Tagging Contacts in HubSpot: A Step-by-Step Guide

Tagging contacts in HubSpot is essential for effective segmentation and targeted marketing. While HubSpot doesn't have a built-in tagging feature like some other CRM platforms, it uses custom properties to achieve similar functionality. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of creating and managing custom properties for tagging, and show you how to leverage these tags for enhanced contact segmentation.

Understanding Custom Properties as Tags in HubSpot

HubSpot uses custom properties to simulate the tagging feature found in other CRM platforms. Custom properties allow you to store unique data about your contacts, companies, deals, and other objects in HubSpot. By setting up custom properties that act like tags, you can effectively manage and segment your contacts based on specific criteria.

To create custom properties that function as tags:

1. Identify the type of information you want to tag your contacts with (e.g., interests, preferences, or behaviors).
2. Create a custom property for each tag using the appropriate field type (e.g., dropdown select, checkbox, or radio select).
3. Define the options for each custom property, ensuring they align with your tagging strategy.
4. Apply the relevant custom property "tags" to your contacts as needed.

By leveraging custom properties as tags, you can easily filter, segment, and target your contacts based on the information that matters most to your business. This allows for more personalized and effective marketing and sales efforts. For more advanced techniques, check out how to build a robust prospect list.

Creating and Managing Custom Properties for Tagging

To create a custom property in HubSpot for tagging purposes, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings > Properties in your HubSpot account.
2. Select the object type (contacts, companies, deals, or tickets) for which you want to create the custom property.
3. Click "Create property" in the upper right corner.
4. Enter a label for your property, such as "Contact Tags" or "Company Tags."
5. Choose the appropriate field type for your tagging property, such as "Multiple checkboxes" or "Dropdown select."
6. Add the desired options for your tags, ensuring they align with your tagging strategy.
7. Set any necessary property rules, such as making the property required or unique.
8. Click "Create" to save your new custom property.

When naming and managing your custom properties for tagging, consider the following best practices:

• Use clear and concise labels that accurately describe the purpose of the property.
• Group related tags into a single custom property to keep your property list organized and easily accessible.
• Regularly review and update your tag options to ensure they remain relevant and useful for segmentation.
• Establish a consistent naming convention for your custom properties to maintain clarity and avoid confusion.

Using tools like Bardeen can further help by automating the enrichment and management of your custom properties, saving time and ensuring accuracy.

By following these steps and best practices, you can effectively create and manage custom properties in HubSpot that serve as tags for efficient contact segmentation and targeted marketing efforts.

Leveraging Tags for Enhanced Contact Segmentation

Using custom properties (tags) in HubSpot allows you to segment your contact lists effectively, enabling targeted and personalized marketing campaigns. To segment your contacts based on tags, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Contacts > Lists in your HubSpot account.
2. Click "Create list" in the upper right corner.
3. Choose "Contact properties" as the filter type.
4. Select the custom property (tag) you want to use for segmentation.
5. Define the criteria for your segmented list, such as contacts with a specific tag or a combination of tags.
6. Save your list and give it a descriptive name.

Once you have created segmented lists based on tags, you can use them to:

• Send targeted email campaigns to specific segments of your audience.
• Personalize your marketing messages based on the interests and characteristics of each segment.
• Analyze the performance of your campaigns across different segments to optimize your marketing efforts.

For example, if you have tagged contacts based on their industry, you can create a segmented list for each industry and send tailored content that addresses their specific pain points and challenges. This level of personalization can lead to higher engagement rates, increased conversions, and improved customer loyalty.

By leveraging tags for contact segmentation, you can:

• Deliver more relevant and valuable content to your audience.
• Improve the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.
• Build stronger relationships with your contacts by demonstrating an understanding of their needs and preferences.

To further enhance your marketing efforts, consider using tools that automate sales prospecting and lead enrichment.

Integrating Third-Party Solutions for Advanced Tagging Capabilities

While HubSpot offers native tagging capabilities through custom properties, these features may have limitations for some users. Third-party tools can improve HubSpot's tagging functionality, providing more advanced options for organizing and segmenting contacts. However, it's important to note that some popular third-party tagging solutions have recently been deprecated, so it's crucial to find alternatives that work well with HubSpot.

When considering a third-party tagging tool, look for solutions that:

• Offer bidirectional sync with HubSpot, ensuring tags are consistently updated across both platforms.
• Provide a user-friendly interface for managing tags and applying them to contacts.
• Allow for the creation of complex tagging rules and hierarchies.
• Integrate with other tools in your marketing stack, such as email marketing platforms or social media management tools.

Some popular third-party tagging solutions that integrate with HubSpot include:

• Bedrock Data: Offers a range of integrations with HubSpot, including tag sync and advanced segmentation capabilities.
• Automate.io: Provides a simple way to connect HubSpot with other apps, allowing for the automation of tagging based on specific triggers or actions.
• PieSync: Enables bidirectional sync between HubSpot and other platforms, ensuring tags remain consistent across your marketing stack.

When setting up a third-party tagging tool, be sure to follow the provider's documentation and best practices for integrating with HubSpot. This may involve generating API keys, configuring field mappings, and setting up automated workflows to keep tags in sync.

For more advanced needs, consider using AI to automate enrichment and qualification. By leveraging third-party solutions alongside HubSpot's native tagging capabilities, you can create a more robust and flexible system for organizing and segmenting your contacts, ultimately leading to more targeted and effective marketing campaigns.

Save time and improve your tagging system with Bardeen. Automate repetitive tasks and focus on what matters.

While HubSpot does not natively support tags, you can achieve similar functionality through custom properties and lists. If you're looking to streamline this process even further, Bardeen offers powerful automation capabilities that can enhance how you manage contacts in HubSpot. Automating contact management not only saves time but also ensures a higher level of accuracy and personalization in your marketing efforts.

1. Save a Salesforce contact as a new HubSpot contact: Seamlessly transfer contacts from Salesforce to HubSpot, ensuring your CRM is always up-to-date with your latest interactions and customer data.
2. Automatically Create HubSpot Contact from Gmail Email: This automation captures new leads directly from your Gmail inbox into HubSpot, turning every email into a potential sales opportunity.
3. Copy all HubSpot contacts to Coda: Organize your HubSpot contacts in Coda with a single click, making it easier to manage and analyze your contact data across platforms.

Discover the full potential of your contact management strategy by downloading the Bardeen app.