Importing Data Into HubSpot

Welcome to HubSpot CRM! Whether you were previously using another CRM, have been working in Excel for years, or have utilized sticky notes as your system of record, your next logical question is likely: "How will I store my data moving forward, and how will I get it all into HubSpot?" The purpose of this page is to review, at a high-level, how HubSpot's CRM is structured and to give you all the information you'll need to move your data into it. 

Why Import into HubSpot?

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    Quick and easy imports

    Getting your data into HubSpot is simple. Export all your records from your current system, and import them into HubSpot with a few clicks. No fancy data work necessary. HubSpot deduplicates your records for you, so your database is clean and organized from the start. Plus, create custom properties as you go, so your data matches your company's setup.

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    All your data in one place

    Import all your records in one go. Bring contacts, companies, deals, tickets, and more into HubSpot at once, and associate them together with simple column-mapping. No manual associations necessary.

  3. Get powerful insights, populated automatically

    HubSpot CRM automatically populates new contact, company, and deal records with details from its database of over 20 million businesses. All you need is a prospect’s corporate email address. You’ll spend less time hunting down information about prospects and companies, and more time delighting your customers.

How to Import Your Data into HubSpot

In any CRM, data is stored on objects. An object is, quite simply, a type of record that stores a certain category of information. On a given object, data is housed in properties, which provide specific characteristics about their containing object. HubSpot CRM is centered around four standard objects: Contacts, Companies, Deals, and Tickets. Each holds a different type of data, and can be linked to the other three in a specific way. Before going any further, it's pivotal to have a firm grasp of these four standard objects. 

Contacts

These are the individuals you are going to interact with. The ones you’ll be calling and send emails to in order to start, continue, or maintain a business a relationship. A Contact record will store information like First Name, Last Name, Email, and Phone Number. It will also include a history of when and who last contacted them.

Each contact can only be associated to one company, but can be associated with multiple Deals and/or Tasks.

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Companies

Companies are the businesses where your Contacts work. You may have more than one contact that you engage with who work at the same Company. A Company record will store information like Name, Domain, Industry, and Phone Number. This is also where you’ll store information like what city the business is located in, how many employees they have, and revenue information.

Companies can have multiple Contacts, Deals, and/or Tasks associated.

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Deals

Deals are used to manage your sales process and track the revenue associated with a potential sale. Deals will move through stages, starting at the beginning of the sales process and ending with a sale (Closed Won) or not (Closed Lost). The Deal record will store the amount of the potential sale, when the sale is expected to close, and who is managing the sale.

Each Deal can only be associated with one Company, but can be associated with multiple Contacts.

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Tickets

Tickets are the service interactions you have with your customers. Tickets (like deals) will move through stages, from "created" to "closed." Tickets will store information like source, time to first agent reply, and time to close.

Tickets can be asssociated with any Contact, Company, and/or Deal. They can be associated to just one object, or any combination.

Moving to a new CRM might seem intimidating --- there are a lot of moving parts, and the last thing you want is to lose any of your organization's vital historical data. In moving to HubSpot CRM, there are a few easy ways to get started, and we’re here to help at every step of the way.  Before importing data, however, it's important to ensure its cleanliness. As you scrub your data, note the following:

  • When you add Contacts to HubSpot CRM, the system will deduplicate by email address.
  • When you add Companies to HubSpot, the system will deduplicate by Company Domain Name.
  • When you add new Deals or Tickets, there is no deduplication.
  • To make the import process as efficient as possible, define and create your custom properties in HubSpot CRM before you begin.
  • When you’re ready to import, start with a small sample set of your data, to ensure that everything goes as planned. Once you’re satisfied, proceed with the rest of the process. 

Migrating Data into HubSpot CRM

Once you've cleaned your data and prepared for the migration, there are several methods of bringing your existing records into HubSpot. The best option for your organization depends on the type of data you have and the internal resources available to you. Below, we've outlined the basics of the four approaches to migrating data.
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File Upload

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Pros

  • Assistance from HubSpot Support
  • Least technical route

Cons

No tasks or engagements (notes, calls, emails) can be imported via CSV.

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Salesforce Integration

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Pros

  • Native integration
  • Assistance from HubSpot Support
  • Can import data to all objects

Cons

  • All objects must be associated with a Salesforce Contact or Lead in order to sync
  • All Contacts and Leads must have an email address in order to sync
  • Requires HubSpot Marketing or HubSpot Sales Pro subscription

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Third-Party Systems

Pros

 

  • Additional platforms are available for import. Companies like Import2 and Trujay Group provide data migration services from nearly every major CRM on the market.

 

Cons

  • Cost associated
  • Limited object support from certain platforms
  • Cannot utilize HubSpot Support

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HubSpot Technical Consultant

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Pros

  • Custom, personalized solution to fit your needs
  • Technical assistance with more complex migrations / imports
  • Can work via phone and/or in person to ensure setup is completed

Cons

  • Cost associated

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API Endpoints

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Pros

Can import data to all objects

Cons

  • Requires internal development resource, not provided by HubSpot
  • Support is limited to Developer forums
  • Most technical route

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