Salesforce Certified Marketing Associate
The Salesforce Certified Marketing Associate certification is designed for those aiming to start their career in an entry-level marketing role within the Salesforce ecosystem. It emphasizes the foundational knowledge, skills, and abilities of those new to Marketing Cloud Engagement and general marketing principles.
This entry-level certification is assessed through a multiple-choice exam, ideal for individuals with up to 6 months of experience in Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement. It equips aspiring Salesforce professionals with essential marketing knowledge, demonstrating how Marketing Cloud Engagement meets business needs following Salesforce’s best practices.
Target Audience
The ideal candidate for the Marketing Associate role is someone who is familiar with the Salesforce Platform and has up to 6 months of hands-on experience with Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement. They are eager to explore marketing roles and tools, or may just be starting their journey towards a career in marketing.
Such candidates aim to deepen their understanding of Marketing Cloud Engagement and how it applies to various business scenarios. They are interested in building practical experience and may also consider pursuing advanced marketer certifications in the future. This role serves as a stepping stone for those looking to become a Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Email Specialist or a Salesforce Certified Marketing Cloud Administrator.
Knowledge Requirement for the Exam
For the Salesforce Marketing Associate Certification Exam, candidates should have the following knowledge, skills, and experience:
- An understanding of basic marketing concepts, including metrics, target audiences, opt-in/opt-out processes, and compliance and privacy fundamentals.
- A foundational grasp of Marketing Cloud Engagement components and their functionality.
- The ability to navigate and use key features of Marketing Cloud Engagement.
- An understanding of how digital marketing tools can engage customers, generate leads, and meet business goals.
- Proficiency with Marketing Cloud Engagement email tools and features.
- A solid understanding of journeys and the Journey Builder in Marketing Cloud Engagement.
- Familiarity with the reporting and analytics tools within Marketing Cloud Engagement, including tracking key email metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates.
Candidates for this certification are not required to:
- Set up, configure, or manage Marketing Cloud Engagement email tools and features.
- Use other messaging channels like SMS or Push.
- Be familiar with Marketing Cloud Account Engagement (formerly Pardot).
- Have knowledge of HTML, CSS, or SQL.
- Use AMPscript.
Exam Details
The Salesforce Certified Marketing Associate exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions and up to 5 non-scored questions, with a time limit of 70 minutes to complete. A passing score of 65% is required. The exam is available as a proctored test, which can be taken either onsite at a testing center or online. No hard copy or online materials are allowed for reference during the exam.
Course Outline
The Salesforce Certified Marketing Associate Exam checks a candidate’s understanding and abilities across the following key objectives.
1. Marketing Concepts 28%
- Describe key components of a marketing strategy and how they align with the overall marketing purpose.
- Given a scenario, identify key requirements for implementing an effective email opt-in process in a marketing campaign.
- Recall the regional nature of privacy laws with respect to the subscriber base in order to uphold privacy standards in the context of marketing.
- Given a scenario, provide examples of basic email goals, metrics, and relative value in assessing the success of a marketing campaign.
- Given a customer experience scenario, summarize the type of content and message conveyed to the target audience.
2. Marketing Cloud Engagement Basics 22%
- Identify solutions for regional or business related account structures as they relate to business units and corresponding permissions in Marketing Cloud Engagement.
- Apply essential features of Marketing Cloud Engagement (MCE) for marketing activities.
- Identify different Salesforce curated resources for assistance, training, and support when using Marketing Cloud Engagement.
- Differentiate between subscriber keys, contact keys, and contact IDs to uniquely identify subscribers.
- Given requirements, determine a proper Cloudpage form submission setup.
3. Email Sending and Journeys 22%
- Outline the necessary configurations to activate a journey and configure entry criteria for a successful activation.
- Given a scenario, identify the recommended configuration for the email send wizard settings.
- Distinguish between template components and content blocks when building emails in Marketing Cloud Engagement.
- Given a scenario, identify which journey functionality should be used to address business needs.
- Given a scenario, identify how to accomplish content rendering validation.
4. Data Management 18%
- Given a scenario, summarize the various data import mechanisms and requirements.
- Configure settings when creating a new data extension, including settings for data fields.
- Given a scenario, recommend the best way to interpret a data extension to identify the desired target data
5. Reporting and Analytics 10%
- Identify where specific data can be found in Marketing Cloud Engagement.
- Interpret undesired send results and possible deliverability consequences.
Salesforce Certified Marketing Associate: FAQs
Salesforce Exam Candidate Code of Conduct
At Salesforce, trust is a top priority, and safeguarding the security of Salesforce credentials is a shared responsibility. By participating in the Salesforce Credentialing Program, you must agree to the terms outlined in the Salesforce Credential and Certification Program Agreement.
Participants in the Salesforce Credentialing Program are expected to:
- Use official Salesforce study resources on Trailhead, including exam guides, trail mixes, and Trailhead courses to prepare for certification exams.
- Engage with the Trailblazer Community to find additional training, collaborate with peers, and connect with study groups or mentors.
- Follow the rules for both online proctored and in-person certification exams.
- Report any activity that compromises credential security to the Credential Security team.
Participants in the Salesforce Credentialing Program are prohibited from:
- Sharing, using, or seeking out certification exam questions and answers, or superbadge solutions.
- Requesting, offering, or accepting assistance during your certification exam.
- Engaging in any activity that violates the Salesforce Credential and Certification Program Agreement.
Violations of the Program Agreement may result in:
- Cancellation of upcoming exams.
- Suspension from taking online proctored exams.
- Ban from participating in any certification exams.
- Revocation of existing certifications and superbadges.
- Removal from the Salesforce Credentialing Program and the Trailblazer Community.
Maintaining Your Salesforce Certification
There are no maintenance requirements for the Exam. However, continuous learning is encouraged through Trailhead, Trailblazer Community, and Trailhead Academy.
Salesforce Certified Marketing Associate Study Guide
1. Understand the Exam Guide
The Salesforce Exam Guide is created to help you determine your readiness for the Salesforce Certified Marketing Associate Exam. It offers insights into the intended audience for the certification, suggests relevant training and resources, and includes a comprehensive list of exam objectives, all aimed at assisting you in achieving a passing score. Salesforce strongly advises combining practical experience, attending courses, and engaging in self-study to enhance your likelihood of success on the exam.
2. Use Recommended Training and Resources
To prepare for this exam, Salesforce recommends a blend of practical experience, completion of training courses, exploration of Trailhead trails, and independent study focused on the topics outlined in the Exam Outline section of this guide. The suggested study materials for this exam are:
The following certification is recommended (but not mandatory) for this exam:
- Certification: Salesforce Certified Associate
- This certification offers foundational knowledge of the Salesforce Customer 360 Platform and its associated products.
3. Explore Salesforce Trailhead Academy
Explore the Salesforce Trailhead Academy to enhance your preparation for the Salesforce Certified Marketing Associate Exam. Trailhead Academy offers a variety of interactive learning modules designed to build your knowledge and skills in marketing concepts and Salesforce tools. You can access tailored courses that cover essential topics, including Marketing Cloud Engagement and best practices for leveraging Salesforce solutions. Additionally, the Academy provides hands-on challenges, practical exercises, and valuable resources that reinforce your understanding. By engaging with Trailhead Academy, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the exam and confidently pursue your marketing career within the Salesforce ecosystem.
4. Become Part of Study Groups/Communities
Joining study groups or communities can significantly enhance your preparation for the Salesforce Certified Marketing Associate Exam. These collaborative environments offer an opportunity to connect with fellow candidates who share similar goals, allowing you to exchange insights, resources, and study strategies. Participating in discussions helps deepen your understanding of complex topics while providing different perspectives on marketing concepts and Salesforce tools.
Additionally, study groups often organize practice sessions, mock exams, and Q&A opportunities, which can be invaluable in reinforcing your knowledge and boosting your confidence. By becoming part of these communities, you not only gain support but also foster a network of contacts that can be beneficial in your future marketing career within the Salesforce ecosystem.
5. Take Practice Exam Tests
Once you’ve finished your preparation, taking practice tests is a crucial step in the process. This self-evaluation phase helps you identify your strengths and areas for improvement, enhances your confidence, and hone your time management skills. Practice exams simulate the actual testing environment, offering a realistic gauge of your readiness. By pinpointing specific topics that need more attention, you can make focused improvements before the exam. Regular self-assessment is essential for optimizing your performance and ensuring a successful experience on the day of the test.
