If you’re tired of manually updating prospect info in two (or more) places, you’re in the right spot. This is for sales ops folks, admins, or anyone who just wants Freckle and Salesforce to get along. No fluff—just practical steps, warnings, and real talk about what’s worth your time.
Why bother syncing Freckle with Salesforce?
Let’s be blunt: sales data gets messy, fast. Prospects get lost, follow-ups fall through, and everyone’s “single source of truth” turns into a game of telephone. By connecting Freckle with Salesforce, you can:
- Cut down on double-entry and human error
- Keep your pipeline up to date without chasing people
- Give sales and success teams a clear picture (without shouting across Slack)
But—before you dive in, know this: integration is never just “one click.” Even if a vendor says so, you’ll need to plan, test, and watch for hiccups.
Step 1: Get clear on what you actually want to sync
Start with the basics:
- Which direction? Do you want data to flow from Freckle to Salesforce, Salesforce to Freckle, or both?
- What data matters? Prospects, deals, touchpoints, notes? Don’t try to sync everything—just what you’ll actually use.
- How often? Real-time sounds sexy, but hourly or daily updates are usually fine (and cause fewer headaches).
Pro tip: Write down what “success” looks like before you start. If you can’t explain it to a coworker in one sentence, it’s too complicated.
Step 2: Check your Freckle and Salesforce plans
Not every plan has API access or integration features. Here’s what to look for:
- Freckle: Make sure your account includes access to API or integrations. Some plans restrict this, or charge extra.
- Salesforce: You’ll need admin rights (or someone who does) to install apps, set up connected apps, or mess with API settings.
If you’re not sure, check with your admin or poke through the account settings. Don’t waste hours troubleshooting an integration you can’t even use.
Step 3: Decide on an integration method
Here’s where most guides get vague. Let’s be specific: you have three real options.
1. Native integration (if it exists)
Check if Freckle has a direct Salesforce integration. This is the easiest path—if it exists and fits your needs.
- Upside: Usually quickest, least maintenance.
- Downside: Rarely customizable. You get whatever the vendor built.
- Action: Look for a “Salesforce” option in Freckle’s integrations menu or check their help docs.
2. Third-party connector (Zapier, Workato, Tray.io, etc.)
No native integration? Use a middleware tool like Zapier or Workato.
- Upside: No coding. Lots of templates. Good for basic syncs.
- Downside: Monthly fees. Limited logic. Debugging can be a pain if flows get complex.
- Action: Search Zapier (or similar) for “Freckle + Salesforce” zaps or recipes. See what’s available.
3. Build your own (custom API scripts)
If you need full control, or nothing else fits, build your own integration via API.
- Upside: Total flexibility. You control what syncs and how.
- Downside: You’ll need developer chops (or someone who does). Maintenance is on you.
- Action: Check both products’ API docs. Make a small proof-of-concept before committing.
Ignore: Add-on “integration platforms” that promise everything but deliver little. If their docs are vague or pricing is unclear, walk away.
Step 4: Map your data fields
Before you flip any switches, get clear on what maps to what. Don’t assume “prospect” means the same thing in both systems.
- List out the fields in Freckle (name, email, company, notes, etc.).
- Do the same for Salesforce (Leads, Contacts, Accounts, custom fields).
- Create a simple mapping table. For example:
| Freckle Field | Salesforce Field | | -------------- | ----------------- | | Name | Lead Name | | Email | Lead Email | | Company | Account Name | | Last Contacted | Last Activity |
If you see mismatches (e.g., Freckle has a field Salesforce doesn’t), decide: - Can you add a custom field in Salesforce? - Should you skip syncing that field? - Do you need to transform the data (e.g., date formats)?
Pro tip: Keep it lean. Sync only what you really need. More fields = more problems.
Step 5: Set up the connection
How you do this depends on which method you picked:
If using a native integration
- Follow Freckle’s guide for connecting to Salesforce.
- You’ll probably need to authenticate (log into Salesforce, approve access).
- Choose which records and fields to sync (some integrations let you pick).
- Set sync frequency (real-time, hourly, daily).
If using Zapier or another connector
- Create a new Zap/recipe/flow.
- Choose Freckle as the trigger (e.g., “New Prospect”).
- Choose Salesforce as the action (e.g., “Create Lead”).
- Map fields using your mapping table from Step 4.
- Set up filters or conditions (e.g., only sync prospects from a certain campaign).
- Test it with a sample record.
If building your own
- Set up API credentials for both Freckle and Salesforce.
- Write a script (Python, Node.js, whatever you like) to:
- Pull new/updated data from Freckle.
- Transform data as needed.
- Push to Salesforce (usually via REST API).
- Handle errors and log what happens.
- Set it to run on a schedule (using cron, AWS Lambda, etc.).
Watch out for: API limits. Both Freckle and Salesforce can throttle requests if you get aggressive. Start slow.
Step 6: Test with sample data
Don’t unleash this on your full database—test with a few dummy records first.
- Add a fake prospect in Freckle. See if it appears in Salesforce (and vice versa, if you’re syncing both ways).
- Check that all fields map correctly. Look for weird formatting, missing data, or duplicates.
- Try edge cases: missing emails, weird characters, big notes, etc.
Pro tip: Use a separate Salesforce sandbox or test org if you can. Cleaning up bad data in production is a nightmare.
Step 7: Set up error handling and alerts
Even the best integrations break. Plan for it.
- Set up email or Slack alerts for failed syncs (most connectors support this).
- Build in error logging if you’re coding your own.
- Decide who’s on the hook for fixing issues—don’t assume “IT will handle it.”
If you ignore errors, silent failures can go unnoticed for weeks. That’s how pipelines get messy.
Step 8: Launch and monitor
Once you’re happy with testing:
- Roll out the integration for real data.
- Keep a close eye for the first week. Watch for duplicates, dropped records, or weird updates.
- Ask your team for feedback—are they seeing the data where they expect it?
If things go sideways, don’t be afraid to pause the sync and fix issues. Better to go slow than pollute your CRM.
Honest advice: What actually works (and what doesn’t)
- Native integrations are great if your needs are simple. If you want to customize, you’ll probably hit a wall.
- Zapier/Workato is fine for light syncing, but gets messy fast. If your flows have lots of “if this, then that,” expect to debug often.
- Custom scripts are powerful, but only if you have someone to maintain them. Don’t build this unless you really need it.
Ignore: Sales pitches promising “seamless, automatic syncing” if they can’t show you detailed docs or a working demo. There’s always some manual setup.
Keep your integration as simple as possible. More moving parts = more to break.
Wrapping up: Keep it simple, review often
Integrating Freckle with Salesforce isn’t rocket science, but it’s not “set and forget” either. Start with the bare minimum, document what you did, and check in monthly to make sure data’s still flowing. If you find yourself spending more time fixing the integration than it saves, it’s time to step back and rethink.
Simple wins. Iterate as you go. And don’t trust anyone who says “it just works”—always check for yourself.