Time to Help Humans with HubSpot

Hello, you've reached the HubSpot Helpline.

Helpline, helpline, helpline, helpline. It's Rob, it's George, it's Casey and Kyle. Come with a problem and leave with a smile every Friday at 3. Come and join us as we help you with HubSpot. Open up your LinkedIn. Just make sure you call in and leave a voicemail about HubSpot. Make your Friday divine with the HubSpot Helpline.

Welcome back to the HubSpot Helpline and I'm sorry, I wanted to start off with an apology for lying to you. We do not have Casey today, so we have Matthew Ruxton instead. Welcome to the show. Matthew, how are you?

I'm doing good, Rob, how are you?

Good. We. I assume Casey's trained at a truck stop in Iowa somewhere, so we wish her well today. We do have Chris, who's he decided to step out of the shadows and with the Chris summoning music anymore. Chris, how are you?

I'm doing well. I look forward to Kyle returning after his leave so that I can come back from the shadows.

Let me go back into the shadows. All right, George, how are you doing on this Friday afternoon?

I'm doing great. We made it through the week. The weekend is coming. I don't know what that means because I'll probably still be doing work and helping people with HubSpot, but I'm doing great. How about you, brother?

I'm feeling. I have my Superman shirt on today, so I'm feeling great. I almost commented until you look down that for the first time I think since I've known you, there's not a hoodie hat match. And then I. I didn't even see the bill, so that's on me.

Come on, brother, you know I don't play.

These are very prescription and I still can't see anything. So we've got some stuff to talk about today. We've got something from the mailbag, but I felt like it was top of mind relevant to talk about Inbound 25. We are. Anybody know how many days out we are?

Oh, is there an inbound countdown somewhere this year?

No. Googling. Quick typing in. Yeah, it's 40, so 39. 40 somewhere around there. So yes, there we go. 40ish days from inbound 25. We were talking before the show on plans. George said he needs a week of sleep before his preference inbound week just to get ready for all the stuff. What all are you doing? Sessions. I know you're speaking. I know you have some stuff going on.

Yeah, well, so first of all, I do want to go and actually get some education. So I am going to go to some sessions and actually listen to people like Jay Schweddelson, Nancy Harha and others. Like, obviously I'm gonna try to make Kyle's jam. So, like, you know, there's that. But I think. Are we allowed to talk about it, Chris, what we're doing, Are we allowed to talk? Okay. Okay. So I know Customer platform is a podcast that Chris, Casey and I do. That's going to be every morning where we're going to be doing that. And then we are doing the late night show with George B. Thomas again, like we did last couple of years. So we'll be doing that in the evenings. And then I do have my talk that I'm giving and an encore of my talk that I'm giving. And that's 40 days out or 39 days out. Who knows what else will get added in before we get there?

Haven't even started with the talk yet. Or have you been planning for months already?

Oh, planning for months. Honestly, what's fun about this year is I had started to talk to Chris on like creating content around the Superhuman framework and also like on the podcast beyond your default, we had talked about the Superhuman framework. And so almost for like maybe even two years or for sure a year and a half, have had this stuff in my brain to now bring it to inbound with Superhuman or super human centric marketing is what I'm going to be talking about. So it's, it's all been brewing in there. The, the deck is like fleshed out draft, but almost final. And, you know, I'm sure I'll be tweaking it up until about five minutes before I step on stage, to be honest with you, because that's just how I roll.

Somehow. That's spot on. It feels. I. I have to assume. But I'll ask if, like the culminating event of a bunch of work that you were doing anyway and more of a presentation rather than building something just for inbounds, got to feel kind of like a pressure relief and a culminating.

Moment, which is, I mean, it's, it's the exact opposite of what I've ever done. So let me just kind of explain. Historically, I would give inbound two or three different talk options and they would pick one of those, turn down the other ones, and then I would be like, great, let me go ahead and build this from scratch. And so every year I built a new presentation from scratch. This was like, I'm just Going to give you this idea. And if you turn me down, I'll probably cry and like, curl up in the fetal position for like a couple weeks. But if you don't, then we're gonna go with something that I'm already thinking about, already building, already talking about. And so it worked out. Inbounds, like, we still love you, we'd like you to come back. And yes, that superhuman centric marketing thing sounds like it'd be the jam. So that's what we're doing.

I bet they have like some automation set up that just says, like, watch for the George submission and just go right into the accepted.

No, no, no.

Said take it or leave it this year. Because this is. This is just the result of two years worth of stuff that's going to also be updated probably until, you know, September 2nd third. Partner Day.

Second.

Chris, what all are you doing this year?

So I'm looking forward to that Morning morning show live from Inbounds. Gabby and the team really doing a great job taking care of inbound correspondence this year. And yeah, getting to be like real correspondence. I've got an interview with her at the end of the week to do kind of a recap with her in between. I set up a brain date yesterday, which happens to be in the Impact Zone, which is the same place as the Spot this year. And that's where I just got to talk to Shayna Summers, who leads the Spot community on the road to Inbound today. And I don't know if I want to go anywhere else. Like, the way she was describing it, it was like, there's gonna be games, it's gonna be uno.

That place is gonna be the most.

Comfortable place to sit, like, and just connect. And I love that they have some standards. Like, no meetings here. Like, this is all about just connecting with other human beings.

Yeah.

So that was awesome to hear about. And yeah, finally it's gonna be doing some fun stuff. We got. We got a booth, so that were showing up with hub search and a bunch of profoundly, profoundly pros will be there. And we're planning some. Some team picks.

Let's go.

Oh, man, it's gonna be fun.

Wait, wait, you mean we got.

You're gonna be busy.

We gotta take pictures at Inbound. Oh, man.

Yeah, I think. I think you'll be all right. Let's get you. And you. You don't have the hat on, the slick back hair. Like, it's not a professional. George.

Yeah, George makes any picture he's in better. I mean, that's just it doesn't have to. Whatever. He's going to be in pictures, he's going to make all those pictures better. Matthew, opposed the same question to you. What are you involved in either up until Inbound or talk wise or session or what do you attend these guys? I think George threw in there that he's like, hopefully going to get some actual education and be able to attend some stuff this year. Which is to preface your response, that's what I've always had to do is like, I'm usually working the event and I haven't gotten to experience the session as much as I would like to. This year, probably not going to be much different. I'll be working a booth. But Matthew, what do you got?

I mean, this is technically my second inbound, which seems wild for me to say that, but my first inbound was in 23 and didn't get to 24.

So like, super.

I was like, yeah, it's gonna be great. I'm gonna go in by 25. It's gonna be Boston. I know what I'm doing. I know I'm not gonna stay in the hotel I stayed in last time because it'd be so much closer and like San Francisco. And I'm like, why, why, why you gotta change on me?

I just.

So I. It's a lot of. I've already, like, done the agenda thing and gotten great. All the things I want to do are overlapping. Love that. Love how HubSpot does that every year. It's like, here's like four hours of nothing you wanted to attend. It's two hours of everything you wanted to attend at opposite ends of the convention center.

Like, perfect. That's gotta be a logistical nightmare, though. I mean, like, not to. Maybe they could do better, maybe not. But I mean, there's an argument to be made that if it's there and they've been selected to speak or give a session and it's got to be of some value, that's where my, my mind would land. Now if you have prep, it's like picking your favorite kid. I do have a favorite. He knows it. Shout out to my little buddy. But it's like, it's. It's like doing that right? A session is like. I asked Yamini in an interview one time at inbound. I think 23 was like, what's your favorite hub? What's, what's your favorite area? And she said the same thing. It's like taking between children. And then off the record, she may or may not have then selected. But no, I'M the only one that's done that. So, yeah, we. We're about to dive into some questions, but I did want to ask. Matthew, you said it's your second inbound. One in Boston and one's going to be in San Francisco. This will be my fourth. So people that are more tenured veterans, is there a. Is there a sentiment that's like, people are ready and excited and embracing the. The one year or temporary change to go to the west coast or more people still questioning themselves and yelling at the sky and the powers that be about why do we have to move and change things up? I'll take this.

Yeah, I. I mean, listen, when, when it was first released that this is what was happening, your boy George B. Thomas was like. Because I just was like, wait, man, since 2012, I've come to this lovely city and I know exactly where I need to go. I know exactly who I need to talk about. I know where my Duncan is and I can get it quickly. Right? And there ain't no Duncan around. Where we're gonna be, by the way. I'm just throwing that out now. With all that said, there's probably a Starbucks and there's some other coffee joint. But with that being said, I'm actually to the point where I'm starting to get excited about it because you have to kind of change your perspective sometimes where it's like, okay, that's great, we'll be back next year, but let's embrace the perception of it's new. So now all of a sudden, we. We get to have something we haven't had for 13 years, 14 years, whatever. Yeah. A new experience. I get to. Maybe it's a new escalator, maybe it's a new mosh pit area. Maybe it's like all the rooms are like, so, so for, for, for goodness, it's going to be new. And so I'm trying to embrace that, but usually still, every night before I go to bed, I think about it and that's how I fall asleep. But. But it's all good.

What I heard in that also is that George B. Thomas is, is excited about elevators or escalators, one of the two. It's something. Yeah, escalators.

You know what I'm saying, dude? Like, when you go to Boston, the bcec, and it's like your first time through, you got your badge and you hit that escalator going down and you know, and it's like all. You see all the things laid out, like people are talking and you're like, yeah, I'm here. I'm here. Like, that ride down is iconic.

Yeah. Yeah, you have. I mean, collectively. Chris, I don't know how many inbounds you've been to, but for me, the. I think you mentioned this or Matthew, like the Omni and the Sporting Club specifically is like a place to break off for a minute or the after. And. And obviously Lobster Roll, like, that type of stuff. I've been enough to be like, dang, I'm gonna miss that. And. But like, hopefully a lot of the same people are there now. What I will say is a lot of the. For Boston, a lot of the HubSpot reps that I knew and got to meet and a lot of the other people that were Boston area folks, anyway, they got to come to some of the afterparty stuff or that only got to come really, because of the proximity. Yeah, that's going to be different. So it'll be San Francisco people in the same, you know, it as the comp there. So that's. That's upsetting because we. I mean that at rp, some of the people that we hired, like Christian Colgrove, shout out to Christian, came to the Sprocketeer afterparty, talked to like, Jen and Brendan, and he still works there, but, like the intro was made and he got a job in a field he loves working in at an after party. Pretty cool story. So that dynamic has changed. But George, to your point, like, you'll have new stuff, new opportunities like that and new new people, things, sites, new coffee shops even to be able to partake in.

Well, one thing we all should do after this episode and over the weekend, because I did this before, by the way. And then I'll shut up because, you know, I'm talking a lot today. I don't know why, but like, before, like, I would go to the. The, you know, the Triple D diners drive like that. You know who I'm talking about guy, right?

Yep.

Man, I'm gonna miss Yankee lobster. Like, the lobster cheese. Oh, my God. So. So I need to go watch the show or do a Google search for like, what are some Triple D's in San Francisco? So, like, I go and hit a spot that not everybody will go hit because they're not prepping for where the good food is. Like the rit. You know, the greasy spoon. Like, so I'll be doing that too while I'm there, I think.

You mean you're going to be using Agent GPT to help you figure that out.

Am I being shamed because I Said Google Search right now.

Yeah.

You did?

Yeah. What month are you in?

I'm gonna Google search with my Comet browser from Perplexity. How you like me now?

I mean they're still rocking Netscape Navigator though, right?

Listen, I'm still using Microsoft photo draws. Who needs Photoshop? Come on.

Chris said right behind him, part of those bookshelves are encyclopedias that he frequently opens and looks up stuff that he needs quick access for. Speaking of access, part of this show and really the main theme of it is answered questions. Do we have any new call ins on the hotline today, Chris, or do we want to hop into this mailbag question that you've put put in the chat? Can you get that up for us so we can have Matthew, George and yourself dive in to helping somebody out?

Yeah, we're gonna try and check out the mailbag today and let me pull it up here. Just had it up and I'm pretty super glad that Mr. Roxanne is here because I imagine he's the best person to answer this, but wow. Best practice when users are oh oh.

Oh.

Hey all you say that brother.

Geez, out.

Isn't it out of pocket.

A silly question, but what do you all find is best practice when a user on your team is out of office? When I have users who are in workflows like lead assignment, sequence enrollment, etc. And they go on vacation, is there a simple way to be sure they are removed from workflow assignments? I remove their paid seat, which saves me from having to go through all my workflows and remove them. Any recommendations on better ways to achieve this?

So how to handle sequences, workflows, whatever. Automation. When somebody is out of office, I assume temporarily, not something that would be two, three, six months and they're going to be returning. Yeah. And the mentioned solution is just to remove their paid seat. Is there something easier, better? Is there a way to figure that out? What are the best practices? George, I'd ask you, but Chris already deferred to Mr. Ruxton. And so in solidarity against Chris, I assume you're not going to answer this question at all. You also might be frozen, I can't tell. There he is. Ready.

No, no, no, I'm not.

I mean just after watching Matthew's wonderful video today where he had everybody in his company talking about how awesome he has as an admin, assuming his company provides people with vacation.

Well, we do. I want to clarify that we have unlimited pto, but the. So we actually do encounter this often. So it's funny because there's two ways that I would think about removing the paid seats, not how I would have done it. That feel in my head I'm like, if you remove the paid seat then you're going to have to go back in and just add. They're going to just do the work later. Should go back in and add the paid seat. That's not how I've done it. But we use teams a lot. So I mean the easiest, as long as you're routing around teams, then you can just take someone out of a team and then put them in like an out of office team for a little bit. So that way they're not in those routing and then just kick them back in when they're back. That seems the easiest thing. But if you're doing the whole I have specific users then I feel like that's where you kind of struggle a little bit. I really.

For those that don't use teams but use Slack instead, what would the solution be?

Well, go ahead. Sorry.

Oh, George had the drum roll the thing but he didn't do it. Sorry, that was a joke.

That was a joke.

Oh, just where you send it to Slack and go here's the know Shark Tank it. I had an old.

Here's some stuff you got to do when you're back, John, by the way. Yeah.

I think the joke was talking about Microsoft Teams and that was, that was.

My intention and it fell pretty flat.

Landed, landed hard.

What's. What's Outlook? Yeah, no, I was gonna say because yeah, teams is an enterprise item.

Right.

I've forgotten now what's enterprise and what's professional because it's all changed the. Yeah. I mean I think with users it's, it's hard. I think there's not a great way to do it Unless George has some magical power he's gonna pull out his.

Hat ready to save us. George.

I mean not really after the way that we introduced this thing, but if you want to share my screen, one thing I'll at least say because not everybody is talking about the new work hours feature inside of HubSpot is if you go to the human and go to the work hours, you do have an out of office area here. So you literally see set a same day or a future time period for out of office availability. During this time, this user's availability status will be set to away so you can add those dates and you can literally do calendar sync, sync out of office with your calendar, keep out of office dates in sync between HubSpot and your connected calendar. So now, does this have anything to do with Automations right now? I don't think so. However, I can see because HubSpot adding work hours and because HubSpot having an out of office, it would be nice if somebody from product was paying attention to the show and said, hey, we can actually just kind of turn off some things or give a setting for people to turn things off if they've set this out of office dates, that would be nice. So, not that this is exactly answering the question, but I think it's tied to the question, which by the way, just so everybody knows, I got to this answer because I talked to my clone. Okay? That's all I'm going to say. Just saying.