Streamlining Website Feedback: A HubSpot User's Guide to Staging Pages

Getting feedback on website changes before they go live is crucial. It ensures everyone's on board and helps catch potential issues early. A HubSpot Community member recently asked about the best way to gather feedback on staging pages built within HubSpot's sandbox environment, especially when external tools like Pastel weren't working as expected.

The Challenge: Sharing Staging Pages

The original poster was looking for a way to share unpublished website pages, residing in their HubSpot sandbox, with stakeholders for review. They had tried using a third-party tool, but it kept redirecting to the HubSpot login page, rendering it useless for external reviewers.

Community Suggestions and Solutions

While the community thread didn't offer a direct solution, it highlighted the need for a streamlined process. Here's a breakdown of how you can tackle this challenge within HubSpot and with complementary tools:

1. HubSpot's Built-in Preview Feature

HubSpot offers a preview feature for pages. While it doesn't create a public, shareable link without authentication, it's a starting point. You can use it to review the page internally before seeking wider feedback.

2. Password Protection (If Available)

Depending on your HubSpot subscription level, you might have the option to password-protect your staging environment. This allows you to give stakeholders a specific username and password to access the pages. This is more secure than an open link and keeps things contained within your HubSpot setup.

3. Using a Dedicated Staging Environment

Consider creating a dedicated staging environment that mirrors your live site. This allows stakeholders to experience the pages in a realistic setting. You can then use a tool like a subdomain (e.g., staging.yourwebsite.com) and manage access through your server or hosting provider.

4. Screen Recording Tools

If direct access proves difficult, create a screen recording of you navigating the staging pages. Tools like Loom or Vidyard allow you to easily record your screen and voiceover, explaining the changes and highlighting areas for feedback. This is a simple workaround that doesn't require any special access or logins.

5. Annotated Screenshots

Another option is to take screenshots of the staging pages and use annotation tools (like Skitch or even built-in operating system tools) to add comments and questions directly onto the images. Share these annotated screenshots with your stakeholders for targeted feedback.

6. Project Management Software Integration

Integrate HubSpot with a project management tool like Asana or Trello. Create tasks for each page that needs review and attach relevant files (screenshots, links to the staging environment if accessible). This helps track feedback and ensure nothing gets missed.

ESHOPMAN Team Comment

We at ESHOPMAN believe that while HubSpot is powerful, sometimes you need to get creative with integrations for specific workflows like staging page feedback. The screen recording and annotated screenshot approaches are great low-tech solutions. For e-commerce stores using our built-in storefront, a dedicated staging environment is crucial to test the entire purchase flow before launch. This helps ensure a smooth customer experience and prevent costly errors.

Ultimately, the best approach depends on your specific needs and the technical capabilities of your stakeholders. Experiment with different methods to find what works best for your team. Remember to clearly communicate your expectations for feedback and provide context for the changes you've made.

By implementing a clear process for gathering feedback on staging pages, you can ensure that your website updates are well-received and contribute to a positive user experience. This proactive approach saves time, reduces errors, and ultimately leads to a more successful online presence. For those running online stores, thoroughly testing all e-commerce features in the staging environment is paramount. Consider this when choosing your online store maker.