Want to automate video outreach from Salesforce without losing your mind? This guide is for admins, sales ops, or anyone who needs to actually make Hippovideo and Salesforce play nice together, not just read a fluffy promise about “seamless” integrations. If you're tired of clicking through 10 tabs to send a video, or if you want to set up a workflow that does the grunt work for you, you’re in the right place.
Let's skip the hype and get you up and running—with honest advice about what works, what’s a pain, and where you can save yourself future headaches.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
- A Salesforce admin login (don’t try this as a basic user).
- A Hippovideo account with access to integrations (usually not on the free plan).
- Video content ready to use (or at least a test video).
- Some patience—Salesforce permissions and API quirks aren’t always fun.
Pro tip: If you’re in a big company, make friends with your Salesforce admin. You’ll need them for permissions, and they can help if things get weird.
Step 1: Understand What This Integration Can (and Can’t) Do
Before you start clicking, know the basics:
What works: - Send personalized videos directly from Salesforce records (Leads, Contacts, Opportunities). - Trigger video sends via Salesforce workflows/Process Builder/Flow. - Track video engagement (views, clicks) back in Salesforce. - Add video fields/components to Salesforce layouts.
What doesn’t: - Full, two-way syncing of every Hippovideo action (it’s not a CRM replacement). - Super-granular reporting inside Salesforce—expect only basic metrics unless you build custom stuff. - Flawless, instant automations—sometimes you’ll hit API limits or timing issues.
Ignore: Any vague promise about “seamless” or “one-click” integrations. There’s setup, testing, and sometimes troubleshooting.
Step 2: Connect Hippovideo to Salesforce
This is where most people get tripped up. Here’s how to do it (and what to expect):
- Log in to Hippovideo.
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Go to the dashboard. Find “Integrations” or “Connectors” (the menu moves around; if you can’t find it, try their help docs).
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Find Salesforce in the integrations list.
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Click “Connect” or “Add.”
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Authorize the connection.
- You’ll be redirected to Salesforce. Log in (if you aren’t already).
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Approve the requested permissions. Hippovideo will need access to view/edit leads, contacts, etc. If you see a scary list of permissions, this is normal.
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Pick your Salesforce environment.
- You can connect to a Salesforce Sandbox for testing, or to Production. Always start with Sandbox if you can.
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If you don’t see Sandbox as an option, check with Hippovideo support—sometimes it’s a plan issue.
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Save and confirm.
- Hippovideo should say the connection is active.
- If you get errors, double-check your Salesforce user has API and integration permissions.
Gotcha: If you use SSO (Single Sign-On) or have tight security settings, ask your Salesforce admin to whitelist Hippovideo’s app.
Step 3: Set Up Hippovideo in Salesforce
Now you need to actually bring Hippovideo tools into Salesforce, so your team can use them.
3.1 Install the Hippovideo Salesforce App
- Go to the Salesforce AppExchange.
- Search for “Hippovideo.”
- Click “Get It Now” and follow the prompts.
- Choose who gets access (admins only, or specific profiles).
- Complete the installation.
Heads up: Some orgs lock down installs. You might need admin approval.
3.2 Add Hippovideo Components to Page Layouts
- In Salesforce Setup, go to Object Manager.
- Pick the object (Lead, Contact, Opportunity, etc.).
- Edit the Page Layout.
- Drag the Hippovideo component (usually called “Hippovideo Widget” or similar) onto the layout where you want it.
- Save.
Pro tip: Put the widget somewhere visible—if it’s buried at the bottom, nobody will use it.
3.3 Verify Permissions
- Make sure users who need to send videos have permissions for the Hippovideo app and relevant Salesforce objects.
- Test with a regular user profile (not admin) to catch permission issues early.
Step 4: Build an Automated Workflow to Send Videos
Here’s the part that saves you time—automating video sends based on Salesforce events.
4.1 Decide When to Send Videos
- New lead created?
- Opportunity moved to a certain stage?
- After a call is logged?
Pick one to start. Don’t try to automate everything at once.
4.2 Use Salesforce Flow or Process Builder
Process Builder is being phased out by Salesforce, so use Flow for anything new.
Example: Send Video When a Lead is Created
- Go to Salesforce Setup > Flows.
- Click “New Flow.” Choose “Record-Triggered Flow.”
- Set the trigger: When a Lead is created.
- Add an action:
- Choose “Apex Action” if Hippovideo provides one.
- Or, set up an outbound message or HTTP callout to Hippovideo’s API (this requires some technical know-how).
- Map fields as needed:
- Email, name, video template ID, etc.
Note: Hippovideo may provide pre-built Flow actions, or you might need to use their API. If it’s API-based, you’ll need the endpoint, authentication details, and a way to handle errors.
4.3 Test Your Automation
- Create a test lead.
- Watch for the video send (check Hippovideo’s logs or your email).
- Check Salesforce for engagement data updates.
If nothing happens: Double-check API keys, permissions, and Flow debug logs. Most issues are permissions or API endpoint errors.
Step 5: Track Video Engagement in Salesforce
Tracking the results is half the point, right?
- Hippovideo should push engagement data (views, clicks, replies) back to Salesforce.
- Look for new fields or related lists on the Lead/Contact record—often called “Video Engagement” or similar.
- You can build Salesforce reports or dashboards off this data, but expect limitations. You’ll get basic metrics, not detailed playback analytics.
Pro tip: If you need deeper analytics, export data from Hippovideo and analyze it separately. Salesforce isn’t built for video analytics.
Step 6: Train Your Team (and Set Expectations)
This integration is only as good as the people using it.
- Show your team how to use the Hippovideo widget inside Salesforce.
- Walk them through sending a video, tracking engagement, and troubleshooting common issues.
- Set expectations: “Not every video will send instantly,” “Metrics may lag by a few minutes,” etc.
What to ignore: Fancy email templates or “AI-powered” personalization unless you’ve tested them. Stick to basics at first.
Step 7: Maintain and Troubleshoot
- Check for updates in both Hippovideo and Salesforce apps—integrations can break after updates.
- Monitor API limits in Salesforce if you’re sending a lot of automated requests.
- Review error logs regularly. If something stops working, retrace your steps and check permissions first.
If you run into issues: Hippovideo support can be hit or miss—document your setup, so you don’t have to start from scratch if you need help.
Wrapping Up
You’ve now got Hippovideo and Salesforce talking to each other, sending videos without the manual slog, and tracking basic engagement. Don’t overcomplicate it—start with one automated workflow, make sure it works, and build from there. The more you try to automate at once, the more things can break. Keep it simple, test often, and tweak as you go. That’s how you actually get value from these tools—without becoming their full-time babysitter.