How to Integrate Salesforce or NetSuite CRM with Your Marketing Apps

Clint is a marketing entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience and has successfully grown several 7 to 8-figure businesses. He is also skilled in using NetSuite and Salesforce. Currently, running Cazoomi for over 17 years and based in the Philippines. 17 minute read

How to Integrate Salesforce or NetSuite CRM with Your Marketing Apps like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo and more: A Step‑by‑Step Guide with SyncApps

Want to connect Salesforce or NetSuite with your favorite marketing apps like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo? Here’s the simple solution: use SyncApps to automate data syncing between your CRM and marketing tools, saving time and reducing errors.

Key Takeaways:

  • Why integrate? Syncing ensures your sales and marketing teams stay aligned with accurate, real-time customer data.
  • What you need: Admin access to Salesforce or (TBA) for NetSuite, API keys for apps like Mailchimp or HubSpot, and a SyncApps account.
  • How it works: SyncApps automates data flow – like updating leads, syncing unsubscribes, and segmenting contacts – with 0 manual effort.
  • Steps to set up:
    1. Log into SyncApps and create a new integration.
    2. Connect your CRM and marketing app.
    3. Configure field mapping, filters if needed, and sync preferences.
    4. Schedule automated syncs (realtime, daily, weekly, or manual).
    5. Test and activate your integration.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know to streamline your workflows and improve customer engagement.

Integrating CRM and Marketing Automation: Unifying Data for a Complete Customer View

What You Need Before Starting

Before optimizing your CRM and marketing workflows, make sure all settings and permissions (Salesforce or NetSuite) are properly configured. Having the right tools and setup in place from the start can save you from unnecessary delays.

Required Accounts and Tools

To integrate your systems effectively, you’ll need three main components: your CRM platform, your marketing application, and SyncApps to link them. Each requires specific access levels and permissions to work seamlessly.

CRM Requirements: For platforms like Salesforce or NetSuite, administrator-level access is essential. In Salesforce, use a System Administrator profile or a custom profile with “API Enabled” and “Modify All Data” permissions. You can also use Salesforce Integration User Licenses. For NetSuite, you’ll need the Administrator role with a custom role with Web Services permissions and Token-Based Authentication enabled.

Marketing App Access: Each marketing tool has unique API access requirements. For example:

  • Mailchimp: Generate an API key with Manager-level permissions.
  • Constant Contact: Use OAuth 2.0 with full access permissions.
  • HubSpot: Super Admin privileges or a Marketing Hub Professional/Enterprise subscription are required.
  • ActiveCampaign: Admin permissions are needed.
  • Klaviyo: Account Owner or Admin access is necessary.

SyncApps Account: Your SyncApps subscription should match your data needs. Start with the free plan for up to 100 records and upgrade to the One Plan as your integration scales.

Technical Considerations: Make sure your firewall allows SyncApps API connections (you may need to whitelist specific IP addresses). Also, verify your backup process includes synchronized data for added security.

US Data Formats and Settings

Accurate data formatting is key for smooth synchronization, especially when handling customer details or campaign metrics. Using US-specific formats ensures consistency across all integrated platforms.

Currency and Financial Data: Monetary values should follow US conventions: place a dollar sign before the amount and use commas as thousand separators (e.g., $1,234.56). Avoid using periods as thousand separators or placing the dollar sign after the amount, as this can cause errors during syncing.

Date and Time Formatting: Set your systems to use the MM/DD/YYYY format for dates, like 08/18/2025 for August 18, 2025. For time stamps, use the 12-hour format with AM/PM indicators, such as 2:30 PM or 9:15 AM.

Phone Numbers and Addresses: Format US phone numbers with the country code (+1) for international compatibility, e.g., +1 (555) 123-4567. Addresses should include the full ZIP+4 code when available, formatted as 12345-6789, and use standard state abbreviations like CA for California or NY for New York. Proper formatting helps with location-based campaigns and ensures accurate segmentation.

Measurement Units: Use imperial units for measurements: Fahrenheit (°F) for temperature, miles for distance, and pounds for weight. This is particularly important for e-commerce integrations where product details, shipping calculations, and regional targeting rely on these units.

Text and Language Settings: Stick to standardized English spelling in your data fields. For example, use “color” instead of “colour”, “organization” instead of “organisation”, and “analyze” instead of “analyse.” Consistency in spelling avoids duplicate records and improves search functionality within your platforms.

Once your accounts are set up and your data formatted for CRM standards, you’re ready to configure your integration with SyncApps.

How to Set Up Your Integration with SyncApps

SyncApps

Setting up an integration with SyncApps is a straightforward process. The platform guides you through each step, making it easy to connect your CRM and marketing apps without dealing with technical headaches.

Step 1: Log In and Create Your Setup

Start by logging into SyncApps and creating an “Integration Set Up” through the dashboard.

Once you’re in, head over to the “Set Up” tab on the left-hand panel. This section lets you view your existing integrations, check performance metrics, and monitor sync statuses.

“To create a new Integration or Set Up, you can go to the ‘Set Up’ tab on the left panel of your Dashboard and tap the ‘Create New Integration or Set Up’ button on the upper right side of your screen.”

Click the “Create New Integration or Set Up” button to open the integration wizard. The system will prompt you to enter a Profile Name (also known as “Set Up Name”). Choose something descriptive so you can easily identify it later. For example: “Salesforce to Mailchimp – Newsletter Sync” or “NetSuite to HubSpot – Lead Management.”

“First, you need to create a Set Up, which is just another term for integration. It can also include Full Sync, Field Mapping, and more. Then enter your Profile Name. The Set Up Name is just a description for remembering the Set Up you created.”

After naming your setup, connect your CRM and marketing app to move forward.

Step 2: Connect Your CRM and Marketing App

SyncApps simplifies connecting your CRM and marketing tools by handling the authentication process for you. Here’s how it works:

  • Salesforce Connections: You’ll be redirected to Salesforce’s secure login page to grant SyncApps access via API permissions. Admin-level access is required, and the system will confirm the connection.
  • NetSuite Connections: This uses token-based authentication. You’ll need to input your NetSuite account ID, consumer key, consumer secret, token ID, and token secret. SyncApps will verify these details and establish a secure link to your NetSuite account.
  • Marketing App Connections: For Mailchimp, paste your API key and select your audience lists. HubSpot requires login and authorization to access its tools. Similarly, for ActiveCampaign and Klaviyo, you’ll need to provide API keys generated from their platforms.

Successful connections are marked with green checkmarks. If any issues arise, SyncApps will display specific error messages to help you troubleshoot.

Step 3: Configure Your Integration Settings

This step is all about tailoring how your data moves between systems. SyncApps provides three key configuration options: field mapping, filtering and segmentation, and sync direction.

  • Field Mapping: Automatically maps standard fields like email addresses, first names, last names, and company names. You can also customize mappings for additional fields based on your needs. Mapping CRM fields to create Mailchimp Tags is quite popular or kick off field level changes to marketing automation flows too.
  • Filtering and Segmentation: Helps you control which records sync between systems. For instance, you can set rules to sync only leads from certain US regions or contacts tagged with specific campaign identifiers.

“This feature is our most powerful tool.”

  • Sync Direction: Decide whether data flows one-way (from your CRM to your marketing app) or bidirectionally. A bidirectional sync ensures that updates, like marketing engagement data (opens, clicks, unsubscribes), reflect in both systems. SyncApps is really flexible as it uses all of the API of each CRM and marketing app available.

Once you’ve configured these settings, you can proceed to schedule your sync.

Step 4: Set Up Sync Schedules

Scheduling automates your data updates, ensuring they align with your business operations and US time zone preferences. SyncApps offers several scheduling options:

  • Realtime Sync: Brings live automations to life with syncing down to 2 minutes for real time lead capture into or out of CRM.
  • Manual Sync: Gives you full control over when updates occur, ideal for syncing data before a major campaign or after bulk updates.
  • Daily Sync: Updates your data every 24 hours at a set time, usually during off-peak hours (2:00 AM–4:00 AM local time) to avoid system slowdowns.
  • Weekly Sync: Runs once a week at a pre-selected day and time, suitable for businesses with less frequent updates or smaller databases.

If your team operates across multiple US time zones, scheduling updates early in the morning Eastern Time can ensure they’re completed before West Coast business hours.

“This is the best part of setting up an Integration or Set Up. You can set it and forget it and let SyncApps do the syncing for you based on the schedule you’ve set up in this Step.”

Once your schedule is set, you’re ready to test and activate your integration.

Step 5: Test and Activate Your Integration

Before rolling out the full integration, test it with a small batch of records. SyncApps provides tools to help you verify your setup.

  • Run a Test Sync: Start with 5–10 sample records to ensure field mapping and filtering rules are working as intended. Double-check that your records meet US-specific formatting requirements.
  • Review Sync Results: Use the SyncApps dashboard to see which records synced successfully. Check for errors and confirm that custom field mappings are accurate.
  • Verify Data Accuracy: Ensure records appear correctly in both your CRM and marketing app, with proper formatting, segmentation, and tags.

Once testing is complete and everything looks good, activate the full sync. SyncApps will process your entire dataset based on your configured settings and begin regular, automated syncing. The SyncApps dashboard will continue to provide real-time monitoring, sync status updates, and detailed logs of all data transfers.https://app.seobotai.com/banner/inline/?id=sbb-itb-0294be3

How to Optimize Data Sync and Workflows

After setting up your integration, fine-tuning workflows can take your data management and marketing efforts to the next level. SyncApps offers powerful features like bidirectional data updates and tailored automations that help businesses in the US maintain accurate data and boost marketing ROI. With these tools, you can ensure both data consistency and effective campaigns.

Automate Data Updates

SyncApps simplifies keeping your systems in sync by automatically updating data between your CRM and marketing apps in real time. It handles contacts, leads, accounts, and campaign metrics, ensuring your teams always have the latest information.

For instance, when a new lead is added in Salesforce, it’s automatically synced to Mailchimp. Similarly, if a client’s address is updated in Salesforce, the change reflects in ActiveCampaign. If a Mailchimp customer or contact updates their information the data is sent to CRM in realtime without any integration running as SyncApps utilizes webhooks of the marketing app.

Here is a good example of how that works:

This seamless data flow eliminates discrepancies and keeps everyone on the same page.

Campaign Engagement Tracking: SyncApps tracks key engagement metrics like email opens, clicks, and unsubscribes, updating them across platforms. For example, engagement data from NetSuite can trigger automated follow-ups, while Klaviyo syncs engagement details back to your CRM. This unified data allows sales teams to prioritize outreach based on real-time customer interactions.

You can schedule these automations to run when it suits your business best – hourly during the workday (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST) or overnight. SyncApps uses US-standard formatting to ensure data remains consistent and accurate.

Customize Field Mapping and Segmentation

SyncApps’ field mapping feature goes beyond basic details, enabling you to create complex data relationships that align with your business needs and US-specific requirements.

  • Custom Field Alignment: Map custom fields between systems to maintain accurate data. For example, if Salesforce tracks “Lead Source Channel” with options like “Google Ads” or “Trade Show”, you can map these fields directly to HubSpot, ensuring data consistency.
  • Geographic Segmentation: Automatically segment contacts by US states, ZIP codes, or time zones to create region-specific campaigns. This can help you run targeted promotions, such as a “West Coast Product Launch” or a “Northeast Winter Campaign.”
  • Behavioral Segmentation: Use engagement data to build dynamic contact lists. For example, highly engaged contacts on a general Mailchimp newsletter list can automatically move to specialized campaigns in your CRM.
  • Industry and Company Size Filtering: Target your B2B efforts by syncing only contacts that meet specific criteria, such as company size or industry. This ensures your campaigns reach the right decision-makers.

These customization options provide actionable insights and keep your systems aligned for effective marketing and sales strategies.

Use Campaign Metrics in Your CRM

Once your data is aligned and segmented, leverage campaign metrics directly in your CRM to enhance sales efforts. SyncApps integrates performance data into your CRM, creating a single hub for marketing intelligence. This means your sales team doesn’t need to switch platforms to access valuable insights.

  • Email Engagement Scoring: View cumulative metrics like email opens and clicks right on contact records. This helps sales reps prioritize leads and tailor their conversations to match customer interests.
  • Campaign Attribution Tracking: Track how marketing campaigns contribute to revenue. This integration links campaigns to sales activities, helping teams measure their strategies’ effectiveness.
  • Unsubscribe and Compliance Management: Keep your outreach compliant with US regulations like the CAN-SPAM Act. SyncApps automatically updates CRM records when contacts opt out, providing a clear audit trail.
  • Lead Scoring Integration: Combine CRM data with marketing engagement insights to rank prospects. For example, demographic data from NetSuite can merge with behavioral data from HubSpot, helping sales teams focus on prospects with the best fit and genuine interest.

Troubleshooting and Getting Help

Once your integration is up and running, occasional hiccups might crop up, disrupting the smooth flow of your data. Even though SyncApps is designed to be intuitive, challenges like sync delays or misconfigured settings can still occur. Luckily, the integrated Steps AI assistant is there to help you quickly identify and resolve issues. If these steps don’t fix the problem, don’t worry – real-time support is just a few clicks away.

Fix Common Problems

Sync Errors and Data Mismatches are among the most frequent issues. For example, you might notice that Salesforce contacts aren’t showing up in Mailchimp, or HubSpot isn’t reflecting updates from NetSuite. Start by reviewing your field mapping configuration. A common culprit is mismatched field types – for instance, syncing a date field to a text field can cause errors.

Make sure to follow the formatting guidelines for US-specific fields like phone numbers and ZIP codes. These should be set as text fields to prevent truncation or syncing issues.

Other potential disruptions include Permission and Authentication Issues. If your API connections expire or user permissions change, the sync might stop working. Double-check your CRM and marketing app credentials, and ensure that permissions for Salesforce connected apps or NetSuite integration roles haven’t been altered.

Duplicate Records can also become a headache if contact identification rules aren’t set up correctly. By default, SyncApps matches contacts using email addresses, but you can tweak this to include fields like first name, last name, or company. For instance, if duplicate contacts appear in ActiveCampaign after syncing, refine your duplicate prevention settings to include these additional criteria.

Lastly, Schedule and Timing Problems might throw off your workflows. If real-time sync isn’t functioning as expected, verify your sync frequency settings and review your integration setup. The Steps AI assistant can guide you through diagnosing and fixing these scheduling issues.

Get Support When You Need It

SyncApps provides a variety of support options to help you resolve issues quickly. The Help Center, available at https://support.cazoomi.com/hc/en-us, is packed with detailed guides, troubleshooting articles, and FAQs that cover a wide range of integration scenarios. This self-service resource is accessible 24/7.

For more urgent concerns, you can reach out to the support team via live chat, email, or phone. The team understands the specific needs of worldwide businesses, nonprofits and institutions and can assist with configuring your integrations to align with local requirements. With real people available around the clock, SyncApps ensures that critical issues are addressed promptly.

Conclusion

Connecting your Salesforce or NetSuite CRM with marketing tools like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, and Klaviyo simplifies both data management and marketing workflows. By following a straightforward five-step process, you can automate data synchronization, cutting down on manual entry and minimizing errors. This integration sets the stage for more efficient operations.

But the advantages go well beyond saving time. With bidirectional syncing, your customer data stays current across platforms, enabling your marketing and sales teams to better segment audiences, craft personalized messages, and monitor campaign performance – all from within your CRM. Real-time updates ensure everyone works with the most accurate data, leading to faster follow-ups and stronger customer connections.

SyncApps stands out as a trusted partner in this space. Its reputation as a leading Integration as a Service provider for small and mid-sized businesses highlights its ability to deliver reliable, scalable, and user-friendly solutions.

FAQs

What are the main advantages of integrating Salesforce or NetSuite CRM with marketing apps using SyncApps?

SyncApps makes it easy to connect Salesforce or NetSuite CRM with your go-to marketing apps, ensuring your customer data stays consistent across all platforms. This automatic data syncing reduces the need for manual updates, helping you simplify workflows and work more efficiently.

When you link your CRM with tools like Mailchimp, HubSpot, or Klaviyo, you unlock a complete view of your customers. This allows you to craft more focused and personalized marketing campaigns. Plus, the integration is designed to be straightforward, cutting down on setup time and effort while boosting productivity and improving how you engage with your audience.×

How do I format my data correctly for US standards when setting up a SyncApps integration?

To make sure your data aligns with US standards during a SyncApps integration, pay attention to these key formatting details:

  • Dates: Stick to the MM/DD/YYYY format (e.g., 12/31/2023).
  • Currency: Use the dollar sign ($) and include two decimal places (e.g., $1,234.56).
  • Numbers: Include commas for thousand separators and periods for decimals (e.g., 1,234.56).

Also, ensure fields like addresses and names follow US norms. This includes using state abbreviations (e.g., CA for California) and ZIP codes. For measurements, rely on US customary units such as inches, feet, and pounds. Keeping these formats consistent will simplify your integration process and ensure accurate data handling.×

What should I do if I experience sync errors or notice data mismatches after setting up my integration with SyncApps?

If you’re dealing with sync errors or mismatched data after setting up your integration, the first step is to check the sync error logs. These logs can help you identify the root of the problem. Common culprits include mismatched data formats, incorrect field mappings, or missing permissions. Take a close look at your sync settings to confirm that fields are mapped properly and that the necessary permissions are in place.

It’s also important to ensure your data is aligned across all systems before attempting to sync. Inconsistent data can trigger errors. If you spot any issues, make adjustments – like updating custom object fields – and run the sync again to see if the changes resolved the problem. Keeping an eye on your sync logs regularly can help you catch and fix potential issues early, ensuring your integrations stay on track.