Latest news with #HubSpot
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Marketing Trends In 2025
Article – Hugh Grant Amid the rise of AI, marketing needs to be more human than ever. Today, its all about conversation, building a connection, and making people feel seen, heard, and valued. And topping it off with the kind of authority that only comes from deep, … Marketing isn't about broadcasting louder, or getting that megaphone out to blast at your (potential) customers. No, it's a 2-way street. There are new platforms, always, the algorithms shift daily, but the heart of effective marketing in 2025 isn't technical. Amid the rise of AI, marketing needs to be more human than ever. Today, it's all about conversation, building a connection, and making people feel seen, heard, and valued. And topping it off with the kind of authority that only comes from deep, hands-on experience. From Traffic to Trust According to HubSpot's State of Marketing Report 2025, 92% of respondents have seen AI impact their role. Yet 54% feel overwhelmed by trying to implement AI workflows. But we're going to pivot the other way. This isn't an AI how-to. Instead, in 2025, it's about trust and humanity. In a landscape where you don't know whether you're chatting to a bot or a real person, trust has become more important than ever. 42% of marketers say 'building trust' is their number one priority this year (as mentioned in HubSpot's report). And that's not a bad decision. There's an authenticity crisis, with over half of consumers now questioning online content more than ever. 50% are not able to distinguish between AI-generated and human-created content, for example, yet when they do notice, there's an outsized negative reaction (often shared with their peers, multiplying the effect). It's therefore no surprise that 62% of people say trust is an important factor when choosing to engage with a brand, while companies with high trust ratings outperform peers by 20% in shareholder returns. While data is important, crucial even, you need to move beyond surface metrics. Brands must shift from vanity stats like impressions to meaningful engagement indicators that demonstrate genuine customer relationships and long-term value creation. It's Conversation, Not Being Talked At Be honest with yourself as a marketer and ask, ' Do you like the sound of your own voice a little too much?' We are often broadcasters, talking at people, not to them. Modern consumers, however, expect brands to listen and respond, not just broadcast messages. We also focus far too much on the size of the crowd, seeing that as a victory, rather than whether there is an actual relationship there. Jenn Donovan, founder of Social Media and Marketing, asks you to 'stop marketing for 'eyeballs' and start marketing for conversations.' In other words, you don't want to focus on the traffic to your post or website, but instead on how many of those visits result in two-way communication with leads. The formula is easy: conversation leads to trust, and trust builds sales. Donovan suggests this query for your campaign before sending it out: 'Will this make someone want to reply or want to scroll on by?' In terms of content type, short-form video is the leader, followed by images and interviews. Brand campaigns that highlight team members or share behind-the-scenes challenges, acknowledging real-world struggles, feel more human. You want content that people will engage with, something that will start a conversation. If your posts are simply ads or vanity messaging, you won't get anywhere. If it invites a coffee table discussion, you're on the right track. Building Visibility Through Awards Strategy Laura Clemmet, CEO of The Audacious Agency, believes the next frontier isn't just content, it's credibility. This is her top tip for achieving it: 'The one major piece of advice I would give if a business leader really wants their brand, products, services or solutions to be recognised and respected in a highly competitive market, is to leverage the power of awards.' She says even being nominated will boost your exposure, trust, and perceived authority in the space. Entering awards provides an opportunity for you to tell your story, but be warned, consumers can smell insincerity a mile off, so be careful in your approach. Why Gen Z Will Shape the Future of Marketing If you're not paying attention to Gen Z, you're missing where marketing is headed. This generation grew up with TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels, and their expectations are reshaping how brands look online. They don't just scroll past content that feels too polished (or salesy), they actively reject it. What resonates instead is relatable and real. This has led to a surge in demand for short-form, story-driven content. These are bite-sized videos that entertain or educate, often under a minute in duration. For marketers, this means learning to show up not just as a brand, but as a person, with humour, vulnerability, and value. The old playbook of flashy ads is fading. What's rising in its place? Authenticity as strategy. Adapt or Die Business blogger Andrew Lokenauth has over a decade of experience working across Wall St. and Tech. He is an expert at analysing consumer behaviour patterns. His advice for marketers is clear: 'The old playbook is dead — adapt or die.' In 2025, authentic connection beats reach. Brands that aren't investing in AI-driven personalisation & genuine community building will struggle to make marketing gains. The new landscape rewards brands that spark conversations, prioritise transparency, and leverage strategic opportunities using the right tools. The good part? You already have the main resource required: humanity.
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Marketing Trends In 2025
Marketing isn't about broadcasting louder, or getting that megaphone out to blast at your (potential) customers. No, it's a 2-way street. There are new platforms, always, the algorithms shift daily, but the heart of effective marketing in 2025 isn't technical. Amid the rise of AI, marketing needs to be more human than ever. Today, it's all about conversation, building a connection, and making people feel seen, heard, and valued. And topping it off with the kind of authority that only comes from deep, hands-on experience. From Traffic to Trust According to HubSpot's State of Marketing Report 2025, 92% of respondents have seen AI impact their role. Yet 54% feel overwhelmed by trying to implement AI workflows. But we're going to pivot the other way. This isn't an AI how-to. Instead, in 2025, it's about trust and humanity. In a landscape where you don't know whether you're chatting to a bot or a real person, trust has become more important than ever. 42% of marketers say "building trust" is their number one priority this year (as mentioned in HubSpot's report). And that's not a bad decision. There's an authenticity crisis, with over half of consumers now questioning online content more than ever. 50% are not able to distinguish between AI-generated and human-created content, for example, yet when they do notice, there's an outsized negative reaction (often shared with their peers, multiplying the effect). It's therefore no surprise that 62% of people say trust is an important factor when choosing to engage with a brand, while companies with high trust ratings outperform peers by 20% in shareholder returns. While data is important, crucial even, you need to move beyond surface metrics. Brands must shift from vanity stats like impressions to meaningful engagement indicators that demonstrate genuine customer relationships and long-term value creation. It's Conversation, Not Being Talked At Be honest with yourself as a marketer and ask, ' Do you like the sound of your own voice a little too much?' We are often broadcasters, talking at people, not to them. Modern consumers, however, expect brands to listen and respond, not just broadcast messages. We also focus far too much on the size of the crowd, seeing that as a victory, rather than whether there is an actual relationship there. Jenn Donovan, founder of Social Media and Marketing, asks you to 'stop marketing for 'eyeballs' and start marketing for conversations.' In other words, you don't want to focus on the traffic to your post or website, but instead on how many of those visits result in two-way communication with leads. The formula is easy: conversation leads to trust, and trust builds sales. Donovan suggests this query for your campaign before sending it out: 'Will this make someone want to reply or want to scroll on by?' In terms of content type, short-form video is the leader, followed by images and interviews. Brand campaigns that highlight team members or share behind-the-scenes challenges, acknowledging real-world struggles, feel more human. You want content that people will engage with, something that will start a conversation. If your posts are simply ads or vanity messaging, you won't get anywhere. If it invites a coffee table discussion, you're on the right track. Building Visibility Through Awards Strategy Laura Clemmet, CEO of The Audacious Agency, believes the next frontier isn't just content, it's credibility. This is her top tip for achieving it: "The one major piece of advice I would give if a business leader really wants their brand, products, services or solutions to be recognised and respected in a highly competitive market, is to leverage the power of awards." She says even being nominated will boost your exposure, trust, and perceived authority in the space. Entering awards provides an opportunity for you to tell your story, but be warned, consumers can smell insincerity a mile off, so be careful in your approach. Why Gen Z Will Shape the Future of Marketing If you're not paying attention to Gen Z, you're missing where marketing is headed. This generation grew up with TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels, and their expectations are reshaping how brands look online. They don't just scroll past content that feels too polished (or salesy), they actively reject it. What resonates instead is relatable and real. This has led to a surge in demand for short-form, story-driven content. These are bite-sized videos that entertain or educate, often under a minute in duration. For marketers, this means learning to show up not just as a brand, but as a person, with humour, vulnerability, and value. The old playbook of flashy ads is fading. What's rising in its place? Authenticity as strategy. Adapt or Die Business blogger Andrew Lokenauth has over a decade of experience working across Wall St. and Tech. He is an expert at analysing consumer behaviour patterns. His advice for marketers is clear: 'The old playbook is dead — adapt or die.' In 2025, authentic connection beats reach. Brands that aren't investing in AI-driven personalisation & genuine community building will struggle to make marketing gains. The new landscape rewards brands that spark conversations, prioritise transparency, and leverage strategic opportunities using the right tools. The good part? You already have the main resource required: humanity.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Insightful Analyst Questions From HubSpot's Q1 Earnings Call
HubSpot's first quarter was characterized by steady customer growth and continued momentum in AI-driven product adoption, yet the market responded negatively to the results. Management pointed to strong net new customer additions and the increasing uptake of multi-hub solutions, with CEO Yamini Rangan citing 'over 10,000 net customer additions' and 'large deal growth up 23% year-over-year.' However, persistent macro uncertainty and a heightened customer focus on value contributed to cautious investor sentiment. Rangan acknowledged that, despite broad-based strength, 'uncertainty remains the constant,' particularly as businesses scrutinize technology investments. Is now the time to buy HUBS? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $714.1 million vs analyst estimates of $699.9 million (15.7% year-on-year growth, 2% beat) Adjusted EPS: $1.78 vs analyst estimates of $1.76 (1% beat) Adjusted Operating Income: $100.3 million vs analyst estimates of $99.67 million (14% margin, 0.6% beat) The company lifted its revenue guidance for the full year to $3.04 billion at the midpoint from $2.99 billion, a 1.7% increase Management raised its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $9.33 at the midpoint, a 2% increase Operating Margin: -3.8%, in line with the same quarter last year Customers: 258,258, up from 247,939 in the previous quarter Annual Recurring Revenue: $2.79 billion at quarter end, up 15.7% year on year Billings: $766.8 million at quarter end, up 19.6% year on year Market Capitalization: $29.04 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Mark Murphy (JPMorgan) asked about the technical implementation and potential of and multi-agent orchestration. CTO Dharmesh Shah explained the use of Model Context Protocol to enable agent-to-agent communication and integration across HubSpot and third-party systems. Samad Samana (Jefferies) questioned the shape of revised guidance and margin impacts from M&A. CFO Kate Bueker noted that guidance reflects foreign exchange tailwinds but maintains a prudent outlook due to macro uncertainty, with minimal operating expense impact from acquisitions. Arjun Bhatia (William Blair) inquired about variations in demand and AI adoption across customer segments and verticals. CEO Yamini Rangan responded that demand patterns are consistent across segments, with AI adoption more dependent on customer readiness than industry or size. Rishi Jaluria (RBC) pressed on the predictability and customer experience of the new credit-based AI pricing. Rangan described the system as designed for simplicity and predictability, with bundled credits and flexible purchasing options to address customer concerns about usage forecasting. Parker Lane (Stifel) sought clarity on the impact of seat-based pricing on customer retention and upgrades. Bueker reported strong momentum in seat upgrades and expects most customers to migrate to the new model by the end of 2025, supporting higher net revenue retention. In the quarters ahead, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the pace of adoption and monetization for HubSpot's new AI-powered credit-based pricing system, (2) execution on upmarket and enterprise customer expansion, and (3) the migration rate to seat-based pricing and its effect on revenue retention. Additional signposts include the company's ongoing ability to differentiate its platform through embedded AI, as well as macroeconomic developments that could influence technology investment trends. HubSpot currently trades at $553.73, down from $659.50 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (ZETA): A Bull Case Theory
We came across a bullish thesis on Zeta Global Holdings Corp. on Make Money, Make Time's Substack by Oliver | MMMT Wealth. In this article, we will summarize the bull's thesis on ZETA. Zeta Global Holdings Corp.'s share was trading at $16.81 as of June 24th. ZETA's forward P/E was 25.84 and according to Yahoo Finance. everything possible/ Zeta Global (ZETA) has recently caught investor attention after a sharp 12% move, yet its valuation remains compelling. The company operates as a global marketing technology firm leveraging AI to deliver strong returns on investment, underpinned by a recurring revenue model and a net revenue retention rate of 114%. Despite rapid growth—revenues up 35.6% and EBITDA nearing triple-digit gains—ZETA trades at just 2.5x next-twelve-months (NTM) sales and 12.0x EV/EBITDA, significantly below peers like HubSpot (HUBS), Adobe (ADBE), and Braze (BRZE), which are growing more slowly yet command higher valuation multiples. These dynamics position ZETA as a potential private equity buyout target within 12–24 months, with the current price offering a 1.5x–2x upside if such a transaction occurs. While this possibility introduces some strategic risk for long-term holders, it doesn't invalidate the core investment thesis—ZETA remains a strong candidate for a multi-year position given its growth and operating leverage. However, the prospect of a take-private deal could cap long-term gains for those seeking extended compounding. Even in a conservative buyout scenario, the expected upside is approximately 50%, while a public growth trajectory could deliver over 100% gains by FY27 based on forward revenue estimates of $1.7 billion and a 5.0x sales multiple. Ultimately, ZETA combines aggressive topline growth, operational efficiency, and industry-low valuation—an uncommon mix in today's market. These factors suggest meaningful rerating potential regardless of whether the company remains public or is acquired, making it a high-upside, catalyst-rich opportunity worth close consideration. Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Zeta Global Holdings Corp. by jasmichelle7 in January 2025, which highlighted the company's resilience post-short report, insider buying, and strong AI-driven marketing platform. The company's stock price has depreciated by approximately 14% since our coverage. This is because the thesis has yet to be fully realized. Oliver | MMMT Wealth shares a similar view but emphasizes Zeta's undervaluation and buyout potential. Zeta Global Holdings Corp. is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 40 hedge fund portfolios held ZETA at the end of the first quarter, which was 39 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of ZETA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Salesforce's Agentforce Just Got a Makeover
Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) quietly supercharged its AI game with the release of Agentforce just hit version 3. Since the o riginal launch in October 2024, usage has more than tripled233% growth in six monthsand roughly 8,000 companies have already signed up. What's new this time around? Think of a Command Center dashboard that lets you peer under the hood of every AI agent in real time, plus a plug-and-play Model Context Protocol layer that snaps agents onto data feeds from Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Bedrock Data Automation and Nova Canvas or into Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Cloud services without wrangling a ton of custom code. Even better, you can now link your bots straight into Box, PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL), Stripe and WRITER for everything from document workflows to payment ops. Starting next month, Agentforce 3 will open the door to more LLMsAnthropic's Claude models are first in line, with Google's Gemini coming later in 2025so you're not stuck on a single provider. Salesforce's AI chief Adam Evans says these upgrades aren't just bells and whistles; they're all about giving businesses the controls and flexibility they need to trust, manage and optimize AI agents at scale across Sales Cloud, Service Cloud and beyond. With enterprises clamoring for more transparency and less hand-coding, this could be the feature set that tips the balance in Salesforce's favorespecially against rivals like HubSpot (NYSE:HUBS) and Microsoft. Keep an eye on the next few earnings calls for clues on how much of a lift Agentforce 3 really delivers in the wild. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
