The Spot https://thespotforpardot.com/ A home for marketers on Salesforce to shape the future together Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:33:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://thespotforpardot.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/circle-150x150.png The Spot https://thespotforpardot.com/ 32 32 238606145 Personalization with Marketing Cloud on Core: How to Use Dynamic Content & Expressions https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/04/16/personalization-with-marketing-cloud-on-core-how-to-use-dynamic-content-expressions/ https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/04/16/personalization-with-marketing-cloud-on-core-how-to-use-dynamic-content-expressions/#respond Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:31:01 +0000 https://thespotforpardot.com/?p=7861 Cityscape with a sports car on the boulevard

Your messages are doing their job, but are they working it? If your campaigns are feeling a little too copy-paste, a little too “blah,” it might be time for a serious glow-up. You’ve got the data. You’ve got the content. Now it’s time to use the tools inside Marketing Cloud on Core (aka Growth and […]

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Your messages are doing their job, but are they working it?

If your campaigns are feeling a little too copy-paste, a little too “blah,” it might be time for a serious glow-up. You’ve got the data. You’ve got the content. Now it’s time to use the tools inside Marketing Cloud on Core (aka Growth and Advanced Edition) to turn that good-enough messaging into something that shines!

This blog will teach you how Dynamic Content and Expressions can transform your messages from basic to brilliant. You’ll learn what these new features are, how they work, and how to use them to make every send feel personal, polished, and powerful!

Let’s Start with the Basics

Before we dig into the tools, let’s talk about transformation. A glow-up for your marketing means:

  • Less copy-paste, more customization
  • Making use of the data you already have
  • Messages that speak directly to the recipient, not the crowd

Marketing Cloud on Core gives you two powerful tools to make it happen. Ready to transform your messages? Let’s learn how to master Dynamic Content and Expressions.

Introducing Your Email’s Style Squad

Give your emails a fresh look without starting from scratch. Think of Dynamic Content like your email’s glam squad; each part makes your email stand out. Consider giving your email different “outfits” based on who’s opening it.

  • Personalization Point: This is the part of your email where you give a mini makeover. It could be a subject line, preheat, hero image, or CTA – any element that could use extra sparkle.
  • Personalization Decision: This is the brains behind the beauty. It figures out who should see what based on the rules you set.
  • Targeting Rule: Your custom-fit formula. It defines “if this, then show that” logic. For example, “if account type = VIP, show gold banner.”

Pro Tip: Already built a variation you love? You can reuse it in other emails using recent Personalization Points.

How to Apply the Glow-Up: Creating Dynamic Content

Let’s walk through giving your content a dynamic makeover:

  • Open your email in the editor and select the content block you want to glam up.
  • Head to the Dynamic Content section and click Add Variation.
    • You can use the Variation dropdown to access NewVariations if you’ve already got some variations.
  • When the Create or Reuse Personalization Settings window pops up, select New Variation.
    Heads up: Your message has to save first, so give it 10-20 seconds.
  • Name your variation and create your Targeting Rule.
  • Click Save, then customize your content within that variation, like updating a header image or swapping out messaging for a specific audience.
  • Use the Variation dropdown to preview how your message looks for each version.

Pro Tip: Use dynamic blocks sparingly at first. Target high-impact spots like hero images or CTAs, and test frequently to ensure each variation shines.

The Finishing Touch for Personalized Flair

Once your content’s dressed to impress, it’s time to fine-tune the details, and that’s where Expressions come in. They’re like your behind-the-scenes styling tool that ensures every message feels personal, even when the data isn’t perfect. Here’s how Expressions keeps your messages looking polished:

  • Saved Expression: Think of this as your go-to styling shortcut. It’s a reusable logic block you create once and drop into multiple campaigns; it’s less work with the same wow factor.
  • Attribute Selection: This is where you tell the Expression what data to look at, such as PreferredName, LoyaltyStatus, or FavoriteProduct.
  • Fallback Value: No data? No problem. Expressions let you set a backup so your message stays smooth. Instead of “Hi,” you get “Hi there!”

Expressions ensure every message feels intentional and on-brand like you planned that way (because you did). 

Adding the Ultimate Accessory: Creating Expressions

Here’s how to build your first Expression and set your messages up for consistent, reusable personalization:

  1. Head to Content > Content Workspace in Marketing Cloud.
  2. Click Add, then choose Content.
  3. Select Expression, then click Create. (Yes, you’re about to create something fabulous.)
  4. Give your Expression a name that clearly describes what it does (like “PreferredName Fallback” or “GoldMemberStatus”).
  5. Use the Attribute field to choose the customer data you want to reference.
  6. (Optional) Add a filter if you need to narrow down conditions, like only using this Expression when someone’s location is “US.”
  7. Click Save.
  8. Don’t forget to hit Publish to start using your Expression in your messages.

Pro tip: Once created, Expressions can be used repeatedly across campaigns, saving you time while keeping your personalization game strong.

Using Your Expression in a Message

Now that you’ve created your personalized shortcut, it’s time to drop it into your message for that final glow-up touch.

  1. Open the email, SMS, or WhatsApp message where you want to use your Expression.
  2. Select the content block where you want your personalization to appear.
  3. Click the [] Add a merge field symbol.
  4. Choose Saved Expressions from the dropdown menu.
  5. Pick the Expression you created earlier.
  6. Add a default value (like “there” or “friend”) in case your data field is empty.
  7. Click Done and admire your work.

Pro Tip: This ensures your message always reads naturally, even if a customer’s name or info is missing the data.

Use Them Together for a Full-On Email Glow-Up

You’ve got the tools! Now it’s time to layer them like a pro stylist would. Dynamic Content and Expressions are great on their own, but when used together? That’s when the real transformation happens!

Think of Dynamic Content as your email’s wardrobe, changing outfits based on who’s reading. Then think of Expressions as the accessories, adding that personalized sparkle like someone’s name, product interest, or membership level.

Real-World Example

Let’s say you’re sending a promotional email:

  • You use Dynamic Content to show one banner for loyalty members and another for new subscribers.
  • Inside each banner block, you drop in an Expression to greet the user by name (with a fallback like “their” in case their name isn’t available).
  • You also use Expression to highlight their preferred product category, so the CTA feels totally tailored.

The result? An email that looks like you custom-designed it for every person without cloning templates or managing a million logic paths.

Why This Combo Works

  • You reduce manual work by creating fewer, smarter assets.
  • You create hyper-relevant emails without sacrificing time or scalability.
  • You build a customer experience that feels seamless, polished, and personal, even if you’re sending to thousands at once.

Using Dynamic Content and Expressions is the email marketing equivalent of putting on a fresh outfit, doing your hair, and finishing with the perfect accessory.

Ready to Give Your Emails a Glow-Up?

You don’t need a whole new wardrobe of emails, just the right tools to style them smarter. With Dynamic Content and Expressions in Marketing Cloud on Core, you can transform basic batch-and-blast messages into personalized, polished experiences that connect with your audience.

From targeting rules to fallback names, you have everything you need to bring out the best in your campaigns without doubling your workload. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into personalization or looking to scale with style, this glow-up is just the beginning.

Want help applying what you learned?

Book a consultation with Sercante’s Marketing Cloud experts to review your personalization strategy or sign up for one of our hands-on workshops. Let’s glow up your next campaign together!

Original article: Personalization with Marketing Cloud on Core: How to Use Dynamic Content & Expressions

©2025 The Spot. All Rights Reserved.

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Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Marketing Cloud on Core Form-Triggered Flows with Autoresponder Emails https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/04/16/step-by-step-guide-creating-marketing-cloud-on-core-form-triggered-flows-with-autoresponder-emails/ https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/04/16/step-by-step-guide-creating-marketing-cloud-on-core-form-triggered-flows-with-autoresponder-emails/#respond Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:07:21 +0000 https://thespotforpardot.com/?p=7853 Boats on the Indian Ocean

Marketing Cloud on Core (aka Growth and Advanced Edition) offers simple out-of-the-box form-triggered flows that are great for lead generation and straightforward scenarios, but today we’re going to dive into something more complex! In this post, I’ll walk you through the process of building a flow that checks for existing contacts and leads before creating […]

The post Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Marketing Cloud on Core Form-Triggered Flows with Autoresponder Emails appeared first on The Spot.

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Boats on the Indian Ocean

Marketing Cloud on Core (aka Growth and Advanced Edition) offers simple out-of-the-box form-triggered flows that are great for lead generation and straightforward scenarios, but today we’re going to dive into something more complex! In this post, I’ll walk you through the process of building a flow that checks for existing contacts and leads before creating a new lead, creates consent records, and sends an autoresponder email. Let’s get started.

Setup Notes

All testing was conducted after the Spring ‘25 release in a demo org. The standard lead duplicate rule was active and configured to allow the creation of duplicate records with alerts.

OOTB Form-Triggered Flows

Before we begin customizing the out-of-the-box flow, it’s important to understand the capabilities and limitations of Form-Triggered Flows. This helps guide decisions concerning when customization is necessary.

OOTB Form-Triggered Flow without Lead Matching

This is the most basic flow and is what’s automatically generated when the Signup Form template is selected during the campaign creation process. No modifications were made to the flow, outside of configuring the “CreateConsent” element.

Test Results 

ScenarioResult
Submitted by new personNew Lead Created
Submitted by existing leadNew Lead Created
Submitted by existing contactNew Lead Created

Summary 

In all three test scenarios, a new lead record was created leading to duplicates in Salesforce. 

OOTB Form-Triggered Flow with Lead Matching

In this test, a very slight, but important, modification was made to the flow—the “Check for Matching Records” option was enabled in the “LeadCreation” element.

Test Results 

ScenarioResult
Submitted by new personNew Lead Created
Submitted by existing leadExisting Lead Updated
Submitted by existing contactNew Lead Created


Summary 

This small update made a significant improvement. The flow now prevents the creation of duplicate leads when an existing lead submits the form. However, a new lead record is still being created when an existing contact submits the form.

This occurs because flows are object-specific, and the OOTB flow only references the lead object. It lacks visibility into the contact object, so it creates a new lead if an existing lead is not found. In short, the flow is performing exactly as it’s designed to.

OOTB Form-Triggered Flows Summary

The OOTB Form-Triggered flows support simple use cases, but it’s important to be aware of the potential for duplicate record creation. These flows are intended as a starting point for marketers and should be customized to meet more specific requirements.

Form-Triggered Flows with Autoresponder Emails

Use Case

Your company just released its latest white paper, which is expected to have great appeal to potential and existing customers alike. The marketing team is posting the white paper on the website as a gated asset. In addition to redirecting users to a “Thank You” page, marketing also wants to send an autoresponder email. The autoresponder not only provides the recipient with easy access to the white paper should they want to view it again later but also serves as a way to validate the email address that was provided.

Why do we need to customize the OOTB flow?

Since the white paper will “appeal to potential and existing customers,” we know that the form will be submitted by new visitors, existing leads, and existing contacts. If we simply added a “Send Email Message” element to the OOTB flow, we could send the autoresponder email, but we would create new leads in Salesforce if an existing contact submitted the form.

The flow needs to be customized to check for existing contacts, in addition to existing leads, before creating a new lead and sending the autoresponder email.

The Finished Product

Before we walk through the build of the flow, let’s first take a look at the finished product. Then, we’ll review each element, discuss its function, and why it’s needed.

CreateProspect 

Function: Creates a new record on the prospect object for each form submission.
Reason: Flows using the “Send Email Message” element are required to have a “Create Records” element directly after the Start element. The “Create Records” element must create a record on the Contact, Lead, or Prospect object.

If we created records on the Lead object, we would be in the exact same situation as the OOTB flow: we would create duplicate leads when contacts submitted the form. If we created records on the Contact object, we would bypass the Lead object, and submissions from new visitors would be created as contacts.

The Prospect object was introduced as part of the Spring ‘25 release and is designed to keep unqualified prospects unassigned until they meet your organization’s agreed-upon lead requirements. We can satisfy the flow requirement by creating a record on this object without involving the sales team or triggering automations.

GetContacts 

Function: Retrieves all contacts who match the form submission based on the provided email address and last name.
Reason: Before we can check if a form submission is an existing contact, we must first give the flow visibility into contact records so that we have something to compare against in the “Decision” element.

Contact Match 

Function: This “Decision” element is used to check if the form submission is an existing contact. If a match is found, the existing contact record is updated. If a match is not found, the existing lead record is updated (if one is found), or a new lead record will be created.
Reason: Prevent the creation of duplicate leads when existing contacts submit the form.

UpdateContact 

Function: Update existing contact records based on data included in the form submission.

Reason: Update the contact record with the most current data.

LeadCreation 

Function: Create new lead records or update existing lead records based on data included in the form.

  • Important: Make sure “Check for Matching Records” is enabled. 

Reason: Create/update lead record with the most current data.

CreateConsent 

Function: Creates a consent record based on the contact point for the selected channel and subscription.
Reason: Consent records are required for sending promotional emails from Marketing Cloud on Core.

TransactionalEmail 

Function: Transactional emails are non-promotional, immediate, and automated communications sent in response to a user’s action or interaction.
Reason: In this use case, the transactional email is used to send the ungated link to the white paper for future reference. Transactional emails can be used as long as they contain no promotional elements.

DeleteProspect 

Function: Deletes the prospect record created by the first element.
Reason: This step is optional but recommended. Since a prospect record was created solely to satisfy the requirement of having a “Create Records” element first, deleting the record helps keep the org clean. If you are using the prospect record for purposes beyond fulfilling this requirement, you can skip this step.

Other Use Cases & Next Steps

This structure can be applied and adapted to other use cases where there is a need to send autoresponder emails to leads and contacts without creating duplicate records. Examples include flows that create tasks or campaign member records in addition to sending autoresponders. 

Flows might seem challenging at first, but marketers will love them once they gain more experience. The key takeaway is to get hands-on, test, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if needed. Personally, I can say that I received a lot of support from my friends at Sercante when I was starting out, and I still do today!

Original article: Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Marketing Cloud on Core Form-Triggered Flows with Autoresponder Emails

©2025 The Spot. All Rights Reserved.

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Masterclass in Marketing Cloud Account Scoring: Spring ’25 Edition https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/04/08/masterclass-in-marketing-cloud-account-scoring-spring-25-edition/ https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/04/08/masterclass-in-marketing-cloud-account-scoring-spring-25-edition/#respond Tue, 08 Apr 2025 18:14:58 +0000 https://thespotforpardot.com/?p=7845 Tuscany landscape

Welcome to your Masterclass in Account Scoring – where we take your Salesforce skills from good to guru-level! With the Spring ‘25 release, Salesforce introduces Account Scoring, a smart, customizable, and easy-to-manage scoring solution within Marketing Cloud Growth and Advanced Editions (aka “Marketing Cloud on Core” or just “Marketing Cloud”). So, grab your virtual whiteboard, […]

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Tuscany landscape

Welcome to your Masterclass in Account Scoring – where we take your Salesforce skills from good to guru-level! With the Spring ‘25 release, Salesforce introduces Account Scoring, a smart, customizable, and easy-to-manage scoring solution within Marketing Cloud Growth and Advanced Editions (aka “Marketing Cloud on Core” or just “Marketing Cloud”). So, grab your virtual whiteboard, and let’s dive in!

Account Scoring 101: The Fundamentals

Account Scoring is a brand-new feature in Marketing Cloud on Core, designed to give businesses deeper insights into which accounts are most likely to convert. Unlike People Scoring, which evaluates individual leads and contacts based on engagement and fit, Account Scoring takes a broader approach, analyzing entire organizations. This is especially valuable for Account-Based Marketing (ABM) strategies, where sales and marketing teams focus on targeting high-value accounts rather than individual leads.

How Does Account Scoring Differ from People Scoring?

  • People Scoring is focused on individual engagement and fit. Individuals are scored based on how well they fit your ideal persona and how often they engage with your Marketing initiatives.
  • Account Scoring aggregates data from all contacts within an organization, providing a more holistic view of an account’s likelihood to convert.
  • Intent Scoring (optional in Account Scoring) identifies buying signals, making it easier to target accounts actively considering a purchase.

Account Scoring is a game-changer for ABM-focused campaigns, where teams need to evaluate an entire company rather than just a single decision-maker. With this new feature, marketing and sales teams can prioritize high-value accounts, personalize outreach at the account level, and drive stronger conversion rates.

Let’s break down the core curriculum of Account Scoring in Marketing Cloud on Core:

  1. Engagement Scoring – Think of this like a participation grade. The more someone interacts (emails, website visits, messages), the higher the score.
  2. Fit Scoring: This is your compatibility test. Does the account match your ideal customer profile? If so, your points will increase.
  3. Intent Scoring – This one’s all about purchase signals. If an account drops hints they are ready to buy, the score reflects that.

Now let’s discuss how to elevate your Account Scoring skills to an expert level.

Take Control of Calculated Insights

Previously, once you published scoring rules, the system would auto-refresh Calculated Insights every six hours – whether you wanted it or not. With Spring ‘25, Salesforce has introduced the power to unschedule or reschedule Calculated Insights. Now, you control when and how often your scores refresh, ensuring you’re optimizing Data Cloud service credits and keeping your system running efficiently.

Customize Your Scoring Model Like a Pro

Say goodbye to one-size-fits-all scoring. Account Scoring allows you to adjust the weighting of Engagement, Fit, and Intent Scores to align with your business strategy and ensure the scoring model fits your unique needs. 

  • Need Engagement to weigh 70% instead of 50%? You got it.
  • Want Intent to be the biggest factor? Done.
  • Would you prefer Fit to lead the charge? No problem.

Activating Account Scoring

To start using Account Scoring:

  1. Create a Unified Account Identity ruleset
    1. Account Identity rulesets allow you to target contacts related to accounts as well as segments based on Account attributes.
  2. Enable Account Scoring
    • You can also enable Intent Scoring at this stage if you wish to use this feature.

3. Customize your scoring rules and your score ratio. Don’t forget to republish your rules once your changes are saved.

    Smarter Rule Management and Publishing

    No more accidental rule mishaps! Now, when you tweak your scoring rules, you’ll need to publish them again for the changes to take effect. Here’s your checklist for success:

    • uncheckedCustomize Fit and Engagement Scoring under Setup > Scoring Rules.
    • uncheckedFine-tune Account Scoring under the Account tab.
    • uncheckedRepublish once all your changes are set.
    • uncheckedRemember, once published, rules cannot be unpublished – only modified.
    • uncheckedKeep case sensitivity in mind (“Example” ≄ “example”)

    Time to Put Your Skills to the Test

    Congratulations, you’ve just completed your Spring ‘25 Account Scoring Masterclass! Now, it’s time to put your knowledge to work. Whether refining your scoring model or just getting started, these updates give you everything you need to optimize and win more deals. 

    Want expert guidance? The Sercante team is here to help. Contact us, and let’s make your scoring strategy a success!

    Original article: Masterclass in Marketing Cloud Account Scoring: Spring ’25 Edition

    ©2025 The Spot. All Rights Reserved.

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    Smarter, Stronger Marketing with Account Engagement and Marketing Cloud on Core https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/04/03/smarter-stronger-marketing-with-account-engagement-and-marketing-cloud-on-core/ https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/04/03/smarter-stronger-marketing-with-account-engagement-and-marketing-cloud-on-core/#respond Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:20:26 +0000 https://thespotforpardot.com/?p=7839 Fireworks

    Salesforce marketers have been navigating a whirlwind of changes over the past year, and with every announcement one question looms large: What does the future hold for Marketing Cloud Account Engagement? If you’ve been worried about Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (formerly Pardot), you can breathe easy knowing it is evolving in powerful new ways, especially […]

    The post Smarter, Stronger Marketing with Account Engagement and Marketing Cloud on Core appeared first on The Spot.

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    Fireworks

    Salesforce marketers have been navigating a whirlwind of changes over the past year, and with every announcement one question looms large: What does the future hold for Marketing Cloud Account Engagement? If you’ve been worried about Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (formerly Pardot), you can breathe easy knowing it is evolving in powerful new ways, especially in conjunction with Marketing Cloud on Core (aka Marketing Cloud Growth and Advanced Edition).

    Let’s explore why the future of Salesforce marketing is brighter than ever and how Account Engagement and Marketing Cloud on Core can work together to create a competitive edge for businesses looking to scale their marketing impact.

    Marketing Cloud Account Engagement is Evolving

    Account Engagement remains a key part of Salesforce’s marketing ecosystem. As the recent Salesforce Marketing Tech Roadmap highlights, Account Engagement is evolving with deeper AI capabilities, enhanced automation, and better connectivity with Data Cloud. Instead of being phased out, Account Engagement is fine-tuned to work seamlessly with the latest Salesforce innovations.

    Marketing Cloud on Core is Changing the Game for Marketers

    Account Engagement and Marketing Cloud on Core are essential components of Salesforce’s marketing ecosystem, each serving a unique yet complementary purpose. Account Engagement continues to be the trusted tool for B2B marketers, while Marketing Cloud on Core brings an expanded, AI-powered, data-driven marketing approach. Built on the Einstein 1 Platform, these solutions create a seamless, unified experience across Sales, Service, and Marketing, leveraging AI and Data Cloud to enhance customer interactions. Rather than replacing one another, these tools are evolving side by side to offer marketers a more connected and intelligent way to engage with their audiences.

    What’s Exciting About Marketing Cloud on Core?

    • Generative AI helps marketers create AI-driven campaigns, emails, and segments in minutes.
    • Einstein AI provides predictive insights with Einstein Send-Time Optimization and Einstein Engagement Frequency, and Einstein Engagement Scoring.
    • Data Cloud ensures every customer touchpoint is informed by a single source of truth, say goodbye to disconnected marketing efforts.
    • Omnichannel marketing is effortless with native email, SMS, and WhatsApp channels.

    The Dream Team: Marketing Cloud Account Engagement Paired with Marketing Cloud on Core

    The real magic happens when Account Engagement and Marketing Cloud on Core work together. Here’s how they complement each other:

    • Lead Nurturing & Cross-Channel Engagement: Imagine a B2B marketing manager running a nurture campaign for high-value prospects. Account Engagement ensures these leads receive timely, relevant emails based on engagement, while Marketing Cloud on Core supplements this with SMS reminders and AI-driven segmentation, creating a truly engaging experience for each customer.
    • Segmentation + Personalization: A marketing operations specialist wants to create highly personalized experiences for prospects. Automate lead nurturing based on behavioral triggers with Account Engagement’s Engagement Studio. At the same time, Marketing Cloud on Core dynamically adjusts messaging using Dynamic Content built within the Data Cloud Data Graph, ensuring every touchpoint is tailored to the recipient’s journey.
    • Sales Alignment + AI-Powered Insights: Picture a sales team receiving AI-powered lead insights. Account Engagement scores Leads based on interactions, ensuring sales reps prioritize the most engaged prospects. Meanwhile, Marketing Cloud on Core uses AI to predict customer needs, alerting sales when a lead is likely to convert.

    What This Means for Marketers

    With Account Engagement advancing and Marketing Cloud on Core opening new possibilities, Salesforce marketers have more tools than ever to drive impactful engagement. The key takeaway? Marketing Cloud Account Engagement is evolving, and when combined with Marketing Cloud on Core, it unlocks even more significant marketing potential. The shift to a unified Salesforce marketing ecosystem means:

    • More automation and AI-driven insights to improve efficiency.
    • A seamless user experience across Salesforce products.
    • Greater flexibility to adapt marketing strategies to changing customer behaviors.
    • The ability to scale effortlessly with Data Cloud.

    If you’re ready to explore how Account Engagement and Marketing Cloud on Core can work together for your organization, reach out to Sercante so we can help you start experimenting with the latest AI-driven features. The future of marketing is here! Are you ready to make the most of it?

    Original article: Smarter, Stronger Marketing with Account Engagement and Marketing Cloud on Core

    ©2025 The Spot. All Rights Reserved.

    The post Smarter, Stronger Marketing with Account Engagement and Marketing Cloud on Core appeared first on The Spot.

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    SMS Provisioning and Marketing Cloud on Core https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/03/19/sms-provisioning-and-marketing-cloud-on-core/ https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/03/19/sms-provisioning-and-marketing-cloud-on-core/#respond Wed, 19 Mar 2025 18:24:03 +0000 https://thespotforpardot.com/?p=7832 Outdoor festivities in Greece

    As someone who primarily focuses on B2B and Account Engagement, I’ll admit I was a little lost the first time I approached the topic of SMS and Marketing Cloud Growth Edition. SMS was just not regularly part of my Marketing world, so trying to figure out the difference between Long Code and Short Code, go […]

    The post SMS Provisioning and Marketing Cloud on Core appeared first on The Spot.

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    Outdoor festivities in Greece

    As someone who primarily focuses on B2B and Account Engagement, I’ll admit I was a little lost the first time I approached the topic of SMS and Marketing Cloud Growth Edition. SMS was just not regularly part of my Marketing world, so trying to figure out the difference between Long Code and Short Code, go through the provisioning process, and advise others on which code is right for them felt overwhelming. However, thanks in large part to my B2C and Marketing Cloud Engagement focused co-workers, I now have a good handle on this topic and want to make sure others in the community can too! 

    Long Code versus Short Code

    The first thing to make sense of is the two types of SMS codes within Marketing Cloud on Core, their provisioning process, and which type is right for you.

    Note: For some countries only one type of SMS code is currently supported (for example, only Short Code is available for Canada). If you are outside of the US, ensure you check the SMS Rate Card to see which SMS Codes are currently supported for your country.

    Long Code

    Long codes are a good choice for businesses that want to send messages to a smaller number of customers or create a more personal touch. Long Code SMS is also

    • More cost-effective and take less time to set up
    • Needed for International SMS
    • Needed for Conversational SMS
    • Has a longer send time (roughly 1 sec per message per recipient)

    In summary, if you are sending delivery updates, appointment or event reminders, customer service communications etc. Long Code is likely the better choice. 

    Long Code Provisioning

    Long Code Provisioning takes between 4-6 weeks and is a multi-step self-service process. 

    Step 1: Request a Brand

    You’ll need to compile some basic info about your company for this form and then wait roughly 5 business days for the Brand to be approved (aka verified). 

    Step 2: Request a Campaign

    After your Brand is “verified” you can then request a Campaign. This step is a little more complex and you’ll need to provide some sample SMS messages for the form. Campaigns take roughly 10 business days to be approved (aka registered).

    Step 3: Request a Code

    Once your Campaign is “Registered” you can complete the final step of requesting your Long Code. This step should only take 2 business days to complete. 

    Short Code

    Short codes are the preferred method for organizations sending high volumes of SMS and expect very fast delivery times.

    Short codes are also country-specific. A short code is only able to send messages to and receive messages from, same-country phone numbers. US short codes can only send to US phone numbers on US carrier networks that have approved that short code.

    Short codes are the better choice if you intend on sending promotional messages to a large audience, such as sending limited-time offers and discount codes to all your current customers.

    Short Code Provisioning

    Short Code Provisioning takes an average of 12 weeks to set up and can only be done through a Mobile Approved Partner. Each partner has their own fees for Short Code Provisioning, but you can expect anywhere between $8k-$15k for this process. 

    That was a lot of information, could you put it in a chart?

    You got it!

    ScenarioLong CodeShort Code
    Provisioning Timeline4-6 Weeks12+ Weeks
    Provisioning CostNone, Self Service$8k-$14k
    PurposeSmall sends, personal touchesLarge sends, promotions
    Supports International RecipientsYesNo
    Supports Conversational SMSYesNo
    Send SpeedSlow – 1 sec per message per recipientFast – can handle large sends quickly

    SMS Credits

    Both Short and Long Code SMS require Salesforce Messaging Credits to send SMS. Credits are consumed differently based on their multipliers (which can change so ensure you check the multipliers page for the most up to date info). For example, US Short Codes currently have a multiplier of 4 and Long Code a multiplier of 5. Based on 15K text sends, Short Code US requirement will be 60K of Credits , Long Code: 75K of Credits.

    SMS and Consent

    Consent for SMS channels can’t be imported until after the SMS Code has been provisioned. Once provisioned you can proceed with importing existing consent records to tie opt-ins and opt-outs to your unified individuals. Ensure your phone numbers use the E164 format in your consent files!

    What’s next?

    After your SMS code has been provisioned and you’ve imported your Consent Records there are a few additional setup steps you’ll want to tackle before you start sending:

    Original article: SMS Provisioning and Marketing Cloud on Core

    ©2025 The Spot. All Rights Reserved.

    The post SMS Provisioning and Marketing Cloud on Core appeared first on The Spot.

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    Salesforce’s New Marketing Intelligence: As Seen by a Datorama Enthusiast https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/03/18/salesforces-new-marketing-intelligence-as-seen-by-a-datorama-enthusiast/ https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/03/18/salesforces-new-marketing-intelligence-as-seen-by-a-datorama-enthusiast/#respond Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:08:46 +0000 https://thespotforpardot.com/?p=7824 Bavarian thanksgiving parade in Rosenheim

    For the last seven years, I’ve been enamored by a marketing analytics tool (who among us hasn’t, I’m sure), Datorama, or Salesforce Marketing Cloud Intelligence. MCI, as we’ve come to call it, is the most seamless way my customers have found to join their data across multiple sources, built by marketers and for marketers. MCI […]

    The post Salesforce’s New Marketing Intelligence: As Seen by a Datorama Enthusiast appeared first on The Spot.

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    Bavarian thanksgiving parade in Rosenheim

    For the last seven years, I’ve been enamored by a marketing analytics tool (who among us hasn’t, I’m sure), Datorama, or Salesforce Marketing Cloud Intelligence. MCI, as we’ve come to call it, is the most seamless way my customers have found to join their data across multiple sources, built by marketers and for marketers. MCI allows users to join data together and easily create reports and dashboards using plain language from the pre-built data models. This allows for easy-to-populate smart lens dashboards, or deeply complex automated reporting triggered by specific events. 

    To my delight, and to the happiness of marketers, Salesforce just announced on March 18, 2025, a new version of the tool, Marketing Intelligence (MI),  built on the Salesforce Platform. This new version takes the best features of existing MCI and layers them into the functionality of Data Cloud’s unified platform, while taking users to the future with agentic features that will provide down-to-earth insights with conversational agents. So without any further ado, let’s dive into this new tool, Marketing Intelligence! 

    What is Marketing Intelligence? 

    Marketing Intelligence (or MI) is a new application on the Salesforce platform designed to simplify marketing data management, deliver trustworthy, out-of-the-box insights that marketers can instantly act on, and deliver better return on investment for marketing spend. Being built on Data Cloud and connected to the Salesforce platform allows it to be fully extensible, with a toolbox for marketers at the ready- it’s everything you need to build robust, effective, and meaningful dashboards with minimal lift. 

    Data Cloud for Marketers Made Easy 

    One of the processes I have been spoiled by in Marketing Cloud Intelligence is data mapping that auto-populates based on past usage and logical guesses by the platform’s artificial intelligence. Additionally, certain APIs come with prebuilt models and mapping to build off of rather than user-defined settings. These features have helped get marketers streamlined into the world of data models and dashboarding with less lift than throwing them into a database or asking them to join various tables. 

    All of that, to my delight, is back in full form with Marketing Intelligence. You have the option to upload a TotalConnect file (a non-standard API, flat file of your choosing), or to use an existing API connection, with some rolled out at launch and more coming in the year ahead. Choosing a connection like Google Ads allows you to seamlessly grab that data, formatted and ready for quick mapping, and load the data you need into a dashboard in just 3 clicks. 

    Clean and Easy Dashboards 

    The dashboards look sharp and load with ease. These dashboards come prebuilt, with options to customize, and also have a key new feature compared to the existing Marketing Cloud Intelligence: generative AI summaries of your campaigns, including what’s working and what might not be. This elevates, to me, the future of dashboarding—being able not only to look at quick and easy data points and trends but also being told in plain language for what to take away or dig into. This can help marketers ask questions and dive in further, and even ask their agent to take action on what recommendations surface.

    The idea of clear and plain insights especially comes up in implementations of the current dashboard tools I work in. Users looking at a dashboard want to know different information, and for dozens of users looking at a single page, the questions they’re asking are going to be different depending on needs. The option to ask your agent to recommend optimizations, and then act on it will save marketers a lot of time and headache. With Marketing Intelligence,  you just need the data ready for an agent to help your end users get what they need from the data you’ve put in place. 

    Tidied Data Across Channels 

    Of course, the core goal of any marketer looking for a tool like Data Cloud, Marketing Cloud Intelligence, or this new version of Marketing Intelligence, is to tie data together across channels to tell meaningful stories they can act on. In addition to the standardized API mapping, MI creates value by uniformly harmonizing these fields across datasets and allows for a semantic model to be used on the backend to tie data together in ways that are common sense (campaign name ties across all of your channels, for instance), such as tying your campaign from paid media to your campaigns from your CRM or other tools, even when names are not exactly aligned (more on this in a moment). 

    I’m an existing Datorama/MCI User: What’s Worthwhile Here? 

    If you have been reading up to this point, you know what was probably on my mind when I first saw this tool: can I love a changed version of my favorite software of all time? (And yes, I have a favorite software of all time.) Put simply, I’m ready to love. Let’s dissect the butterflies in my stomach. (And if your heart skips a beat when you hear about normalization, semantic modeling, and ROI, there’s enough of this platform for us to share). 

    One Word: Normalization 

    When I lead implementations with clients on MCI, we talk about the ways in which their data joins. Sometimes it’s super straightforward, sometimes it’s messy. More often than not, we can devise ways to join the messy and the clean together, such as by breaking out parts of campaigns to equal full campaign names in other channels, or by using the numerous formulas Marketing Cloud Intelligence offers out of the box.

    In MI, this is no longer necessary. One of my favorite surprises is seen below: you can classify and normalize data with Einstein AI, so instead of working to modify and standardize all of your data either in the platform of origin or in Intelligence, you can instead have Einstein help you set standardization of your data. This is a fantastic path forward in joining datasets together for synchronized cross-channel reporting.

    Two Words: Semantic Modeling 

    Though users will have an out-of-the-box paid media data model ready to go, users will have free range beyond the world of pre-defined data models in MCI. In MI, you can set up a semantic model that joins datasets together across multiple objects. While you may miss some of the standardization of having ads, conversion, and web analytics data models, among countless others in MCI, you will get seamless back-end loading of data together, along with seamless joins to standard Salesforce object data. This also means that you can add fields and relationships with full customization as your datasets evolve, or as you update back-end nomenclature to more cleanly join fields from one connection to another.

     Three Words: Return on Investment 

    Speaking of Salesforce data, what elevates a good MCI implementation to a great one, in my books, is the joining of cost/engagement data to tangible ROI and meaningful dollar results. With the new integration to the semantic model and the ease of connecting standard objects from Sales Cloud, users can handily create and easily visualize ROI metrics in MI wherever data cleanly intersects, which is now made much easier with Einstein normalization and semantic modeling.

    Additionally, attribution is a more straightforward possibility with MI than in current MCI, with the framework to capture website events within Data Cloud data model objects, providing marketers end-to-end visibility into touchpoints where ads have been seen by end users. This will include attribution models for first and last touch for users, and can further be a method to validate ROI and pinpoint specific interactions with customers.

    I’ve Never Used MCI or Datorama-Why Should I Explore Marketing Intelligence? 

    The Tool for Data Harmonization 

    MCI has long been the gold standard for harmonizing marketing data. When clients come to me looking for data solutions, if the core users (front and back-end) are marketers, MCI is always what I recommend. Now with MI, you have the power of what current MCI can do to enable marketers to aggregate and act on data in the same platform as your CRM and marketing data, with the added benefits of generative and agentic AI, 3 click data setup, Data Cloud, and embedded Tableau Next visualizations.

    The Tool for Visualization 

    Current Marketing Cloud Intelligence has some great visualization options, but the two big enhancements I’ve always wanted and have tried to build guardrails for on my own are: 

    1. Faster load optimization for dashboards 

    2. Plain language recommendations for end users 

    With MI, you get both of those with minimal lifting. Data is smoothly joined together using Data Cloud and back-end semantic modeling, with minimal loading for calculated fields and other computing intensive processes in current MCI. Additionally, with generative AI suggestions and an agent to help you pause underperforming ads, end-users are no longer limited to looking at charts and figuring out what it means,—because actions are ready and available to springboard from on the page.

    The Tool for Marketing Customization 

    Have you ever wanted to redefine your campaign names in reporting by extracting certain parts of your campaign names from across systems? Have you wanted to group different Google Analytics traffic sources and merge them against ad spending from the respective paid media platforms on an automated basis? What about renaming and grouping a set of campaigns based on criteria only you and your team know and then dynamically filtering for a handful of those campaigns? 

    That’s the sort of fun I love to explore with clients, and it’s back in full force in MI with processes like patterns to extract data points from various fields, calculated fields in the semantic layer, and the normalization processes Einstein brings to the table.

    A New Era 

    Marketing Intelligence launched on March 18th (with Data Cloud and MI licenses required). Talk to your account executive to explore this new product. Marketing Intelligence is going to be the gateway into a new world of dashboarding intelligently (no pun intended) and is sure to streamline data for marketers in ways that have only been hinted at by Marketing Cloud Intelligence previously. I know I’m excited to take this ride, and I hope you’ll join me!

    Original article: Salesforce’s New Marketing Intelligence: As Seen by a Datorama Enthusiast

    ©2025 The Spot. All Rights Reserved.

    The post Salesforce’s New Marketing Intelligence: As Seen by a Datorama Enthusiast appeared first on The Spot.

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    How to Create Marketing Cloud Consent Records with a Record-Triggered Flow https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/02/21/how-to-create-marketing-cloud-consent-records-with-a-record-triggered-flow/ https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/02/21/how-to-create-marketing-cloud-consent-records-with-a-record-triggered-flow/#respond Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:09:40 +0000 https://thespotforpardot.com/?p=7811 Classic cars on the road of Havana city in Cuba

    Managing consent records in Marketing Cloud on Core (aka Marketing Cloud Growth or Advanced Edition) has raised many questions. While most agree with the concept of consent, generating individual consent records each time a sales team member adds a new lead in Salesforce can be tedious. I’ve been asked many times if I could just […]

    The post How to Create Marketing Cloud Consent Records with a Record-Triggered Flow appeared first on The Spot.

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    Classic cars on the road of Havana city in Cuba

    Managing consent records in Marketing Cloud on Core (aka Marketing Cloud Growth or Advanced Edition) has raised many questions. While most agree with the concept of consent, generating individual consent records each time a sales team member adds a new lead in Salesforce can be tedious. I’ve been asked many times if I could just create a flow to add consent when new leads are created. The answer is “Yes” and here’s how you can do it too. 

    Disclaimer

    I’ve been called a marketer, consultant, and Salesforce Admin over my career, but I’ve never been called a lawyer. Privacy policies and opt-in requirements vary from country-to-country and even state-to-state. Before implementing this solution, consult with your legal team to ensure that you are in compliance with your organization’s legal requirements.

    Consent Fields

    Before creating consent records, we first need to understand the requirements. When doing a consent import, the following fields are captured in the wizard and through the import template. This process is very simple and the magic happens behind the scenes.

    • Channel – Communication delivery method (Email or SMS)
    • Communication Subscription – The individual subscription name (ex. Newsletter)
    • Consent Status – Indicates whether an individual has “Opted In” or “Opted Out” at the subscription level.
    • Email – Email address of the individual captured on the consent record.
    • Consent Date – The date/time that consent was captured.
    Screenshot of the import consent data screen in Marketing Cloud

    When digging in a bit more, I found a field named Communication Subscription Consent Id. This field combines the email address and the Communication Subscription Channel Type Id with “#” between them to create a new field. This field is the key to creating a consent record.

    Example

    Communication Subscription vs. Communication Subscription Chnl Type Id

    It’s important to know the difference between these fields and where to find them. When creating your Communication Subscription Consent Id field in your flow, you’ll need to be sure to use the correct value.


    The difference between these fields is that Communication Subscription Chnl Type Id references the email subscription and the channel. Communication Subscription is channel agnostic and only references the subscription.

    Example

    • Communication Subscription – 0XlHs00000111ZZKAY
      • Refers to the Newsletter subscription
    Screenshot in Marketing Cloud highlighting the Communication Subscription ID in the URL.
    • Communication Subscription Chnl Type Id – 0eBHs00000111n0MAA
      • Refers to the Newsletter subscription and email channel
    Screenshot in Marketing Cloud highlighting the Communication Subscription Chnl Type ID in the URL.

    You can find these values by creating a Salesforce report using the Communication Subscription Channel Type report type. You’ll see one record for each subscription and channel. In this example, I have four subscriptions on my preference page as I’m just using the email channel. If the SMS channel was in use, there would be 8 records.

    A screenshot showing the New Report of the Communication Subscription Channel Type

    Both of these values are going to be needed when creating your flow, so make a report in your org and be sure to save it. You can also view these values by accessing the records from the Communication Subscriptions and Communication Subscription Channel Types objects if you prefer.

    Record-Triggered Flow Build

    We’re finally to the fun part. But before we get started, consider a few questions.

    • Which object should trigger the flow?
    • When should the flow trigger?
    • What entry conditions should be used?
    • Are there any countries or states where double opt-in is required?

    Start Element

    I want my flow to only run when new leads are created. I also want to exclude leads that were created from a form submission. Marketing Cloud on Core forms require a consent element, so we don’t need to update these leads. Your start criteria will differ based on your needs.

    A screenshot of the start element of the Flow.

    Scheduled Path

    Record-triggered flow can’t execute actions that make external callouts in a path that runs immediately. You can address this by adding a scheduled path with a slight delay. My path has a 1-minute delay from when the lead was created.

    A screenshot of configuring the scheduled paths

    Decision Element

    I did not exclude countries that require double opt-in from my start element intentionally. I decided to let them enter the flow and use a decision element to route them down a second path. The idea is that I can later add an action to send a transactional email to these leads encouraging them to update their subscription preferences.

    A screenshot of the decision element of the Flow.

    Action Elements

    Salesforce set us up for success by including the MessagingConsent.MessagingConsent action. All we need to do is configure it correctly and our consent records will be created. Like consent imports, you’ll need action for each of your subscriptions by channel.

    When configuring actions, you’ll need to set values for the inputs below.

    • CommunicationSubscriptionChannelType*
      • This is the id that relates to the communication subscription and channel.
    • ConsentCapturedDateTime
      • Date/time that consent was captured.
    • ConsentId
      • This is the concatenated field that we discussed earlier that includes the email address and the Communication Subscription Channel Type Id. 
    • ConsentStatus
      • Set value to OPT_IN or OPT_OUT.
    • ContactPointValue
      • The email address of the triggering record.
    • Name*
      • The communication subscription (id) from the report that we created earlier. This is the id that relates to the subscription only (does not include the channel).

    *Note: You can create content records without these values, but I prefer to include them to more closely resemble the records created from consent imports.

    Formula Resources 

    Next, we need to generate the consentid field that will be needed in the action elements. This can be done using a formula to generate the value using the email address (of the triggering record) and the Communication Subscription Chnl Type Id. You’ll need one resource per Communication Subscription Chnl Type Id.

    Example Formula

    • {!$Record.Email} & “#” & “0eBHs00000111n0MAA”
    A screenshot of a formula being set up to to generate the consentid field that will be needed in the action elements

    Configured Action Element

    Here’s an example of an action element that has been fully configured.

    A screenshot of the Configured Action Element of the Flow.

    Final Flow

    Here’s a look at the final flow. 

    A screenshot of the end product of the Flow.

    Testing

    After activating your flow, create a new lead in Salesforce. Upon creation, the consent values will be set to Opt Out. After a few minutes (allowing time for the scheduled path to run), verify the consent record was created by viewing the Communication Subscription Consent DMO in Data Explorer in Data Cloud.

    A screenshot of the Data Cloud Data Explorer Objects.


    Once the data from Data Cloud syncs back to the lead record, the consent values will be updated to Opt In in the Privacy Consent Status component.

    A screenshot of the privacy consent status component with the consent values updated to Opt In

    Respect Consent & Be Responsible  

    The best practice recommendation is to create consent records using the consent element on form-triggered flows or by completing consent imports. While these recommendations make sense, generating consent records for individual records created by users can present challenges.

    Record-triggered flows offer a good solution for automating consent records, but organizations must ensure compliance with regional, state, and company legal requirements. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and prioritize transparency in consent management.

    Original article: How to Create Marketing Cloud Consent Records with a Record-Triggered Flow

    ©2025 The Spot. All Rights Reserved.

    The post How to Create Marketing Cloud Consent Records with a Record-Triggered Flow appeared first on The Spot.

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    Cracking the Code: How Opportunity Influence Connects Marketing to Revenue https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/02/17/cracking-the-code-how-opportunity-influence-connects-marketing-to-revenue/ https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/02/17/cracking-the-code-how-opportunity-influence-connects-marketing-to-revenue/#respond Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:59:49 +0000 https://thespotforpardot.com/?p=7802

    Marketing Cloud on Core (also known as Marketing Cloud Growth or Advanced Edition) can now track how marketing efforts contribute to revenue! With the Spring ‘25 release, Salesforce introduced Opportunity Influence, helping businesses connect marketing engagement to pipeline and revenue. But how does it work, and what’s the difference between Opportunity Influence and Campaign Influence? […]

    The post Cracking the Code: How Opportunity Influence Connects Marketing to Revenue appeared first on The Spot.

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    Marketing Cloud on Core (also known as Marketing Cloud Growth or Advanced Edition) can now track how marketing efforts contribute to revenue! With the Spring ‘25 release, Salesforce introduced Opportunity Influence, helping businesses connect marketing engagement to pipeline and revenue. But how does it work, and what’s the difference between Opportunity Influence and Campaign Influence? Let’s dive in!

    Opportunity Influence vs. Campaign Influence: What’s the Real Deal?

    Before we break down how to customize and report on Opportunity Influence, let’s clarify how it differs from Marketing Cloud Account Engagement’s Customizable Campaign Influence. While both models aim to connect marketing efforts to revenue, they function in distinct ways and serve different use cases. 

    FeatureOpportunity InfluenceCampaign Influence
    Data SourceMarketing Cloud Engagement (emails, ads, automation, etc.)Salesforce Campaign Membership
    Influence ScopeTracks engagement across multiple touchpointsTracks Leads/Contacts who are Salesforce Campaign Members
    IntegrationSyncs Marketing Cloud engagement data to Salesforce OpportunitiesWorks within Salesforce CRM using Campaigns and Opportunities
    Attribution ModelsMulti-touch attribution (first-touch, last-touch, even-distribution)Campaign Influence and Customized Models
    Reporting & InsightsMeasures marketing-driven revenue impactMeasure campaign-driven revenue impact

    🚨 Important Note for Account Engagement Users 🚨

    You cannot use Opportunity Influence alongside Customizable Campaign Influence. If your team already relies on Account Engagement’s Campaign Influence Models, keep this in mind when deciding which model to use.

    Additionally, Account Engagement users cannot activate Opportunity Influence as it does not currently integrate with Account Engagement’s Campaign Influence model. If your organization currently tracks marketing-driven revenue using Campaign Influence reports, you’ll need to continue using that model. However, if you’re considering a shift to Marketing Cloud on Core, Opportunity Influence could offer enhanced multi-touch attribution and engagement tracking.

    Battle of Influences: Campaign vs. Opportunity – Which One Wins?

    Let’s say you’re running a B2B software company and you’ve executed multiple marketing campaigns using a variety of platforms, including ads, email, an e-book, and a webinar, to engage your prospects.

    • Campaign Influence: A prospect attends the webinar, clicks on an email, and downloads the e-book before being transitioned to sales as a marketing-qualified lead. These interactions are recorded under a Salesforce Campaign and can be manually associated with the Opportunity when created based on the Opportunity Contact Role and Campaign Member. You can assign influence weight based on your customized rules.
    • Opportunity Influence: Marketing Cloud on Core automatically tracks all marketing engagement, including the ad view and click, webinar attendance, and e-book download. These touchpoints are automatically associated to attribute influence based on the predefined model and associated to the Opportunity upon creation.

    If Campaign Influence were a fine-dining experience, it would be a chef-curated meal—meticulously crafted with manual customization to fit your exact taste. You decide which interactions get the most credit, but it requires hands-on effort. On the other hand, Opportunity Influence is like an all-you-can-eat buffet with an expert chef behind the scenes. It automatically dishes out credit across touchpoints, giving you a full spread of marketing influence with minimal effort. If you love precision and control, Campaign Influence is for you. But if you want a seamless, automated view of your entire marketing impact, Opportunity Influence takes the crown.

    How to Set Up Opportunity Influence

    Setting up Opportunity Influence requires configuration in Sales Cloud to ensure marketing engagement is properly attributed to revenue-generating activities. To fully connect marketing efforts with sales outcomes, ensure that contacts engaging with marketing campaigns are linked to Opportunities. This allows for accurate tracking of marketing interactions that influence deals.

    Enabling Opportunity Influence

    1. Navigate to Salesforce Setup > Opportunity Influence
    2. Enable Opportunity Influence
    3. Select an Attribution Model
      1. First-Touch: Gives full credit to the first marketing engagement that led to the opportunity. It’s ideal for understanding which top-of-funnel efforts drive initial interest.
      2. Last-Touch: Assigns full credit to the last marketing interaction before the opportunity was created. It helps measure the final push that converted a lead into an opportunity.
      3. Even-Distribution: Spreads credit evenly across all marketing interactions that occurred before opportunity creation, giving a balanced view of multi-touch engagement. This approach is ideal for businesses with long sales cycles and/or multiple high-value touchpoints.

    Going Beyond Activation

    Customization is key to maximizing Opportunity Influence. Marketers should align influence models with their sales cycle, ensuring critical marketing touchpoints, such as email engagements, paid ads, and automation journeys, are correctly captured. Because Opportunity Influence consumes Data Credits, it’s essential to be strategic when enabling multiple models to avoid unnecessary credit usage.

    Making Sense of Your Data: Reporting on Opportunity Influence

    Once Opportunity Influence is enabled and tracking data, you can start reporting on marketing’s impact. The key to unlocking valuable insights is leveraging Salesforce’s Reports & Dashboards to tell a clear story about how marketing drives revenue.

    Your Treasure Map to Salesforce Reports & Dashboards

    • Head over to Salesforce Reports and search for Opportunity Influence Reports. This is your go-to hub for seeing which marketing touchpoints are helping close deals.
    • Get specific with your insights! Use filters to refine reports by timeframe, campaign, or opportunity. Want to know which emails led to the most revenue? Adjust your filters to see the impact.
    • Create Salesforce Dashboards to visualize Opportunity Influence. Need a quick snapshot for your leadership team? Build an easy-to-read chart that shows exactly how marketing is fueling revenue.

    The Ultimate Guide to Opportunity Influence Report Types

    Salesforce provides several built-in report types to help you analyze how marketing efforts contribute to revenue. Here are the key report types you can use:

    • Opportunity Influence Summary Report – This high-level report shows how marketing engagements are influencing revenue across all opportunities. Use it to track overall marketing impact.
    • Opportunity Influence Detail Report – A more granular report that breaks down individual touchpoints per opportunity, allowing you to analyze which specific marketing interactions played a role in closing deals.
    • Influence Attribution Model Comparison Chart – Compare first-touch, last-touch, and even-distribution models side by side to see which one provides the best insights for your marketing strategy.
    • Marketing Touchpoint Analysis Report – Identifies which marketing channels (email, ads, website visits, etc.) are contributing the most to opportunity creation and pipeline growth.

    By setting up and analyzing Opportunity Influence reports, marketing teams can gain deeper insights into which touchpoints matter most, optimize their strategies accordingly, and confidently demonstrate their return on investment.

    Why Opportunity Influence is a Game-Changer

    Opportunity Influence is a must-have tool for any marketing team looking to measure true revenue impact. No more guessing which emails, ads, or landing pages are driving pipeline – Opportunity Influence connects the dots, giving you a clear picture of how marketing fuels business growth. With built-in attribution models, you can customize insights based on what matters most to your strategy.

    Whether you’re aiming to prove marketing ROI, optimize your campaigns, or align better with sales, Opportunity Influence provides automated, data-driven attribution that simplifies reporting and enhances decision-making. If you want better visibility into marketing’s role in revenue generation, this feature is your new best friend!

    💡Next Steps:

    1. Check your org to see if the new update is available.
    2. Test Opportunity Influence tracking before rolling it out company-wide.
    3. Monitor data service credit usage if you’re using multiple attribution models.

    📣 Want to learn more? Check out the full Spring ‘25 release highlights or dive into the official release notes.

    🚀 What are your thoughts on Opportunity Influence? Drop a comment below, and let’s discuss!

    Original article: Cracking the Code: How Opportunity Influence Connects Marketing to Revenue

    ©2025 The Spot. All Rights Reserved.

    The post Cracking the Code: How Opportunity Influence Connects Marketing to Revenue appeared first on The Spot.

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    4 Must-Ask Questions Before Building a Data Dashboard That Drives Results https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/02/14/4-must-ask-questions-before-building-a-data-dashboard-that-drives-results/ https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/02/14/4-must-ask-questions-before-building-a-data-dashboard-that-drives-results/#respond Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:24:06 +0000 https://thespotforpardot.com/?p=7799 4 Must-Ask Questions Before Building a Data Dashboard That Drives Results

    I  must confess that I have built my fair share of boring unremarkable dashboards.  It haunts me to think of all those past reports that are now collecting dust like a Betamax tape in a world of streaming services.  If you are reading this, I bet I am not alone. We can put so much […]

    The post 4 Must-Ask Questions Before Building a Data Dashboard That Drives Results appeared first on The Spot.

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    4 Must-Ask Questions Before Building a Data Dashboard That Drives Results

    I  must confess that I have built my fair share of boring unremarkable dashboards.  It haunts me to think of all those past reports that are now collecting dust like a Betamax tape in a world of streaming services.  If you are reading this, I bet I am not alone. We can put so much effort into a dashboard and have the reports hold so much potential but they so often get left on the cutting room floor. But why? Why do our dashboards seem to fall flat when there is clearly a need?

    Because effective dashboards require more than just data. They need a clear purpose, a targeted audience, and a design that compels engagement. There are four key questions you can ask yourself to align and truly transform your next dashboard from a snoozefest to a success story.

    Target Audience | “Who is this dashboard for”

    Imagine building a cockpit for a pilot instead of a dashboard for a car. A pilot wouldn’t be helped by a speedometer and radio – they need critical flight information displayed clearly and concisely. The same goes for dashboards. The first question to ask is: who’s the key decision-maker this is designed for? Are they executives seeking a high-level financial health pulse, or analysts needing to dive deep into specific metrics?  Understanding your audience gives you the lens to curate the right information. Too often we want to cram all the information into one dashboard and end up overwhelming viewers with a data buffet, thus a dashboard becomes unused. By pinpointing who will use the dashboard, you can tailor the data to speak directly to their needs and drive actionable insights. 

    Goal Setting | “What are the top 3 goals of this dashboard”

    Okay, we’ve identified the audience, but what exactly do we want them to achieve with this dashboard? Just throwing data at viewers isn’t enough. We need to set clear goals for what this dashboard should help them accomplish.  Is it to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for a quick health check for the marketing manager? Or maybe it’s a unified dashboard for sales and marketing on lead generation ? Defining the top goals keeps the focus tight and ensures the data presented directly addresses those objectives. This also doesn’t have to be overly complicated either. Start with 3 main goals and then you can build upon them!

    Actioning  | “Where will this dashboard be used”

    Here’s the thing: dashboards need a clear path to “aha moments” and real-world application or they are going to be forgotten like the bagged salad in the back of your fridge. We can break down the lack of action into two key areas.

    First, is the information on the dashboard actually driving insights? Are users gleaning valuable trends, identifying potential issues, or getting the data they need to make informed decisions?  The second area is the “where” question.  Will this dashboard be a daily touchpoint for a specific team, a strategic tool for presentations, or something else entirely?  Building a dashboard “just because” is a recipe for neglect.  By understanding how the dashboard will be used and what kind of action it should inspire, you can transform it from a static report into a dynamic driver of results. This is your sign to build in a retrospective process with reporting if you haven’t done so already! 

    Goal Setting | “What do you love and hate abour your current process”

    Before diving headfirst into building your new masterpiece, take a moment to reflect on your organization’s current dashboards or reporting tools. What reports are being used religiously? Conduct a post-mortem on these existing dashboards – both the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.  

    By understanding what resonates with your audience and what falls flat, you can identify successful elements to carry over and steer clear of pitfalls that led to neglected reports.  We don’t always have to reinvent the wheel! Is a specific visualization particularly clear and engaging? Note that down! Conversely, are there any charts or metrics that consistently go unnoticed? Those might be prime candidates for removal.  

    Remember, your current dashboards are a treasure trove of insights waiting to be unearthed. Utilize this intel to make informed decisions about the data, design, and functionality of your new dashboard, ensuring it becomes a go-to resource.

    Honorable Mentions

    Truthfully I can go on and on about questions you should ask before preparing your dashboard, but I did want to also throw a few honorable mention questions that help focus the data quality. Which let’s behonest, is always a hurdle!

    1. “Is the data reliable and up-to-date? “  Ensure the data feeding your dashboard is accurate and reflects the current state of affairs.  Inaccurate data will lead to misleading conclusions. How often will the data be updated to ensure it reflects the current state of affairs?  Stale data is like watching yesterday’s news – interesting, perhaps, but ultimately not very actionable.”
    2. “How can I use the data to tell a compelling story?” Effective dashboards don’t just present facts and figures; they weave a narrative that resonates with the audience. This question encourages the creator to consider the flow of information, highlight trends and patterns, and use visuals to make the data come alive. By crafting a data story, the dashboard becomes more engaging and memorable, ultimately driving a deeper understanding and fostering action.

    Design with Purpose, Deliver with Impact

    By asking the right questions upfront, you can design dashboards that are anything but boring. Remember to target the right audience, set clear goals, and prioritize actionable insights.  By following these steps, you can create dashboards that become central hubs for informed decision-making and drive real results. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your data and get started crafting your next dashboard masterpiece!

    Original article: 4 Must-Ask Questions Before Building a Data Dashboard That Drives Results

    ©2025 The Spot. All Rights Reserved.

    The post 4 Must-Ask Questions Before Building a Data Dashboard That Drives Results appeared first on The Spot.

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    Announcing MarDreamin’ Summit: The MarDreamin’ You Love, Live In Person! https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/01/21/announcing-mardreamin-summit-the-mardreamin-you-love-live-in-person/ https://thespotforpardot.com/2025/01/21/announcing-mardreamin-summit-the-mardreamin-you-love-live-in-person/#respond Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://thespotforpardot.com/?p=7792 Meeting a group of friends at an outdoor party

    In 2024, Sercante and Salesforce community experts hosted the 5th MarDreamin’, the virtual community conference for marketers on the Salesforce platform that brings together the brightest minds in marketing to share knowledge, network, and transform strategies for growth. For the first time, MarDreamin’ is being taken to a whole new level with the first-ever in-person […]

    The post Announcing MarDreamin’ Summit: The MarDreamin’ You Love, Live In Person! appeared first on The Spot.

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    Meeting a group of friends at an outdoor party

    In 2024, Sercante and Salesforce community experts hosted the 5th MarDreamin’, the virtual community conference for marketers on the Salesforce platform that brings together the brightest minds in marketing to share knowledge, network, and transform strategies for growth. For the first time, MarDreamin’ is being taken to a whole new level with the first-ever in-person event: MarDreamin’ Summit.

    Save the Date for May 7-8, 2025, to join an exclusive group of marketers in the community with a balanced mix of all experience levels, plus Marketing Champions, and Salesforce MVPs to gather in Atlanta, Georgia, for a peer-led, curated experience, to have deeper conversations, build lasting relationships, and learn from one another in a way that the virtual world can’t replicate.

    What is MarDreamin’ Summit?

    MarDreamin’ Summit isn’t just a conference—it’s a curated, no-fluff gathering for marketers redefining what’s possible with Salesforce. This day-and-a-half conference will feature expert-led, interactive workshops, peer-led, insightful sessions and panels, and exclusive networking opportunities where the conversations you have and the people you meet, are purposed to genuinely elevate your marketing game.

    Every attendee will get to contribute, have their voice be heard, and will leave with actionable strategies, practical insights, and lasting connections to elevate their careers and drive real business impact.

    This is an experience built by marketers for marketers. Expect the real-talk, you’ve come to love at MarDreamin’, in a learning-centric environment, where real marketers share real stories and solutions using the technology you can access right now.

    Tell me about the agenda

    Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store at MarDreamin’ Summit:

    Day 1: Workshop Day – May 7 (Half Day)

    Engage in interactive, hands-on training sessions led by Salesforce-certified instructors. These workshops are designed to equip you with practical skills and strategies to:

    • Maximize the Salesforce platform
    • Create personalized, seamless customer experiences
    • Drive measurable growth in your organization
    • Thrive in your role and propel your career forward

    Day 2: MarDreamin’ Summit – May 8 (Full Day)

    Day 2 is the main event! Look forward to an exhilarating summit of keynotes, panels, and insightful sessions across multiple floors. Highlights include:

    • Exclusive, in-person only content
    • Intimate networking experiences with peers and industry leaders
    • Insightful conversations to spark inspiration and build deeper relationships
    • Practical solutions to tackle the latest industry challenges
    • Live demos of the top solutions focused on learning what’s possible
    • Curated experiences where every unique voice contributes to community impact

    Why MarDreamin’ Summit is a must-attend event

    There are so many stellar community conferences out there, why should MarDreamin’ Summit be added to your calendar? Here are the top five:

    1. Build deeper community connections: Step into a room full of marketers ready to engage and share their experiences, a space where everyone brings unique insights to the table to foster meaningful conversations, elevated learning, and lasting relationships.
    2. Advance your skills with hands-on learning: Participate in interactive workshops tailored for all experience levels to be more efficient in your role, reach goals faster, and create even better customer experiences that drive real impact for your business.
    3. Be inspired by peer-led content: Hear from your peers that have been in the trenches and engage in audience-led discussions to learn from each other in a way that fuels creativity and sparks your best ideas.
    4. Maximize impact with real-world value: Every workshop, keynote, panel, networking experience, and session will be dedicated toward empowering attendees with practical strategies and solutions that they can apply to their customer experiences, role, and careers with the resources and technology they have available today.
    5. Thrive in a curated, impact-driven environment: All demos and solutions shared will be focused on learning what’s possible to empower attendees with methods to solve real marketing challenges with effective tools—without the pitch.

    What makes MarDreamin’ Summit different from other Dreamin’ events?

    MarDreamin’ has been known in the ecosystem as being the must-attend, virtual conference for marketers on Salesforce. It has connected marketers from across the globe with attendees from 55+ countries sharing their challenges, experiences, best practices, and proven solutions to learn and grow together. MarDreamin’ has been the blend of powerful technology meeting the human connection that drives growth in careers, business, and fuels attendees’ most innovative ideas to create un-matched customer experiences. 

    Now we’re bringing this energy, in person for the community to connect like never before. MarDreamin’ Summit, is where marketers can gather with their peers on a deeper level, have their voice be heard, and feel supported by others who have been there and get it, and grow their skills to drive meaningful impact.

    MarDreamin’ will still be held virtually in the fall.

    For those unable to attend in May, MarDreamin’ 2025 will return virtually this fall with incredible content and community engagement. Stay tuned for details!

    Want to Be a Part of the Action?

    • Pre-register: Seats are limited for MarDreamin’ Summit and the content will be carefully crafted and selected to support maximum learning for every attendee. Pre-register here to express your interest and share more about your goals for attending.
    • Be a Speaker: Have a great session idea? Start thinking about your proposal and visit the Call for Speakers page to learn more about speaking at MarDreamin’ Summit. Then stay tuned for when the call for speakers opens!

    Don’t miss out on MarDreamin’ Summit!

    Spaces are limited for this exclusive, in-person curated experience, so be sure to pre-register to request your seat. Whether you’re looking to advance your skills, build transformative connections, or gain fresh insights to drive growth, MarDreamin’ Summit is the place to be.

    Visit mardreamin.com to pre-register and learn more.

    Join the community in Atlanta this May for the curated in-person experience of the year for marketers on Salesforce!

    About MarDreamin’ Summit

    MarDreamin’ Summit is a curated gathering for marketers redefining what’s possible with Salesforce. With peer-led sessions, hands-on learning, and intimate networking experiences, where every unique voice is heard, in an impact-driven environment, attendees have the opportunity to connect and learn from each other on a deeper level—in a way the virtual world can’t replicate. Pioneered by Sercante and Salesforce community leaders who get it, the MarDreamin’ Summit experience cuts through the noise and inspires creativity, from real marketers, real insights, and real connections. 

    Original article: Announcing MarDreamin’ Summit: The MarDreamin’ You Love, Live In Person!

    ©2025 The Spot. All Rights Reserved.

    The post Announcing MarDreamin’ Summit: The MarDreamin’ You Love, Live In Person! appeared first on The Spot.

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