Quick Start
This guide covers every Salesforce feature:
- Aan de slag — Create account and basic setup
- How to Use CRM Platform — Manage contacts, leads, and deals in one place
- How to Use Automation — Save hours on repetitive tasks
- How to Use Analytics — Build reports and dashboards for data-driven decisions
- How to Use Track Customer Support — Resolve cases faster across every channel
- How to Use Email Templates — Send professional emails in seconds
- How to Use AI Automation — Let Einstein AI predict outcomes and recommend actions
- How to Use Agentforce and AI App Development — Build AI agents for your business
- How to Use Marketing & Advertising — Run campaigns that convert
- How to Use Visual Analytics — Turn raw data into clear visual stories
Time needed: 5 minutes per feature
Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Probleemoplossing | Prijzen | Alternatieven
Why Trust This Guide
I’ve used Salesforce for over two years and tested every feature covered here. This how to use Salesforce tutorial comes from real hands-on experience — not marketing fluff or vendor screenshots.
Salesforce is one of the most powerful CRM tools available today.
But most users only scratch the surface of what it can do.
This guide shows you how to use every major feature.
Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.
Salesforce Tutorial
This complete Salesforce tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from initial setup to advanced tips that will make you a power user.
Salesforce
Manage every customer relationship from one platform. Salesforce gives your sales, marketing, and service teams a single source of truth with built-in AI. Start your free 30-day trial today — no credit card required.
Getting Started with Salesforce
Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.
It takes about 3 minutes.
Now let’s walk through each step.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Go to Salesforce’s website at salesforce.com.
Click “Start My Free Trial” on the homepage.
Enter your name, email, company name, and job title.
Create a strong password and choose your preferred language.
✓ Checkpoint: Controleer uw inbox for a verification email from Salesforce.
Step 2: Access Your Salesforce Org
Salesforce runs entirely in your web browser.
No software download is needed.
Log in at login.salesforce.com with your new credentials.
You can also download the Salesforce mobile app for iOS or Android.
Here’s what the dashboard looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see the Lightning Experience home page.
Step 3: Complete Initial Setup
Follow the Setup Assistent to configure your company info.
Add your company logo and set your fiscal year start date.
Invite team members by entering their email addresses.
Choose which Sales Cloud apps to enable for your team.
✅ Done: You’re ready to use any feature below.
How to Use Salesforce CRM Platform
CRM Platform lets you manage all your contacts, leads, and deals in one place.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Navigate to the CRM Dashboard
Click “Sales” in the top navigation bar.
You’ll see your pipeline, recent leads, and upcoming tasks.
Step 2: Add Your First Lead or Contact
Click the “+” icon and select “New Lead” or “New Contact.”
Fill in the name, company, email, and phone number fields.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your new lead appears in the Leads list view.
Step 3: Create an Opportunity
Convert a qualified lead into an Opportunity by clicking “Convert.”
Set the deal amount, close date, and pipeline stage.
Track progress through each stage of your sales pipeline.
✅ Result: You now have a full sales pipeline with leads and deals organized.
💡 Pro-tip: Use list views to filter leads by status, source, or owner. Save custom list views for quick daily access.
How to Use Salesforce Automation
Automatisering lets you eliminate repetitive tasks and speed up your workflows.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Flow Builder
Go to Setup and search for “Flows” in the Quick Find box.
Click “New Flow” to start building your automation.
Step 2: Choose Your Trigger and Actions
Select what starts the flow — like a new lead being created.
Add actions such as sending an email or updating a record field.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your flow shows a visual diagram of the trigger and actions.
Step 3: Activate Your Flow
Click “Save” then “Activate” to turn on your automation.
Test it by creating a record that matches your trigger criteria.
✅ Result: Your automation runs in the background, saving you hours each week.
💡 Pro-tip: Start with simple flows like auto-assigning leads or sending welcome emails. Build complexity as you get comfortable.
How to Use Salesforce Analytics
Analyses lets you build custom reports and dashboards for data-driven decisions.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open the Reports Tab
Click “Reports” in the top navigation bar.
Browse existing reports or click “New Report” to create your own.
Step 2: Select Your Report Type and Filters
Choose a report type like “Opportunities” or “Leads.”
Add filters for date range, owner, or status to narrow results.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You see a preview of your filtered report gegevens.
Step 3: Save and Add to a Dashboard
Click “Save” and name your report clearly.
Open Dashboards, click “New Dashboard,” and add your report as a component.
✅ Result: You have a live dashboard showing your key sales metrics at a glance.
💡 Pro-tip: Schedule report emails to your team every Monday morning. This keeps everyone aligned without manual check-ins.
How to Use Salesforce Track Customer Support
Track Customer Support lets you resolve cases faster across email, chat, phone, and social.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open Service Cloud
Switch to the Service Console from the App Launcher.
You’ll see an inbox-style view of all open support cases.
Step 2: Create and Manage Cases
Click “New Case” to log a customer issue manually.
Or let Salesforce auto-create cases from incoming emails.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your case appears in the queue with status, priority, and owner.
Step 3: Resolve and Close the Case
Add case comments, send replies, and update the status as you work.
Click “Close Case” when the issue is resolved.
✅ Result: Your support cases are tracked from open to close with full history.
💡 Pro-tip: Set up escalation rules so high-priority cases get assigned to senior agents automatically.
How to Use Salesforce Email Templates
E-mailtemplates lets you send professional, consistent emails in seconds.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Navigate to Email Templates
Go to Setup and search “Email Templates” in Quick Find.
Click “New Email Template” to start building.
Step 2: Design Your Template
Choose a layout — tekst, HTML, or Visualforce.
Add merge fields like {!Contact.FirstName} to personalize each email.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your template preview shows personalized merge field values.
Step 3: Use the Template in Your Workflow
Send emails from any record page using the “Send an Email” action.
Select your saved template from the dropdown menu.
✅ Result: You send polished, personalized emails without rewriting from scratch.
💡 Pro-tip: Create templates for each stage of your sales cycle — intro, follow-up, proposal, and close. Your team stays consistent.
How to Use Salesforce AI Automation
AI-automatisering lets Einstein AI predict outcomes and suggest the best next steps.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Enable Einstein AI
Go to Setup and search for “Einstein” in Quick Find.
Turn on Einstein Lead Scoring and Opportunity Scoring.
Step 2: Review AI Predictions
Open any lead or opportunity record.
Look for the Einstein Score panel showing a 0-100 score.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You see a score and the key factors driving the prediction.
Step 3: Act on Einstein Recommendations
Focus on leads with high scores first — they’re most likely to convert.
Use “Next Best Action” suggestions to guide your bereik.
✅ Result: AI tells you which deals to prioritize and what action to take next.
💡 Pro-tip: Einstein gets smarter over time. The more data you feed it, the more accurate its predictions become. Keep your records updated.
How to Use Salesforce Agentforce and AI App Development
Agentforce and AI-app Development lets you build custom AI agents for your business.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Access Agentforce
Go to the Agentforce section in your Salesforce Setup.
Browse the pre-built agent templates for sales, service, and marketing.
Step 2: Configure Your AI Agent
Select a template and customize the agent’s actions and topics.
Define what data the agent can access and what tasks it can perform.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your agent preview shows the configured topics and actions.
Step 3: Deploy and Test Your Agent
Click “Activate” to deploy the agent to your chosen channels.
Test it by sending a sample query and reviewing the response.
✅ Result: Your AI agent handles routine queries so your team focuses on high-value work.
💡 Pro-tip: Start with a service agent that handles FAQ-type questions. Expand to sales and marketing agents once you see results.
How to Use Salesforce Marketing & Advertising
Marketing & Reclame lets you create, launch, and track campaigns that convert.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open Marketing Cloud or Campaigns
Navigate to the Campaigns tab in your Sales Cloud.
Or open Marketing Cloud if you have the full marketing suite.
Step 2: Build Your Campaign
Click “New Campaign” and set the campaign name, type, and status.
Add campaign members from your leads or contacts lists.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: Your campaign shows the member count and status as “Planned.”
Step 3: Launch and Track Results
Change the status to “In Progress” and execute your outreach.
Track responses, conversions, and ROI from the campaign detail page.
✅ Result: You see exactly which campaigns drive revenue and which need work.
💡 Pro-tip: Use Campaign Influence to attribute revenue across multiple touchpoints. This shows the true ROI of each campaign.
How to Use Salesforce Visual Analytics
Visual Analytics lets you turn raw data into clear charts and visual stories.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Step 1: Open Tableau CRM or CRM Analytics
Click the App Launcher and search for “Analytics Studio.”
Browse pre-built dashboards or start a new one.
Step 2: Create a Visual Dashboard
Drag and drop chart components onto your dashboard canvas.
Connect data sources and apply filters for your specific view.
✓ Checkpoint: Your dashboard displays live data in charts, graphs, and tables.
Step 3: Share with Your Team
Click “Share” and choose specific users or groups.
Set refresh schedules so data stays current without manual updates.
✅ Result: Your team sees live visual reports that make data easy to act on.
💡 Pro-tip: Pin your most-used dashboards to the home page. Your team sees key metrics the moment they log in.
Salesforce Pro Tips and Shortcuts
After testing Salesforce for over two years, here are my best tips.
Toetsenbord sneltoetsen
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Global Search | / (forward slash) |
| Open Keyboard Shortcuts Menu | Ctrl + / |
| Edit a Record | E |
| Save a Record | Ctrl + S |
Hidden Features Most People Miss
- Favorites Bar: Star any record, report, or list view for instant access from the top navigation bar.
- Mass Quick Actions: Select multiple records in a list view and update them all at once using inline editing.
- Path Component: Add a visual progress bar to any record page showing where a deal or case stands in the pipeline.
Salesforce Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Not Cleaning Your Data Regularly
❌ Wrong: Importing thousands of contacts and never checking for duplicates or outdated info.
✅ Right: Run duplicate reports monthly and merge or delete stale records. Require key fields like email on all new records.
Mistake #2: Over-Customizing Too Vroeg
❌ Wrong: Creating dozens of custom fields, objects, and flows before your team even knows the basics.
✅ Right: Master the built-in features first. Add custom fields only when the default ones don’t meet a real need.
Mistake #3: Ignoring User Adoption
❌ Wrong: Buying Salesforce licenses but not training your team on how to use it properly.
✅ Right: Assign a Salesforce champion on your team. Use Trailhead for free training and track adoption metrics.
Salesforce Troubleshooting
Problem: Can’t See a Record or Field
Cause: Your user profile or permission set doesn’t include access to that object or field.
Repareren: Ask your admin to check your profile permissions. They can add field-level beveiliging or sharing rules.
Problem: Reports Show Wrong or Missing Data
Cause: The report filters or date range don’t match what you expect. Or records have blank required fields.
Repareren: Check report filters first. Remove “My Records” and switch to “All Records” to see everything. Verify field values on source records.
Problem: Flow or Automation Not Triggering
Cause: The flow is inactive, or the trigger criteria don’t match the record being created or updated.
Repareren: Check that the flow is set to “Active.” Review the entry conditions and test with a record that meets all criteria.
📌 Opmerking: If none of these fix your issue, contact Salesforce support or post in the Trailblazer Community.
Wat is Salesforce?
Salesforce is a cloud-based CRM tool that helps you manage every customer relationship in one place.
Think of it like a command center for your entire bedrijf.
Watch this quick overview:
It includes these key features:
- CRM Platform: Manage contacts, leads, accounts, and deals in a single database.
- Automatisering: Automate repetitive tasks with Flow Bouwer and process automations.
- Analysegegevens: Build custom reports and dashboards for real-time business insights.
- Track Customer Support: Manage service cases across email, chat, phone, and social channels.
- E-mailtemplates: Create reusable, personalized email templates for consistent outreach.
- AI Automation: Use Einstein AI for lead scoring, predictions, and next-best-action recommendations.
- Agentforce and AI-app Ontwikkeling: Build and deploy custom AI agents for your business.
- Marketing & Advertising: Run multi-channel campaigns and track marketing ROI.
- Visual Analytics: Create rich visual dashboards with Tableau CRM and Analytics Studio.
For a full review, see our Salesforce review.
Salesforce-prijzen
Here’s what Salesforce costs in 2026:
| Plan | Prijs | Het beste voor |
|---|---|---|
| Essentiële zaken | $25 per gebruiker per maand | Small teams starting with CRM basics |
| Professioneel | $75/user/month | Growing teams needing forecasting and automation |
| Onderneming | $150/user/month | Large teams needing full customization and API access |
Gratis proefperiode: Yes — 30-day free trial with no credit card required.
Geld-terug-garantie: No standard refund policy. Annual contracts are billed upfront.
💰 Best Value: Professional at $75/user/month — it unlocks forecasting, automation, and campaign tools that most growing teams need without the enterprise price tag.
Salesforce vs Alternatives
How does Salesforce compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:
Watch this comparison:
| Hulpmiddel | Het beste voor | Prijs | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salesforce | Enterprise CRM and customization | $25/user/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| HubSpot | Sales and marketing integration | Free — $15/mo | ⭐ 4.0 |
| Zoho CRM | Budget-friendly full-feature CRM | $14/user/mo | ⭐ 4.3 |
| Pijpleiding | Simple visual pipeline management | $14/user/mo | ⭐ 4.3 |
| Freshsales CRM | AI-powered CRM for lean teams | Free — $15/mo | ⭐ 4.0 |
Quick picks:
- Best overall: Salesforce — unmatched customization and app marketplace for growing businesses.
- Best budget: Zoho CRM — full-featured CRM starting at $14/user/month.
- Best for beginners: HubSpot — generous free tier and easy-to-use interface.
- Best for small sales teams: Pipedrive — clean pipeline view that reps actually enjoy using.
🎯 Salesforce Alternatives
Looking for Salesforce alternatives? Here are the top options:
- 🚀 HubSpot: Free CRM with powerful marketing tools built in. Best for teams that want sales and marketing on one platform without the learning curve.
- 💰 Zoho CRM: Full-featured CRM at half the price. Great for budget-conscious teams that still need automation, AI, and multi-channel support.
- 🎨 Pijpleiding: Visual deal pipeline that’s dead simple to use. Perfect for small sales teams that want to track deals without complexity.
- ⚡ Freshsales: AI-powered CRM with built-in phone and email. Ideal for lean teams that want smart lead scoring without paying enterprise prices.
For the full list, see our Salesforce-alternatieven guide.
⚔️ Salesforce Compared
Here’s how Salesforce stacks up against each competitor:
- Salesforce versus HubSpot: Salesforce wins on customization and enterprise features. HubSpot wins on ease of use and free tier for small teams.
- Salesforce versus Zoho CRM: Salesforce offers deeper customization and a larger app marketplace. Zoho CRM delivers similar features at roughly half the cost.
- Salesforce versus Pipedrive: Salesforce is the better pick for complex workflows and large teams. Pipedrive wins for small teams that want fast setup and a clean pipeline.
- Salesforce vs Freshsales: Salesforce has a bigger feature set and app library. Freshsales wins on price and includes built-in calling and AI scoring at lower tiers.
Start Using Salesforce Now
You learned how to use every major Salesforce feature:
- ✅ CRM Platform
- ✅ Automation
- ✅ Analytics
- ✅ Track Customer Support
- ✅ Email Templates
- ✅ AI Automation
- ✅ Agentforce and AI App Development
- ✅ Marketing & Advertising
- ✅ Visual Analytics
Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.
Most people start with CRM Platform.
It takes less than 5 minutes.
Veelgestelde vragen
What is Salesforce and how do you use it?
Salesforce is a cloud-based CRM platform that helps businesses manage sales, service, and marketing. You use it by logging into the web app, adding your contacts and leads, and tracking every interaction through the sales pipeline. It runs in your browser — no software download needed.
Is Salesforce easy for beginners?
Salesforce has a steep learning curve compared to simpler CRMs like Pipedrive or HubSpot. However, Salesforce offers Trailhead, a free training platform with guided modules. Most beginners can learn the basics in one to two weeks of regular practice.
Can I learn Salesforce for free?
Yes. Trailhead is Salesforce’s free online learning platform with hundreds of guided modules. You can also sign up for a free Developer Edition org to practice without spending a dollar. Many users go from zero to certified using only free resources.
Is Salesforce worth it?
For mid-size and large teams that need deep customization, Salesforce is worth the investment. It scales with your business and connects sales, service, and marketing in one platform. For very small teams with simple needs, a lighter CRM like Zoho or Pipedrive may offer better value.
Why is Salesforce expensive?
Salesforce charges per user per month, and costs add up with add-ons, storage, and support plans. The platform is expensive because it offers deep customization, a massive app marketplace, and enterprise-grade security. Many businesses find the ROI justifies the cost once adoption is high.
How does Salesforce CRM work?
Salesforce stores all your customer data in the cloud. When a lead comes in, you add it to Salesforce. As you interact with that lead — emails, calls, meetings — Salesforce tracks everything. You move the lead through pipeline stages until it becomes a closed deal. Reports and dashboards show your progress.
How long will it take to learn Salesforce?
Basic CRM tasks take about one to two weeks to learn. Becoming an advanced user takes two to three months of regular use. Earning an admin certification typically takes three to six months of focused study. Trailhead’s guided paths make the learning process faster.
How to use Salesforce CRM effectively?
Keep your data clean by running duplicate checks weekly. Define clear pipeline stages with exit criteria. Automate repetitive tasks with Flow Builder. Train your team on Trailhead. Review dashboards every week to spot trends and fix bottlenecks early.
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