# Overview

Simon's integration into Salesforce Marketing Cloud, formerly named ExactTarget, allows users to send email, add contacts to journeys, and customize data using data extensions to send emails, SMS and push notifications.

# Getting Started

## Connecting Simon Data to Salesforce Marketing Cloud

To connect Simon Data to your Salesforce Marketing Cloud account, you will need the following information:

  • User name

  • Password

  • OAuth credentials (Client ID, Client secret)

To create OAuth credentials, follow the instructions [here](🔗).

  1. From the right hand menu, select Integrations.

222




  1. Find the integration for "ExactTarget" and enter your credentials into the form.

808




  1. Save your credentials to verify the connection is successful.

You can also read more about integrations [here](🔗).

# Actions - Data Extensions

## Add to and Update Data Extension

This action will both add and remove contacts from a data extension, so it can be used to keep a segment in sync. If a contact already exists, their content will be updated (the 'Add and Update' setting within Salesforce Marketing Cloud). This action is compatible with creating a Data Extension from within Simon and using it for multiple variants in an experiment.

ParametersDescription
** Data extension **Data extension name within SFMC
** Data extension fields **Custom context values to send to data extension. There needs to be a 1-1 relationship between field name and field value.

### Use Cases

  • Keeping a segment and content up to date.

  • Experiments with different variants using the same Data Extension

## Sync Contact to Data Extension

Data extensions allow for adding and removing contacts during syncing, so it can be used to keep a segment in sync. However, the content will not be updated once a contact has been loaded into the Data Extension. This action is compatible with creating a Data Extension from within Simon and using it for multiple variants in an experiment.

842




Within Salesforce Marketing Cloud you can navigate to your data extension via Subscribers > Data Extensions.

1600




### Use Cases

  • Keeping a segment up to date (without keeping field values up to date).

  • Experiments with different variants using the same Data Extension

### Notes

  • Subscriber Key must be set up as SubscriberKey (without a space) in the data extension in Exact Target to sync properly

  • All fields should be set up as Text Fields with length set to maximum (500 characters)

## Overwrite Data Extension

This channel action overwrites all data in a data extension. Any data that was previously present is deleted before new data is synced.

### Use cases

  • Keeping a segment and content up to date.



If you'd like to specify a specific set of Data Extension fields that cannot be modified, please contact the Simon Client Solutions team.

## Sync Contact to List

### Configuration Parameters

**None**. ExactTarget lists name defaults to Simon segment name

### Use cases

Keeping a list in sync with a segment.

### Notes

Lists, once synced, will populate in `Contacts > Contact Lists`

## Creating a new Data Extension from Simon

Simon gives you the option to create a new Data Extension in Salesforce Marketing Cloud when you set up a flow in Simon. This allows you to complete the data set-up in Simon, reducing extra steps from switching between tools and waiting for a Data Extension to become available.

You can specify a name or rely on the default provided, and the platform will perform a check to confirm that the name is not already in use for another Data Extension. These Data Extensions will be placed in the top folder in Salesforce Marketing Cloud by default. Contact Simon if you'd like to configure a different destination folder. If two different flows attempt to create the same Data Extension, one of them will fail.

The preconfigured primary key for Salesforce Marketing Cloud will be loaded by default. You are able to configure a different primary key for any particular flow. You can then add the Data Extension fields that you'd like to use or copy them from another flow, with 'Field Name' corresponding to header and 'Field Value' the value that is populated for each record. You can read more about how to dynamically populated values in our guide to [Custom Context](🔗).

1638


You can create a new Data Extension directly from Simon.

## Editing a Data Extension

If you need to work with the fields in your data extension after launching a flow (e.g. add, remove, or edit fields), please alert your Client Solutions Manager, who can adjust manually. In the event you need to update the customer information that is in the data extension, such as when new fields are added, you will need to empty the data extension and copy your existing flow to do a full resync.



Simon connects to data extensions via their ID. If you need to delete/recreate a data extension that is currently being used, please contact your account manager.

# Actions - Triggered Messaging

## Send Triggered Email to Contact

### Configuration Parameters

ParametersDescription
** Business Unit **[Business unit](🔗) selected to send the message. See [Salesforce Help](🔗) to learn more about managing business units.
** Triggered send **Triggered send name within SFMC
** Custom context **Custom context values to send to data extension. There needs to be a 1-1 relationship between field name and field value.
** Frequency cap **Number of sends per period of time

### Use cases

  • Automate core lifecycle email campaigns based on change in segment state

  • Drive rich personalized emails based on customer data and custom content

  • Send messages through different Business Units to protect sender reputation

### Considerations

*** **Default sending** - If support for Business Units is enabled for Simon accounts with flows that are already live and had no prior business unit selected, we will default to sending messages through the newly available, top-most parent business unit in your Salesforce hierarchy. To learn more about managing business units in salesforce, see [Salesforce Help](🔗).

### Notes

Triggered Sends, once queued, will populate in `Interaction > Triggered Emails`

ParametersDescription
** Data Extension **Data extension name within SFMC

### Use cases

To always refresh content in a data extension with the latest data available in Simon.

### Notes

If the segment targeted by a flow using this channel action ever has 0 members, then Salesforce Marketing Cloud will throw blank file errors. [To disable errors](🔗), please contact Salesforce support to enable the "Allow Blank File Processing" configuration for your account.

ActionsOne-timeTriggeredStreamRecurring
Sync Contact to Data Extension
Send Triggered Email to Contact
Sync Contact to List
Overwrite Data Extension❌*❌*
Sync Contact Content to Data Extension
  • The action currently shows up as an option for these flows, but a recurring flow fits the intended use in the vast majority of cases.