What is the HubSpot Partnered Scale Onboarding (PSO) Program and Where Does RedPandas Fit In? 

Ever been stuck in a maze of marketing jargon, desperately searching for clear answers? Well, if you’ve heard the term ‘HubSpot Partnered Scale Onboarding (PSO)’ floating around and found yourself scratching your head, you’re not alone. What is it exactly? And more importantly, where does RedPandas fit into this picture? By the end of this article, you’ll have a crystal-clear understanding – not just of the PSO but also how RedPandas fits in and all the options available to you when onboarding on HubSpot.  

What is HubSpot’s Partnered Scale Onboarding (PSO)? 

HubSpot, a renowned platform for marketing, sales, and customer service, has been the go-to solution for countless businesses aiming to streamline their operations and grow.  

But with a tool as extensive and multifaceted as HubSpot, the onboarding process can seem like a daunting task. This is where HubSpot’s PSO – Partnered Scale Onboarding program comes into play. 

So, what exactly is a HubSpot PSO? 

Simply put, a Partnered Scale Onboarding (PSO) is HubSpot’s innovative approach to ensure customers are effectively introduced to their platform.  

Instead of managing the entire onboarding process in-house, HubSpot harnesses the power of its accredited partners worldwide to onboard new customers as part of their Partnered Scale Onboarding (PSO) Program. 

When you, as a customer, purchase a HubSpot suite directly through the main platform, HubSpot doesn’t just leave you to navigate the vast waters of their system alone.  

Instead, they assign you to one of their highly trained and accredited agency partners to guide you, ensuring a smooth and efficient onboarding experience. RedPandas, being an accredited onboarding partner, is proud to be part of this exclusive program. 

If you purchase the Professional or Enterprise Suites for any HubSpot Hubs, you’re required to purchase onboarding for your HubSpot portal. 

Why is Onboarding Valuable for You as a Customer? 

Buying HubSpot is like purchasing a complex, high-end piece of machinery.  

Now, instead of struggling with an exhaustive manual, you have an expert guiding you every step of the way, ensuring you understand its features, how to use them, and how to maintain the machinery for optimal performance – based specifically on your unique business needs. 

That’s the experience PSO offers with HubSpot. 

When you’re assigned to an accredited agency partner like RedPandas, it’s our job to coach you through the HubSpot setup, ensuring you kickstart your journey efficiently and effectively. This coaching focuses on empowering you to harness HubSpot’s capabilities fully. 

PSO is a coaching model of onboarding, where we do the coaching and you do the work. Below, we talk about alternative approaches for you where someone else does more of the “doing.” 

Are there alternative onboarding options to PSO? 

In short, yes! 

While the PSO Program offers a unique, guided pathway to harness the power of HubSpot, it’s important to acknowledge that every business’s needs, capabilities, and resources differ.  

So, what other routes can you consider if the PSO isn’t the perfect fit for you? 

1. Purchasing HubSpot through an Accredited Partner:  

If you’re someone who values expertise and prefers a more hands-off approach due to a lack of time or confidence around the toolset, you can purchase onboarding directly through an accredited partner like us, RedPandas.   

This option provides a distinct advantage: instead of merely guiding you, a partner handles the setup and execution for you. It’s akin to not just having an expert guide you on how to use the machinery but also having them set it up and get it running for you. 

What’s more, we also train you exactly on how we built the portal so you’re able to self-sustainably manage your portal after we’re done. 

How can you get started with this option?  

If you’ve already purchased HubSpot directly through HubSpot then it’s too late to switch (see option 2 below). 

If you haven’t purchased HubSpot yet, the first step is to pick your preferred agency. Note that you  shouldn’t pick any HubSpot Digital Agency – you’ll need to pick one that HubSpot has recognised as one of their Accredited Partners.  

If you’re not sure which agency to pick, and if you’re not certain that we aren’t the right fit for your business, then you can check out some of the Best HubSpot Agencies in Sydney here.

2. The Two-Step Process – Buy through HubSpot, then Partner with an Agency:  

For those who want a mix of self-guidance and expert intervention, this route might be the answer. This is also an option if you have already bought HubSpot and paid them for onboarding.  

By initially purchasing HubSpot through HubSpot and onboarding with an accredited partner, you’re in the driver’s seat during the setup process. This gives you firsthand experience and knowledge of the platform.  

Once you’re comfortable or when you feel the need for advanced strategies and tactics, you can then bring on board an agency like RedPandas to supercharge your HubSpot experience.  

This two-pronged approach gives you the flexibility and depth to make the most of your investment. 

Some of the customers we work with during the PSO Program ask if they can switch from the PSO to getting RedPandas to take care of the execution for them. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible. Once you’ve bought HubSpot through HubSpot and have enrolled in the PSO Program, you must complete the onboarding process.  

However, the good news is that if you want support after the onboarding, we do offer 10-hour support blocks for HubSpot customers. You can learn more about the costs related to this on our pricing page. 

Still not sure whether you should buy through HubSpot or whether you should buy through an Accredited Partner for a more hands-off approach? Check out our guide explaining the difference between onboarding through HubSpot vs onboarding through an agency like RedPandas.

What are the Detailed Steps involved in a PSO? 

The Partnered Scale Onboarding (PSO) program by HubSpot ensures that users get a deep understanding of the platform, fine-tuned to the specific Hub or Hubs they’ve purchased.  

Given its comprehensive nature, the PSO involves regular check-ins.   

But what does that look like in detail? 

Frequency of Check-Ins 

Every onboarding journey under the PSO involves a series of check-ins. For all Hub-specific onboardings, the total length of time for the onboarding program can be seen below: 

Regardless of the chosen Hub, you can expect one call every two weeks throughout the entirety of the onboarding period. This structured approach ensures continuous learning, timely support, and a chance to address any questions or challenges that arise. 

Some customers worry that this might not be enough support for them. However, after working in this space for over 10 years, we’ve found that one call every two weeks is more than enough for our customers to get through everything they need to.  

Modules You Will Cover During the PSO 

Depending on the Hub you’re onboarding with, the PSO will cover a set of dedicated modules tailored to its functionalities and capabilities. 

Let’s take a look at what modules you will cover for each Hub.  

Service Onboarding Modules: 

• Technical Set Up 
  • Goals 
  • Tech Set Up (tracking code, forms, sales extension) 
  • Integrations 
• CRM & Ticket Pipeline 
  • Managing contacts, companies, and Deals 
  • Setting up conversations 
  • Inbox 
  • Ticket Pipeline 
• Knowledge Base & Customer Feedback 
  • Knowledge Base 
  • KB articles 
  • Set up survey form 
• Workflows & Wrap Up 
  • Workflows 
  • Default Reports 
  • Custom Reports 

Sales Onboarding Modules: 

• Organize Data / Technical Set Up 
  • Goals 
  • Tech Set Up (tracking code, forms, sales extension) 
  • Integrations 
• CRM & Sales Pipeline 
  • Managing contacts, companies, and Deals 
  • Custom Properties 
  • Sales Pipeline 
  • Products & Quotes 
• Automation & Productivity Tools 
  • Sales Templates, Snippets, Documents 
  • Meeting Tool 
  • Sequences 
  • Workflows 
• Reporting & Wrap Up 
  • Default reports 
  • Custom reporting 
  • Addressing any outstanding questions 

Marketing Onboarding Modules: 

• Technical Setup 
  • Goals 
  • Tech Set up (tracking code, forms, domains) 
  • Integrations 
• Organise Data 
  • Manage contacts, companies, deals 
  • Custom properties 
  • Existing email campaigns and workflows 
• Content Strategy 
  • Develop/refine content strategy 
  • Map email nurturing process 
  • Create assets to launch content strategy (landing pages, social post, emails) 
• Email Automation 
  • Set up email automation 
  • Promote content via different channels 

In essence, the PSO provides a well-structured, step-by-step immersion into the HubSpot ecosystem. 

Whether you’re delving into Service, Sales, or Marketing Hubs, each onboarding phase is designed to ensure you’re equipped with the knowledge and skills to excel. 

What happens after the PSO is over? 

Completing the Partnered Scale Onboarding (PSO) is an achievement and a significant milestone for any business. However, it’s crucial to understand that this is not the end; rather, it’s a new beginning in your journey with HubSpot. 

After you complete the PSO Program, there are some nexts next steps that should take place:  

• Transition to a HubSpot Customer Success Manager (CSM): After the PSO, you will be transitioned to your dedicated HubSpot Customer Success Manager (CSM). Your CSM will encourage you to schedule quarterly sessions, ensuring you continue to derive value and achieve success with the platform 
• Deep Dive into HubSpot: With onboarding under your belt, you’re in a prime position to delve deeper into the myriad functionalities and tools HubSpot offers. There’s always more to explore and optimise within your marketing, sales, and service strategies 
• Regular Review & Analysis: To maximise the potential of HubSpot, it’s essential to have regular performance reviews. This involves evaluating marketing campaign outcomes, sales funnel metrics, and the efficiency of your service ticketing processes 
• Continuous Learning: HubSpot is a dynamic platform, continually evolving with new tools and features. Engaging with HubSpot Academy courses or local HubSpot User Groups can help you stay ahead of the curve 
• Extended Partnership with RedPandas: Many of our clients, impresssed by our expertise and support during the onboarding phase, choose to extend our partnership. They often engage in ongoing HubSpot coaching, consulting, and other digital marketing and sales initiatives with us 
• Integration with Other Tools: You might find the need to integrate HubSpot with other third-party tools specific to your business needs. Doing so can elevate your operational efficiency and provide a seamless digital ecosystem 

The journey post-PSO is all about growth, refinement, and continually unlocking new potentials with HubSpot.  

What Experience Does RedPandas Have With PSOs? 

We’ve worked in this space for over 10+ years and are recognised as a highly valued Accredited HubSpot Diamond Partner.  

Among our many success stories, the onboarding journey of Empire Legal stands out as an exemplar.  

Almost a year ago, we embarked on a journey to introduce them to HubSpot’s Marketing Hub Pro. The transformation and progress we witnessed in their business processes and outcomes are noteworthy. 

1. The Beginning: Empire Legal, an ambitious law firm, recognised the need to modernise their marketing strategies and systems. Seeking an edge in a competitive marketplace, they turned to RedPandas and HubSpot 
2. Building a Digital Presence: Under our guidance, Empire Legal launched their blog, becoming a reliable source of legal insights. This not only positioned them as thought leaders but also amplified their online visibility 
3. Integration Mastery: With our assistance, Empire Legal seamlessly integrated their practice management system with HubSpot, creating a unified platform that catered to both their internal operations and external engagements 
4. Embracing the TAYA Strategies: We introduced Empire Legal to our proprietary ‘TAYA’ framework – a digital marketing and sales initiative to generate more traffic, leads and sales. They embraced it wholeheartedly, establishing a robust culture of content creation and nurturing. This culture wasn’t just limited to the marketing team; it permeated the entire organisation 
5. Results: Through our collaborative efforts, Empire Legal isn’t just using HubSpot tools; they’re going far beyoond. It’s one thing to use the HubSpot tools to their full potential, and another to build a culture of content in your organisation and become a trusted voice in your industry. Their content-driven approach attracts potential clients, nurtures them with relevant information, and seamlessly transitions them through the sales process 

Today, Empire Legal stands as a testament to what businesses can achieve when they pair ambition with the right tools and guidance.  

They’re not just a client; they’re a success story, a beacon for other firms seeking digital transformation. 

So, What’s Next? 

Navigating the digital realm, especially with robust platforms like HubSpot, can often feel like venturing into uncharted territories. It’s a journey riddled with potential pitfalls but also immense opportunities.  

Through the Partnered Scale Onboarding (PSO) program, businesses can have the confidence that they’re not alone in this journey.  

With experienced partners like RedPandas guiding the way, leveraging the vast capabilities of HubSpot becomes more than just a possibility; it becomes a success story waiting to be written.  

Just like Empire Legal, your business too can transform its digital landscape, making every interaction, every campaign, and every piece of content count.  

Want to learn more about how to leverage HubSpot for your business? Check out the 5 Best HubSpot Features.