Optimize 3.0 Inbound Marketing Blog

Doug Kirk

Recent Posts

How to Back Up and Restore Data in HubSpot: A Step-by-Step Guide

Posted by Doug Kirk  Nov 25, 2025 11:00:00 AM

 

Amidst all of the fever dream around AI assistants and agents, sometimes the most basic features of HubSpot can be ignored.  We see this is just about every portal we encounter.   HubSpot’s data back up and restore is one of the most glaring examples.  Data back up is critical.  Here’s a quick guide to do that in HubSpot.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process to back up your HubSpot data, ensure continuity across your teams, and provide peace of mind for stakeholders.

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Topics: HubSpot Tips, Hubspot Training

Hubspot Onboarding Checklist for Technical Setup

Posted by Doug Kirk  Nov 18, 2025 11:00:01 AM

 

You bought HubSpot, turned it on, maybe clicked around the menus, and now your sales team is grumbling that nothing makes sense. I’ve seen this movie many times before—different cast, same ending. The problem isn’t HubSpot. It’s the way it’s set up, right out of the gate. And that setup, what I call “technical onboarding,” is boring, unglamorous, and absolutely mission-critical.  If it didn’t get recorded in HubSpot it didn’t happen.

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Topics: HubSpot Tips, Hubspot Training

HubSpot Pipeline Optimization: Automations to Reduce Sales Cycle & Capture Lost Deal Insights

Posted by Doug Kirk  Nov 11, 2025 11:00:00 AM

 

You ever open your HubSpot dashboard and just feel like it’s lying to you?

The numbers look fine. The pipeline’s "healthy." Deals are moving. Except… they’re not. Half of them are probably idle or stagnant with no recent activity, no owner follow-up, and {honestly) little chance of closing before the end of the quarter.

Here’s what I’ve learned: Sales reps don’t hate HubSpot, they hate what it represents. Admin. Clicks. Notes. Dropdowns. Another tool asking for their time instead of giving it back.

But we can fix that with a few strategic HubSpot pipeline optimization tactics.   

We’ve seen hundreds of pipelines and these basic automations work when you want a pipeline that runs efficiently.

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Topics: inbound marketing, sales

How to Build a Deal Pipeline in HubSpot That Sales Actually Uses

Posted by Doug Kirk  Nov 4, 2025 11:00:00 AM

 

If you’ve ever opened your HubSpot deals dashboard and felt overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Most pipelines fail because they’re built in ways that don’t match how sales actually works.

There are three big reasons pipelines break down. First, too many deal stages. Second, no closed lost reasons. Third, multiple pipelines that make reporting a nightmare. Fix these, and your sales team will actually use the pipeline you’ve built.

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Topics: inbound marketing, sales

How to Create Lead Nurturing Content That Converts

Posted by Doug Kirk  Oct 28, 2025 11:00:03 AM

 

So—you're sitting in HubSpot.

Blank workflow. Cursor blinking like it’s judging you. The kind of digital silence that feels louder than it should.

You think: Okay. I’ve got a blog post. I’ll turn it into an email. Add a CTA. Toss in some “we help companies like yours” line. Done. Lead nurture, right?

Except… that’s exactly why most lead nurturing campaigns fail.

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Topics: inbound marketing, content marketing, lead nurture

How to Turn Sales Conversations into Lead Nurture Content

Posted by Doug Kirk  Oct 21, 2025 11:00:00 AM

 

If you want better lead nurture content, don’t start with a blank page. Start with your sales team.

They already know what prospects care about. They hear the same questions, hesitations, and comparisons over and over again. The problem? That knowledge stays in their heads — and never makes it into your emails, blogs, or campaigns.

This post shows you how to fix that.

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Topics: inbound marketing, content marketing, lead nurture

SEO and Inbound Marketing - What You Need to Know

Posted by Doug Kirk  Oct 13, 2020 2:21:45 PM

Ignoring search traffic can be extremely costly to your business.

Back in May 2018 HubSpot decided to do away with their keyword tool.  They did this for several reasons, some of them quite valid.  But by de-emphasizing such a core principle of SEO they managed to send the message to their clients that it’s no longer important.  Instead of doubling down on SEO tools they mostly ceded this side of their business to the likes of SEM Rush and Moz among others.

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Topics: inbound marketing, HubSpot Tips, seo

Inbound Marketing Agency Optimize 3.0 Becomes Diamond HubSpot Partner

Posted by Doug Kirk  Jan 11, 2019 11:22:55 AM

Optimize 3.0 announces that it is now a HubSpot as a Diamond Certified Agency Partner. HubSpot, a leading CRM, marketing, sales, and customer experience platform, works hand-in-hand with Agency Partners to grow their businesses through inbound software, services, and support.

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Topics: hubspot, Inbound Marketing Software, Topic Cluster

Considering a Topic Cluster Content Strategy? 5 Tips for Your Writers

Posted by Doug Kirk  Jan 3, 2019 12:27:52 PM

topic cluster content strategyThe more information you can provide freelance writers about the goal of your content, the more successful it will be. 

This is especially true when creating topic clusters.

The Topic Cluster Method focuses less on traditional keyword and SEO strategies and more on creating a unified series of content around a single topic, all built around a single piece of pillar content. This is a much more organized approach to SEO and content creation than most companies take.

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Topics: content marketing, seo, Topic Cluster

Replacing HubSpot Keywords with SEMRush | Topic Cluster Strategy

Posted by Doug Kirk  May 1, 2018 10:00:00 AM

HubSpot's removing  their keyword as of May 1st, 2018.  What does that mean for your keyword tracking and overall SEO initiatives? (see point #3 below especially).  We've spent some time looking at some alternatives and have concluded that SEMRush is the best replacement for the HubSpot KW tool.  

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Topics: HubSpot Tips, seo