Sales teams run on momentum—and, let’s be honest, a little healthy competition. If you’re using HubSpot to track deals but your team’s energy is tanking, gamification can help. Enter Spinify: it takes your real sales data and turns it into leaderboards, contests, and instant feedback. Sounds fun, but connecting these two platforms isn’t always plug-and-play.
This guide is for sales managers, ops folks, and anyone tired of watching “gamification” demos with zero substance. You’ll get step-by-step instructions, plain-language warnings, and tips to avoid common headaches.
Why Connect HubSpot and Spinify?
- Real Data, Real Motivation: No fake numbers. When a deal closes in HubSpot, it shows up in Spinify, driving real competition.
- Automation: Save hours of manual tracking and spreadsheet wrangling.
- Visibility: Everyone sees where they stand, so no one can hide behind vague “pipeline activity.”
But here’s the catch: If you expect a magic wand, you’ll be disappointed. You need clean HubSpot data and a willingness to tweak things as you go.
Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Start
Don’t skip this part. Most integration fails come from missing basics:
- HubSpot account: Standard or above. (Free tier is too limited for useful integrations.)
- Spinify account: Any paid plan works.
- Admin rights: You need admin access to both platforms.
- Defined sales process: If your team’s using HubSpot in 12 different ways, get on the same page first.
- Clean data: Garbage in, garbage out. Fix broken or missing fields in HubSpot before connecting.
Pro Tip: If you haven’t cleaned up old deals or user permissions in HubSpot, do that now. Leaderboards based on junk data are pointless.
Step 1: Get Your HubSpot API Key (or OAuth Credentials)
Depending on how you sign in, you’ll use either an API key (being phased out, but still in use for some accounts) or OAuth.
If your Spinify integration asks for an API key: 1. Log into HubSpot as an admin. 2. Go to Settings (the gear icon). 3. In the left sidebar, go to Integrations → API Key. 4. If you already have a key, copy it. If not, create a new one. 5. Keep this key safe. Don’t email it around.
If using OAuth: - You’ll go through a “Connect to HubSpot” flow later and grant access—no key needed.
Heads up: HubSpot is trying to move everyone to OAuth, so if your account doesn’t show “API Key,” just continue—you’ll get a login prompt during Spinify setup.
Step 2: Log Into Spinify and Start the Integration
- Log into your Spinify dashboard.
- Go to Integrations (usually in the left sidebar or settings menu).
- Find HubSpot in the list and click Connect.
- If prompted, paste your HubSpot API key. If not, you’ll get redirected to HubSpot to log in and approve access.
- Approve the requested permissions—Spinify needs to read deals, contacts, and sometimes activities.
What can go wrong? - Wrong permissions: Make sure you’re logged in as a HubSpot admin, or you’ll get error messages. - API key errors: If you copy extra spaces, or if the key is expired, you’ll hit roadblocks.
Step 3: Map Your HubSpot Data to Spinify
This part is critical. Spinify doesn’t magically know which HubSpot fields matter.
- Choose which objects to sync: Usually, you’ll pick “Deals.” Some teams track activities or calls, but start simple.
- Map fields: Spinify will ask which HubSpot fields correspond to its leaderboard criteria. For example:
- “Amount” (HubSpot) → “Deal Value” (Spinify)
- “Deal Stage” → “Closed Won”
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“Owner” → “User”
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Set filters: If you only want to gamify new business (not renewals), add filters like “Deal Type = New Business.”
- Test your mapping: Pull sample records. Do the right deals and owners show up?
Pro Tip: If your team has custom fields (“AE Commission” or “Source Region”), check that these map correctly—or you’ll have frustrated reps.
Step 4: Build Your First Leaderboard or Contest
You’re connected, but now you need to set up something people actually care about.
- In Spinify, go to Leaderboards or Contests.
- Choose your metric—usually “Total Sales,” “Deals Closed,” or “Revenue Created.”
- Pick who’s visible: everyone or just a specific team.
- Set a time frame—this month, quarter, or custom range.
- Add rules or bonuses (optional)—like double points for upsells, or a penalty for late follow-up.
What works: Keep it simple at first. “Most deals closed this month” is easy to track and hard to argue with.
What doesn’t: Overcomplicated point schemes. If reps don’t understand how to win, they’ll ignore the board.
Step 5: Test, Announce, and Get Feedback
Before you roll this out with fanfare, test it with a small group.
- Check accuracy: Do the leaderboard rankings match what’s in HubSpot?
- Check updates: When a deal closes in HubSpot, does it show up in Spinify within a few minutes?
- Ask for feedback: Are the right deals showing? Is anyone missing?
Pro Tip: Don’t blast the whole company with a “gamification” email until you know it works. Early bugs kill trust fast.
Step 6: Automate Announcements (Optional, but Powerful)
One of Spinify’s strengths is real-time updates. You can push leaderboard changes to:
- TVs in the office (if you’re hybrid or in-person)
- Slack or Microsoft Teams channels
- Email digests
To set up: 1. In Spinify, go to Notifications or Integrations. 2. Connect Slack, Teams, or whatever tool you use. 3. Pick when to announce—every deal, just big wins, or end-of-day summaries.
Watch out: Too many notifications = instant mute. Start slow and adjust.
Honest Takes: What Actually Matters
- Quality data > Fancy graphics. If your HubSpot data’s a mess, no amount of confetti in Spinify will help.
- Keep it transparent. If your contest rules are unclear, you’ll get complaints—not motivation.
- Iterate. Don’t try to launch a dozen contests at once. Start with one leaderboard, see what gets engagement, and tweak from there.
- Ignore “advanced” features (at first). Stick to basics. Once your team’s using the leaderboards, try out badges, streaks, or custom challenges.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Leaderboard not updating: Double-check field mapping and make sure HubSpot sync is active.
- Wrong users showing: User emails must match exactly between HubSpot and Spinify.
- Unwanted deals in contests: Refine your filters. Exclude “Lost” stages or internal deals.
- API errors: Regenerate your API key or reauthorize via OAuth.
Spinify support is responsive, but don’t be afraid to poke around in settings first. Most fixes are simple.
Wrap-Up: Start Simple, Get Feedback, Improve
Connecting HubSpot and Spinify isn’t rocket science, but the devil’s in the details—especially mapping your data and setting up contests people actually care about. Don’t try to “gamify everything” on day one. Launch a simple leaderboard, see what works, and adjust. Skip the hype and focus on what motivates your team.
If you hit a snag, don’t sweat it. Just go back to basics, keep things transparent, and remember: your goal is energy and clarity, not just another dashboard. Good luck!