HubSpot Onboarding Guide: Step-by-Step Process for Success in 2025

4 min read
13.12.2024

HubSpot onboarding helps businesses set up their software and train teams effectively. This 2025 optimised guide covers setting goals, training, and overcoming challenges, ensuring you get the most out of HubSpot from day one.


Key Takeaways

  • HubSpot onboarding is essential for configuring the software and training users to maximise its features, helping businesses achieve their goals.
  • The onboarding process includes tailored training sessions, domain setup, data migration, and workflow creation, ensuring effective implementation aligned with specific business needs.
  • Driving user adoption is critical to ensuring teams consistently and effectively utilise HubSpot's tools, maximising ROI and long-term success.
  • Choosing between HubSpot’s own onboarding services and agency partners depends on the complexity of needs and desired level of customisation, with each option offering distinct advantages.

Understanding HubSpot Onboarding

HubSpot onboarding configures the software and trains users to maximise its benefits. It starts with setting SMART goals, involving HubSpot experts who collaborate with clients to understand their objectives and challenges. This collaborative approach ensures that every feature of HubSpot is aligned with the business’s needs, making the onboarding process a crucial step in recovering investments and achieving business goals.

Throughout the onboarding journey, clients participate in discovery sessions with HubSpot experts. These sessions are tailored to educate users on the software’s features and how to utilise them effectively. The onboarding process ensures businesses are well-equipped to leverage HubSpot’s tools for growth and efficiency.


Benefits of HubSpot Onboarding

One of the primary benefits of HubSpot onboarding is unlocking the full potential of the software, allowing businesses to use its features to their maximum advantage. HubSpot provides dedicated support teams during the onboarding process, ensuring that users receive attentive guidance tailored to their needs. This support is particularly beneficial for organisations with a large number of contacts, as it helps structure contact management to enhance personalisation and data cleanliness.

Establishing robust reporting tools during onboarding is another significant benefit. These tools are essential for understanding performance metrics and making informed business decisions. Effective reporting mechanisms help monitor customer engagement and measure the success of onboarding efforts, providing a clear picture of business performance and growth trends.


Common Challenges in HubSpot Implementation

Implementing HubSpot can be challenging for beginners due to the platform’s extensive features and capabilities. However, the onboarding process is designed to help users overcome these challenges by providing necessary guidance and support. HubSpot experts play a crucial role in scrutinising business operations and tailoring the implementation to fit specific needs.

Experts collaborate with businesses during onboarding to identify necessary workflows, pipelines, and sequences for effective automation. This tailored approach enhances the user experience and ensures that the platform is set up to drive efficiency and success.


When to Consider HubSpot Onboarding Services

Investing in HubSpot onboarding services is advisable when your company plans to implement automation for key processes. Proper setup from the start ensures that the automation tools are configured correctly, optimising marketing and sales performance. This is particularly important for businesses looking to tailor HubSpot tools to align with specific workflows and achieve better results.

However, not every company may need direct onboarding services. If your business has insufficient data or no automation needs, you might not require the full suite of onboarding services. Assess your specific requirements before deciding on the necessary level of onboarding.

By understanding when to invest in onboarding services, businesses can make informed decisions that align with their goals and optimise their use of HubSpot tools.


Driving User Adoption and Digital Adoption

Successful implementation of HubSpot doesn’t end with setup—it’s about ensuring your team adopts the tools and integrates them seamlessly into their workflows. User adoption, often overlooked, is a critical component of achieving ROI from your HubSpot investment. Without proper adoption, even the most robust setup can fail to deliver results.

Video: 'Meet Dave' - An introduction to Sidekick - user adoption for HubSpot, from Project36:

 


Why User Adoption Matters

HubSpot’s power lies in its ability to unify marketing, sales, and service processes. For this to work, your team must be confident and consistent in using the platform. Gaps in understanding or inconsistent usage can lead to missed opportunities, inaccurate reporting, and frustration within teams. A strong user adoption strategy ensures:

  • Teams utilise the full capabilities of the platform.
  • Workflows are followed consistently.
  • Data is accurate and actionable.
  • Productivity and collaboration are enhanced.

How Embedded Process Documentation Helps

Embedded process documentation provides a game-changing approach to user adoption. By integrating process guides directly into HubSpot, your team can access step-by-step instructions, walkthroughs, and best practices without leaving the platform. This real-time guidance eliminates the guesswork and steepens the learning curve.

Benefits of embedded process documentation include:

  • Ease of Access: Users can find help exactly when they need it, directly in the context of their work.
  • Consistency: Standardised documentation ensures everyone follows the same processes, reducing errors and inefficiencies.
  • Scalability: As your team grows, new hires can get up to speed faster without requiring extensive one-on-one training.
  • Agility: Embedded documentation can be easily updated as workflows evolve, ensuring your team stays aligned with the latest processes.

Our Sidekick embedded guidance integrates seamlessly into HubSpot, providing your team with contextual help and actionable insights. Whether it's managing deals, automating campaigns, or analysing reports, Sidekick empowers your users to navigate HubSpot with confidence.


HubSpot Onboarding Timeline

The recommended timeframe for completing HubSpot’s onboarding process is up to three months. This timeline ensures that all aspects of the onboarding plan are thoroughly addressed, from initial setup to advanced configurations.

Agency partners can facilitate faster implementation, typically within six to ten weeks, due to their specialised experience. Project36 for example also offer 'seat-based onboarding for smaller companies with fewer users. This in more cost effective, but also far faster. Generally speaking, agency partners like Project36, provide ongoing support post-onboarding, (but not all - so check carefully first if this is important to you) ensuring a smoother transition into using HubSpot. 


Summary

HubSpot onboarding is a comprehensive process designed to configure the software, train users, and ensure businesses can leverage its full potential. From setting up domains and migrating data to creating workflows, implementing automation, and driving user adoption, each step is crucial for achieving success. Tools like embedded process documentation help ensure consistent usage and long-term efficiency.


Book a Complimentary Meeting

If you're considering HubSpot and want to explore how it could work for your business, why not book a complimentary meeting with one of our certified HubSpot experts? You can pick a date and time to suite you here.

There’s no obligation—just an opportunity to ask questions, explore your options, and gain clarity on the best approach for your needs. 

Get Email Notifications