Third-Party App Promotion: Content Best Practices

[Jaycee_Lewis]

Disclaimer: Please note that this these best practices are a work in progress and subject to change.

Hi, following the recent launch of an App board in our Community, we wanted to share a couple of content best practices for Third-Party app providers who would like to share information about their app in the Community. 

When & Where to share your app: 

We usually see two types of content around 3rd party apps. 

1. First are standalone posts where providers present their apps and explain how they enhance the HubSpot smart customer platform. The best forum for sharing such content is our Third-Party App Board.
2. The second are replies to product-related questions where the app could solve for an issue or a product limitation that the OP is experiencing. 

Appropriate timing for sharing your app in existing threads:

• App partners can share their solutions when it directly addresses a user’s specific question or pain point
• The app should compliment or enhance HubSpot’s existing solutions or offer a solution when none exists
• App partners should avoid unsolicited promotion and focus on relevance and providing value to the conversation

What should be included in your post:

• Mention a HubSpot-based Solution (when applicable): if there is a HubSpot solution related to the problem, mention how your app compliments or enhances it
• Acknowledge Gaps: If there is not a HubSpot-native solution, clearly explain that your app addresses a gap in HubSpot’s offerings and solves a customer pain point 
• Provide Value: Ensure your post explains the benefits of your app to the community and how it solves the specific problem users are experiencing
• Avoid Over-Promotion: Keep the tone helpful and focused on problem-solving rather than solely advertising
  
  

I’m looking for 3rd party app post inspiration – Check out examples for both types of content below:

• Standalone post: HubTags
• Reply to a product question: here

What not to do? 

⛔ Create promotional posts that do not provide value to the HubSpot Community 

• Share links to apps that are not related to the HubSpot software.  This currently violates our policy around self-promotion.

⛔ Copy paste the same message into older threads: e.g. share a link to your app without context or without explaining how the app resolves the issue that the original poster is experiencing.

• This reduces the visibility of your reply
• It puts your hard work at risk of disappearing as we clean up and archive old threads 
• Your comment is likely not reaching the audience you want to reach