Streamlining content creation with the Canva-HubSpot integration

The recently updated Canva-HubSpot integration aims to make content creation smoother and more efficient by bringing seamless design access directly into HubSpot. This integration is an exciting addition for users who frequently create graphics for social posts, website and landing pages, emails, and more. While it already offers handy features, there’s even greater potential for enhancement, making it an exciting step toward a more seamless design experience.

What the Canva-HubSpot integration is about

The Canva-HubSpot integration allows users to design directly within HubSpot without switching between platforms. Some of its key features include:

• Access to Canva templates directly from HubSpot
• Direct use of HubSpot-stored files within Canva
• Ability to export designs directly from Canva to HubSpot Files

For users who rely on both tools for content creation and distribution, this integration has the potential to improve efficiency and streamline workflows. The best part is the integration is free for all HubSpot users across all hubs and tiers. However, a paid Canva subscription is required to be able to use all the design features.

How it works

1. Install the Canva app in your HubSpot account: https://app.hubspot.com/ecosystem/20914296/marketplace/apps/canva-205937
2. In HubSpot, navigate to the tool where you want to use Canva. For this example, we’ll use the Social tool. Click the Create social posts button on the top-right corner.
   
3. In Add Media, click the Insert image icon.
   
4. A panel on the right side will appear. Click the arrow next to the Upload button, then select Design with Canva.
   
5. Choose a template size from the dropdown options then click Continue.
   
6. Start creating your design.
   
7. Once done, click the Save button on the top-right corner to export the design to HubSpot Files.
   
8. Select the exported image to add it to the social post.
   

With this integration, there are some additional features you can take advantage of within the Canva app:

• You can access HubSpot Files directly within Canva.
  
• You can export your designs directly to HubSpot Files.
  

This eliminates the need to manually download and upload designs between platforms, saving time and effort while providing a smoother experience.

After testing it firsthand, we identified useful features as well as areas for improvement.

Our initial thoughts

What we like:

• Great for quick social posts: If you need a simple social media post, this integration is convenient and helps speed up the process.
• Accessing HubSpot Files in Canva: One of its best features is the ability to pull images from HubSpot Files directly into Canva. Previously, this required manually downloading and re-uploading files.
• Seamless export back to HubSpot: Once a design is created, it can be exported straight into HubSpot Files, reducing friction in content management.

Areas for improvement:

• Limited template sizing: The integration only offers certain template sizes and doesn’t allow users to use custom sizes.
• Single image creation: You can only create one image at a time, meaning you won’t be able to design a carousel with multiple images in one template. If you want multiple images, you have to insert another image and repeat the entire process.
• No access to brand kits: Canva’s brand kits, which help maintain brand consistency, are not available within HubSpot.
• No team switching for multi-team users: If you are in multiple Canva teams, there is no option to switch teams within the integration. This must be done manually in the Canva app.
• File export limitations: You can't choose a file format when exporting within HubSpot. There also isn’t a file compression option, which is important for optimising image load times on HubSpot emails and website/landing pages.
• Bug with image sizing: During testing, we selected a 1080x1080px template but it gave us a 1080x1350px template instead.
• No editable templates after saving: Once a design is saved to HubSpot, there doesn’t seem to be a way to reopen the template and edit it.

What we hope to see in the future

We’d love to see the following updates implemented soon:

• Custom size options: Allow users to define their own dimensions instead of selecting from a preset list.
• Multi-image design capabilities: Allow users to design multi-page carousels directly within the integration instead of creating one image at a time.
• Ability to create videos: Support for video creation and exporting would make this integration much more versatile.
• Brand kit support: Enable access to brand kits to ensure consistent branding across all designs.
• Team switching: Have a built-in option to switch between Canva teams within HubSpot.
• More export options: Include file format selection and file compression options to improve optimisation for HubSpot emails and website/landing pages.
• Editable file access: Include the ability to reopen and edit previously saved designs rather than starting from scratch.

The updated Canva-HubSpot integration is a strong step towards making design more accessible within HubSpot. For quick and simple content creation, it’s a fantastic addition that saves time and improves workflow efficiency. While there are still some limitations, its potential is exciting, and with further enhancements, it could become an even more powerful tool for HubSpot users.

If you’ve tested this integration, we’d love to hear your thoughts! What features do you find most useful, and what improvements would you like to see? If you're a member of the HubShots Skool Community, feel free to share your thoughts on this post.