If you’re reading this, you probably want to send gifts, swag, or direct mail through Salesforce—without babysitting every step or wondering if it’s working. This guide is for sales and marketing folks who want a straightforward, no-nonsense walkthrough to connecting Reachdesk and Salesforce. Less guesswork; more outreach that lands.
I’ll walk you through the real steps, point out the gotchas, and save you time. Let’s get your tools talking.
Why connect Reachdesk to Salesforce?
Before we start, let’s be clear: integrating these two is about saving time, boosting response rates, and making your outreach trackable (so you can show it’s working, or not). If you’re sending the odd gift here and there, maybe skip the integration—manual works fine. But if you want:
- Team-wide gifting that’s not a spreadsheet mess
- Triggered sends based on Salesforce data (like new leads or deal stages)
- Real reporting on what’s actually driving results
Then it’s worth the setup. Just don’t expect magic. You’ll still need good data and a plan.
Step 1: Check your Salesforce setup (before you start)
Let’s not waste time hitting errors later. You’ll need:
- Salesforce admin access (not just user)
- API access (Enterprise, Unlimited, or higher editions play best)
- A clean Salesforce org—bad data = bad results
Pro tip: If you’re not the Salesforce admin, loop them in early. Nothing slows this down like permissions drama.
Step 2: Get your Reachdesk account ready
Log in to Reachdesk. You’ll need admin rights here, too. If your company’s just kicking the tires, make sure you have a trial or live account, not a sandbox.
- Go to the “Integrations” or “Settings” section in Reachdesk.
- Find the Salesforce integration tile. Don’t see it? You might need to ask Reachdesk support to enable it.
Heads up: Some features (like campaign triggers) require certain Reachdesk plans. If you’re on a lower-tier plan, check what’s included before you get your hopes up.
Step 3: Connect Reachdesk to Salesforce
This is the actual handshake between the platforms.
- Start in Reachdesk. Click ‘Connect’ on the Salesforce integration.
- You’ll be redirected to Salesforce. You’ll log in with your admin credentials.
- Authorize Reachdesk. You’ll see a scary-looking permissions list—this is normal. Reachdesk needs access to read/write records (contacts, leads, campaigns, etc.), so don’t panic, but read what you’re agreeing to.
- Back to Reachdesk. If all went well, you’ll see a success message. If not, double-check:
- You’re using the right Salesforce account (sandbox vs. production)
- You have the right permissions in both tools
If you hit a wall: Try disconnecting and reconnecting. Or, try in a private browser window. Sometimes browser extensions or old sessions mess things up.
Step 4: Map your Salesforce fields
Here’s where most people get stuck. Reachdesk needs to know what data to pull from Salesforce—like recipient names, addresses, or custom fields you care about.
- In Reachdesk, find the “Field Mapping” or “Settings” area under Salesforce integration.
- You’ll see default mappings (like Lead First Name, Email, etc.). Double-check these match your Salesforce field names.
- If you use custom fields (like “Favorite Snack” or “T-shirt size”), map those too.
Don’t overthink this: You don’t need to map every field. Just the ones you’ll actually use for sending gifts or triggering campaigns.
Common mistake: If your Salesforce data is a mess (e.g., missing addresses), fix that first. Reachdesk can’t send a coffee mug to “No Address”.
Step 5: Install the Reachdesk Chrome Extension (optional, but handy)
If your team wants to send gifts “on the fly” from within Salesforce (rather than automating everything), the Reachdesk Chrome Extension helps.
- Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Log in with your Reachdesk credentials.
- You’ll see a Reachdesk button inside Salesforce lead, contact, or account records.
- Click it to send gifts without leaving Salesforce.
Reality check: This is great for quick, personal sends. But if you want trigger-based, automated sends, you’ll need to set up campaigns (see below).
Step 6: Build a Reachdesk campaign linked to Salesforce
This is where you tie it all together.
- In Reachdesk, go to “Campaigns.”
- Create a new campaign. Choose your gift type (physical, e-gift, etc.).
- Choose Salesforce as your trigger. You can set it up to send when:
- A lead reaches a certain stage
- An opportunity closes
- A contact is added to a list or campaign
- Set up your audience. Use Salesforce reports or lists to define who should get the gift.
- Personalize if you want. You can insert Salesforce fields (like first name) into gift notes or emails.
- Test your campaign. Always send a test to yourself first. Seriously—there’s nothing worse than sending 200 gifts with “Dear {{FirstName}}” as the greeting.
Skip the fluff: Don’t build a dozen campaigns on day one. Start with one or two, see what works, and adjust.
Step 7: Test the full workflow
Don’t trust that it’s working—prove it.
- Use a test contact or dummy account in Salesforce.
- Trigger the campaign (e.g., move the contact to a new stage).
- Check Reachdesk to make sure the gift was sent.
- Confirm the event/activity is logged back in Salesforce (so sales reps know what’s happening).
If it fails: Double-check your field mappings, permissions, and campaign settings. Sometimes a missing or misnamed field is all it takes to break things.
Step 8: Roll it out (without chaos)
Before you unleash this to your whole team:
- Train your users. Show them how to send gifts, track activity, and use the extension (if you installed it).
- Set limits and budgets. Reachdesk lets you set rules so no one goes wild with the company Amex.
- Monitor your first few sends. Watch for failed deliveries or data mismatches.
Not everything needs to be automated: Sometimes, manual sends make more sense—especially for high-value deals. Use automation where it helps, not everywhere just because you can.
Step 9: Track results (and actually learn from them)
- Use Reachdesk’s reporting to see sends, redemptions, and ROI.
- In Salesforce, look at campaign influence and response rates.
- Don’t ignore zero-results: If nobody’s redeeming your gifts, rethink your offer or timing.
Pro tip: Share what’s working (and what isn’t) with your team. A/B test different gifts or messages and see what actually moves the needle.
What to ignore
- Wild promises of “10x pipeline overnight”—integration is a tool, not a miracle.
- Over-complicating your campaigns with dozens of triggers or segments.
- Spending days perfecting field mapping. Good enough is good enough; you can update later.
Wrapping up: Keep it simple, iterate fast
Connecting Reachdesk and Salesforce can save hours, boost replies, and make outreach less of a black hole. Start small, fix the obvious snags, and don’t get hung up chasing perfection. You’ll learn what works by doing—so go live, watch the results, and keep tuning as you go.
If it feels overwhelming, remember: most teams start with one campaign and build from there. You can always add more bells and whistles later—once you know it’s worth it.