Looking to supercharge your HubSpot campaigns with personalized images, but not sure where to start? If you’re tired of generic email blasts and want to try something that actually gets people’s attention, you’re in the right spot. This is a straightforward, real-world guide to connecting Hyperise with HubSpot—without the tech jargon or the empty promises. Whether you’re a marketer, a sales pro, or just someone who wants smarter email automation, this guide is for you.
Why bother integrating Hyperise with HubSpot?
Let’s keep it honest: Most emails get ignored. But personalized images—think, your recipient’s name on a coffee cup, or their company logo on a laptop screen—can actually make someone stop and look. That’s what Hyperise does: it creates dynamic images that auto-personalize using data from your CRM (in this case, HubSpot).
But, and this is important, this isn’t magic. If your list is junk or your message is boring, no image is going to save you. Use this integration to stand out, not to spam harder.
Step 1: Get Your Accounts Ready
Before you start, make sure you have:
- A HubSpot account (Marketing Hub or Sales Hub—free or paid both work, but automation features vary)
- A Hyperise account (any paid plan; no real value on the free trial for integrating)
- Access to edit HubSpot email templates or workflows
Pro tip: If you’re not an admin in HubSpot, you’ll need someone who is to help with some steps.
Step 2: Create Your Personalized Image in Hyperise
- Log in to Hyperise.
- Click “New Image” and pick a template close to what you want. There are tons, but don’t overthink it—simple usually wins.
- Use the editor to drag in dynamic fields—like “First Name,” “Company Name,” or even profile photos. These pull live data from HubSpot later, so label them clearly.
- When you’re happy, hit “Save.”
What works: Images that look like real photos work best. Avoid tacky stuff (like “personalized” Ferraris unless you actually sell Ferraris).
What to ignore: Don’t cram too much info into one image. Keep it personal, but not creepy.
Step 3: Get Your Hyperise Image Link
This is where the magic happens. Hyperise gives you a special image URL with placeholders, like {{first_name}}.
- In your Hyperise dashboard, go to your image and select “Add to Email.”
- Choose “HubSpot” from the integration options.
- Copy the image URL provided. It will look something like:
https://img.hyperise.io/image/abc123.png?first_name={{contact.firstname}}&company={{contact.company}}
These curly brackets are HubSpot’s merge tags—they’ll fill in actual data when the email is sent.
Heads up: Don’t just copy a generic image link—use the one with the right merge tags for HubSpot.
Step 4: Add Your Hyperise Image to a HubSpot Email
Now, plug your personalized image into your campaign.
- In HubSpot, go to Marketing > Email and create a new email (or open an existing draft).
- In the email editor, add an image block.
- Instead of uploading an image, click “Insert image from URL.”
- Paste your Hyperise image URL here.
Important: In the preview, you’ll probably see placeholders (like {{contact.firstname}}), not real names. That’s fine—the real personalization happens when the email is sent.
What works: Test your email by sending it to yourself or a test contact. If you use a real contact with data, you’ll see the personalized image.
What to ignore: Don’t expect personalization in HubSpot’s visual editor preview. It’s not broken—it just doesn’t render merge tags until sending.
Step 5: Use the Image in Automated Workflows (Optional, but Powerful)
If you’re running automated campaigns (drip, nurture, etc.), you can use the same personalized image in those emails.
- Go to Automation > Workflows in HubSpot.
- Create or edit a workflow that sends emails.
- In the email template, add the Hyperise image URL just like you did above.
- Make sure your workflow includes contacts with the data fields your image uses (like first name, company, etc.).
Pro tip: If you’re missing data for some contacts, Hyperise lets you set fallback (default) text in the image editor. Use it, or you’ll end up with awkward blanks.
Step 6: Test Everything (Don’t Skip This)
This is where most people get tripped up.
- Send test emails to yourself, colleagues, or a test contact with real data.
- Check the images on desktop and mobile. Sometimes images get blocked or don’t display right—especially in Outlook (Outlook is always a pain).
- Make sure the personalized data pulls through. If you see blank spaces or weird placeholders, double-check your merge tags and contact data.
What works: Testing with real contacts in your CRM, not just yourself.
What doesn’t: Relying on HubSpot’s preview alone. It won’t show real personalization.
Step 7: Go Live—But Start Small
You’re ready to roll, but don’t blast your whole list on day one.
- Start with a small segment or a test campaign.
- Watch open rates, click rates, and—most importantly—replies or conversions. Don’t obsess over vanity metrics.
- If you get weird feedback (“Why is my name wrong?”), check your data quality.
Pro tip: Keep an eye on your unsubscribe rate. If it jumps, your personalization might feel off or forced.
Real Talk: What to Watch Out For
- Deliverability: Big images or lots of personalization can trigger spam filters. Keep your emails lightweight and don’t go overboard.
- Data quality: If your CRM data is messy, personalization will backfire. Double-check your lists before you start.
- Image blocking: Some email clients block images by default. Make sure your email still makes sense if the image doesn’t load.
Shortcuts, Integrations, and What to Ignore
- Native integrations: Hyperise’s HubSpot connection is “no code”—meaning you don’t need Zapier or an API for image personalization in emails. Skip extra tools unless you need advanced workflows.
- Tracking: Hyperise tracks image opens and clicks, but don’t rely on these numbers alone. Use them as a “nice to know,” not gospel.
- Over-personalization: Just because you can add someone’s logo, job title, and favorite color doesn’t mean you should. Keep it relevant.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple
You don’t need to be a developer—or even a power user—to get Hyperise and HubSpot working together. The trick is to start simple, test with real data, and watch how people respond. Personalization can help, but only if your core message is good. Don’t sweat the fancy stuff until you’ve nailed the basics.
If you hit a snag, check Hyperise’s help docs or HubSpot’s forums—chances are, someone’s already solved it.
Now, go try it out. Send yourself a test, tweak what feels off, and keep it honest. That’s how you stand out—no B.S. required.