HubSpot users often encounter these challenges, even with the platform’s robust capabilities. These challenges typically arise as businesses scale and their needs evolve.

Top challenges of HubSpot users and ways to solve them

Below are some common issues companies face during staging and implementing HubSpot, and how On-Target! can help!

We also provided a guide for how much you should expect to invest in solving the issues.

1. Data Management and Cleanliness

• Challenge: Data becomes messy due to duplicate records, outdated information, or inconsistent data entry practices.
• Solution: On-Target! will implement regular data hygiene protocols, automate deduplication processes, and enforce clear data governance rules.
• Cost: $2,000–$8,000
  • • Tasks: Data audit, deduplication, field standardization, implementing validation rules, and providing training.

    • Notes: Complex data systems with integrations may require additional time.

2. Scaling and Customization

• Challenge: Outgrowing initial configurations and requiring advanced customizations to accommodate complex business processes.
• Solution: Using advanced customizations, On-Target! will leverage custom objects, workflows, and APIs to tailor the platform to your evolving needs.
• Cost: $4,000–$16,000
  • • Tasks: Custom object creation, advanced workflows, API integrations, and custom development.
    • Notes: Custom integration may require coordination with IT teams and external tools.

3. Alignment Across Teams

• Challenge: Misalignment between marketing, sales, and customer service teams using the platform, leading to inefficiencies or silos.
• Solution: On-Target! collaborates with your team utilizing HubSpot’s collaboration tools ensuring that shared goals are clear via regular team syncs, and creating custom reporting dashboards for cross-functional visibility.
• Cost: $3,000–$6,000
  • • Tasks: Conducting workshops, creating alignment dashboards, and implementing shared pipeline tools.
    • Notes: Includes initial workshops and implementation of shared tools/processes.

4. Reporting and Analytics Complexity

• Challenge: Difficulty in generating detailed, actionable reports due to complex data needs or lack of advanced reporting knowledge.
• Solution: In more complex environments, On-Target! Recommends that you invest in HubSpot’s advanced reporting add-ons or integrate with external BI tools (e.g., Tableau or Power BI) for more complex analysis.
• Cost: $2,000–$10,000
  • • Tasks: Building advanced reports, and dashboards, or connecting HubSpot to BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
    • Notes: Custom reporting integrations may add additional time.

5. Workflow Overload

• Challenge: Overcomplicated or poorly optimized workflows that slow down processes and lead to errors.
• Solution: Simplification. Simplification. Simplification. On-Target! will conduct discovery to identify the issues, correct them, and then complete regular audits of workflows to streamline and optimize for current business needs.
• Cost: $3,000–$8,000
  • • Tasks: Workflow audit, simplification, and testing.
    • Notes: Workflows involving multiple teams or external triggers may take longer

6. User Adoption and Training

• Challenge: New employees or teams struggle with platform adoption, while experienced users lack advanced training to utilize newer features fully.
• Solution: On-Target! provides ongoing training sessions, leverages the robust HubSpot Academy resources, and offers role-specific onboarding for new team members.
• Cost: $2,000–$5,000
  • • Tasks: Custom training sessions, documentation, and ongoing support.

    • Notes: Larger teams may require multiple training sessions.

7. Maximizing Advanced Features

• Challenge: Underutilizing newer or advanced features like AI tools, predictive lead scoring, or advanced segmentation.
• Solution: On-Target! stays updated on HubSpot releases, allocates time for experimentation, and engages with Advanced HubSpot Partner Success Managers and Developers.
• Cost: $3,000–$10,000
  • • Tasks: Feature enablement (e.g., predictive lead scoring, AI tools), testing, and rollout.

    • Notes: Includes setup, training, and troubleshooting new features.

8. Integration Challenges

• Challenge: Struggles with integrating HubSpot with other enterprise tools (e.g., ERP, legacy systems) or maintaining sync between platforms.
• Solution: Implementing HubSpot’s Operations Hub enables On-Target! to implement custom integrations and work with your third-party integration specialists if needed.
• Cost: $5,000–$25,000
  • • Tasks: Developing custom integrations, troubleshooting sync issues, or implementing middleware solutions.
    • Notes: Projects requiring custom API connections will require more time.

9. Scaling Marketing Automation

• Challenge: Balancing personalization and scalability in campaigns while avoiding overly generic messaging or bottlenecks in workflow execution.
• Solution: Strategy first, then On-Target! maps the desired variables to effectively use dynamic content, advanced segmentation, and smart rules to create personalized experiences at scale.
• Cost: $4,000–$12,000
  • • Tasks: Advanced segmentation, dynamic content setup, and smart rules implementation.

    • Notes: Depends on the complexity of the automation.

10. Compliance and Privacy

• Challenge: Keeping up with evolving privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and ensuring marketing and sales activities remain compliant.
• Solution: On-Target! will lead regular reviews and update compliance settings, train staff, and use HubSpot’s built-in tools for data privacy and consent management.
• Cost: $3,000–$6,000
  • • Tasks: Configuring compliance settings, training staff, and auditing consent management.
    • Notes: Includes updates for GDPR, CCPA, or other laws.

11. Resource Constraints

• Challenge: Insufficient internal resources to manage the platform’s growing complexity, especially for ongoing optimization.
• Solution: Outsource to On-Target!, a proven HubSpot-certified Partner, and/or hire a dedicated HubSpot administrator.
  • Cost: $2,000–$8,000 per month
    • Tasks: Outsourced HubSpot admin services, including monitoring, optimization, and training.
    • Notes: This is typically offered as a retainer model.

By addressing these challenges proactively, enterprise-level HubSpot users can maximize ROI and ensure the platform continues to meet their evolving business needs.

On-Target! Pricing for HubSpot Services:

• Hourly: Based on complexity we charge tiered rates for basic ($150/hr), advanced ($250/hr), and custom development work ($300/hr).
• Retainers: We offer monthly retainers for ongoing support from $2,000–$10,000/month depending on needs.