--- title: How HubSpot Got It Wrong, and Then Got It Right, with PR description: HubSpot once dismissed PR as interruption marketing that did not fit the inbound marketing model. But today it's an important part of the mix for marketing teams that use HubSpot. image: https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Right%20to%20Be%20Wrong-min.jpg --- [![logo](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/General/logo.svg "logo")](https://www.ideagrove.com) - [About Us](https://www.ideagrove.com/about) - [Services](https://www.ideagrove.com/services) - [Public Relations](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/public-relations) - [Brand Strategy](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/brand-strategy) - [Web Design](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/website-design) - [Content Marketing](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/content-marketing) - [Performance Marketing](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/performance-marketing) - [Client Stories](https://www.ideagrove.com/case-studies) - [Video Testimonials](https://www.ideagrove.com/testimonials) - [Industries](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries) - [IT & AI](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/it-ai) - [Manufacturing and Industrial](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/manufacturing-industrial) - [Supply Chain and Logistics](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/supply-chain-logistics) - [Blog](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog) - [About Us](https://www.ideagrove.com/about) - [Services](https://www.ideagrove.com/services) - [Public Relations](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/public-relations) - [Brand Strategy](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/brand-strategy) - [Web Design](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/website-design) - [Content Marketing](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/content-marketing) - [Performance Marketing](https://www.ideagrove.com/services/performance-marketing) - [Client Stories](https://www.ideagrove.com/case-studies) - [Video Testimonials](https://www.ideagrove.com/testimonials) - [Industries](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries) - [IT & AI](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/it-ai) - [Manufacturing and Industrial](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/manufacturing-industrial) - [Supply Chain and Logistics](https://www.ideagrove.com/industries/supply-chain-logistics) - [Blog](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog) [ Get Started ](https://www.ideagrove.com/contact) [ Get Started ](https://www.ideagrove.com/contact) [Blog](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog) / [From the CEO](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/topic/from-the-ceo) / # How HubSpot Got It Wrong, and Then Got It Right, with PR ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Scott%20Baradell.png) [Scott Baradell](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/author/scott-baradell) **Published:** May 11, 2020       **Updated:** October 20, 2021 ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/Blog/hour.svg) 3 min read - [![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/Blog/linkedin.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/how-hubspot-got-it-wrong-and-then-got-it-right-with-pr) - [![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/Blog/X.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/how-hubspot-got-it-wrong-and-then-got-it-right-with-pr) - [![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/Blog/facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/how-hubspot-got-it-wrong-and-then-got-it-right-with-pr) ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Right%20to%20Be%20Wrong-min.jpg) Idea Grove loves HubSpot. We're proud to be a HubSpot Platinum Agency Partner, one of only a handful in Dallas/Fort Worth. I use HubSpot every day in my own job and with clients—for marketing, sales and service. It's fair to say we've "drunk the orange Kool-Aid" to the bottom of the pitcher. But to be honest, for years I had a beef with HubSpot. Explaining why may give you some insight into our agency's history—as well as how dramatically the marketing landscape has evolved since 2009, when HubSpot co-founders Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah released their book, *Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media and Blogs*. My beef was that the book outlined the benefits of blogging, social media and SEO at length, but included virtually nothing about public relations. In fact, it contained only a seven-page chapter about PR—which mostly focused on the practice of cold-calling journalists to pitch them stories. What was missing from that seminal tome was an exploration of the time-tested PR practices that are, in many cases, the antecedents of modern digital marketing. **A Common Misconception About What PR Does** Ultimately, inbound marketing is about *earning exposure to a target audience *with great content. Earning visibility with good story ideas, rather than paying for it with advertising, has been PR’s driving force since the days of [Edward Bernays](https://www.trustsignals.com/blog/what-is-a-modern-pr-agency) and Ivy Lee. ![Edward Bernays Quote](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Edward%20Bernays%20Quote.jpg?width=1152&name=Edward%20Bernays%20Quote.jpg) Virtually everything Idea Grove does as a digital agency today has roots in our history as a public relations firm. So why do so many modern marketers leave PR out of the equation? I think there’s a common misconception as to what PR actually does. People seem to think being in PR is about who you know instead of *what* you know. But it’s more than just taking editors and reporters to coffee; it’s about what you say *during* the coffee. Most of the stereotypical things you hear people associating with publicists or PR is bunk. It's not just blowing hot air. You’re not going to get a second coffee with that journalist if you don’t provide them useful information -- in the form of compelling, journalistic story ideas.  Story ideas are what drive the most successful inbound marketing programs. As I've written about previously, [you can’t be effective with inbound marketing simply with process, technique and technology](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/dont-let-the-tail-wag-the-dog-digital-marketing-should-start-with-story). It’s about telling stories that audiences want to learn more about. That’s PR. **The Merging of PR and Digital Marketing** Ultimately, as they usually do, HubSpot figured this one out. When Idea Grove became a HubSpot agency as a PR firm in 2013, HubSpot executives referred to us as a "unicorn" because there were so few PR agencies following our path at that time. That's changed and you can now find many PR firms joining forces with HubSpot. HubSpot came full circle in embracing PR with the publication of the excellent book by HubSpotter Iliyana Stareva, [Inbound PR: The PR Agency's Manual to Transforming Your Business with Inbound](https://www.iliyanastareva.com/books). The book traces the continuum of "above the funnel" PR strategies that ultimately drive leads into and through the funnel, and encourages PR to become an integral part of the marketing attribution conversation.  Watch my video interview with Iliyana to learn more.   ###### Insights ## Stay Informed with Our Blog Discover the latest industry trends and expert advice. [View All](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog) [![inbound-methodology-1](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/inbound-methodology-1.png?width=352&name=inbound-methodology-1.png) ](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/martech-talk-unpacking-hubspot-service-hub-with-david-barron) [From the CEO](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/topic/from-the-ceo) ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/General/hourglass.svg) 1 min read ##### [MarTech Talk: Unpacking HubSpot Service Hub with David Barron](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/martech-talk-unpacking-hubspot-service-hub-with-david-barron) Idea Grove works with [many MarTech marketing clients](https://www.ideagrove.com/about/clients), and it certainly reduces our... [Read more **](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/martech-talk-unpacking-hubspot-service-hub-with-david-barron) [![IMG_3865](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_3865.jpeg?width=352&name=IMG_3865.jpeg) ](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/top-3-takeaways-aprils-hubspot-event) [Performance Marketing](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/topic/performance-marketing) ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/General/hourglass.svg) 3 min read ##### [3 Takeaways from DFWHUG's Video Marketing HubSpot Event](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/top-3-takeaways-aprils-hubspot-event) You have been hearing it for awhile: video content is king, and it's not going away any... [Read more **](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/top-3-takeaways-aprils-hubspot-event) [![IMG_3428](https://www.ideagrove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_3428.jpeg?width=352&name=IMG_3428.jpeg) ](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/hubspot-hug-marketing-data) [Performance Marketing](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/topic/performance-marketing) ![](https://www.ideagrove.com/hubfs/Idea_Grove_2023/Images/General/hourglass.svg) 4 min read ##### [DFWHUG HubSpot Recap: Optimizing Your Marketing Data](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/hubspot-hug-marketing-data) Another month, another awesome [**DFW HubSpot User Group (HUG)**](https://northdallas.hubspotusergroups.com/) event! This month’s event was... [Read more **](https://www.ideagrove.com/blog/hubspot-hug-marketing-data) ###### Stay Informed with Our Newsletter ## Get the latest industry trends and insights delivered straight to your inbox. ### Unlock Exclusive Content and Offers Get early access to exclusive content and special offers by signing up. ### Expert PR and Marketing Services Contact us today to discuss how we can help your business grow. 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