HubSpot Inbound study plan
HubSpot Inbound · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Inbound Marketing Fundamentals
Define inbound marketing and contrast it with outbound tactics using your own examples
Diagram the inbound methodology stages (attract, engage, delight) and map one HubSpot tool to each
Explain the buyer's journey stages and list two content types suited to each stage
Identify the four inbound principles and write a one-sentence summary of each
Your checkpoint
A one-page visual map of inbound methodology with tool mappings and buyer's journey content examples
Getting to Know Your Customer
Build a sample buyer persona with demographics, goals, challenges, and preferred channels
List three research methods for gathering persona data and note the tradeoffs of each
Explain how to align content and offers to a persona's stage in the buyer's journey
Draft five discovery-call or survey questions that would validate persona assumptions
Your checkpoint
A completed buyer persona document with research plan and five validation questions
Creating Content for the Buyer's Journey
Map three content formats (blog, video, case study) to specific buyer's journey stages
Outline a pillar-and-cluster content plan for one topic relevant to your persona
Write a content brief that includes target persona, stage, keyword, and call-to-action
Evaluate two existing pieces of content against a buyer's journey checklist
Your checkpoint
A content brief and cluster outline for one pillar topic, with a stage-by-stage content map
Developing a Content Distribution Strategy
Compare three distribution channels (organic search, email, social) by effort and expected reach
Design a distribution calendar that repurposes one asset across four channels
Explain how to use lead magnets and landing pages to convert traffic into contacts
Set up UTM parameters for a sample campaign and document naming conventions
Your checkpoint
A two-week distribution calendar with UTM-tagged links and channel-specific repurposing notes
Understanding Behavioral Marketing and Customer Segmentation
Define behavioral marketing and list three signals that indicate buyer intent
Create two list segmentation rules based on page views and email engagement
Explain how lead scoring combines demographic and behavioral attributes
Design a simple lead scoring model with at least five criteria and point values
Your checkpoint
A lead scoring model spreadsheet with segmentation rules and rationale for each criterion
Maximizing ROI With Marketing Attribution and Experimentation
Explain first-touch, last-touch, and multi-touch attribution models with tradeoffs
Calculate ROI for a sample campaign using cost and attributed revenue
Design an A/B test for a landing page, including hypothesis, metric, and sample size considerations
Interpret a sample attribution report and identify the highest-value channel
Your checkpoint
A one-page attribution and experimentation plan with a worked ROI calculation and A/B test design
Utilizing Marketing Automation and Artificial Intelligence
Map three marketing automation workflows (welcome, nurture, re-engagement) to business goals
Explain how AI supports content creation, send-time optimization, and lead scoring
Draft a nurture email sequence with triggers, delays, and personalization tokens
Identify two risks of AI-generated content and describe a human review step for each
Your checkpoint
A workflow diagram for one nurture sequence with AI touchpoints and a human review checklist
Inbound Marketing Fundamentals & Getting to Know Your Customer & Creating Content for the Buyer's Journey & Developing a Content Distribution Strategy & Understanding Behavioral Marketing and Customer Segmentation & Maximizing ROI With Marketing Attribution and Experimentation & Utilizing Marketing Automation and Artificial Intelligence
Review all seven domains using a self-made one-page summary sheet per domain
Complete a timed 60-question practice set and log missed concepts by domain
Re-teach the two weakest domains aloud or in writing without notes
Build a final flashcard deck of 30 terms and metrics you must recall on exam day
Your checkpoint
A domain-by-domain review sheet with practice-test error log and a 30-card flashcard deck
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain inbound methodology and the buyer's journey from memory and show a completed persona document
Week 4: Can map content to journey stages and show a distribution calendar with UTM conventions
Week 6: Can calculate campaign ROI, compare attribution models, and design a valid A/B test
Week 8: Scores at least 80% on a timed 60-question practice set and has a completed error log and flashcard deck