Colten Roderigue
Colten Roderigue 13 minute read

 

Why choose the HubSpot Starter Suite for your small business? In this article, we break down how this integrated suite pulls together the basics of marketing, sales, and customer service into a single, user-friendly platform, saving time and enhancing your customer’s experience.

Whether you’re looking for content hub to streamline operations or simply get more organized, discover the core features of each content hub and insights on leveraging them for business success.

 

Key Takeaways

  • The HubSpot Starter Suite combines marketing, sales, and service tools tailored for small business growth and process optimization, including Marketing Hub Starter for personalized campaigns, Sales Hub Starter for CRM, and Service Hub Starter for customer interaction management.

  • HubSpot CRM Starter Suite serves as a centralized platform for data management and contact interaction, with custom user permissions and up to two sales pipelines, while the Operations Hub Starter provides basic automation, streamlined workflows, and over 1,500 app integrations.

  • HubSpot facilitates scalability with features like a drag-and-drop website builder in CMS Hub Starter, comprehensive ad management and SEO tools, and options to upgrade to more advanced tiers as your business needs evolve.

     

Exploring the HubSpot Starter Suite

Stepping into the HubSpot Starter Suite is like unlocking a treasure chest for your small business. This all-encompassing platform brings together the Marketing, HubSpot Starter, Sales Hub Starter, and Service Hub Starter, each seamlessly integrated to create a powerhouse of productivity.

Tailored for the sprouting needs of small businesses, the Starter Suite lays the groundwork for growth and process streamlining.

Let’s peel back the layers of this suite and discover how each component can turbocharge your business operations.

Unveiling Marketing Hub Starter

marketing hub

Marketing Hub Starter is the ace up your sleeve for establishing an inbound strategy and constructing a basic acquisition funnel. Imagine having at your disposal foundational marketing tools like email marketing, optimized landing pages, and lead capture forms.

These are the building blocks that enable you to kickstart your marketing journey effectively. And the best part? You can craft personalized email campaigns that resonate with different audience segments, all thanks to the integration with your contacts database.

Picture this: You’re sending out emails that are not just blasts into the void but targeted messages that speak directly to the recipient’s interests and needs. That’s the kind of precision and personalization that marketing automation can elevate your marketing game to new heights.

Sales Hub Starter: Your Sales Accelerator

hub-sales

Sales Hub Starter is your gateway to a more streamlined and effective sales process. This component of the Starter Suite grants you essential, CRM suite functions that make the daily grind of sales tasks a breeze.

Organize your day, manage your sales pipeline, and keep a complete record of leads’ activities from calls and email interactions to website visits. It’s like having a personal assistant who never forgets a detail.

Moreover, Sales Hub Starter comes equipped with tools that boost communication. Think of customizable email templates for swift follow up call-ups, document incorporation, and quote editing capabilities. All these features enable sales teams to track their deals more effectively and ensure efficient follow-ups, albeit with some feature limitations for email tracking and notifications.

Service Hub Starter: Enhancing Customer Service

service hub

Service Hub Starter is your secret weapon in delivering stellar customer service. With features like help desk and ticketing, live chat, and a shared inbox, you can manage customer interactions with finesse.

The shared inbox, limited to one name per account for simplicity, aligns perfectly with the requirements of a small business. And let’s not forget the out-of-the-box analytical reports that give you insights into the efficiency and authenticity of the service you’re providing.

This component of the HubSpot Starter Suite is designed to enhance the service aspect of your business, providing additional features with reduced limitations for a comprehensive customer service management experience.

Imagine being able to gauge the pulse of your customer service at a glance and tweaking it to perfection. That’s the power of Service Hub Starter at your fingertips.

 

The Starter CRM Suite: A Closer Look

Diving deeper into the Starter , you’ll find it’s the heart of the HubSpot ecosystem, pivotal for centralizing data and managing your business activities. With core elements like Contact, Company, and Deal objects intricately woven together, you’re equipped to manage customer and deal information in a synchronized fashion.

Though there are limitations on the number of standard users and default reports, the starter of HubSpot CRM, is nonetheless a robust platform for managing contacts. HubSpot CRM migrations can be frictionless, if led by the right HubSpot partner.

Meanwhile, Operations Hub Starter plays a crucial role in reducing data silos, ensuring your leads from advertisements are well-targeted and efficiently integrated.

Contact Management Essentials

In the realm of contact management, the CRM Starter Suite shines with its custom user permissions, empowering you to handle customer data responsibly and securely. You can tailor the levels of access your team members have, ensuring that everyone has the right tools for their role without compromising sensitive information.

Additionally, the ability to create up to 10 custom properties means you can organize customer data just the way you want it, bringing unparalleled flexibility to how you structure contact information.

This level of control and customization means no two businesses will use the CRM Starter Suite in exactly the same way. It’s like having a bespoke suit – tailored to fit your business’s unique shape and size.

Sales Pipeline Visualization

Visualizing your business opportunities is made effortless with the CRM Starter Suite’s deal pipeline.

It’s a single, streamlined view that helps you:

  • Manage and monitor various business opportunities

  • Scale your business activities

  • Create up to two deal pipelines for more granular monitoring capabilities

     

Harnessing Operations Hub Starter for Efficiency

operations hub

Efficiency is the name of the game with Operations Hub Starter. Here we’re talking about a toolkit that offers basic automation and workflow functionalities, designed to assist small businesses in optimizing their operations. Enhanced features for syncing and unifying data across systems are part of the Starter tier, ensuring consistent and clean data across your business applications.

While there are limitations, such as the inability to automate cleaning or enriching prospect data, the toolset provided allows for the creation of a unified, efficient, and adaptable business environment.

Data Sync and Integration

The Operations Hub Starter offers the following features:

  • Acts as a central command center for syncing data across a vast array of over 1,500 apps from the HubSpot App Marketplace

  • Supports custom integrations, allowing for bidirectional syncing and alignment across over 100 third-party apps

  • Ensures that your systems work together seamlessly

With the Operations Hub Starter, your company and business operations will run like a well-oiled machine.

And all of this comes without the need for complex coding, thanks to the no-code package that Operations Hub Starter offers.

Workflow Optimization

Workflow optimization in Operations Hub Starter offers the following benefits:

  • Customizable workflows automate processes, ensuring tasks are carried out with precision and consistency, including the use of scheduled workflow triggers.

  • You can send a Slack message, create a Zoom invite, or generate an Asana task directly from HubSpot using workflow extensions.

  • Workflow extensions seamlessly integrate third-party actions into your automated processes.

     

Content Hub Starter: Building Your Online Presence

content hub

Creating a compelling online presence is a breeze with Content Hub Starter. It’s a tool that offers users the freedom to build up to 50 website pages using its robust features. And because every second counts in today’s digital world, HubSpot CMS caches assets for modules that reappear across all landing pages, reducing data transfer and enhancing page load times.

Not to mention, every website built is optimized for mobile devices, ensuring your audience enjoys a seamless experience no matter how they access your content. With mobile optimization in place, add in the power to leverage dynamic content, and you’re engaging visitors in ways you never thought possible.

Website Development Simplified

Imagine being able to craft and create a website as easily as putting together a puzzle, with each piece snapping into place. That’s the reality with the drag-and-drop website builder that Content Hub Starter offers users.

With a WYSIWYG editor, you see the changes as they happen, ensuring your website looks exactly as intended in real-time. And for those who crave a bit of guidance, a selection of customizable themes is at your disposal, ready to be molded to fit your brand’s aesthetic.

It’s not just about building a website; it’s about establishing a professional online sales presence. And with HubSpot, adding a custom domain to your new company website is a walk in the park.

Engaging Visitors with Smart Content

In a world where personalization is king, smart content is your crown jewel.

With CMS Hub Starter, you can:

  • Dynamically alter content to suit your visitors’ profiles, ensuring each experience is tailored and relevant.

  • Custom modules adapt to enhance interaction, making each visitor feel like your website was built just for them.

  • Include personalization tokens in your templates, so you’re not just engaging your audience; you’re speaking to them on a personal level.

This is the future of web engagement – a future where your content knows your audience almost as well as you do.

 

Advancing with Ad Management and Analytics

Take your ad management and analytics to the next level with Marketing Hub Starter’s comprehensive tracking and reporting tools.

Manage ads across Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google all within the marketing Hub-Spot platform, and watch as your ads convert prospects into loyal customers. Remove HubSpot branding to maintain a consistent look and feel across your marketing materials.

The power of HubSpot’s reporting tools lies in their ability to dissect the effectiveness of your advertisements, giving you the insights you need to refine your marketing efforts.

Simplifying Google Ads

Google Ads can be a complex beast, but HubSpot tames it beautifully. Within the Starter Suite, you can integrate with Google Ads, create and customize campaigns, and track performance including leads and conversions, all from within your HubSpot account. It’s like having a command center for your targeted advertising efforts.

Health Reporting for Informed Decisions

Health reporting within the HubSpot Starter Suite serves as your business’s heartbeat monitor, with custom reports allowing you to track and optimize the performance of your marketing and sales activities.

And when it comes to SEO, the suite’s tools provide invaluable data to assess and enhance your search engine strategies, ensuring you’re getting the best return on your investment.

 

Elevating Your Business with Additional Features

The HubSpot Starter Suite includes:

  • Marketing tools

  • Sales tools

  • Content tools

  • Service tools

  • Operations tools

This suite of free tools is a veritable Swiss army knife for small businesses looking to make a big impact.

Email Campaigns and Templates

Email marketing has never been easier, thanks to the pre-designed email templates and custom templates the HubSpot Starter Suite offers. These templates allow you to launch and manage email campaigns swiftly, without the hassle of starting from scratch.

However, it’s important to note that users without Sales Hub or Service Hub seats are limited to the first five templates created in the account.

SEO Recommendations and Video Hosting

SEO is critical in today’s digital marketplace.

HubSpot Starter Suite offers features to help you optimize your website:

  • In-editor SEO recommendations that put you ahead of the curve

  • The ability to embed videos and track their performance on your marketing materials

  • SEO tools that rank recommendations by priority, showing you which optimizations will have the most significant impact on your site’s rank.

The content strategy tool within HubSpot offers the following features:

  • It acts as a compass, pointing you toward the most relevant topics to rank for, based on relevance, competition, and popularity.

  • You can monitor search keyword data and estimate traffic gains from ranking for new topics.

  • It integrates with Google Search Console for detailed search performance reports, including impressions and clickthrough rates.

And with SEO features integrated with its content management tools, building SEO-friendly websites is a breeze with HubSpot’s drag-and-drop editor.

Upgrading Your HubSpot Experience

As your business grows, so do your needs. The HubSpot Starter Suite is designed to grow with you, allowing for a smooth transition to the Professional or Enterprise tiers as your business requires more advanced features.

When to Consider an Upgrade

There comes a time when burgeoning businesses outgrow their initial setup, and that’s when an upgrade from the HubSpot Starter Suite becomes a strategic move. If you find that you’re craving more sophisticated marketing, sales, and customer service features – capabilities that go beyond what the Starter Suite can offer – it’s probably time to consider an upgrade.

Whether it’s access to advanced analytics, more detailed customization, or increased automation, the move to a higher tier can unlock a new realm of possibilities for your business.

It’s not just about having more features; it’s about having the right tools to support your growing business. The HubSpot CRM Starter Suite is perfect for freelancers or very small businesses, but recognizing when you’ve hit the 90% utility ceiling is key to knowing when it’s time to upgrade and expand your toolkit. With an upgrade, you can create a total of two deal pipelines per account, a boon for managing your flourishing sales processes.

Transitioning Smoothly

When you’re ready to elevate your HubSpot experience, the transition can be as smooth as silk. Begin by exploring your options on the HubSpot pricing page or within your account settings under ‘Pricing & Features’.

HubSpot is by your side throughout the upgrade process, offering personal assistance through the ‘Talk to Sales’ feature or enabling immediate action with the ‘Buy now’ button. Follow the guided on-screen instructions or lean on a HubSpot sales representative for personalized support to ensure a seamless transition.

And remember, having an active credit card on file is essential, as the new subscription term’s billing will be processed according to your chosen billing cycle per account.

HubSpot CRM Suite Summary

As we wrap up our exploration of the HubSpot Starter Suite, it’s clear that this comprehensive toolkit is more than just a set of features; it’s the foundation for business success. From its robust inbound marketing and sales capabilities to its streamlined customer service and operations tools, the Suite is a formidable ally for small businesses looking to scale.

And when growth beckons, the path to upgrading is straightforward, ensuring that HubSpot grows alongside your business. So, why wait? Unleash the full potential of your business with HubSpot and watch your vision come to life.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the HubSpot Starter Suite?

The HubSpot Starter Suite includes Marketing Hub Starter, Sales Hub Starter, and Service Hub Starter, providing essential tools for marketing, sales, and customer service in one platform tailored for small businesses.

Can I manage my contacts and deals with the HubSpot CRM Starter Suite?

Yes, you can manage your marketing contacts and deals with the HubSpot CRM Starter Suite by organizing contacts, managing deals, and gaining a comprehensive view of customer interactions, including custom properties and user permissions.

Are there any limitations to the number of users or features in the Starter Suite?

The Starter Suite has limitations on the number of standard users and access to templates, with 2 paid seats each for service and sales hub only, and access limited to web pages of the first five created templates for users without Sales Hub or Service Hub seats.

How can I ensure a smooth upgrade if my business outgrows the Starter Suite?

To ensure a smooth upgrade when outgrowing the Starter Suite in your business, review your options, follow the guided on-screen instructions provided by HubSpot, and ensure an active credit card on file for the transition. This will make the process seamless and hassle-free for you.

Does HubSpot offer support for syncing data across different systems?

Yes, HubSpot's Operations Hub Starter in the HubSpot Starter Suite offers data syncing and integration capabilities, supporting over 1,500 apps for seamless data alignment and no-code custom integrations.