The SMART Spark

Sticks & Stones: What Online Reputation Actually Means Now

Same logic applies now, different platform. Back in 2012, I wrote a post called "Sticks & Stones: Managing Your Online Reputation." The advice was practical for the time. Set up a Google Alert for your company name. Respond quickly to negative reviews. Don't be...

You’re Probably Paying for Contacts You Shouldn’t Be

It's about having a CRM that reflects reality. The marketing vs. non-marketing contact setting is one of the most misunderstood — and most expensive — things in HubSpot. Here's a conversation I've had more times than I can count. A client is reviewing their HubSpot...

How to Turn “No” Into “Not Now” in HubSpot

Most sales teams think in two buckets: Won or Lost But in real sales conversations lost” is rarely the truth. It’s usually: Not this quarter Not with this budget Not until...

Why Your Website Isn’t Converting (And It’s Not Your Offer)

When structure improves, conversions improve.Sometimes this conversation doesn’t start with, “We’re not getting sales.” It starts with: “Why does HubSpot show so little traffic?”“Why aren’t conversions showing up?”“Why do our campaign reports look so thin?” The first...

Why You’re Getting “Delete My Data” Requests for Contacts You’ve Never Talked To

Responsible data use builds trustAction needed: Enriched data delete requests pending If you use data enrichment in HubSpot, you’ve probably seen an email like this land in your inbox: Action needed: Enriched data delete requests pendingYou got a request for a contact...

How to Set Up FME – And What is FME?

Track When Engagement Actually Begins (FME) Most CRMs are great at telling you when a contact was created. They’re much worse at telling you when that contact actually...

The HubSpot Partner Badge Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

How much time do you actually spend working in HubSpot?Hire a HubSpot Solutions Partner. Problem solved. Most people assume this is simple. But here’s the part no one tells you: the label doesn’t mean what you think it means. And by the time most companies realize...

Why ‘Mostly Working’ Is the Most Dangerous State for a CRM

Custom objects stop the work arounds.“This Feels Clunky… but I Can’t Quite Explain Why” This is usually how the conversation starts. I’m on a call with a client, screensharing their portal in HubSpot, and they’re walking me through how they handle memberships. They...

Why a Marketing Campaign Isn’t Just an Email

When in doubt, name your campaign after the goal and period — not the tacticYou’ve Been Asked to “Launch a Campaign”… So You Sent an Email That scenario feels familiar:You get asked to run a campaign — and the first thought is, “Okay, draft an email and hit send.”...