industry healthy and sustainable.

Here’s what’s at risk for brands with trend fatigue:

Burnout. Over half of marketers admit they’re afraid of burning out in their current roles. We’re under constant pressure to identify, react to, and capitalise on emerging trends, which leads to creative burnout.

Brand erosion. When brands jump on every trend that comes along without considering whether it’s a good brand fit, they risk diluting their voice and weakening their message and trust. One study found that excessive and irrelevant brand posts caused users to tune the brand out. One in three consumers says they prefer a social media experience with no brand presence whatsoever.

Resource drain. Jumping into action to create one new content trend after another can be exhausting, but it can also be resource-intensive. How many hours have you spent creating a social media video, only for it to flop? Do you have a closet full of props you used for social media that you’ll never pick up again?

Trend fatigue isn’t just affecting brands and marketers. It’s also affecting consumers. Some of the ill effects include:

Disengagement. When users feel overwhelmed by content, they either withdraw by taking social media breaks or “lurk,” passively consuming content without engaging. The latter is much more common.

Social anxiety. Social media fatigue causes users to feel more nervous or stressed about what people think about them online. They experience FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and sleep worse.

Waste. #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt? Social commerce means consumers are buying trendy items they see on TikTok or Instagram, only to have them fall out of favor weeks later. This can lead to a lot of waste and unused products, which is a problem for Gen Z and other sustainability-minded consumers.

How Marketers Can Determine Which Trends Matter and Which to Ignore

Capitalizing on the right trend can really pay off for brands, earning them high engagement and likability. But, trying to reproduce every trend is a recipe for disaster. Here’s how to distinguish between the ones you should pursue and the ones you should let go.

1. The trend is authentic to your brand.

Number one, assess whether the trend (or your take on the trend) is true to your brand. Is it a trend your audience will be familiar with? Will it entertain them, or offend them?

In 2024, the British Museum posted a meme riffing on the trend of men thinking about the Roman Empire. It read, “Girlies, if you’re single and looking for a man, this is your sign to go to the British Museum’s new exhibition Life in the Roman Army and walk around looking confused — you’re welcome x.”

Not only did this come off as sexist, but it was too casual for the serious, intellectual brand. The museum ended up having to apologize — and it turned into a trendjacking cautionary tale we can all learn from.

2. You have something original to add.

Next, simply carbon-copying a video or dance challenge won’t help you in the long term. You need to add your own spin to advance the conversation and make it memorable. Create a unique meme or video that only you could write for an ultra-specific audience. It’s even better when it’s something unexpected.

For example, Luggage company Away dressed a suitcase up in tighty whities, parodying a Calvin Klein underwear ad featuring Jeremy Allen White. The post worked for the brand, creating a funny moment that connected with their audience.

Source

3. Quality over quantity.

People want content that matters to them, not tons of shallow posts. Make your trend choices really count. Then, create posts where you can show who you are and connect with your audience in a targeted, authentic way. One killer post can bring in far more impressions and brand loyalty than five weak ones.

Being Trendy Versus On-Brand Messaging

When you create trendy content, you increase your potential for reach, engagement, and virality. High reach and engagement can introduce you to new audiences and give you a competitive advantage. Your audience may perceive you as more relevant and youthful.

The downside of trend-based content is that your new followers may not stick around or care about your other content or products. There’s also a higher risk of backlash or confusion if the content doesn’t fit your brand. By sticking with on-brand messaging, you establish a clear brand identity and can build trust. At the end of the day, you’ll have a more loyal and engaged, though potentially smaller, community.

So, what should you do? That entirely depends on your brand. I wouldn’t recommend that every law firm and pharmaceutical company start lip-synching to trending sounds (even though some do and make the trend their own).

Start by getting to know your audience. Where do they hang out online, and what messages resonate with them? From there, you can see what social media trends they likely encounter and if any can be adapted to your brand voice.

Use Caution When Jumping on the Brandwagon

So yeah, I’ve learned that chasing trends is exhausting. But, the good news is you don’t need to jump on every microtrend or viral moment to stay relevant. Choose the ones that make sense for your brand and your audience, then go all out. When you show up with intention and a little originality, you’re way more likely to cut through the noise.

Plan	Monthly Price	Key Features	Support
Free Operations Tools	Free for up to 2 users.	Basic data sync, default field mappings	Community Support
Operations Hub Starter	$9/seat (annual) or $15/seat (monthly)	Custom field mappings, permission sets	Email & in-app chat
Operations Hub Professional	$720/seat (annual) or $800/seat (monthly) Includes 1 Core Seat; Additional Core Seats start at $45/mo	Programmable automation, scheduled workflow triggers data quality automation, AI-powered data formatting recommendations	Email, phone, and chat
Operations Hub Enterprise	$2,000/mo Includes 1 Core Seat; Additional Core Seats start at $75/mo	Advanced governance, advanced data calculations and prep, sandbox account, snowflake data share, custom objects, data lineage	Priority support

Feature	Free	Starter	Professional	Enterprise
Data Sync	Standard	Historical sync + custom field mapping	Webhooks + programmable automation	Advanced governance tools
Automation	None	Basic	Programmable workflows	Multi-level team & process automation
Custom Properties	No	Yes	Yes	Yes + Custom Objects
Sandboxes	No	No	No	Yes
Support	Community	Email & Chat	Phone + Chat	Priority

Plan	Monthly Cost	Users Included	Marketing Contacts	Email Sends	Onboarding Fee
Free Marketing Tools	$0	Up to 2 users	None	2,000/month (with branding)	None
Marketing Hub Starter	$9/seat (annual) or $15/seat (monthly)	Per seat pricing	1,000 included	5x contact tier limit per calendar month	None
Marketing Hub Professional	$800/seat (annual) or $890/seat (monthly)	Includes 3 core seats; $45/additional seat (annual) and $50/additional seat (monthly)	2,000 included	10x contact tier limit per calendar month	$3,000
Marketing Hub Enterprise	$3,600/mo	Includes 5 core seats included ($75/additional seat)	10,000 included	20x contact tier limit per calendar month	$7,000

Feature	Free Tools	Starter	Professional	Enterprise
Email Marketing	Basic (with HubSpot branding)	2,000 sends/month (no branding)	10x contact tier sends/month	20x contact tier sends/month
Forms	Limited features	No HubSpot branding + additional features	Advanced features	Advanced features
Marketing Automation	None	Simple automation	Omni-channel automation	Journey automation (Beta)
Social Media	None	None	Full social media management	AI social inbox insights (Beta)
Reporting	Basic	Basic	Custom reporting + analytics	Advanced attribution + journey analytics
Lead Scoring	None	None	Lead Scoring App	Advanced lead scoring
Teams/Collaboration	None	None	Teams functionality	Advanced team organization
Campaign Limit	N/A