As part of my own personal development this quarter, I have been doing some upskilling and certifications around the CRM HubSpot. I’m excited to share that I’ve now completed the HubSpot Inbound Certification. I thought it might be useful to share some of my key takeaways from the course/certification.

What is HubSpot Inbound?

HubSpot’s Inbound certification teaches the inbound methodology a way of growing your business by building valuable, lasting relationships with customers, prospects, and even website visitors. Rather than simply pushing out promotions, inbound focuses on attracting the right people through helpful content and conversations, engaging them with tailored insights, and delighting them with ongoing support at every stage.

Key Learnings from Inbound Certification

Building Trust through the Inbound Cycle

One vital takeaway was understanding that inbound marketing is all about trust. By offering useful advice and content that speaks to the customer’s challenges, businesses can become trusted advisors rather than just sellers. This approach helps prospects feel comfortable and valued, forming the basis for long-term relationships.

Creating Relevant Content

Inbound marketing relies heavily on content, but not just any content. it needs to have context. Whether blogs, guides, or emails, every piece should be tailored to specific customer needs or stages in their journey. The course stressed that well planned content attracts people and keeps them engaged.

Using the Flywheel Model

HubSpot’s “flywheel” model replaces the old sales funnel: instead of simply moving customers from awareness to purchase, the flywheel focuses on keeping existing customers happy so they, in turn, spread the word and help drive new business. Keeping customers delighted adds momentum to growth, making repeat business and referrals more likely.

This is my personal favourite, a marketing flywheel allows me to build relationships with those who are going through the flywheel rather than chasing new leads all of the time.  A happy client who has been "delighted" by your services becomes a brand advocate. They provide testimonials, refer you to others in their network, and even bring you repeat business. This way of doing business feels more sustainable and more friendly!

Knowing Your Audience

Another key learning for me was how important it is to know your audience. HubSpot’s tools can help you build “buyer personas” so your marketing reaches the people most likely to be interested. With more targeted content, you waste less time and resources.

Automating and Improving Processes

Inbound isn’t just about marketing it’s powered by automation and technology. The certification covered how platforms like HubSpot simplify campaign management, lead nurturing, and reporting so small teams can achieve more with less manual effort.

The Importance of Clean CRM Data

Clean, well-organised CRM data is at the heart of successful inbound marketing. Having trustworthy data helps spot the best leads, guide marketing messages in the right direction, and make sure no opportunity gets missed.

Why Clean Data Matters

Accurate targeting and campaigns (less wasted time).

Better decisions with up to date information.

Smoother teamwork with data everyone can trust.

Fewer missed opportunities thanks to clear records.

Bringing Lessons to Business

As a Virtual Assistant, these insights go much further than marketing, they are vital for keeping CRM data clean, setting up useful automations, and making sure reports give you information you can act on. When a business prioritises useful content and keeps its data tidy, it makes for improved customer relationships and sets a strong foundation for growth.

If your business wants to attract more customers, turn them into loyal advocates, or simply get more from your marketing and CRM, using inbound strategies combined with data you can trust makes all the difference.

If you found this helpful, you might also enjoy my blog What I Learned from HubSpot Sales Hub Certification