Salesforce: Export Data Overview

To choose the most appropriate method, it is necessary to consider if you have the support of a Salesforce administrator and how many leads you have collected in advance to your database.

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.

Both integration methods can only create new Lead records. They cannot update existing Lead records or interact with other Salesforce objects. If this does not meet your needs, please contact your Customer Success Manager to discuss a custom Salesforce integration.

Note: For a Salesforce Marketing Cloud Integration (SFMC API), please reach out to your account manager to submit a Feasibility Review to our Technical Services team.

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)