Massachusetts is blessed with a number of great, innovative minds, and HubSpot is privileged to have two of them as its co-founders!

Yesterday, The Boston Globe published its "Globe 100" list, which includes a feature of the top 30 most innovative people in Massachusetts-based business. HubSpot is very excited to announce that HubSpot's co-founders, CEO Brian Halligan and CTO Dharmesh Shah are among the visionaries on The Globe's list.

Dharmesh was named the top innovator in the list's high technology category, and Brian was honored as a runner-up in the media and advertising category.

The list includes the top three innovators in each of ten sectors: banking, finance, and insurance; biotech and pharmaceutical; energy and manufacturing; entertainment, food, retail, and travel; high tech; law and education; media and advertising; medicine; nonprofits and philanthropies; and real estate and development.

Compiled with the help of 70 judges including venture capitalists, economists, top executives, academics, and other leaders in the Massachusetts business community, the list was voted down to 30 from more than 200 nominations.

“Our Most Innovative list reflects the depth of talent in the state and why it is such an exciting place to do business,” said Boston Globe Business Editor Shirley Leung.

In advance of the list's release, NECN aired a segment last Friday to promote the Globe 100. Dharmesh joined Boston Globe's Assistant Business Editor Michael Warshaw on the The Morning Show to discuss innovation in Massachusetts. Watch the full segment below or access it here:

In addition to HubSpot's co-founders, Founding Partner Rich Miner of recent HubSpot investor Google Ventures also tops the list in the media and advertising category, and Constant Contact Chief Executive Gail Goodman, who sits on HubSpot's Board of Advisors, also joins the list.

Be sure to check out Dharmesh's and Brian's full profiles in the complete listing on Boston.com. You can also contribute to and follow some of the Twitter chatter about the Globe 100 with hashtag #globe100.

Please join us in congratulating Brian and Dharmesh for this exciting honor!

Become a Fan on Facebook Get inside info and advance notice of HubSpot's free marketing webinars, ebooks and more. Click here -->

HubSpot's very own T.J. Connelly, a fairly new member of the HubSpot engineering team, might just have one of the coolest side jobs we've seen yet.

As Fenway Park's official disk jockey for the Red Sox, T.J. is responsible for choosing the perfect songs on the fly to highlight major moments during Red Sox games. His goal is to enliven fans and "get the crowd going." And of course, he's the guy who hits the play button on those Fenway fan favorites, rolling out "Sweet Caroline" at the middle of the eighth inning and "Dirty Water" at the end of every game.

Pretty sweet, huh? Especially considering Red Sox fans are arguably some of the most enthusiastic baseball fans there are.

"One of the great things about Fenway — with Boston fans being the greatest baseball fans on earth — is we don’t have to do much [to entertain people]," says T.J.

Recently featured in MSN's 're:discover' web travel series, T.J. has been Fenway's go-to DJ since 2008, serving as relief DJ for the three years prior.

So how did he land such a sweet deal?

T.J. had been playing a similar role at a comedy improv club years ago. His job was to play music that complemented the actors' unscripted sketches and antics as they happened. After attending a Red Sox game one day, he realized his special skills could also apply to baseball games. Through a connection with a Fenway employee, he pitched the idea, and a few months later, was called in for an interview and audition.

I think it's fair to say that few other side jobs rival the awesomeness of T.J.'s.

So next time you're in the stands cheering on your beloved Red Sox and singing about how much you "love that dirty water," give a nod to the man behind the music.

I know we HubSpotters will...

Become a Fan on Facebook Get inside info and advance notice of HubSpot's free marketing webinars, ebooks and more. Click here -->

For the second year in a row, we're thrilled to announce that the Boston Business Journal has honored HubSpot as a winner in its 'Best Places to Work' awards competition. The official 2011 ranking for HubSpot, which received the number 1 rank in the midsize companies category in 2010, will be revealed at the Best Places to Work Awards breakfast event on June 9.

Now in its ninth year, the BBJ's Best Places to Work awards program recognizes Massachusetts companies' achievements in creating a positive work environment that attracts and retains employees through a combination of employee satisfaction, working conditions, and company culture.

HubSpot was one of over 320 companies to qualify for consideration based on a two-stage nomination process and the results of employee-satisfaction surveys administered throughout April.

"At HubSpot, we're very committed to making our employees happy and successful," said HubSpot CEO & Founder Brian Halligan. "We truly strive to create a positive and supportive work environment that encourages experimentation, collaboration and innovation. HubSpotters are a unique breed of employee who are passionate and committed to helping businesses transform their marketing, and it really shows in the quality of work they produce day-in and day-out."

HubSpotters, now numbering about 200, value HubSpot for its unique culture, casual work environment, and hard-working coworkers, and enjoy such perks as no vacation policy, a beer-laden game room, an educational HubSpot Fellows Program, and company-wide activities, events and competitions organized by employees.

“Our Best Places to Work event recognizes the importance of cultivating a great workplace culture as a competitive advantage," said Chris McIntosh, publisher of the Boston Business Journal. "Companies on our list can be justifiably proud of creating a high level of workplace satisfaction during an economy where traditional rewards like big raises and bonuses aren't as easy to give. In good times and in bad, our results validate how the creation of the right corporate culture can create powerful business advantages. Employees are proud to work for companies that are about more than just business.”

The survey project, which was launched in January, evaluated companies on the results of more than 18,000 employee-satisfaction surveys. Employees answered questionnaires that addressed such factors as their pride in the company, company encouragement, support, and recognition of achievement and relationships with co-workers and supervisors. The results were analyzed and scored by assigning points to each question.

The top 25 companies in three size categories -- small (20-100 employees), midsize (101-500 employees), and large (more than 500 employees)-- will be awarded during a lively breakfast on June 9 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and profiled in a special supplement of the Boston Business Journal, published on June 10, 2011.

Think you have what it takes to be a HubSpot rock star?

Become a Fan on Facebook Get inside info and advance notice of HubSpot's free marketing webinars, ebooks and more. Click here -->

For the second year in a row, we're thrilled to announce that the Boston Business Journal has honored HubSpot as a winner in its 'Best Places to Work' awards competition. The official 2011 ranking for HubSpot, which received the number 1 rank in the midsize companies category in 2010, will be revealed at the Best Places to Work Awards breakfast event on June 9.

Now in its ninth year, the BBJ's Best Places to Work awards program recognizes Massachusetts companies' achievements in creating a positive work environment that attracts and retains employees through a combination of employee satisfaction, working conditions, and company culture.

HubSpot was one of over 320 companies to qualify for consideration based on a two-stage nomination process and the results of employee-satisfaction surveys administered throughout April.

"At HubSpot, we're very committed to making our employees happy and successful," said HubSpot CEO & Founder Brian Halligan. "We truly strive to create a positive and supportive work environment that encourages experimentation, collaboration and innovation. HubSpotters are a unique breed of employee who are passionate and committed to helping businesses transform their marketing, and it really shows in the quality of work they produce day-in and day-out."

HubSpotters, now numbering about 200, value HubSpot for its unique culture, casual work environment, and hard-working coworkers, and enjoy such perks as no vacation policy, a beer-laden game room, an educational HubSpot Fellows Program, and company-wide activities, events and competitions organized by employees.

“Our Best Places to Work event recognizes the importance of cultivating a great workplace culture as a competitive advantage," said Chris McIntosh, publisher of the Boston Business Journal. "Companies on our list can be justifiably proud of creating a high level of workplace satisfaction during an economy where traditional rewards like big raises and bonuses aren't as easy to give. In good times and in bad, our results validate how the creation of the right corporate culture can create powerful business advantages. Employees are proud to work for companies that are about more than just business.”

The survey project, which was launched in January, evaluated companies on the results of more than 18,000 employee-satisfaction surveys. Employees answered questionnaires that addressed such factors as their pride in the company, company encouragement, support, and recognition of achievement and relationships with co-workers and supervisors. The results were analyzed and scored by assigning points to each question.

The top 25 companies in three size categories -- small (20-100 employees), midsize (101-500 employees), and large (more than 500 employees)-- will be awarded during a lively breakfast on June 9 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and profiled in a special supplement of the Boston Business Journal, published on June 10, 2011.

Think you have what it takes to be a HubSpot rock star?

Become a Fan on Facebook Get inside info and advance notice of HubSpot's free marketing webinars, ebooks and more. Click here -->

It's my pleasure to announce the May 2011 HubSpotter of the Month, Ellie Mirman! Recently named to DMNews' Thirty Under 30 list of the best and brightest young direct marketers, Ellie is a HubSpot veteran and certainly one of the most versatile HubSpotters on the team.

Read on to learn more about Ellie as our latest addition to the HubSpotter of the Month lineup!

May 2011 HubSpotter of the Month: Ellie Mirman

Title at HubSpot: Product Marketing Manager 

Describe your role at HubSpot: My role has changed many times at HubSpot! I was a long-time member of the marketing team, working on everything from lead generation to email marketing to event marketing to blogging. As the second marketer (after our CMO) to join the HubSpot team, I've done a bit of everything and launched a number of programs that are key for us today, including our webinar series, email marketing program, free product trial, and experimental sales channels.

Recently, I moved to the R&D team to work more closely with the development team in figuring out how to build tools that marketers such as myself would use. I also work on a cross-functional team focusing on increasing usage and lead conversion among our free product trial users.

How long have you been working at HubSpot? Since September, 2007

What is your favorite thing about working at HubSpot? My favorite part about working at HubSpot is, by far, the people. They are the smartest, most passionate and fun people I know. They make you excited to get up and go to work in the morning, then go out and grab a drink after work, then go home thinking about how you're going to change the world together.

I also love the opportunities to continuously learn at HubSpot. We give everyone the opportunity to jump into any project and even encourage people to take on new challenges whenever possible. It's no coincidence that I've had so many roles during my 3.5 years at HubSpot -- we truly value learning here and give everyone the opportunity to have their voice heard, learn about different projects, and run with their own ideas.

Hidden Talent: Mishearing song lyrics. I try to not let on, and that's probably why I thought the lyrics were "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" until a few years ago.

If you could have one super power, what would it be? Teleportation. I love exploring new and interesting places, but hate the time and trouble required to get there.

What is your best, random bit of advice for inbound marketers out there? Start now and test, test, test. There's no such thing as a perfect marketing campaign. The key to success is trying out different strategies and seeing which work for you. You learn so much by doing, and you lose out on opportunities every second that you hesitate. As we like to say around HubSpot, you could spend forever getting "ready-er" -- why not do something today and learn from it?

What are your hobbies outside of HubSpot? I've always been a fan of artsy activities, but these days that usually translates into going to as many craft fairs as possible to support local artists as well as my handmade jewelry addiction. I also do truly love marketing and startups and love to get involved in those activities outside of HubSpot. I am the program coordinator for Founder Mentors, a Boston-based organization that matches new entrepreneurs with experienced founder mentors.

What is your favorite tool in the HubSpot software, and why? Landing pages. It's a ridiculously simple and powerful tool. It is the thing that lets me capture leads on the website, and it takes just a matter of minutes to have a landing page ready for a new campaign. 

Connect With Ellie! 

  Website

  LinkedIn Profile

  Follow Ellie on Twitter

Become a Fan on Facebook Get inside info and advance notice of HubSpot's free marketing webinars, ebooks and more. Click here -->

At HubSpot, we frequently get asked questions about the possibilities of the HubSpot software -- whether they be regarding design, function, or best practices.

Understanding that people often learn -- or get inspired -- by other examples, we recently launched a new website, HubSpot Examples, to provide customers and prospects with a variety of guides, worksheets, and yes, examples of other HubSpot customer blogs, landing pages, CTAs, offers, and use/customization of the HubSpot CMS.

Site visitors can sort through examples by marketing tactic or by industry type.

We understand that the path to turning a website into a lead generation machine can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. With HubSpot Examples, we hope we can get prospects and new customers started on their inbound marketing journey with as few of those "staring at a blank screen" moments as possible. So check out HubSpot Examples, and get ready to get inspired!

Think you have what it takes to be a HubSpot example? Submit your website here!

Become a Fan on Facebook Get inside info and advance notice of HubSpot's free marketing webinars, ebooks and more. Click here -->

HubSpot celebrated a legendary holiday yesterday. Adorning themselves with their favorite blazers and sipping on the occasional Manhattan, members of the HubSpot team celebrated the first ever John Marcus III Day in honor of HubSpotter John Marcus' March sales goal accomplishment. So, who better to honor as April 2011 HubSpotter of the Month? 

For non-HubSpotters, John Marcus III is a valued member of the HubSpot team known for his sharp blazers, magical talents and love of dive bars. If you'd like to learn more about how to be like him, download the John Marcus III ebook, "How to be the Man, the Myth, the Legend."

Now, introducing the man, the myth, the legend ...

April 2011 HubSpotter of the Month: John Marcus III

Title at HubSpot: Ecommerce Inbound Marketing Specialist

Role at HubSpot: I help businesses learn how to get more traffic to their website, convert that traffic into sales, and double down on the stuff that works. I spend my time working with ecommerce companies, and I live/breathe ecommerce.

How long have you been working at HubSpot? Since October, 2009

Favorite Thing About Working at HubSpot: "A Startup Within a Startup" is one of the concepts that makes working at HubSpot so amazing. I also think there are a ton of potential, happy customers sitting out there with ecommerce sites that need HubSpot, and I'm surrounded by teammates who share that vision and help me reach out to (and educate) prospective customers on how we can help them grow their businesses. Without this team, ecommerce at HubSpot simply wouldn't exist. In short, the people are the best thing about HubSpot.

Hidden Talent: I'm actually a slight of hand and card magician.

If you could have one super power, what would it be? Teleportation. The commute to work would be so much better.

What is your best, random bit of advice for inbound marketers out there? Don't do your inbound marketing journey alone! There are LinkedIn groups, blogs, Twitter accounts, webinars, white papers and ebooks out there to help you. Reinventing the wheel will only lead to more work and delayed results. Reach out and ask for help, then help others in return, and you'll find that the community of inbound marketers is your best resource out there.

What are your hobbies outside of HubSpot? Wait, there's life outside of HubSpot?! I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I'm a photographer on the odd weekend (you can find me at various night-club events) and an avid "dive bar" aficionado.

What is your favorite tool in the HubSpot software, and why? Lead Nurturing. Our ecommerce customers are crushing their sales goals when they do ecommerce re-marketing through our Lead Nurturing tool.

Connect With John! 

  Website

  LinkedIn Profile

  Follow John on Twitter

HubSpotters pose with their blazers on John Marcus III Day.

Read about our previously featured HubSpotters of the Month here.

Become a Fan on Facebook Get inside info and advance notice of HubSpot's free marketing webinars, ebooks and more. Click here -->

It's no surprise that the internet has fundamentally transformed the way people discover, share, connect, and shop. That said, we think it's just about time for marketers to transform the way they connect and communicate with their customers—and potential customers—as well.

That's why we're declaring next week, April 4-8, 2011, Marketing Transformation Week. That's right -- get excited! You can get a head start by clicking through the It's Time to Transform Your Marketing presentation below...

Starting Monday, we want you to join us for an eye-opening, week-long look at how search engines, social media, and mobile technology are transforming our lives—and how businesses like yours are embracing and utilizing these tools to transform costly, low-yield marketing programs into finely-tuned lead-generation machines.

What's In the Works?

1. PRIZES! We'll be awarding 10 prizes daily (that's 50 prizes!) to randomly selected folks who tweet (or retweet) their thoughts, questions, or favorite quotes from It's Time to Transform Your Marketing (the lovely presentation embedded above), along with a link to http://www.hubspot.com/MTW and the #transform hashtag.

The more you tweet, the more chances you have to win! Now, who wants to get their hands on a brand new iPad 2? (Learn more about the prizes and how you can win here.)

2. TIPS! We'll be airing a special, live episode of HubSpot TV each day throughout Marketing Transformation Week, where we'll share tons of transformation tips, examples, and how-to's—and give away more fantastic prizes! (Check out the complete MTW HubSpot TV schedule here.)

So get some rest this weekend, because next week you better be ready to transform your marketing!

Learn more about Marketing Transformation Week at http://www.hubspot.com/MTW

Become a Fan on Facebook Get inside info and advance notice of HubSpot's free marketing webinars, ebooks and more. Click here -->

At HubSpot, we love to support our fellow HubSpotters in their non-HubSpot endeavors, whether it be in the form of sporting events, musical gigs, or yes, even political elections!

In fact, one of HubSpot's own product managers, Dan Dunn, was recently profiled in the Arlington Patch for his candidacy in the upcoming election for the Arlington Board of Selectmen. If elected, Dan will serve on the board for a three-year term.

Dan is a 12-year, active Arlington resident who has served as a town meeting member for nine years and as a Finance Committee member for five years. He also helped co-found the Information Technology Advisory Committee in Arlington and dishes out commentary and analysis of each town meeting on his personal blog.

If elected, Dan plans to use his technology experience to implement better solutions "to make the town more accessible and more efficient," he says.

When asked about how he would improve communication between the board and the town, Dan expressed his desire to make the town's website more effective in expanding the ways in which people talk to each other. "One of the truisms of customer service is being where your customers are," says Dan. "That means being in more places; not fewer.” Spoken in true inbound marketing fashion, Dan!

On behalf of the HubSpot team, we wish Dan the best of luck in the Selectmen race, and if you're an Arlington resident, don't forget to cast your ballot on April 2!

To learn more about Dan's stance on the issues or to endorse his candidacy, visit http://www.dandunn.org/ or the Dan Dunn for Selectman Facebook Page.

Become a Fan on Facebook Get inside info and advance notice of HubSpot's free marketing webinars, ebooks and more. Click here -->

Marketers today are faced with a number of challenges dealing with the fast-paced nature of the internet and the constantly developing trends associated with it. Are you up to speed with how personalization is affecting marketing?

Smart marketers are starting to take advantage of personalization and behavioral targeting to segment their marketing messages to specific audiences. If you've seen a targeted Facebook ad based on your listed interested or been recommended similar books by Amazon because of a previous purchase, you've already experienced this new tactic. So how can you take advantage of this new marketing technique?

The Future of Marketing is calling it the "Personalization Revolution," and its dedicating its upcoming, free virtual conference on March 29 at 1 PM EDT to teaching marketers how to fully capitalize on personalization and how it will evolve in the coming years.

HubSpot is pleased to have VP Inbound Marketing Mike Volpe participate as one of the event's 60 speakers, featuring industry analysts, CMOs, leading technologists, authors, bloggers, and more, who will tell the story of personalized marketing in just 60 minutes. Mike and his fellow speakers will reveal the technology that drives personalization, the ethical issues that have resulted from its use, successful examples in action, and the implications that marketers need to understand and consider.

Interested in learning how you can personalize your marketing and take advantage of behavioral targeting?

Click here to register for The Future of Marketing 2: The Personalization of Marketing virtual conference for free!

Become a Fan on Facebook Get inside info and advance notice of HubSpot's free marketing webinars, ebooks and more. Click here -->