As certified HubSpot and WordPress providers, we often get asked about both platforms and their capabilities as website builders. Both CMS (content management system) platforms can be a huge asset to small-to-medium sized businesses.
This blog series will compare the two CMS platforms. Each offers unique benefits and capabilities that can make the lives of small business owners much easier.
To kick the series off, we’ll dig deeper into the dashboards of both platforms, the different types of data they can track, and how this information can help you bring in more business.
HubSpot CMS vs WordPress: Duel of the Dashboards
Logging into a website brings you to the “backend” of the site or the section of the site where you can make changes to the public-facing version of your website. Both HubSpot and WordPress have user-friendly admin dashboards. They highlight important information about your website, but can offer different information that can benefit each type of business.
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Checking out the backend of WordPress and their user-friendly dashboard
Today, WordPress is the #1 CMS platform used by businesses. Its compatibility with thousands of plugins allows you to customize the dashboard with the information you value. Some of the reports you can add to your dashboard include:
- Site Health Status
- Activity
- Wordfence Activity
- Yoast SEO Posts Overview
Each block provides an inside look at different pieces of your website. One of my favorites, the Yoast SEO Overview, comes from the Yoast SEO plugin. It breaks down your posts with ‘OK’ SEO, ‘GOOD’ SEO, and the posts that are missing a keyphrase. You can access these SEO insights easily on your dashboard, and quickly review the SEO rating of your website.
The left admin menu makes navigating WordPress a breeze. It lets you easily switch from the dashboard to specific parts of your website, like your live pages, blog posts, or different plugins you might have active. With one glance at the backend of your website, you can easily find your pages, blog posts, website theme and menu options, and the plugins you’re using. Our customers have found the dashboard of their WordPress websites to be unintimidating and easy to understand.
A peek into the HubSpot Dashboard
Right away, the backend view of HubSpot differs from a WordPress website. Since HubSpot began as CRM and evolved into a massive powerhouse of marketing automation, they prioritize customer reporting and analytics.
Source: HubSpot
HubSpot has seventeen dashboard templates that you can start with and a near limitless amount of customizable options you can build. I know – it sounds like a lot, but that’s where Certified HubSpot Solutions Providers like us come in!
Now, to avoid digging too deeply into HubSpot’s many available dashboards, we’ll focus on key pieces in two templates – Website Analytics Template and the Marketing Dashboard Template.
HubSpot’s Website Analytics Dashboard gives you 8 reports that focus on website sessions, like your website traffic or your new site visitor sessions. HubSpot’s Marketing Dashboard starts with 9 reports that focus on your website performance and contact activity. These reports have more value to content creators or marketing team members. The information is powered by your HubSpot analytics, which we’ll look at next.
Detailed reporting and data to help you and your team optimize your efforts.
Both WordPress and HubSpot can provide you with data and insights on how visitors are engaging with your site. They both can provide your team with information that will help your pinpoint what is working best, and build on it.
The key difference between these two platforms? WordPress requires a plug-in to show a complete detailed view of your website analytics, while HubSpot has native analytics built right in. Keep in mind – having a feature built right into the platform doesn’t mean it’s better than the competition. As a marketer, you need access to the data that can help you bolster your marketing campaigns.
HubSpot Analytics: Data collected by marketers – for marketers.
HubSpot can offer your team detailed information and data on your website, and the marketing campaigns associated with it, but not without a catch. To truly make the most of HubSpot’s analytics, you should also be using HubSpot as your CRM. And it doesn’t hurt to invest in HubSpot Marketing.
When your contacts and their relevant information live in your HubSpot CRM, their contact record is constantly updated with their behavior on your website. You’ll know if they clicked on a landing page and submitted a form, and you can use that behavior to create customized experiences throughout their entire journey. Providing this kind of experience can help increase your lead generation, and bring in more business for your organization.
When you add in HubSpot Marketing Hub, the details within your analytics skyrocket. Connect relevant ad campaigns, social media posts, and utilize powerful workflows that will keep the engagement high even when you’re not on the clock.
WordPress Analytics – Options to find the right plugin for your business.
WordPress requires a plug-in, like WP Statistics, or MonsterInsights, which can be added to your website. Some of these plugins offer an easy way to connect your Google Analytics account to your website. You can also just add your Google Analytics code directly to your site (usually with the help of a developer).
Once a plugin is connected, or the code is added to the site, you will be able to dive into your site’s analytics, reviewing visitor behavior (the page where they entered your site, and where they left), new versus existing users, average session duration, and more.
A major benefit of WordPress is its compatibility with thousands upon thousands of website plugins. There are many options for plugins that present your website analytics in different ways. With a plugin like MonsterInsights, you can have your reports added straight to your WordPress Dashboard.
StitchDX turned their website into a lead generating machine.
SDX built Pierce Aluminum a WordPress Website that increased their online price quote requests and improved their customers’ online experience.
Whether you choose WordPress or HubSpot – the winner is YOU.
Any marketing team or business that uses either WordPress or HubSpot as their CMS is the clear winner. Both CMS platforms provide your team with ample analytics and reports that can help you make the informed decision based on customer behavior. Each dashboard can be customized to your liking, and high important information that can help drive lead generation.
Whether you’ve already invested in HubSpot Marketing and the CRM, or are more comfortable in Google Analytics, both have the tools you need. If you’re still on the fence, we can help!
Click the orange chat button on the bottom right to talk with one of our in-house HubSpot experts, or fill out this form to request a HubSpot Demo!