Integration: Salesforce (SFDC)

Salesforce: Export Data Overview

You have two integration methods to select from when exporting data from Ion to your Salesforce instance (also known as an “Add Lead” Integration): the SFDC API method and the Web-to-Lead Form Post method. Both methods can work with your ion creatives.

---

SFDC API

Our native integration directly creates Salesforce Lead records. We typically recommend this method as there are no limits on the number of Leads created. However, it does require some credentials that may be difficult to obtain without the support of your Salesforce admin.

---

Web-to-Lead Form Post

A Form Post integration is what it sounds like: data collected by an ion form is re-posted to a Salesforce Web-to-Lead Form. Salesforce imposes a limit of 500 leads per day created via Web-to-Lead. If you are using the Web-to-Lead method for other integrations and/or anticipate collecting a large volume of leads via your ion creatives, this method may not be for you. The primary benefit of this method is the ease of implementation, as many Salesforce users have appropriate permissions to generate the Web-to-Lead Form.

Check out the table below for a more detailed comparison of the methods.

	SFDC API	Web-to-Lead Form Post
How does it work?	A connection is established between your ion console and your Salesforce instance. Next, a field mapping is completed in ion to define which ion fields should be exported and how they correspond to your Salesforce Lead record fields. When the integration runs, a Salesforce Lead record will be created. Note: This integration cannot update an existing Lead record.	A Web-to-Lead Form is created in Salesforce to receive your ion data. Next, a field mapping is completed in ion to define which ion fields should be exported and where that data should be submitted in your Web-to-Lead form. When the integration runs, data collected in ion is re-posted to the Web-to-Lead form. Note: This integration cannot update an existing Lead record. Salesforce imposes a limit of 500 leads per day (total) created via Web-to-Lead.
What kind of data can be sent to Salesforce?	All types of data can be seamlessly passed to a Lead record in Salesforce. This includes Basic Lead Data, ion Core Data, data passed on the query string (like tracking parameters), and interaction data (like a calculator input or an assessment result). Note: Integration services may be limited to certain data types. Check with your Customer Success Manager if you are unsure what you’ve purchased.	All types of data can be seamlessly passed to a Lead record in Salesforce. This includes Basic Lead Data, ion Core Data, data passed on the query string (like tracking parameters), and interaction data (like a calculator input or an assessment result). Note: Integration services may be limited to certain data types. Check with your Customer Success Manager if you are unsure what you’ve purchased.
What are my options to manage sensitive data?	Field-level security controls are available. Data can be encrypted (AES 256-bit encryption) and/or automatically deleted from your ion console.	Field-level security controls are available. Data can be encrypted (AES 256-bit encryption) and/or automatically deleted from your ion console.
How will I build the form my visitors see? Can I change the styling?	You will use ion’s form building components. This gives you maximum control of the look, feel, and flow of your form experience, and allows you to leverage the branded theme built for you in ion.	You will use ion’s form building components. This gives you maximum control of the look, feel, and flow of your form experience, and allows you to leverage the branded theme built for you in ion.
Can my forms be pre-populated with known lead data?	Forms can be pre-populated based on ion data or (if a Get Lead integration is set up) based on Salesforce + ion data. Note: Integration services may not include a Get Lead integration. Check with your Customer Success Manager if you are unsure what you’ve purchased.	Forms can be pre-populated based on ion data or (if a Get Lead integration is set up) based on Salesforce + ion data. Note: Integration services may not include a Get Lead integration. Check with your Customer Success Manager if you are unsure what you’ve purchased.
How often are my leads sent to Salesforce?	Leads are immediately sent to Salesforce each time the integration runs. Most ion users apply their integration to run on the submission of a form in their ion creative.	Leads are immediately sent to Salesforce each time the integration runs. Most ion users apply their integration to run on the submission of a form in their ion creative.
What happens if there is a Salesforce service interruption?	Visitors will still be able to submit forms and form data will be saved according to your configuration in ion. We’ll retry the post once an hour until successful, up to the maximum number set in your integration. (default: 50 retries)	Visitors will still be able to submit forms and form data will be saved according to your configuration in ion. We’ll retry the post once an hour until successful, up to the maximum number set in your integration. (default: 50 retries)

 

Salesforce: Post data using SFDC web-to-lead code

There are few items you’ll need to roundup from Salesforce prior to setting up the integration, listed below:

• SFDC web-to-lead code
  • SFDC web-to-lead code will include the SFDC field names, required “hidden” fields and the post URL
  • In Salesforce console, click Setup > APP Setup > Leads > Web to Lead

There are a few items you’ll need to have ready in ion prior to setting up the integration, listed below:

• Create data collection fields
• Create SFDC hidden with the following data names
  • oid
  • retURL
• Create ion form(s)
• Set up testing creative

1. Create field mapping

Taking the steps below will map your ion data collection fields to their corresponding SFDC API field names. Be sure to add the SFDC hidden fields to the field mapping. For these hidden fields, you’ll use their values from the web-to-lead code as default values in the field mapping. To get started, add your new field mapping:

1. Click the Integrations tab in your ion console’s left side nav
2. Click green “New field mapping” button
3. Label the field mapping and optionally add a description
4. From the Integration type menu, select “Post to Web Form”
5. Save

2. Add Outbound fields to field mapping

Outbound fields define the data you extend from ion to your external web form.

1. Click the green “New outbound field” button to add a new field to your field mapping
2. When adding a new field, you will either select from the Data Collection drop-down menus, Core Field drop-down menu, implement a mashup template or add a field via JavaScript
   • To add a form field, use the Data Collection drop-down menus to select the data field category then data collection field
   • OR, to add an ion Core field, select from the Core Field drop-down menu
   • OR, to export multiple ion fields to one external field, use the Mashup Field by plugging {{DataName}} {{DataName2}}, etc. into the editor
   • OR, to reformat a value prior to export, use the JavaScript field to add logic around the value collected in ion. To access data collection fields via Javascript, use respondent.dataname.
3. Optionally make your field required to run the integration
4. Optionally add a default value
5. Enter the external field name
6. Save
7. Repeat these steps for each field that should be included in the Field Mapping
8. Skip inbound fields

3. Create integration

1. Navigate back to Integrations screen
2. Click into the Integrations tab
3. Click green “New integration” button
4. Enter label
5. Optionally add a description
6. Select the Field Mapping you’ve just created
7. Set maximum retries
   • If there is a service interruption with the external platform, ion will retry the post on the top of the hour for as many retries as you indicate here.
8. Paste the SFDC post URL from the web-to-lead code into the POST URL field
9. Skip checkboxes for special requirements
10. Select POST as the method
11. Optionally add Debug email address
    • Email addresses specified here will receive an email each time the integration runs that displays the data posted and response received. This is a feature typically only used for testing and troubleshooting.
12. Skip Save Response as and Authentication options
13. Save

4. Add integration to ion pages

The ion platform runs the integration based on rules you create. Rules can be added to any actionable item in your ion creative. Integration rules are typically run at the form-level, upon form submission, or on an assessment step. Follow the steps below to add the integration to your ion pages.

1. Navigate into the creative
2. Click on the form, button or link you seek to make the trigger to run your integration
3. In Creative Studio, click on +rules
4. Select the condition that needs to be met to run the integration
   • “No conditions required” is typically used
5. Select “Run integration” then select your SFDC integration as the action
6. Save

5. Test integration

To test your integration, use the creative you set up prior to beginning the integration steps. Please note, integrations do not run in Preview Mode, so you’ll want to open a URL for testing. The integration will run once you submit the ion form, or complete the action that runs the integration rule. If you’re on the debug email distribution list, you’ll receive an email that indicates if your test lead has been created in SFDC. You’ll also want to verify success by ensuring the lead was created in your SFDC instance.

Create lead with SFDC API

Before we begin

There are a few items you’ll need to roundup from Salesforce prior to setting up the integration, listed below:

• SFDC account name
• SFDC password
• SFDC security token

There are a few items you’ll need to have ready in ion prior to setting up the integration, listed below:

• Create data collection fields
• Create ion form(s)
• Set-up testing creative 

Let’s Get Started!

1. Add SFDC account credentials to ion

1. Click the Integrations in your ion console’s side nav
2. Click “Set up Account Credentials” toward the top of the screen
3. Under Salesforce, click “New Salesforce credential” button
4. Add a friendly label for your account then enter your SFDC username, password and security token
5. Save

2. Create field mapping

Taking the steps below will map your ion data collection fields to their corresponding SFDC API field names. To get started, add your new field mapping:

1. Click the Integrations in your ion console’s side nav
2. Click green “New field mapping” button
3. Label the field mapping and optionally add a description
4. From the Integration type menu, select “Salesforce.com”
5. Save

3. Add Outbound fields to field mapping

Outbound fields define the data you extend from ion to your external web form.

1. Click the green “New outbound field” button to add a new field to your field mapping
2. When adding a new field, you will either select from the Data Collection drop-down menus, Core Field drop-down menu, implement a mashup template or add a field via JavaScript
   • To add a form field, use the Data Collection drop-down menus to select the data field category then data collection field
   • OR, to add an ion Core field, select from the Core Field drop-down menu
   • OR, to export multiple ion fields to one external field, use the Mashup Field by plugging {{DataName}} {{DataName2}}, etc. into the editor
   • OR, to reformat a value prior to export, use the JavaScript field to add logic around the value collected in ion. To access data collection fields via Javascript, use respondent.dataname.
3. Optionally make your field required to run the integration
4. Optionally add a default value
5. Select the Salesforce lead field from the drop-down menu of your SFDC API field names
6. Repeat these steps for each field that should be included in the Field Mapping
7. Skip inbound fields

4. Create integration

1. Navigate back to Integrations screen
2. Click into the Integrations tab
3. Click green “New integration” button
4. Enter label
5. Optionally add a description
6. Select the Field Mapping you’ve just created
7. Set maximum retries
   • If there is a service interruption with the external platform, ion will retry the post on the top of the hour for as many retries as you indicate here.
8. Optionally set a value for the Salesforce Lead Source
9. Save
10. Optionally add yourself to the debug distribution list for testing
    • Click on the envelope icon beside the integration label and enter your email address
    • This will deliver an email to you when the integration runs that indicates if the lead was successfully created in SFDC

5. Add integration to ion pages

The ion platform runs the integration based on rules you create. Rules can be added to any actionable item in your ion creative. Integration rules are typically run at the form-level, upon form submission, or on an assessment step. Follow the steps below to add the integration to your ion pages.

1. Navigate into the creative
2. Click on the form, button or link you seek to make the trigger to run your integration
3. In Creative Studio, click on +rules
4. Select the condition that needs to be met to run the integration
   • “No conditions required” is typically used
5. Select “Run integration” then select your SFDC integration as the action
6. Save

6. Test integration

To test your integration, use the creative you set up prior to beginning the integration steps. Please note, integrations do not run in Preview Mode, so you’ll want to open a URL for testing. The integration will run once you submit the ion form, or complete the action that runs the integration rule. If you’re on the debug email distribution list, you’ll receive an email that indicates if your test lead has been created in SFDC. You’ll also want to verify success by ensuring the lead was created in your SFDC instance.

Nice work!

Once you’ve completed these steps, your integration is ready for use. You can add the rule to run the integration on all applicable creatives.

---

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].