The SMART Spark
We Used to Measure Marketing Like This; HubSpot Changed Everything
According to HubSpot’s 2026 State of Marketing Report, 86.4% of marketers now use AI tools. I've been writing about web analytics since before 2007. Back then, I published a post about how to measure the effectiveness of your online and offline marketing campaigns....
Why Companies Leave HubSpot (And Why Most of Them Didn’t Have To)
These frustrations aren't a HubSpot problem. They're a setup and management problem. A post is making the rounds on LinkedIn. A business owner explaining why they fired their HubSpot consultant — or never had one — and left the platform after years of overpaying. Too...
What Is Fractional HubSpot Admin Support — And Do You Actually Need It?
Whether it's 5 hours a month or 20. The point is consistent, knowledgeable attention.Fractional HubSpot admin support means hiring a certified HubSpot expert on a part-time or retainer basis to manage, optimize, and maintain your portal — without the cost or...
HubSpot Will Never Work Right Out of the Box. Here’s Why That’s Actually Fine
It looks ready. It isn't. HubSpot will never work right out of the box — and that's not a flaw. It's a platform, not a pre-packaged solution. Every business sells differently, markets differently, and defines success differently. HubSpot has to be configured around...
Podcasting Was a Buzzword. Now It’s a Pipeline Strategy
People will voluntarily listen to your message. What "podcasting" really means in 2026 In 2006, I wrote a post called Podcasting, the New Buzzword. I was genuinely excited about it. The idea that a small business in Wichita, Kansas could distribute audio content to an...
How to Understand HubSpot Reports
The numbers aren't wrong. They're just answering a different questions.Your numbers are fine. You're just asking different questions. Last week a client called me, clearly frustrated. Their HubSpot reports weren't matching their ad platform reports. Were the numbers...
Make the Important Fields Required
Nobody fills in fields they don't have to. That's not a criticism — it's just human nature. When a sales rep is moving fast, they're logging the call and moving on. When...
What HubSpot Just Did to Meetings (And Why It Matters)
HubSpot is moving fast. Like, really fast. Spot Check is a new weekly series that pulls out the updates worth paying attention to — so you don't have to read every release...
How to Turn Your Thank You Page Into a Conversion Machine
Most marketers treat it like a receipt. It's actually a runway. You spent time on the ad. You obsessed over the headline. You tested the button color on the landing page....
