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Steve Jobs' Influence on HubSpot

 

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When we first started HubSpot 5 years ago, we were greatly influenced by the iPod, which was really hitting its stride back then. There were a lot of other MP3 players already on the market before the iPod was released, and none of them got any market traction. So why did the iPod take off? Well, we reasoned that it was because it was more "simple and integrated" than any of the other MP3 players at the time. We used to joke that you needed a degree from MIT to figure out how to get an MP3 player configured correctly and get music on it.  The genius behind the iPod was not just that the device was simpler, but it was also how the device worked with the application (iTunes) and the content (music). The end-to-end experience was so easy that mere mortals like me were able to figure out how to carry 1,000 songs around in our pockets. By making that integration work so simply, they were able to get non-consumers to start buying what was previously thought to be pretty complicated stuff only usable by geeks. 

Okay, so what's this got to do with HubSpot? Well, we feel like the internet marketing industry looks a lot like the MP3 industry did. There are lots of very good point solutions on the market (Google Analytics, SEOMoz, TweetDeck, Wordpress, Drupal, Marketo, etc.), and if you are a geek, you can figure out how to use some of them and maybe even try to figure out how to get one or two of them to talk to each other. But for the rest of us mere mortals, that's a daunting task, so we are essentially non-consumers or barely-consumers. In copying the iPod PLUS iTunes PLUS the music, HubSpot built an internet marketing "system" from the ground up that included an application (SEO + social media + blogging + CMS + analytics + email + lead nurturing + etc.) PLUS hand-holding from an internet marketing consultant PLUS content/services from our services marketplace PLUS 3rd party applications from our application marketplace -- all in one integrated (1+1=3) system. Inspired by the iPod, the idea behind all of this is to make internet marketing easy enough to get mere mortal marketers to look like black belt ninjas without having to be geeks.

So how about you?  Are you following Steve's playbook and trying to get non-consumers to buy your products, or are you engaged in a death march trying to replace competitors' products? Is there a way you can win by simplifying your product and integrating it together with adjacent products into one easy experience like Apple? What would Steve Jobs have done if he were CEO of your company?

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I'll close with a hearty thank you to you, Steve Jobs. Your inspiration has helped us build a thriving enterprise with about 300 people and 5,000 customers. I love your products, envy your taste, and admire the way you lived your short life. May you rest in peace.

- Brian Halligan

Posted by Brian Halligan on Thu, Oct 06, 2011 @ 04:41 AM

COMMENTS

Steve Jobs was a visionary - he saw the future and was able to develop products that changed the world. Hopefully, he has inspired young minds to believe that anything is possible with hard work, dedication and the desire to be different.

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 5:55 AM by Vicki Donlan


Well said Brian. Thank you for writing the words so many of us feel today. HubSpot is truly a visionary product suite. All the best.

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 7:39 AM by Shannon Lowe


Thanks for this Brian. Many of us were saddened by this news. But you're absolutely on point - I still remember the very first video of I watched of you comparing HubSpot to the iPod. Thanks for staying true to the (Steve's and yours) vision.

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 8:34 AM by Roman


I enjoy your post and have learned a lot from them. I started reading this post interested in what you had to say about this visionary and what I got was a sales pitch about hubspot products. I think you broke one of your rules. Don't mean to be critical, assume you did not realize to tone of the post, but it does come off as using what should be a time of commemoration as a means to promote hubspot.

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 8:54 AM by Sue


Great post, Brian. Simplify and integrate so that everything works together seamlessly is good advice for every business. 
 
I also congratulate you, Dharmesh, Mike and the team on the continued success at Hubspot. 
 
Jeff

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 9:20 AM by Jeff Ogden


Brian - I believe one of Steve's best quotes is: 
 
“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” 
 
-@Sully

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 9:24 AM by Matt Sullivan


Brian thanks for capturing these thoughts. Steve Jobs has been an inspiration to so many in so many ways including you and Dharmesh. If you don't have a conference room in his name, I bet you will have one soon.

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 9:39 AM by Bernie Borges


I strongly believe Hubspot is as visionary as Steve. The internets will bow down to this revolutionary product soon enough.

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 10:27 AM by


I strongly believe Hubspot is as visionary as Steve. The internets will bow down to this revolutionary product soon enough.

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 10:27 AM by Andrew


Shame on you Brian and Hubspot, im all for inbound marketing and promoting what you do through content but piggybacking on the death of STEVE JOBS?very poor taste.  
 
We just lost a visionary and all you can think about is selling more hubspot software.... not good

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 11:14 AM by Nathan Anibaba


Tacky. Very tacky.  
 
Using the opportunity to put out a sales march and then including a term like "death march" in a blog about a visionary's passing.

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 12:17 PM by Kurt


If Steve Jobs ispire Hubspot, that why this business is so good and marketing and more ♣.

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 4:45 PM by William Duque T.


Steve Jobs inspired you, you inspire us, we inspire our customers - it's a beautiful web of sharing information, knowledge, experience and vision. 
 
Thank you to all who inspire.

posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 5:31 PM by Pat Chiappa


I started off my graphic design career on a Mac 512k and have never looked back! I remember when Adobe Illustrator fit on 1 – that's right, 1 800KB floppy disk!!! I hope you remember what "floopy" means. I view Apple as one of the best companies in the world and have always used their product and hands down, I am willing to make more, for getting the most robust assembly, user-friendly and fabulous interface around. I bleed Apple and think they will continue to do well for a long time in the future. Steve, will miss you very much.

posted on Friday, October 07, 2011 at 2:37 PM by Greg


One can argue the true gemius of Steve Jobs, but like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, he was a visionary and he changed our lives forever in profound ways. He deserves a spot in that pantheon. Brian and Dharmesh are also visionaries and are changing the way we view all media and how we interact with each other. How far can they go? Only time will tell exactly how far.

posted on Saturday, October 08, 2011 at 1:29 PM by Sam


Steve Jobs reminded us all to go the extra miles in delivering good products and services to our customers.  
 
He was a great innovator and entrepreneur! He also taught us not to give up on our dreams - keep pushing forward!

posted on Monday, October 10, 2011 at 5:48 PM by Yoke Wong


Comments have been closed for this article.