Welcome to Salesforce! So your company is using Salesforce and you have been identified as the Salesforce Admin. Hopefully, you are ready to dive into the vast Salesforce Ecosystem. But, maybe you don’t know where to start, or what’s available to you. No problem— we on the Admin Relations team are here to help you!
You’ll see the hashtag #AwesomeAdmin used a lot. That’s because Salesforce Admins are awesome! Your work ensures your company is set up for success on Salesforce. Whether you’re just getting started or have been an Admin for many years, your impact is huge! You’re an #AwesomeAdmin!
Now before we get started we want to give you some advice: your journey and engagement are entirely up to you. This blog post should serve as a list of resources and valuable tools that you have at your disposal, not a checklist of all the things you have to do. Our community members, who we like to refer to as ‘Ohana,’ are actively engaged in different parts of Salesforce ecosystem, which means you can find what works best for you based on your journey.
Ready to get started?
Let’s start with your Salesforce instance. This is where you log in and, as a Salesforce Admin, will manage day-to-day operations and build apps for your organization. We’re starting here because the login to your Salesforce instance unlocks a world of resources for you such as Trailhead, the Trailblazer community, and registration for Salesforce Events. Don’t worry, we’ll cover all of this below!
We know you’re looking for Admin-specific information: webinars, blog posts, podcasts or helpful videos. admin.salesforce.com is your home for all of these resources, and for all things #AwesomeAdmin (that’s you!). We have new blog posts that publish weekly on a wide range of topics to help you learn. There is also a fantastic podcast hosted by Admin Evangelist Gillian Bruce where you’ll hear stories and insights from Salesforce Admins like yourself. You can also sign up for webinars at least twice a month. An Ohana favorite is the recurring ‘Essential Habits for New Admins’ webinar hosted by Admin Evangelist Marc Baizman. And finally, you can sign up for the Salesforce Admins Digest—our monthly email newsletter that is packed to the brim with good stuff, and no fluff for Admins each month.
No matter how you arrived here, there is always more to learn on this journey. Trailhead is where Salesforce Admins, Developers, and Business Users learn about the features, apps, and products that make up the Salesforce platform. In addition to learning about Salesforce, you can expand your knowledge through learning about how to cultivate equality at work, master MBA skills from the Drucker School, and we even have a module to help you Build your Career in the Salesforce Ecosystem.
On Trailhead the content is in bite-sized modules, and a collection of modules is called a Trail. To get started there is the Admin Beginner Trail. From there, you will progress to an Intermediate Trail, and an Advanced Trail. Once you get logged in and try it, it’s very easy to follow along and continue earning badges.
Some modules on Trailhead are hands-on, meaning that you complete an activity or challenge in a playground and Trailhead checks your work as you go. Much like a real playground, a Trailhead Playground lets you play around and make customizations without impacting anything else (in this case, your production org). Some modules are quizzes where you answer multiple choice questions. In both scenarios, Trailhead tests your knowledge in a fun and interesting way while you earn points for your progress!
In addition to learning on Trailhead, you can learn more about Salesforce Admins, Developers, and Business Users in the Trailblazer Tab. We call everyone in the ecosystem a Trailblazer, including you! Check out how these Trailblazers have embraced that title, and what it means to them by reading their stories.
If you’re ready to tackle even more on Trailhead, we have Superbadges that you can use to test your knowledge after you complete the prerequisite modules. Or, you can sign up for instructor-led training and get your Salesforce Admin Certification. You can even prepare for your certification right from Trailhead! When you’re ready, here is the page to help you prepare for the Admin Certification (or just find out more about what it is and how it can impact your career).
Should certification be something you tackle right away? Well, there is no “right” answer. What we can tell you is that certification should definitely be on your career roadmap. Companies are looking for proven professionals, and companies who use certified cloud specialists see smoother deployments and better use of Salesforce. Getting certified boosts your career by making your skills more marketable, and enables you to contribute even more to your organization’s success. Check out this blog post about Why Certification Matters.
Trailhead is where we go to learn about Salesforce and earn badges and certifications. Now let’s connect with other Salesforce Admins. Just because you might be the only Admin in your organization doesn’t mean you are alone. The Trailblazer Community is where you can go online to connect with millions of Admins, Developers, and Business Users who are on their Salesforce Journey as well. Here you can get help, find answers fast, and discuss topics you care about with Salesforce customers and employees from around the world.
In the Trailblazer Community, you will find groups to join, some are started by Salesforce and some by Salesforce Admins like yourself. Groups help you focus your attention and conversation. In addition to connecting with other users on the Trailblazer Community, you can post ideas for product improvement, see known issues, and even get answers from our talented Ohana. You’ll gain incredible insight from Salesforce MVPs and Community Group Leaders who love to share expertise and help everyone in the community succeed.
So far we’ve given you a lot of online resources, and really didn’t even scratch the surface. But, sometimes you just need to get out and chat with others to see how things work. That is where Community Groups are so helpful. I love going to Community Group meetings to connect with other AwesomeAdmins, see demos, and chat about new features or business problems we are trying to solve. You can find a Salesforce Community Group near you here.
At Salesforce we host many events throughout the year. Our Salesforce World Tours are a fun-filled day of innovation, learning, career transformation, and giving back. Get hands-on with the latest product innovations that can help you create connected customer experiences. Hear how Salesforce’s community of Trailblazers are disrupting industries, shaping the future, and transforming the world – and how you can too. You can see a list of all of our World Tour events here.
TrailheaDX is our annual San Francisco-based event for Developers, Admins, and Architects. Join fellow Trailblazers who are looking to build their Salesforce skill set through learning, one-on-one time with experts, and opportunities to earn certifications. Learn more about this two-day event here.
Finally, whether you attend online or in person, be sure to mark your calendar for Dreamforce. Dreamforce is our largest, most innovative event of the year. It is four days of inspiration, giving back, and the most fun you will ever have at a tech conference. In fact, this video may help you understand Dreamforce better than just reading about it.
In addition to events that Salesforce hosts, our amazing Salesforce Ohana- that’s you- puts together great Community Conferences. Often these are conferences that are right in your backyard and are fueled by your knowledge, passion, and inspiration. If you can’t find a Salesforce event near you, check out this list of Community Conferences.
The Salesforce social teams have made it very easy for you to find official accounts. If you type in Salesforce to Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, or Instagram you will find the verified accounts. Salesforce Admins is on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. You can follow us for updates on blog posts, podcasts, and I personally love our #OhanaFriday!
You might ask yourself, “Is following all of these channels necessary for me to be part of the ecosystem?” And the answer is no. But, you have those resources available to you so that you can engage on your terms. I have new Salesforce Admins ask me all the time “Well I don’t ‘Twitter’, so do I need to join now?” That’s up to you. If you chose to join, we will be there for you. Make sure to engage with us by typing the hashtag #AwesomeAdmin into your tweets (or at the end of your tweet—your choice). Anytime you do that, or tag us directly with @SalesforceAdmns, we see what you wrote.
From Trailhead to our vibrant Trailblazer community, there is a wealth of online resources to jump into. Our Salesforce Community Groups, Events, and Community Events offer you the opportunity to connect with other Admins in person and get hands-on with new features. The question isn’t where do you want to go, but when will you get started?
We cannot wait to see where your journey in the Salesforce ecosystem will take you. And we look forward to hearing how you discover your incredible Superpowers like the ability to champion productivity, deliver innovation, and connect experiences. Your work as an #AwesomeAdmin ensures your company is set up for success on Salesforce, whether you’re just getting started or have been an Admin for many years, your impact is huge!
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