What will I actually learn in this Salesforce course?

You'll learn how Salesforce works as a CRM and how to use it for common business administration tasks. It starts with the platform basics and interface navigation, then moves into customer records, communities, and security settings. You'll also practice tasks like creating accounts and contacts or customizing a page in Lightning.

Do I need any Salesforce experience before starting this course?

No, you don't need prior Salesforce experience for this course. Basic computer literacy is recommended, since you'll be navigating web interfaces, completing online practice work, and submitting assignments. The course begins with Salesforce fundamentals rather than assuming you already know CRM processes.

Is this course beginner-friendly for learning Salesforce?

Yes, it's beginner-friendly if you're new to Salesforce and want a short introduction to how the platform is used in business settings. The course starts with core concepts and navigation, then gradually adds common admin tasks like working with records, communities, and permissions. If you already use Salesforce regularly, it may feel more like a refresher than a deep dive.

How long does it take to complete this course?

Plan on about 5 hours in total. It's short enough to finish over a few sittings, with time spread across lesson videos, readings, hands-on practice, and graded assignments. The course includes demonstration videos, hands-on activities, discussions, and written or screenshot-based submissions.

Are there hands-on exercises or projects in this course?

Yes, there's meaningful hands-on work, but it's guided rather than project-heavy. You'll use Salesforce Trailhead to set up a playground, complete challenges, create custom objects, enter account and contact data, and try simple customization tasks such as a Lightning home page. Those exercises help you apply each idea right after you learn it.

What Salesforce topics are covered in this course?

You'll cover the main Salesforce areas needed for entry-level use and basic administration. That includes navigating Classic and Lightning, managing customer data and communities, and understanding how mobile, service, marketing, and collaboration features support day-to-day work. You'll also learn the essentials of user access, profiles, permission sets, and data security inside a Salesforce organization.

What can I actually do after finishing this course?

After finishing, you should be able to navigate Salesforce more confidently and carry out common setup and administration tasks. For example, you can create accounts and contacts, move between interfaces, create a simple community, or add a user with the right access settings. You'll also be able to explain how different Salesforce features support sales, service, and communication needs.

Is this course more focused on theory or hands-on learning?

It's more concept-first, with guided practice throughout. You'll learn what the main Salesforce features do through readings and demo lessons, then reinforce that with guided exercises and short assignments instead of a large open-ended build.

Why would I choose this course over other Salesforce courses?

This course is a strong choice if you want a concise Salesforce introduction that combines platform basics with core admin skills. Instead of staying at a high-level overview, it has you practice interface navigation, customer data management, simple customization, and user permissions as you go. If you want a short course that helps you understand the platform and try common workflows yourself, it's a strong fit.

Salesforce Basics

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Salesforce Basics

This course is part of Salesforce Fundamentals Specialization

Instructor: Stephane Muller

36,336 already enrolled

Included with

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3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

220 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

5 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

220 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

5 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Customize Salesforce functionality to meet specific team needs.
'Access, navigate, and transition between Lightning and Classic Salesforce interfaces.
Create customer, partner, and employee communities for business engagement.
Manage customer data and relationships within the Salesforce CRM platform.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

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Assessments

6 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Salesforce Fundamentals Specialization

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Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

This course introduces you to the powerful capabilities of Salesforce, a leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. You will gain foundational knowledge of Salesforce components, enabling you to optimize business operations. Learn the essentials of Lightning for Sales, Community Cloud, and Marketing functionalities, and discover how to secure your Salesforce organization and manage user permissions effectively. These practical skills will prepare you to implement Salesforce solutions within various organizations. The course features in-depth readings, hands-on activities within Salesforce's Trailhead platform, peer discussions, demonstration videos, and peer review assignments.

By the end of this course, you will be able to: - Understand core Salesforce components and their functions. - Navigate and utilize Lightning for Sales, Community Cloud, and Marketing features. - Implement security settings and manage permissions within a Salesforce organization. - Apply foundational Salesforce knowledge to business administration tasks. To be successful in this course, no prior experience with Salesforce is required, though basic computer literacy is recommended.

Module details

Welcome to Salesforce Fundamentals! This module is your essential starting point, focusing on what Salesforce is and how it functions within a business context. You'll explore the key differences between Salesforce Classic and Lightning interfaces, a fundamental skill for any aspiring business administration specialist. This foundational knowledge will be crucial as you progress through the course. To get the most out of this module, focus on understanding the core distinctions between Classic and Lightning interfaces, as this forms the basis for future modules.

What's included

1 video2 readings2 assignments

In today's mobile-first world, simplifying customer interactions is key for any business. This module will show you how to leverage the Salesforce mobile app to track sales leads, view essential reports, and keep your workforce engaged, even when they're out of the office. You'll also discover how Salesforce Service Cloud can enhance customer engagement and keep your business top-of-mind. To get the most out of this module, consider how mobile access impacts your own customer interactions and overall business management.

What's included

2 videos2 readings2 assignments

In this module, you'll focus on the critical aspects of security and managing permissions across different organizational levels, ensuring the safety of your business data. You'll also explore Salesforce Chatter functions and understand how they can significantly benefit sales teams. Building on your foundational knowledge, our virtual session will provide an overview of reports, further preparing you for the Salesforce Superbadge project. Pay close attention to permission settings, as they are critical for data integrity and effective management.

What's included

1 video2 readings2 assignments

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(62 ratings)

Stephane Muller

University of California, Irvine

16 Courses78,028 learners

Offered by

University of California, Irvine

Learner reviews

5 stars
66.06%
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15.83%
3 stars
4.07%
2 stars
2.71%
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Reviewed on Jul 20, 2022

It was a good course but frequently I flet like the instructions were missing some key steps. I was happy that I got through this with no experience in Salesforce.

Reviewed on Aug 24, 2022

This course was very useful for clearing basics of Salesforce.

Reviewed on Feb 1, 2021

Enjoyed the course, but was sometimes hard to get answers to questions.

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