How to Use Hubspot-Inspired Tactics for WordPress Related Posts

Growing engagement like Hubspot does means giving readers the next perfect article at exactly the right time. On WordPress, you can achieve this with well-configured related post plugins that surface content your visitors are most likely to click.

This how-to guide walks you through choosing, setting up, and optimizing related post plugins on your site, using principles inspired by the original Hubspot review of WordPress related post plugins.

Why Use Hubspot-Style Related Posts on WordPress

Related posts help you guide visitors deeper into your content, similar to how Hubspot keeps users exploring articles, tools, and resources.

Key benefits include:

• Higher pages-per-session and longer dwell time
• Better internal linking for SEO
• Improved topical authority in the eyes of search engines
• More opportunities to move readers toward conversions

By applying a deliberate, Hubspot-like strategy, you can turn a simple related post box into a core engagement engine.

Step 1: Define Your Hubspot-Inspired Strategy

Before installing plugins, clarify how related posts should support your content goals. The original Hubspot list focuses on ease of use, control, and customization. Use those same principles.

Set Clear Engagement Goals

Decide what success looks like for your site:

• Increase average session duration by a specific percentage
• Boost views of key educational articles or landing pages
• Support topic clusters by connecting related guides

Write these goals down so you can measure plugin performance against them.

Choose Your Placement Strategy

A Hubspot-style approach considers user intent and reading patterns. Common placements include:

• Below the post content
• In the sidebar on desktop
• Between sections of long-form content
• In a site-wide footer widget

Start with below-post placement, then test additional spots once you see how users respond.

Step 2: Choose a Related Posts Plugin the Hubspot Way

The Hubspot article compares a range of WordPress related post plugins based on performance, customization, and compatibility. Use similar evaluation criteria when choosing your own plugin.

Core Features to Look For

When you review plugins in the WordPress directory, prioritize these features:

• Relevance engine: Options to base related posts on categories, tags, or full content analysis.
• Styling controls: Templates, thumbnails, and typography settings that match your brand.
• Performance focus: Caching, lazy loading, and minimal impact on page speed.
• Manual curation: The ability to override automatic results for key posts.
• Compatibility: Works well with page builders, caching plugins, and your theme.

Questions Borrowed from a Hubspot Mindset

When evaluating plugins, ask:

• Will non-technical editors find this simple to use?
• Can I control which taxonomies drive related results?
• Does it offer layouts that resemble professional blogs like Hubspot?
• Is it regularly updated and well supported?

These questions help you narrow down plugins that are both marketer-friendly and technically sound.

Step 3: Install and Configure Your Plugin

Once you have chosen a plugin, follow a structured setup process, similar to how a Hubspot onboarding would walk you through configuration.

1. Install and Activate

1. Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Search for your chosen related posts plugin.
3. Click Install Now, then Activate.

2. Configure Basic Settings

Most plugins offer a main settings panel. Focus on:

• Post types: Enable related posts for blog posts first; add pages later if useful.
• Taxonomies: Start with categories for broad relevance, then test tag-based matching.
• Number of posts: Show 3–6 related posts to avoid overwhelming readers.

3. Customize the Design

To emulate the clean feel of a Hubspot layout:

• Use a grid or list with clear spacing.
• Include featured images, but compress them for speed.
• Keep titles short and readable.
• Use consistent fonts and colors aligned with your brand.

Preview on desktop and mobile to ensure the section looks cohesive with your theme.

Step 4: Optimize Like Hubspot for UX and SEO

A polished related post area should benefit both users and search engines. A Hubspot-style approach ties UX design and SEO together.

Improve User Experience

Consider the reading journey on each article:

• Place highly relevant, beginner-friendly posts first.
• Use descriptive titles that clearly state the benefit.
• Avoid duplicate posts if you already promote certain content in sidebars or CTAs.

Track user behavior with analytics tools to see whether readers actually click your related posts.

Strengthen Internal Linking for SEO

Related posts can support topic clusters, something Hubspot uses extensively:

• Connect core pillar pages with supporting how-to content.
• Make sure each key topic has several related posts pointing to it.
• Keep anchors natural; the plugin will use post titles, so craft titles carefully.

This structure helps search engines understand your topical depth and improves discoverability.

Step 5: Measure, Test, and Iterate

Like a Hubspot campaign, related posts should be tested and refined rather than set-and-forget.

Track Key Metrics

Monitor changes over time in:

• Pages per session
• Average session duration
• Bounce rate from blog posts
• Clicks on related post links (using event tracking)

If metrics are flat, your relevance or design may need adjustment.

Run Simple Experiments

Test one change at a time, such as:

• Reordering your taxonomy priority (tags vs. categories).
• Changing the number of related posts shown.
• Switching from text-only to image-plus-title layouts.
• Moving the widget from below-content to mid-content for long articles.

Document each test so you can replicate winning setups across your site, similar to how Hubspot standardizes successful patterns.

Advanced Tips Inspired by Hubspot Content Strategy

Once the basics are working, apply more advanced tactics to maximize impact.

Prioritize High-Value Content

Use manual overrides where your plugin allows it to highlight:

• High-converting landing pages
• Comprehensive pillar articles
• Case studies, demos, or tools

This mirrors the way Hubspot steers readers toward content that supports broader marketing goals.

Segment by Topic and Intent

Create strong groupings of content:

• Beginner guides related to one main introductory article
• Advanced how-tos grouped around a detailed pillar
• Industry-specific clusters for segmented audiences

Your related post plugin then becomes a delivery mechanism for these carefully planned clusters.

Next Steps

Implementing related posts with a Hubspot-inspired framework helps you move beyond basic widgets toward a strategic engagement system. Start with one plugin, configure it properly, and refine it based on data.

If you want expert help building data-driven content structures, you can explore consulting and implementation services at Consultevo.

By combining smart plugin selection, thoughtful UX, and a Hubspot-style focus on measurement, your WordPress site can keep readers exploring your best content for longer—and help search engines better understand what you do.

Need Help With Hubspot?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your Hubspot , work with ConsultEvo, a team who has a decade of Hubspot experience.

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