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.
A positioning statement is a concise description of your target market and how your product or service uniquely fills their needs.
Consumer buying behavior is the study of how individuals select, buy, and use products and services to satisfy their needs and desires.
Mid-market companies are businesses larger than small businesses but smaller than large enterprises, often defined by revenue or employee size.
Learn about behavioral analytics, including implementing behavioral analytics successfully, & key metrics in behavioral analytics.
Inside sales metrics are quantifiable measures used to track the performance, activities, and effectiveness of an internal sales team.
Multi-touch attribution is a marketing analytics method that credits multiple touchpoints on the customer journey for a conversion.
Lead scoring models rank prospects by assigning points for their behaviors and demographics, helping sales teams prioritize their outreach.
An Operational CRM is a system that automates and improves customer-facing business processes like sales, marketing, and customer service.
The marketing mix is the set of marketing tools a company uses to sell products, defined by the 4Ps: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion.
A Call for Proposal (CFP) is a document that solicits proposals, often through a bidding process, for a specific project or service.
Territory management is the process of segmenting customers into groups by geography or other factors to optimize sales efforts and resources.
Outbound lead generation means proactively reaching out to potential customers who haven't yet expressed interest to introduce them to your brand.
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.
An inside sales rep sells products or services remotely from an office, using digital tools like phone and email to connect with customers.
Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM) is the portion of the market you can realistically capture with your current resources, sales, and marketing.
The purchase stage is when a buyer has decided on a solution and is ready to buy. They're comparing vendors to make a final choice.
Sales coaching is a process where managers help reps improve their skills and performance through personalized feedback, training, and guidance.
CRM analytics is the process of analyzing data from your CRM to uncover insights that help you better understand and serve your customers.
Internal signals are data points from your own systems, like website visits or product usage, that indicate a customer's buying intent.
A sales sequence is a series of automated touchpoints sent to prospects over time to guide them through the sales funnel.
Video hosting is a service that allows users to upload, store, and share video content online, making it accessible for playback anywhere.
A lead list is a curated database of potential customers (leads) with contact information and other key data for sales and marketing outreach.
Objection handling is the process of responding to a prospect's concerns or hesitations about a product or service to move a deal forward.
Escalations are the process of moving a customer issue or sales opportunity to a more senior or specialized team member for resolution.
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication method that lets you specify which mail servers can send emails on behalf of your domain.
Sentiment analysis, or opinion mining, automatically determines the emotional tone behind text—whether it's positive, negative, or neutral.
Load testing is a type of performance testing that determines how a system behaves under both normal and anticipated peak load conditions.
A sales strategy is a comprehensive plan that outlines how a business will sell its products or services to achieve its revenue goals.
Net Revenue Retention (NRR) is the percentage of recurring revenue kept from existing customers, including upsells, downgrades, and churn.
A sales dashboard is a visual tool that centralizes and displays key sales data, metrics, and KPIs to help teams track performance and goals.
Sales velocity is a key metric measuring the speed at which your company makes money. It shows how fast deals move through your sales pipeline.
NoSQL ("Not only SQL") databases offer a flexible alternative to relational models, excelling at managing large and unstructured data sets.
Demand capture is the strategy of engaging potential customers who are already actively looking for a solution that your company provides.
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.
A value gap is the difference between the value a customer expects from a product and the actual value they receive, often leading to churn.
Account-Based Sales (ABS) is a focused B2B strategy where sales and marketing teams treat high-value accounts as individual markets of one.
Learn about bulk API, including how it works, the advantages of using it, common use cases, and tips for optimizing it.
Digital advertising is the practice of delivering promotional content to users through various online and digital channels like social media or search engines.
Customer Retention Rate (CRR) is the metric that measures the percentage of customers a company has kept over a specific period of time.
Sales development is the process of identifying and qualifying potential customers to create a pipeline of sales-ready leads for closers.
Fault tolerance is a system's ability to continue operating without interruption when one or more of its components fail.
A Data Management Platform (DMP) is a tech platform used to collect and manage data, mainly for digital marketing and advertising campaigns.
Data appending is the process of adding new data fields to your existing database records to enrich and complete your information.
Regression analysis is a statistical method for estimating the relationships between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables.
Video selling uses personalized video messages to engage prospects, build rapport, and guide them through the sales funnel to close more deals.
An enterprise is a large-scale organization, often a corporation, defined by its complex structure and substantial number of employees.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud model where a provider delivers a platform for users to develop, run, and manage applications online.
Learn about B2B data platform, including key benefits of B2B data platforms, choosing the right B2B data platform, challenges in implementing B2B data platforms.
Workflow automation uses rule-based logic to run a sequence of tasks that would otherwise require manual human effort to complete.
Referral marketing is a strategy that incentivizes existing customers to recommend a company's products or services to their personal network.
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.
Hot leads are prospective customers who have shown significant interest and are ready to buy, making them a top priority for sales teams.
Click-through rate (CTR) is a metric that measures the percentage of people who click on a specific link, ad, or call-to-action.
LinkedIn InMail messages are a premium feature that lets you directly message any LinkedIn member, even if you're not connected to them.
Solution selling is a sales approach focused on understanding a customer's pain points to offer a comprehensive solution, not just a product.
The Challenger Sales Model is a sales approach where reps challenge a customer's thinking by teaching, tailoring, and taking control of the sale.
Sales Operations Management streamlines sales processes, tech, and data analysis to help sales teams sell more effectively and efficiently.
A Quarterly Business Review (QBR) is a recurring meeting to assess performance against goals and align on strategy for the next quarter.
Call analytics is the practice of analyzing phone call data to extract insights, track key metrics, and improve overall business performance.
Price optimization is the process of finding the ideal price for a product or service to maximize profitability or other business objectives.
A sales pipeline is a visual representation of where prospects are in the sales process, from the first contact to the final sale.
Lead conversion is the process of turning a prospect into a customer by getting them to complete a desired action, such as making a purchase.
The Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) framework focuses on understanding customer needs by identifying the specific 'job' they are trying to accomplish.
Serverless computing is a cloud model where the provider manages servers, so developers can focus on code without worrying about infrastructure.
Market intelligence is the process of collecting and analyzing data about your target market, competitors, and industry to guide business strategy.
Channel marketing is a strategy where a company sells its products or services through third-party partners, like resellers or affiliates.
Lead generation software helps businesses automate finding and capturing potential customers' contact information to build sales pipelines.
Account-based advertising is a hyper-focused B2B strategy that targets key accounts with personalized ads across multiple channels.
Revenue forecasting is the process of estimating a company's future revenue, using historical data and market trends to guide strategic planning.
Learn about B2B marketing attribution, including challenges in B2B marketing attribution, & key metrics for effective attribution.
Email deliverability is the ability for your emails to successfully land in your recipients' inboxes instead of their spam folders.
Customer segmentation is dividing customers into groups based on shared traits. This allows for more targeted and effective marketing efforts.
A Marketing Qualified Opportunity (MQO) is a lead vetted by marketing as a genuine sales opportunity, ready for direct sales follow-up.
Software as a Service (SaaS) is a cloud-based model where users subscribe to an application and access it over the internet.
Learn about BAB formula, including implementing BAB in sales strategies, crafting an effective BAB pitch, & comparing BAB with other sales frameworks.
Website visitor tracking collects and analyzes data on user behavior to understand their journey and improve the overall user experience.
Personalization in sales means tailoring outreach to a prospect's specific needs, interests, and context to make communication more relevant.
Targeted marketing focuses on specific consumer groups whose needs align with your product, allowing for more personalized and effective messaging.
An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of rules that lets different software applications talk to each other and share information.
An Account Development Representative (ADR) identifies and qualifies new business opportunities, creating a pipeline for account executives.
A Unique Selling Point (USP) is the distinct feature or benefit that sets your product, service, or brand apart from the competition.
Site retargeting is a marketing strategy that shows ads to people who have previously visited your website but left without converting.
Expansion revenue is the extra money a business makes from its current customers via upgrades, new products, or additional services.
A sandbox is an isolated testing environment where new or untrusted code can be run safely without affecting the host device or network.
Learn about B2B2C, including benefits of B2B2C model, key strategies for B2B2C success, & B2B2C vs. B2C vs. B2B: understanding the differences.
Going dark is when a once-responsive prospect suddenly stops all communication, leaving you wondering what went wrong.
Learn about B2B leads, including identifying quality B2B leads, generating B2B leads effectively, & B2B leads vs. B2C leads: understanding the differences.
A small to medium-sized business (SMB) is a company whose employee count and annual revenue fall below certain industry-specific thresholds.
Customer experience (CX) is a customer's total perception of your business, based on every interaction across the entire customer lifecycle.
A complex sale features a long sales cycle, multiple stakeholders, and a high-value transaction, demanding a strategic, consultative approach.
A sales champion is your internal advocate at a target company. They believe in your product and help you push the deal forward to close.
Learn about B2B sales, including key strategies for B2B success, types of B2B sales models, & B2B vs. B2C sales: understanding the differences.
A Sales Development Representative (SDR) is a sales specialist who finds and qualifies new leads, building a pipeline for the sales team.
A demand generation framework is a strategic process for creating awareness and interest in your product, ultimately driving new business.
Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) is the predictable income a company expects to receive from its customers over a one-year period.
Drupal is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) for building websites and applications. It's known for its robust flexibility.
Learn about BANT framework, including implementing BANT in sales strategy, advantages of the BANT methodology, & BANT vs. other qualification models.
Learn about branded keywords, including identifying your branded keywords, & strategies for optimizing branded keywords.
Lead scoring is the process of assigning points to leads based on their attributes and actions to determine their sales-readiness.
Learn about B2B data enrichment, including benefits of B2B data enrichment, implementing B2B data enrichment strategies, B2B data enrichment vs. data cleaning.