Hubspot can be used as a CRM tool or marketing automation platform depending on what kind of needs you need from this product. Typically Hubspot has had many satisfied users within sales teams but recent price hikes have forced some customers to look for an alternative rather than pay the additional cost.
Marketing automation platforms allow the user to automate certain tasks such as sending emails, SMS marketing, marketing campaigns creating responsive landing pages etc. Key features include email templates which makes things easier for the sales teams. You can create different campaigns based on various criteria like location, gender, age group etc.
This sales automation software is perfect for small businesses where you do not yet have enough resources to hire someone full-time to handle everything related to your marketing strategy. Marketing automation platforms also allow you to segment your audience into groups and send targeted marketing campaign messages to each group separately.
What complaints are Hubspot getting?
In a word, price — especially at renewal. One user we heard from had been subscribed to Hubspot’s Marketing Hub Enterprise and Legacy Sales Pro services and had been paying $18,000 annually for the pricing package but at as they came up for renewal recently, their Hubspot sales rep demanded $32,000 for the annual pricing plan. The business publisher reacted to this additional cost by saying, “We’re up for renewal and got sticker shock on a major increase.”
Another former Hubspot user commented in an online forum for publishers that it wasn’t just upfront costs that were a problem — but it was also when their business tried to stop using it. “I think we’ve all thought Hubspot was over-priced, but switching has only confirmed that for me,” the publisher wrote. “The switch and the process of getting rid of Hubspot was so nasty with them. It only affirmed more that I think about the company.”
What alternatives are there for Hubspot?
Braze
Braze is a CRM solution that integrates directly into your website allowing you to track customer interactions across multiple channels including email, social media, web forms, phone calls, text messages, etc. Users get real time data on who’s engaging with your content and marketing efforts, how they engage, where they come from, and much more.
In addition, Braze offers powerful lead management features such as automatic follow ups based on activity, automated drip campaigns, and intelligent segmentation capabilities.
Salesforce Chatter
Salesforce Chatter allows companies to connect with prospects through live chat, messaging, video conferencing, document sharing, file transfer, screen sharing, whiteboard collaboration, and other tools. Their advanced features helps businesses build stronger relationships with clients by providing a single place to manage conversations and collaborate on projects.
But, like most cloud solutions, Salesforce Chatter comes with its own set of challenges. For example, if you’re not careful, you could end up spending hours trying to figure out why one message isn’t showing up in another channel. And while Chatter does offer integrations with popular apps like Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, Trello, Asana, Jira, GitHub, Microsoft Office 365, Zendesk, Marketo, Pardot, Pipedrive, MailChimp, and others, these connections aren’t always easy to use.
Streak
Streak is a CRM software that provides a simple way to organize contacts, tasks, events, notes, documents, and appointments. Streaks lets you create custom fields, tags, reminders, and notifications, which makes managing information easier than ever before. With Streak, you can easily share sales pipeline documents files, calendars, and even voice recordings among team members.
Steak integrates with gmail and google docs making it very convenient for users to access important info quickly. Steak also includes an app store feature that enables customers to download third party applications to enhance their experience.
Klaviyo
Klaviyo is a new player that more publishers are using. Klaviyo is a CRM that does two things: 1) automates marketing outreach, 2) tracks conversions via landing pages or emails. Publishers love this because it saves them tons of time. They don’t have to manually enter leads anymore; instead, they simply add a form to their site, and then Klaviyo automatically sends qualified traffic to those forms.
“Everyone in my world is using Klaviyo at this point,” a publisher wrote in a forum recently. “It’s a fraction of the cost and while it doesn’t have the same CRM tools but I think it’s 2–3x easier to use: Unless you really are using Hubspot’s features, Klaviyo does 90% of what HubSpot does at a fraction of the cost.”
Other alternative CRM solutions worth checking out include :
- Zoho CRM with the basic functionality of any full blown CRM system without requiring payment upfront.
- Pipedrive is an option for small business owners looking for a low price tag.
- Trello has plenty of templates to get started.
- Wrike — which offers both online and desktop options.
How do CRM systems interact with Paywall and Audience Management software?
All of these platforms work well with one another through javascript calls and in-built integration. Paywall offering Wallkit — and its spin-off audience identification and management software Reader.id — already act as a light CRM service but the systems and their databases can by synched easily with Hubspot or their competitors like Kaviyo, Streak, Salesforce Chatter or Braze.
It might be work checking the functionality of your paywall and subscriptions software before investing in CRM — as services like Piano, Wallkit and Recurly might already provide the audience interaction you require,
What should you consider when choosing CRM software?
There are many different types of CRMs available today. Some focus on customer relationship management, some on lead generation, and some on both. The best solution will depend upon your business needs. Here are some questions to ask yourself about how you want to approach CRM:
Do you need to track all interactions between employees and customers? If so, choose a system that offers full functionality from email tracking, sms marketing to call recording.
Are you interested in generating leads? Choose a marketing tool that allows you to build campaigns based on keywords and interests. This type of campaign automation helps you generate quality leads faster.
Is there a specific function you would like to automate? For example, if you sell products, you may be able to set up automated order fulfillment processes. Or perhaps you’d like to schedule followup phone calls after initial contact has been made. These functions require advanced scheduling capabilities.
Is a Hubspot alternative the best solution if you run a media website or publishing business?
Look for a platform that fits into your workflow. You’ll find that most companies start off with an easy-to-use free version before moving onto paid versions. Many platforms don’t offer the customization that Hubspot offers, but today many sales reps and publishers already know how to use content management systems and automate customization.
And remember, look for CRM offerings that are available by other services you are already employing as part of your publishing technology stack. Wallkit and Reader.id, for example, provide a mix of email marketing tools that can be programmed to respond to user behavior. You may be surprised by the tools you already have access to and you can avoid the expense of using Hubspot!
