11 Top Training Resources To Master Salesforce

As the most powerful customer relationship management (CRM) resource in sales and marketing, Salesforce is in demand helping subscribers increase contacts and sales revenue every day. Even the most experienced sales reps can sometimes find it challenging to attain optimal business targets. However, they can maximize their productivity by tapping into the vast resources of Salesforce, which can be mastered through well-structured training programs.

In fact, training programs for Salesforce have given rise to an industry of its own with trainers offering free and paid training programs designed to help subscribers.

What Salesforce teams quickly learn is that the program is only as good as the training that goes into mastery of this amazing resource. Today professionals can opt for Instructor-led classes, live virtual training, or self-paced training.

Instructor-led classes that are conducted in person are intensive and effective, but can also be expensive. The biggest benefit of this type of instruction is that it’s highly customizable. Live virtual classrooms offer the best of both worlds: a customized setting from the convenience of your home or office. They’re inherently less expensive than in-person training consultants. Self-paced online Salesforce training programs are even more convenient, as they allow learners to stop, start, and review at will.

Whatever your preference, we’ve gathered some of the most reliable Salesforce training resources on the market today.

1. Salesforce offers its own training classes for users of all experience levels both in live classroom settings as well as virtual live classes. The duration of the courses typically range between half a day and five days. Costs can vary from $600 to $4,500.

2. Simplilearn offers several self-paced and instructor-led online training courses that costs between $299.00 and $1,499. These training programs, which include Salesforce Admin and Salesforce Developer training, have drawn stellar reviews for their quality and user experience. When it comes to Salesforce learning, Simplilearn has the finest products in the market.

3. Stony Point is a Salesforce training provider that offers the flexibility of onsite and virtual Salesforce training programs. The former has a duration of 3 to 5 days and cost up to $4,500. Stony Point training is intensive and is effective for dedicated students. Their online learning program costs between $300-$4,000 and can last a half day up to five days.

4. For onsite training, another option is to retain the services of recognized and certified Salesforce consultants who will come to your location and conduct one or more workshops. You can begin your search for a consultant in your area straight from Salesforce App Exchange, a search engine, or your go-to freelance resource, such as UpWork.

5. SalesforceBen.com contains a wealth of knowledge for aspiring and practicing Salesforce Administrators and Salesforce app builders alike. Recently named the No. 1 Salesforce blog, influencer Ben McCarthy and his team cover every new update and offer numerous step-by-step guides.

6. Salesforce Trailhead gets high marks for kickstarting an initiative for learning Salesforce. The biggest advantage is that Salesforce Trailhead is free and self-paced. The guided learning paths are carefully constructed and scripted to follow real-life job roles. If the user has a Salesforce account, he or she can complete numerous Trailhead challenges and earn points along the way. For those who do not have an individual Salesforce account, a free Developer Edition is available online. Through various Trailhead projects, users can gain real, hands-on experience with Salesforce.

Free Supplemental Salesforce Training Resources

Many users need additional resources to navigate certain elements of Salesforce. There are a number of free, supplemental training resources designed to identify shortcuts and improve reporting techniques.

7. Cheat Sheets – More than a dozen cheat sheets are available to quickly identify shortcuts to features and reporting techniques. The advantage of Cheat Sheets is that every shortcut can be bookmarked and is accompanied by step-by-step instructions and screenshots that are handy navigational guides.

8. Developer Workbooks – All details of the Salesforce platform are available through a series of tutorials that are combined in 13 individual workbooks.

9. Tip Sheets and Implementation Guides – The PDF Tips Sheets and the PDF User Guide provide easy access solutions for all aspects of Salesforce. Be prepared for plenty of reference materials and plenty of reading. Many User Guides exceed 5,000 pages but everything you need to know is there.

10. Salesforce YouTube – If you prefer visual learning to reading, there are numerous Salesforce YouTube channels that may be the answer. Many Salesforce subscribers find Salesforce YouTube videos to be the go-to resource for new products and features.

11. Zero to Hero Blog series – If you’re a new Salesforce administrator, this blog series will take you from step one (Zero) to an Admin Hero. Don’t hesitate to tap this resource. The more you return to these blog posts for reference, the more advanced you will become.

Forcetalks is another great collaboration platform that is a goldmine of Salesforce-related information. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or an expert; there is something for everyone here. Forcetalks has a Q-n-A forum, blogs, videos, and infographics, and is a must-visit site for people interested in interacting with people in the Salesforce community.

Determining whether in-person, live virtual classes or self-paced online training is best entirely depends on your learning preferences, your budget, and even your allotted time. Looking for a combination of live and self-paced training? Of course, we suggest you check out Simplilearn’s Flexi-pass, which lets you combine both options for a comprehensive training program.