It's spooky season... time to crunch the feared numbers

Halloween is just around the corner, and that calls for a spooky-themed newsletter... obviously. And what's scarier than budgeting mistakes that lead to missed targets and nightmarish sales scenarios? ??

But before we dive into that, let's take a look at some news from the office...

• It's cold and wet, which means chickenpox, coughs and other germs seem to spread like wildfire - leaving us juggling both work and childcare ??
• Our recent HUGs were a great success, which is why we want to share more insights into the events in today’s newsletter...
• ONLY 3 MORE WEEKS UNTIL WE KICK OFF AVIDLY ACTIVATES. There's only a few spots left... so save your seat before it's gone ??

Let's talk budgeting... here's three (scary) mistakes you should avoid ??♂?

There probably isn't much that can sends chills down one's spine faster than a budget gone wrong. And let's be honest, who enjoys budgeting in the first place? To help you bypass common pitfalls this year, here are three budgeting mistakes to avoid at all cost (or they may come back to haunt you... ??).

Don't get spooked by the jargon

Ever been put off by terms like 'forecast' or 'actuals' before you even started crunching any numbers? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if you don’t fully understand the technical terms, and it's even easier to make mistakes by assuming you do.

If something isn’t clear, make sure to get an explanation. Don't mismanage your budget simply because you were too afraid to ask questions. Understanding the terms will keep you on track and avoid future nightmares.

Aim too low and you will regret it later...

While it might seem safer to ask your boss for a smaller budget up front, aiming too low can cause you headaches later down the line. It’s always easier to trim a budget down than to increase it.

If you start with a budget that’s too tight, you risk not having enough resources to meet your goals. Pitch a reasonable but ambitious number initially - you can always scale back if necessary.

Remember to plan for any unforeseen events

Unexpected expenses are like skeletons in the closet - they tend to pop up when you least expect it ?? If your budget doesn’t account for some just-in-case funds, you might find yourself in trouble later in the year.

Having a backup plan is crucial for staying on track with your budget, so don’t forget to include a financial buffer to avoid any panic.

?? What are you tips and tricks when it comes to budgeting? Kick off a conversation by leaving us a comment below...

WHO needs a HUG? ??♀?

What were the HubSpot User Groups all about?

The most recent HUGs were all about INBOUND 2024. More specifically, they offered a platform for sharing learnings, themes and insights into HubSpot product updates (including Breeze) from the annual event.?

Three of the HubSpot updates that we discussed during the HUGs...

• Multi-Step Forms: Multi-step Forms tackle the problem of form abandonment by breaking down long forms into shorter parts, providing users with a sense of accomplishment and encouraging completion.
• AI-Assisted Lists: With AI Assistant in Lists, you can simply describe the contacts you want to engage with and AI will create the right set of filters for your list.
• Adobe Express: Now, you can use Adobe’s AI content creation app directly within HubSpot when editing content.

What were some of the key learning and tips from INBOUND??

"Utilising and repurposing a single piece of high-value content into other formats has never been easier - and it’s still an under-used tactic." - Tommi Laaksonen, Director of Services and Operations

"Data enrichment & data maintenance is key for any HubSpot tool." - Marie Arndt, CRM Strategist

"69% of buyers trust people over brands. This needs to shape your go-to-market." - Dave Entwistle, Principal Designer

P.S. If you've missed the HUGs, take a look at our other upcoming events???

Other stuff that happened

?? Apple just announced 'Branded Mail' and apparently it's easy to set up and guaranteed to boost engagement. Thanks to Jay Schwedelson for spotting it first.

?? HubSpot has acquired Mindstream, an AI-focused media outlet based in the UK.

?? Does Google have a monopoly in advertising technology markets? Stay up to date on the tech trial between Google and the US Department of Justice.

??? There is another episode of Avidly Talks that you definitely need to check out. Listen to Elias Holm on Spotify talk about how to find the time to learn.

Mark your calendar

?? Operational Efficiency: Unleashed - Avidly Now Event - VIRTUAL - Sessions can be accessed between 28th and 31st October

?? Activate your customer-led sales and marketing - Avidly Activates UK 2024 - IN PERSON - Clitheroe, UK - 14th November

?? How to shorten the sales cycle and increase ACV - Avidly Webinar - VIRTUAL - 26th November

Well, that's all for now. But did you know that you could have received this newsletter last week, directly in your inbox? If you'd like to be among the first to receive our bi-weekly updates and prefer email newsletters, sign up here.

Speak to you in a couple of weeks,

Valerie on behalf of,

The Avidly HubSpot Solutions Marketing Team

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