Salesforce Object Query Language (SOQL) is the language used to search and retrieve data from the Salesforce database. Similar to SQL, it allows developers and administrators to query for specific records, but it is designed specifically for the Salesforce data model and its objects.
SOQL is fundamental for any custom development or data management within Salesforce. Its primary function is to read information from the database, enabling a wide range of applications from simple data lookups to complex analytics.
Writing efficient SOQL queries is crucial for maintaining performance and avoiding governor limits within Salesforce. Adhering to best practices ensures your code is scalable, readable, and optimized for the platform's multi-tenant architecture.
While both are used to retrieve data in Salesforce, SOQL and SOSL serve distinct purposes and are optimized for different scenarios.
Optimizing SOQL is key to building scalable Salesforce applications. Efficient queries consume fewer system resources, leading to faster response times and a better user experience. This also helps you stay within Salesforce's strict governor limits, preventing errors and ensuring your automations run smoothly without interruption.
When your SOQL queries fail, start by checking these common problem areas.
Can I use SOQL to modify or delete data?
No, SOQL is strictly for querying and retrieving data. To create, update, or delete records in Salesforce, you must use Data Manipulation Language (DML) statements like `insert`, `update`, or `delete` within Apex code.
How can I query more than the 50,000 record limit?
To process large data sets exceeding the synchronous limit, use a SOQL For Loop or a QueryLocator within Batch Apex. This allows you to work with up to 50 million records asynchronously, breaking them into manageable chunks.
Is it possible to retrieve deleted or archived records with SOQL?
Yes, you can query records in the recycle bin by adding the `ALL ROWS` keyword to your SOQL query. This is useful for data recovery or auditing purposes, allowing you to access records that are not visible in standard queries.
Sales team management is the process of leading, coaching, and motivating a sales team to achieve its sales goals and drive revenue growth.
A lead list is a curated database of potential customers (leads) with contact information and other key data for sales and marketing outreach.
Lead response time is the duration between a potential customer showing interest and your team's first point of contact with them.
Conversion rate is the percentage of visitors who complete a desired goal, like a purchase or sign-up, out of the total number of visitors.
Clustering is the technique of grouping similar items. In sales, it means segmenting leads by shared traits to better personalize outreach.
Account-Based Marketing (ABM) benchmarks are key metrics used to measure the performance and success of your targeted account strategies.
Latency is the delay between a user's action and a system's response. It's the time it takes for a data packet to travel to its destination.
An inside sales rep sells products or services remotely from an office, using digital tools like phone and email to connect with customers.
A sales territory is a specific group of customers or a geographic area that a salesperson or sales team is responsible for managing.
CPM, or Cost Per Mille, is a key advertising metric. It's the cost an advertiser pays for one thousand views or impressions of a single ad.
Discount strategies are pricing tactics used to attract customers and boost sales by temporarily reducing the price of products or services.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a system of integrated software that businesses use to manage and automate their core day-to-day processes.
Sales conversion rate is the percentage of prospects who take a desired action, like making a purchase, turning them into customers.
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Load balancing is the practice of distributing incoming network traffic across a group of backend servers, ensuring no single server is overworked.
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A consumer is an individual or entity that buys products or services for personal use, not for resale. They are the final user in a supply chain.
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Internal signals are data points from your own systems, like website visits or product usage, that indicate a customer's buying intent.
Cost Per Click (CPC) is a digital advertising model where an advertiser pays a fee each time one of their ads gets clicked by a user.
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Customer experience (CX) is a customer's total perception of your business, based on every interaction across the entire customer lifecycle.
Funnel analysis is a method for understanding the steps users take to complete a goal, revealing where they drop off in the conversion process.
Private labeling is when a company rebrands a product made by a third-party manufacturer and sells it as their own.
A RESTful API is a web service interface that uses HTTP requests to access and use data, adhering to the constraints of REST architecture.
Sales and marketing alignment means both teams work in sync, sharing goals and data to boost lead quality, conversions, and company revenue.
Upselling is a sales tactic encouraging customers to purchase a higher-end version of a product or related add-ons to boost revenue.
Subscription models are a business strategy where customers pay a recurring fee at regular intervals for access to a product or service.
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Product-Led Growth (PLG) is a business strategy where the product itself drives user acquisition, conversion, and expansion.
Account management is the post-sales practice of building and nurturing long-term relationships with a company's most valuable clients.
A sales demonstration is a presentation showing a prospect how a product or service works and how it can solve their specific problems.
Warm outreach is contacting prospects with whom you have a pre-existing connection, like a mutual contact, making your message more personal and effective.
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Docker is a tool that packages applications and their dependencies into isolated environments called containers for easy deployment and scaling.
An Account Development Representative (ADR) identifies and qualifies new business opportunities, creating a pipeline for account executives.
Analytics platforms are tools that collect and analyze data from various sources, helping businesses track key metrics and make informed decisions.
Buying criteria are the specific requirements and standards a customer uses to evaluate products or services before making a decision.
A sales methodology is the framework that guides how your sales team approaches the entire sales process, from prospecting to closing deals.
Data cleansing, or data scrubbing, is the process of detecting and correcting inaccurate records from a dataset to improve data quality.
Phishing attacks are fraudulent attempts to trick you into revealing sensitive data like passwords or financial info by posing as a trusted source.
A warm email is a message sent to a prospect with whom you have a pre-existing connection, like a mutual contact or a prior interaction.
Buyer’s remorse is the sense of regret or anxiety that can arise after making a purchase, often questioning if it was the right decision.
Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) is a method where all expenses are re-evaluated and must be justified from scratch for each new budget period.
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A Single Page Application (SPA) is a web app that interacts with the user by dynamically rewriting the current page rather than loading new pages.
Data mining is the process of discovering patterns, trends, and useful information from large datasets to make better business decisions.
User testing involves observing real users interact with a product to identify usability issues and improve the overall user experience.
Contact discovery is the process of finding accurate contact details for potential leads, including names, emails, phone numbers, and job titles.
AI data enrichment uses artificial intelligence to automatically enhance and update raw data, making it more complete, accurate, and valuable.
Marketing attribution is the process of identifying which touchpoints contribute to a conversion and assigning value to each of them.
Drupal is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) for building websites and applications. It's known for its robust flexibility.
Rapport building is the process of establishing a connection and mutual understanding with someone, creating a foundation of trust and affinity.
Lead generation is the process of identifying and cultivating potential customers for a business's products or services.
Order management is the end-to-end process of tracking customer orders from placement to fulfillment, ensuring a seamless customer experience.
Stress testing is a type of software testing that determines a system's robustness by pushing it beyond its normal operational capacity.
Logo retention is a key B2B metric that measures a company's ability to retain its customers, or 'logos,' over a specific period.
Channel sales is an indirect sales model where a company leverages third-party partners, such as resellers or affiliates, to sell its products.
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A Sales Development Representative (SDR) is a sales specialist who finds and qualifies new leads, building a pipeline for the sales team.
A Customer Data Platform (CDP) centralizes customer data from all sources to create a complete, unified profile for each individual customer.
Guided selling simplifies complex sales by giving reps step-by-step instructions and data-driven recommendations to close deals faster.
A marketing automation platform is software that automates marketing actions. It helps manage tasks like email campaigns and lead nurturing.
A Sales Manager leads a sales team, setting goals, analyzing performance, and developing strategies to drive revenue and meet targets.
Average Order Value (AOV) tracks the average dollar amount spent each time a customer places an order on your website or mobile app.
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Competitive analysis means identifying your rivals and assessing their strategies to pinpoint your own business's strengths and weaknesses.
Feature flags let you remotely control features in your app without new code. This enables safe testing, gradual rollouts, and quick rollbacks.
Video messaging involves sending short, personalized video clips to prospects or customers, replacing traditional text-based communication.
Sales metrics are quantifiable data points that track and measure a sales team's performance against specific goals and objectives.
Contact data is the set of details, like names, emails, and phone numbers, used to get in touch with a person or business for outreach.
Inbound sales attracts interested prospects who've engaged with your brand, letting sales reps connect with warm leads instead of cold outreach.
Predictive lead generation uses data and AI to find prospects most likely to buy, helping teams focus their efforts on high-value leads.
A Quarterly Business Review (QBR) is a recurring meeting to assess performance against goals and align on strategy for the next quarter.
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Real-time data is information processed and made available almost instantaneously, enabling immediate analysis and decision-making.
High availability (HA) describes a system's capacity to function continuously with minimal downtime, ensuring consistent operational performance.
Multi-threading allows a single CPU core to run multiple independent threads (or tasks) at the same time, boosting efficiency and performance.
Sales compensation is the total pay a salesperson receives, including salary, commissions, and bonuses, structured to motivate performance.
Dynamic data is information that updates in real-time. Unlike static data, it reflects the most current state of information automatically.
Sales intelligence is technology that gathers and analyzes data to help salespeople find and understand prospects and existing clients.
A Request for Information (RFI) is a formal process for gathering information from potential suppliers before issuing a more detailed proposal.
Sales objections are reasons or concerns raised by a potential customer as to why they are hesitant or unwilling to make a purchase.
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Integration testing is a software testing phase where individual modules are combined and tested together to verify their interaction.
Multi-channel marketing uses various platforms—like email, social media, and direct mail—to engage with customers wherever they are.
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A performance plan is a formal document outlining an employee's goals, expectations, and metrics for success over a specific period.
Total Audience Measurement (TAM) provides a holistic view of content consumption, tracking viewership across all platforms and devices.
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Voice search optimization is the process of optimizing your content, SEO, and online listings to appear in and rank for voice-based searches.
Email engagement measures how your audience interacts with your emails. It includes key actions like opens, clicks, replies, and forwards.
A soft sell is a low-pressure sales tactic that uses subtle persuasion and relationship-building to gently guide customers toward a purchase.