HubSpot's source properties are your compass in tracing the origin of your contacts. They reveal how visitors came to your website and maybe even more importantly, how they were created or updated via offline sources.
Among these, the "Original Source" property is a gem that unveils the first known interaction a contact had with your business. It can be attributed to various channels:
- “Organic Search”
- “Paid Search”
- “Referrals”
- “Direct Traffic“
- “Organic Social“
- “Paid Social“
- “Email Marketing“
- “Other Campaigns“
- AND “Offline Sources“ - This one tends to confuse us.
When a contact bears the mark of "Offline Sources," it often implies their creation through imports, APIs, or integrations, like the mighty Salesforce. While there are other reasons, they are relatively rare.
However, things can get a bit murky. Contacts may bear the "Offline Sources" tag, even if their origins are web-based. This puzzling scenario often arises when a contact uses an ad-blocker, effectively obstructing HubSpot's tracking cookies. To navigate this issue, it is recommended to validate the HubSpot tracking code, create custom reports, and monitor suspicious contact creations.
Imagine this: a user initiates a conversation with your website's chatbot but has tracking cookies blocked. Result? An "Offline Sources" label. HubSpot's knowledge base offers insight into this conundrum.
Navigating the Offline Contact Creation Maze
Ad-blockers are wielded by users to halt specific web requests. Unfortunately, HubSpot can't bypass this user-side action. So, what can you do to navigate these offline waters effectively?
1. Validate Your Tracking Code: Ensure your HubSpot tracking code and script are firing correctly. A simple inspection can reveal if everything's in order. Look for your HubSpot portal’s code (a 7-digit number) and check the "Status" column. It should read "200" if all is well. You can refer to this guide for more info.
2. Create Custom Reports: Craft custom reports that tally offline contacts created per month with source drill-down details. This can be a powerful tool to identify any suspicious contact creations.
Connect with Envy for more expert HubSpot wisdom and guidance.
For expert insights and guidance on taking full advantage of HubSpot's CRM, connect with Envy. Not only are we a Hubspot Diamond agency partner, but we also have a team of Hubspot nerds waiting to give you assistance.
P.S. If you found this post helpful, share it on Twitter - let's spread the knowledge and have some fun with those notifications! 😉
