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In This Article
Updated: September 4, 2024
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Published: January 20, 2023
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HubSpot is a unique, powerful system. But it comes with a learning curve, even for the most experienced web developers. HubSpot has a CMS certification program that outlines and validates that a developer has the required skills and understanding of guidelines and best practices to develop HubSpot CMS websites. A developer has to retake the certification exam every year.
I have been taking the certification exam for the last 8 years, in addition, I have been extending and integrating HubSpot with other platforms using the powerful HubSpot API and HubSpot Apps. Here's what I've learned that can help you hire a HubSpot developer:
Any web developer needs to have a solid knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript — the staples of web development. In addition to these staples, a HubSpot developer needs to know HubSpot's templating language – HubL.
# Arrays
{% set navigation = ["Home", "About"] %}
{% do navigation.append("Contact Us") %}
{{navigation}} # Objects {% set book = {"name" : "Rocking HubL", "author" : "John Smith" }%}
{% do book.update({"ebook" : "yes"}) %}
{{book}}
Knowledge of HubL allows HubSpot developers to create and customize website themes, email templates, and other content. It also enables developers to access and manipulate data from HubDB (HubSpot database that allows customers to store and manage their data within their HubSpot account), HubSpot CRM, and other sources, and to create dynamic, personalized content. View more technical HubSpot skills.
HubSpot developers also need to have a complete understanding of the HubSpot ecosystem to extend it and integrate it with other web applications.
Experienced HubSpot developers are experts in developing applications, using APIs, providing custom integrations, and building websites using the latest HubSpot tools. This includes the creation of landing pages, setting up CRM, designing blogs, optimizing for SEO, and building custom HubSpot apps.
HubSpot CMS is one of the most powerful content management systems currently available on the market. The ability to easily manage content, and create custom web design, as well as its security and scalability, is unmatched. But, in order to take full advantage of its features HubSpot CMS features, your website needs to follow the guidelines and best practices provided by HubSpot. A professional HubSpot developer builds your website keeping HubSpot CMS guidelines and best practices in mind.
Other common HubSpot developer tasks include:
One of the features of HubSpot is its ability to connect with other platforms seamlessly using HubSpot Apps. While HubSpot does have an app marketplace, not all platforms and business use cases are supported.
A HubSpot developer can help you connect a platform with HubSpot that doesn't exist on the marketplace by building a HubSpot app.
When you take your time and go through the due diligence in screening and hiring a HubSpot developer and, plain HubL development aside, they understand your underlying goals for the website, and magic can happen.
Here are a few customer success stories, that we are proud of:
How LivTech achieved 50% higher conversion rates with HubBase |
How Hale achieved 15% increase in online sales with HubBase |
View Case Study | View Case Study |
After its partnership with HubBase, LivTech saw a significant impact in its digital footprint, which resulted in 50% in website conversion rates and dramatically reduced website maintenance time. Challenges:
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Hale's partnership with HubBase demonstrates how a strategic overhaul from fragmented digital practices to streamlined martech architecture resulted in a 15% surge in online sales.
Solutions:
Results:
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Download Full Case Study > |
Download Full Case Study > |
Depending on your budget and project needs, you have a variety of resources available. You can:
1. Hire our HubSpot developers
Our team of HubSpot-certified developers has over 11 years of working with clients and providing:
2. Reach out to other HubSpot partner agencies via HubSpot Solutions Directory. Certified HubSpot partners have a directory listing similar to ours -- HubBase HubSpot Developers. In the directory, you can narrow down partners by skill set, budget, country, industry focus, and more:
Note that many solution partners and agencies lack or have limited HubSpot development skills. This is what sets our team apart – we specialize in HubSpot CMS and HubSpot app development.
3. Find a HubSpot developer on marketplaces. Our first clients came through marketplaces — so we know there's good talent there! :) You can hire HubSpot developers through platforms like Toptal, Freelancer.com, and Hubstaff -- on a short- or long-term basis, as well as for one-time dev projects. It's a great resource for finding HubSpot developers and professionals across a variety of fields. You can set your budget, the length of a project, and the skill level you need.
You will find HubSpot developers and professionals with a range of experience and backgrounds, so define your project carefully to make sure that you can find the right mix of skill and expertise.
This will very much depend on a variety of factors, including your needs, the length of time you work with a HubSpot developer, and how your company is structured. To avoid misunderstandings or confusion, you should clearly define this role when hiring a developer on a full-time or contractor basis. This will guarantee that both of you are aware of expectations.
But generally, a developer can:
A new critical component of the HubSpot ecosystem is the HubSpot Content Hub. It’s a platform designed to centralize and manage all your content effectively. Unlike the HubSpot CMS, which focuses on building and managing websites, the HubSpot Content Hub integrates various content formats and channels, streamlining content creation, distribution, and performance tracking.
Why HubSpot Developers Need to Know Content Hub:
Understanding the Content Hub is highly useful for HubSpot developers, as most of them work hand-in-hand with marketing teams. This knowledge can allow them to assist marketing teams to:
Incorporating HubSpot Content Hub into your strategy ensures that your content is not only well-organized but also effectively reaches and engages your target audience. Hiring a HubSpot developer proficient in both HubSpot CMS and Content Hub can greatly maximizing the potential of your marketing efforts.
When conducting an interview, you want to get a sense of the developer's technical skills, as well as their ability to communicate clearly.
Here are the areas to check if a candidate is a good fit:
What are HubSpot Apps?
One of the most powerful features of HubSpot is the ability to connect it with other platforms using HubSpot Apps. Prospective developers should be able to explain the HubSpot App marketplace and speak to things like different categories of HubSpot Apps, including Private Apps. Also, ask the developers if they have developed any HubSpot Apps.
Where do they host the HubSpot Apps?
A HubSpot App is like a bridge that connects HubSpot with other platforms. The developer should have an understanding and experience in hosting HubSpot Apps. Examples of hosting methods are Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
Do they leverage HubSpot's Modular Development approach when building websites?
HubSpot recommends Modular Development, which is a variant of component-based software engineering. Modules are reusable components that can be leveraged in HubSpot templates and easily added to web pages via drag and drop. The modular development approach allows clients to manage their websites with ease.
It dramatically reduces clients' dependency on their web developer by allowing clients to build landing pages (for example) simply by dragging and dropping modules onto the page. Modules are the most user-friendly way to code a website if you're building the website for less technical clients who plan to build their own pages.
Do they build websites from scratch or leverage HubSpot Asset Marketplace themes?
A good marketplace theme can provide a relatively quick way to get the website up and running. We published our own theme, Slick, on the HubSpot Marketplace and we use it to build websites for clients that need a fast move to HubSpot CSM or want a more modern website design that is easy to manage:
However, using a marketplace theme may not be the best approach if you work with strict brand design guidelines and want to build a custom website.
In-depth knowledge of the HubSpot CMS is essential. Being a good developer isn't enough. However, there's good news – when I started developing websites in HubSpot, I had five years of programming experience under my belt (having worked with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript). Getting familiar with HubL took me only four hours.
The learning curve is not too steep, but the certification is helpful and is a testament to a developer's ability to leverage the latest and most efficient approach to building HubSpot websites.
HubSpot developer certification course contains lessons and resources that prep web developers. Devs who are relatively new to the world of web development or just to HubSpot CMS, can take the course. Although HubSpot does not list it as a requirement, it is my experience that knowledge of HTML and CSS is necessary before a dev starts the certification.
To get certified, developers must complete a series of lessons and pass an exam and a practical test. The process is designed to demonstrate the following skills:
The preparation for the HubSpot development certification includes the following lessons:
Because all HubSpot developers are required to take a practical exam (i.e., participate in a hands-on development project that meets HubSpot's requirements), you can feel confident that the HubSpot developer you hire can leverage the platform effectively.
Hiring a HubSpot-certified developer significantly impacts your project's success. The right developer ensures your website's quality, functionality, and effectiveness. Non-HubSpot-certified developers may have technical skills but lack the specialized knowledge of HubSpot-certified professionals.
HubSpot-certified developers have undergone training and certification, acquiring expertise in the platform's advanced and proprietary tools and features. They leverage HubSpot's unique assets to create optimized user experiences, implement best practices, streamline workflows, and integrate sophisticated functionalities. Our team, having completed this certification process, can build websites more efficiently and effectively.
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A certified developer provides valuable insights, strategic guidance, and efficient troubleshooting, ensuring your website's scalability and adaptability to updates. Investing in a certified professional guarantees a high return on investment, maximizing your project's success with top-tier expertise.
Choosing a HubSpot-certified developer ensures your website meets the highest standards, offering ongoing benefits in performance, scalability, and strategic value. Invest in expertise for the best outcome in your HubSpot CMS project.
The cost to hire a HubSpot developer varies. On talent marketplace websites, for example, developers' rates range anywhere from about $45/hr all the way up to $250/hour.
To find what works for you, consider your budget, technical requirements and the scope of your project, and the developer's location, availability, and experience level. This will influence how much you spend on a HubSpot developer.
That being said, as HubSpot eloquently points out in their How to Hire a Freelance Developer article:
"You get what you pay for. This isn't the place to skimp out. If you're trying to save a buck, don't be surprised if the final project doesn't meet expectations or if the freelancer takes on a higher-paying project in addition to yours. Before getting upset, put yourself in their shoes. You'd expect to be paid fairly for your work; the freelancer expects the same."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
HubSpot does a wonderful job at optimizing and updating the developer tools, techniques, and, thus, the overall development experience. They make frequent updates to the HubSpot CMS certification course and the preparation material. A developer is required to prepare and take the certification exam once a year.
As a HubSpot developer, it allows me to stay on top of all the latest updates that HubSpot introduces. It helps me streamline our development process. This leads to an increase in productivity. In turn, this means faster turnarounds on projects and direct cost savings for our clients.
Top HubSpot developers are in high demand for a few reasons:
This depends on different factors. To make a decision, you need to consider the workload and your budget. Hiring a HubSpot developer on a freelance or part-time basis is good if you:
A full-time developer will have more in-depth knowledge of your company. They'll be able to better anticipate needs and find gaps, whereas a freelancer may not be able to see the full picture as clearly. A full-time developer is a good fit if you:
That being said, hiring our HubSpot developers can give you the best of both worlds. Client communication is one of the pillars of our team's success. We create a joint Slack channel and stay in real-life communication, supporting our clients on an ongoing, as-needed basis. We build ongoing relationships with our clients:
Check out our Customers section.
Don't have the time to read this whole article? Here are the main points, summarized for your convenience:
1. How are HubSpot developers different from other devs?
HubSpot developers need to know HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and HubSpot's templating language, HubL. They also need to understand the HubSpot ecosystem for integrations.
2. What does a HubSpot developer do?
HubSpot devs specialize in developing applications, custom integrations, and websites using HubSpot tools. Tasks include migrating websites, customizing themes, and building HubSpot apps.
3. Where to hire a HubSpot developer
Hiring the best HubSpot developer can be a challenge. They do, however, exist! :) A few places to consider: HubSpot Solutions Directory, talent marketplaces like Toptal, or our developers at HubBase.
4. Typical responsibilities of a HubSpot developer
Responsibilities can vary but generally include creating website pages, improving existing websites, developing full-stack web apps, and providing post-launch support.
5. In-house vs Freelance HubSpot Developer
The choice between hiring in-house or freelance depends on budget, project complexity, and the need for ongoing support. It depends on individual business needs, but hiring HubBase’s HubSpot developers allows your team to leverage a wide range of subject matter expertise—from custom workflow automations, SEO, and Content Marketing Strategy to CRO, dashboards, software engineering, and building HubSpot + AI tools. We can also assist with small administrative tasks. We work with all HubSpot Hubs! Connect with us for a free quote.
6. Interviewing a HubSpot Developer
Check for knowledge of HubSpot's tech stack, quality of code, client references, and portfolio to assess if the candidate is a good fit.
7. Questions to Ask During the Interview
Questions should cover understanding of HubSpot, experience with HubSpot Apps, hosting methods, and familiarity with HubSpot CMS and the Modular Development approach.
8. Certified vs Non-certified Developer
Certification is not mandatory but is a testament to a developer's ability to effectively use HubSpot's latest features.
9. HubSpot CMS Development Certification
The certification includes lessons, an exam, and a practical test to validate a developer's understanding of HubSpot's programming language and best practices.
10. Benefits of Hiring a Certified Developer
Certified developers are more likely to be up-to-date with HubSpot's latest tools and features, ensuring better project outcomes. You can train a web de in-house, but HubSpot comes with a learning curve.
11. Cost to Hire a HubSpot Developer
Costs vary widely, ranging from $25/hr to $200/hr on marketplaces. Our hourly rates for developers start at $120/hr. We recommend that you not skimp on budget as you get what you pay for.
12. Annual HubSpot Certification
Annual re-certification helps developers stay updated with HubSpot's frequent changes, leading to faster project turnarounds and cost savings for clients.
13. Demand for Good HubSpot Developers
Good HubSpot devs are in high demand due to their unique blend of technical and marketing expertise, and their ability to maximize the ROI on HubSpot investments.
HubSpot developers should be proficient in using HubSpot CMS for website development, including creating landing pages and blogs, and optimizing for SEO. This includes following HubSpot CMS guidelines and best practices to build secure, scalable, and efficient websites. Additionally, ensure they have:
Schedule a free consultation or request a free HubSpot website assessment. Meet with our HubSpot developers, and you'll see why our customers love us.
Have any thoughts or questions about this article? We'd love to hear from you!
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