If you’re tired of junk emails clogging up your Salesforce leads, you’re in the right place. This guide is for anyone who’s responsible for the health of their CRM—admins, sales ops, or just the poor soul who’s stuck cleaning up the mess. We’ll walk through exactly how to connect Kickbox with Salesforce, so you can automatically weed out bad emails before they turn into wasted effort. No fluff, no hype. Just what you need to get email validation working, step by step.
Why bother with Kickbox and Salesforce integration?
Let’s get straight to it: Salesforce is only as good as the data you feed it. If your leads include fake, mistyped, or disposable emails, you’re wasting time and money. Kickbox checks if an email address is actually deliverable—so you can stop chasing ghosts.
Who should care? - Sales teams sick of bounced emails and lost opportunities - Marketing folks who want clean lists for campaigns - CRM admins looking to keep their database tidy
What Kickbox does well: - Flags invalid or risky emails in real time - Integrates with Salesforce via API, Zapier, or third-party connectors - Helps you avoid blacklists and keeps your sender reputation clean
What it doesn’t do: - Fix typos automatically - Guarantee that someone will reply (it just checks if the address exists) - Work well with every custom Salesforce setup out of the box
Let’s get into the actual how-to.
Step 1: Get your tools and access sorted
Before you touch a setting, make sure you have:
- Salesforce admin access (you’ll need it to set up integrations and edit objects)
- A Kickbox account (the paid version is required for API or integrations)
- API access in Salesforce (usually included in Enterprise and up)
- Optional: Zapier or another connector if you want a no-code approach
Pro tip: If you don’t have admin rights, stop here and get the right permissions. Otherwise, you’ll just get frustrated.
Step 2: Decide how you want to connect
There are a few ways to link Kickbox and Salesforce. Here’s the honest rundown:
- Direct API Integration:
- Best for: Full control, custom workflows, high volume
- Requires: Developer resources, solid API skills
- Zapier or Similar Connector:
- Best for: No-code setups, quick proof of concept
- Requires: A Zapier subscription, less flexibility, may cost more at scale
- AppExchange Packages:
- Best for: Plug-and-play, but depends on what’s available and kept up to date
Don’t overthink it. If you just want to try things out, start with Zapier. If you’re building something for a team or a big org, go with the API.
Step 3: Set up Kickbox for Salesforce (API method)
If you have a developer (or you’re handy with APIs), this is the most flexible option.
3.1. Get your Kickbox API key
- Log in to your Kickbox dashboard.
- Head to the API section.
- Generate a new API key and copy it somewhere safe. (Don’t share this in Slack, seriously.)
3.2. Create a Salesforce Connected App
- Go to Setup in Salesforce.
- Search for App Manager.
- Click New Connected App.
- Give it a name like “Kickbox Integration.”
- Under API (Enable OAuth Settings), check the box.
- Add the callback URL (you can use any valid URL for now if you’re just using the API).
- Select the required OAuth scopes (usually “Full access” is overkill—stick to what you need).
- Save and make note of your Consumer Key and Secret.
3.3. Build the integration logic
Here’s what you (or your developer) need to do:
-
Identify the trigger:
When should validation happen?- On new Lead creation
- On email field updates
- On demand (manual button)
-
Write the Apex code or use Process Builder/Flow:
- Call the Kickbox API with the email address.
- Parse the response (Kickbox tells you if it’s “deliverable,” “undeliverable,” “risky,” etc.).
- Update a custom field on the Lead or Contact with the validation result.
Sample API call (pseudo-code): http GET https://api.kickbox.com/v2/verify?email={{email}}&apikey={{your_api_key}}
What to store: - Email validation status - Reason (e.g., mailbox full, domain doesn’t exist) - Last checked date
Pro tip:
Don’t block lead creation on email validation. Flag bad emails, but let your team decide what to do—sometimes a “bad” email is still worth a call.
Step 4: Zapier setup (no code, quick and dirty)
If APIs make your eyes glaze over, use Zapier. Here’s how:
4.1. Create your Zapier account and connect both apps
- Log in to Zapier.
- Add Salesforce and Kickbox as connected apps (you’ll need your credentials/API keys).
4.2. Build a Zap
- Trigger: “New Lead” in Salesforce.
- Action: “Verify Email Address” in Kickbox.
- Result: Update the Salesforce lead with the validation result.
4.3. Map the fields
- Map the Lead email to Kickbox.
- Decide what to do with the response:
- Update a custom “Validation Status” field
- Add notes, trigger follow-up actions, etc.
Limitations - Zapier costs add up with volume. - There’s a slight delay (not truly real-time). - Not as flexible as API, but great for quick wins.
Step 5: Add results back into Salesforce
No matter which route you took, you want the validation data to be visible and actionable.
Best practice: - Create a custom field (e.g., “Email Validation Status”) - Show it on the Lead and Contact layouts - Set up a simple report so you can see the % of bad/undeliverable emails
Optional extras: - Add workflow rules to alert reps when a new “undeliverable” lead comes in - Automatically assign bad leads to a review queue
Ignore:
Don’t try to automate everything at once. Start simple—just flag the bad emails and let your process evolve.
Step 6: Test with real (but safe) data
Don’t go live until you’ve tested. Use a few test leads to see:
- Does the validation trigger when expected?
- Are results coming back and being saved in the right place?
- Are any leads being blocked or deleted (they shouldn’t be)?
Pro tip:
Test with known good and bad emails to see how Kickbox responds. Remember, no validation tool is perfect—some “risky” emails are real, and some “deliverable” ones might still bounce.
Step 7: Rollout and train your users
- Tell your team what the new “Validation Status” means.
- Explain how to handle “undeliverable” or “risky” leads.
- Update your lead routing or nurturing rules if needed.
People ignore new fields unless you make it clear why it matters. Keep it simple: “Green means go, red means double check.”
What works, what doesn’t, and what to watch out for
What works: - Automated validation catches most bad emails before they become a headache - Your CRM stays cleaner, your bounce rate drops, and your sender reputation improves
What doesn’t: - No tool catches everything—expect some false positives/negatives - Overly aggressive automation can annoy your sales team (don’t block everything)
Watch out for: - API limits on both Salesforce and Kickbox - Extra costs as your volume grows - Data privacy concerns (make sure you’re not sending sensitive info)
Keep it simple—and iterate
You don’t need a sprawling, automated Rube Goldberg machine to get value out of Kickbox and Salesforce. Start by flagging obviously bad emails. Watch how it works for a few weeks. Make small tweaks as your team gets used to it.
The best integrations are the ones people actually use—and don’t curse you for later.
Happy cleaning.