MCE-Admn-201 Questions and Answers

To configure Sales Cloud objects to be synced and leveraged in Marketing Cloud, the Marketing Cloud admin should navigate to "Setup > Data Management > Synchronized Data Extensions" in Marketing Cloud. This path allows the admin to set up and manage the synchronization of specific Sales Cloud data objects and fields into Marketing Cloud, enabling the creation of segmented audiences based on this data.

For the customer's requirement of retargeting subscribers based on click activity with dynamic content adjustment based on regional market, the necessary skill set is AMPscript. AMPscript will allow the team to dynamically populate email content based on data attributes such as regional market from the master subscriber data extension, and it can also handle complex decisioning based on subscriber interactions within the email (like clicks on links).

To sync specific contacts from Sales Cloud to Marketing Cloud without syncing all contacts, particularly when not all contacts need email communications, the admin should use a Boolean field to filter the contacts. This can be configured in the Contact Builder under Data Sources. A Boolean field allows for a simple true/false condition that can be set in Sales Cloud and used to control which records are synchronized based on their relevance for email communication. This method ensures that only contacts marked true (or false, depending on the setup) are brought into Marketing Cloud, efficiently managing the sync and keeping irrelevant contacts out of the system.

To enhance personalized interactions and increase purchase frequency using Journey Builder:

Channel Preference: Understanding the preferred communication channels of customers allows for personalized and effective outreach, potentially increasing engagement and response rates.

Last Purchase Date: Tracking when a customer last made a purchase can help in timing communications effectively, triggering reminders or promotions at optimal times to encourage repeat purchases.

To assign users to specific business units in Salesforce Marketing Cloud, an admin can manage this directly through the user configuration settings:

Search for the individual user: Navigate to the Users section in Setup.

Select their name and click Edit Business Units: This action allows the admin to manage the business units that the user has access to, enabling or disabling access as required for the new or existing business units.

Salesforce Sidekick

For Northern Trail Outfitters' scenario, where they need to send one of three different emails randomly to new subscribers within a journey, the most suitable activity to accomplish this with the fewest steps would be using:

B. Engagement Split

However, the correct answer for randomly distributing different email versions in a journey is not listed among the options provided under typical usage. Normally, the Engagement Split is used to branch the journey based on how subscribers interact with emails (e.g., opens or clicks).

The ideal solution for NTO's need to send one of several different emails at random would be the "Random Split" activity in Journey Builder, which is not listed in the options. Since the closest option provided that would allow for varying paths (though not randomly) is the Engagement Split, it could be considered, but it does not fulfill the requirement as described.

Therefore, based on the given options and the actual functionality needed:

There seems to be a misunderstanding in the options provided. Normally, a "Random Split" would be used in this case.

If we must choose from the available options, none directly fulfill the requirement of randomly sending different email versions with the fewest activities possible.

 The Collect Tracking code is a JavaScript code that is added to a website to capture and send user behavior data to Marketing Cloud. This data is stored in data extensions and can be used for Einstein Recommendations1

The Content Split activity should be used for multivariate content testing within Journey Builder. This activity allows the journey to send different versions of email content to different audience segments and measure their performance based on open or click rates. The other activities are not suitable for multivariate content testing.

To append an Urchin Tracking Module (UTM) variable string to links in emails, the Marketing Cloud admin should use the Web Analytics Connector (WAC). This functionality automatically appends tracking parameters, such as UTM parameters, to all URLs in outgoing emails. This allows for detailed tracking of email effectiveness within analytics platforms like Google Analytics. The Web Analytics Connector can be configured within Email Studio to include specific UTM parameters as required by marketing strategies.

Configure the business unit data retention setting to 12 months is the policy that the Marketing Cloud admin could configure in Setup. Business unit data retention setting is a setting that allows marketers to specify how long records in data extensions should be retained at the business unit level. By configuring the business unit data retention setting to 12 months, any inactive data that is older than 12 months will be automatically deleted from the data extensions in that business unit2

Journey Builder and Mobile Push are two products that would allow them to send push notifications to customers with their mobile app. Journey Builder is a product that allows marketers to create and execute cross-channel customer journeys based on events, activities, and goals. Journey Builder can be used to send push notifications to mobile app users as part of a journey. Mobile Push is a product that allows marketers to create, manage, and deliver push notifications to mobile app users. Mobile Push can be used to send push notifications as standalone messages or as part of a journey

For a Membership Renewal drip campaign with a master audience updated in real-time:

Filter Activities: Use Filter Activities to segment the master data extension based on the renewal date criteria—one month prior, one week prior, and on the renewal date.

Send Activities: Follow each Filter Activity with a Send Activity targeting the specifically filtered audiences, ensuring that each email is sent at the correct time relative to the member's renewal date.

The issue where a customer continues to receive emails despite unsubscribing and being deleted from the data extension likely arises because the email address in All Subscribers still exists and is active. In Marketing Cloud, the All Subscribers list acts as a master list overriding subscription statuses in individual data extensions. Thus, even if a customer is removed from a specific data extension, if their status in All Subscribers is not updated to 'Unsubscribed,' they will continue to receive communications.

To monitor whether all records are being added to the target data structure each day in a scenario like that of Northern Trail Outfitters (NTO), the feature "Run Completion" within the File Drop Automation is most relevant. This feature allows the admin to check the status and results of the file drop automation, which includes verifying if the automation successfully completed and how many records were processed and added to the data extension. Using this feature, NTO can monitor daily imports and identify any discrepancies in the number of records processed, which could explain why fewer subscribers than expected are being sent emails.

The out-of-the-box Subscription Center can display publication lists and lists, which are two types of data structures that can be used to manage subscribers’ preferences and opt-outs. Data extensions and groups are not supported by the out-of-the-box Subscription Center, but they can be used in a custom Subscription Center.

For the entertainment company's setup using Contact Builder and Journey Builder, the two data sources essential to incorporate are:

A. Customer Data: This is crucial because it includes basic customer identifiers such as email addresses, which are necessary for sending emails and personalizing communications.

B. Event Registration: This data is critical as it contains the event-specific details needed for the decision splits in the journey, such as event ID, event type, and event name, which will determine the content of emails, including dynamic venue details through AMPscript.

These data sources ensure that the journeys can be personalized and targeted based on the customer's registered events, enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of the communications.

Before using Goals in Journey Builder, consider the following:

B. Goals are created to evaluate journey performance: Goals help measure how well a journey is performing against specific objectives, allowing for adjustments and improvements.

C. Goals can act as exit criteria: When a contact meets the goal criteria, they can be set to exit the journey, making goals a powerful tool to dynamically manage contact flow based on behavior or achievements.

D. Contacts are evaluated against the goal after a wait activity: This setup ensures that contacts have time to perform the expected action before being evaluated against the goal, which can be crucial for accurately measuring engagement and responses.

To ensure a notification is received when a scheduled query fails, the Marketing Cloud admin should add their email address in the automation settings under "Runtime Error or Skipped Run Notification Settings." This setup in the automation configuration will alert the admin via email if there is a failure in the query's execution, enabling timely identification and resolution of issues.

The out-of-the-box Subscription center can display Publication Lists and Lists as options for subscribers to opt in or out of. Data Extensions and Groups are not supported by the default Subscription center.

Following a Contact Delete request, certain data types remain within the account:

B. Contact data in non-sendable data extensions: This data does not directly link to an individual's subscriber key or contact ID, allowing it to persist in the system for reporting and analytical purposes without targeting specific individuals.

C. General tracking data at the job level: This includes aggregated data on email opens, clicks, and other engagement metrics collected at the campaign level, not tied to individual contact identities, thus remaining in the system post-deletion.

To get the last 30 days of Bounce data in bulk and in a pre-defined format, a Marketing Cloud admin should use B. Automation Studio Tracking Extract. This tool allows the admin to extract detailed bounce data for a specified period, providing comprehensive insight into delivery issues. The Tracking Extract can output data in a CSV format, which can be imported into other systems for further analysis or reporting.

 Administrator and Marketing Cloud Administrator are two standard roles that should be selected for the new user. Administrator is a standard role that grants full access to all features and functions in Marketing Cloud, such as creating and managing users, roles, permissions, business units, and security settings. Marketing Cloud Administrator is a standard role that grants access to all features and functions in Marketing Cloud except for user management. By selecting both roles, the new user will have full administrator permissions in Marketing Cloud

The Content Builder Settings under Setup allow the admin to create a default Header and Footer for emails. These settings apply to emails created in Content Builder only. The other settings do not have an option to create a default Header and Footer for emails.

To differentiate between marketing and transactional emails effectively:

Sender Profile: Define separate sender profiles for marketing and transactional emails. This includes different From Names and possibly different From Email addresses to help recipients distinguish between different types of emails.

Delivery Profile: Set up different delivery profiles for marketing and transactional emails. These can specify different IP addresses, helping to segment and manage sender reputation for different types of email communications.

Organizing business units in Salesforce Marketing Cloud for a company with multiple brands and global presence involves creating a structure that allows for brand and regional specific strategies while maintaining centralized control at the enterprise level.

Create child business units for each brand: This setup allows each brand under the Northern Trail Outfitters umbrella to manage its marketing autonomously while leveraging shared resources and aligning with overarching business strategies.

Nest child business units for GEOs under each brand: This further categorization allows for localized marketing strategies tailored to geographical nuances, enhancing target marketing efforts and regional compliance.

The issue of reduced deliverability tied to hitting spam traps during large email sends is directly related to List Hygiene. Spam traps are often email addresses that are specifically set up by blacklist providers or others to catch spam, and hitting them can severely impact a sender’s reputation. Effective list hygiene practices, such as regularly cleaning the email list of inactive or invalid addresses and confirming the opt-in status of subscribers, help avoid these traps and maintain good deliverability.

To troubleshoot issues with outdated data from Sales Cloud in Marketing Cloud, the admin should:

Check Synchronized Data Extensions: Navigate to Contact Builder and review the Synchronized Data Extensions. This area shows the synchronization status and configuration between Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud.

Data Refresh Rate: Verify how frequently the data is synchronized and ensure that the synchronization schedule meets the operational requirements, adjusting as necessary to ensure data is up to date.

The error in the File Drop Automation is due to the filename pattern not matching exactly because of additional seconds and milliseconds in the filename. To resolve this issue:

Modify the Import File activity to use the %%FILENAME_FROM_TRIGGER%% personalization string. This ensures that the Import File activity dynamically accepts the filename exactly as it is uploaded to the SFTP location.

Update the filename pattern in the automation setup to avoid hardcoding the date format and instead rely on the filename that triggered the automation.

By using %%FILENAME_FROM_TRIGGER%%, the automation becomes flexible and will correctly handle any file name that matches the initial pattern triggering the automation, regardless of additional timestamp details.

To create and schedule a weekly report with high-level metrics, the Marketing Cloud admin should use Analytics Builder. Analytics Builder allows users to create, view, and share reports and dashboards. The Account Send Summary report shows how many emails were sent in a given time period.

To implement item recommendations during the checkout process using Einstein, Northern Trail Outfitters should:

Implement the Collect Code on their website. This JavaScript snippet collects customer behavioral data, which is essential for powering personalized recommendations.

Add the Recommendation Code to the checkout page. This code snippet is responsible for displaying the personalized recommendations generated by Einstein based on the collected data.

To effectively target high-value outdoor sports customers likely to respond to a deep product discount:

Lifetime Purchase Value: Identify customers who have demonstrated significant financial commitment to the brand over time.

Conversion Rate: Focus on customers with a higher likelihood of responding based on past conversion metrics.

Last Purchase Date: Include customers who have made recent purchases, indicating active engagement and potential interest in new offers.

 To clear inactive data stored in data extensions after 12 months, NTO should apply a row-based retention to each data extension as it is created, set to 12 months. This will delete any records that have not been modified in the last 12 months. Row-based retention can be applied to individual data extensions or data extension templates

For the restaurant supply company's need to update their trade show contact collection method:

B. Microsite with Smart Capture to store entrants on a data extension: Smart Capture forms on a microsite provide a direct, digital method to collect entries efficiently and store them directly into a data extension.

D. Data Extension with double opt-in status defined: This setup helps manage consent and ensures compliance with email marketing regulations, as it allows entrants to confirm their subscription to the newsletter through a follow-up email.

These components provide an updated and efficient method for capturing and managing trade show contacts, while also ensuring compliance with marketing regulations.

To confirm the theory that the CSV file has an invalid format causing the automation to fail, the Marketing Cloud admin should C. Update the Import definition to include a notification email address. This setting allows the admin to receive notifications and a file of bad data rows when the import process encounters issues, such as invalid data formats, helping to quickly identify and resolve the format errors.

The advantages of using data extensions over lists in Marketing Cloud, especially given the complex data needs outlined:

Add/Update Capability: Data extensions support add/update import activities, allowing for the nightly refresh of the customer data from the data warehouse without duplicating records.

Handling Large Data Volumes: Data extensions are more suitable for managing large volumes of data with numerous attributes, such as the scenario described with 5 million records and 40+ attributes.

To ensure sensitive information is not imported and stored in Marketing Cloud, implement:

Tokenized Sending: This approach uses tokens to represent sensitive data, ensuring that the actual data does not reside within Marketing Cloud. Instead, the tokens are matched with the original data only during the send process, enhancing security by minimizing data exposure.

Setup: Configure Tokenized Sending by defining data relationships in Marketing Cloud Connect or through external token providers to integrate seamlessly with the sending process.

To effectively set up a welcome journey leveraging customer data across multiple data extensions in Contact Builder:

Single Attribute Group: Create one cohesive Attribute Group that interlinks Customers to Contacts, Orders to Customers, and Products to Orders. This setup ensures a streamlined data flow and relational integrity, crucial for targeting and personalization within the journey.

Data Relationships: This configuration facilitates the use of data across different stages of customer interaction—from acquisition through orders to product preferences—enabling more personalized journey experiences.

 To search for a Salesforce contact in All Subscribers, the admin should use the 18-digit contact ID as the subscriber key. This is because Marketing Cloud Connect uses the 18-digit contact ID as the subscriber key for contacts synchronized from Salesforce. The email address is not a reliable identifier as it can change or be duplicated

To view all verified email addresses in Marketing Cloud:

Navigate to From Address Management: This section within Email Studio allows administrators to manage and view all sender addresses that have been verified and are approved for use in sending emails.

Verification and Management: This area specifically holds records of each email address that has been set up and verified, including the status of each, ensuring they are authorized to send emails from the platform.

A block bounce is a type of bounce that occurs when an ISP rejects an email because of the sender’s reputation or content. This indicates that the ISP views the sender as a potential spammer or has received complaints from other recipients.

To efficiently manage limited licenses and ensure continuity in campaign management while the campaign manager is on parental leave:

Deactivate the Existing User: Temporarily deactivate the campaign manager's user account. This action frees up a license without deleting the user's historical data or settings.

Reassign the License: Assign the freed-up license to a new user who will temporarily fill the campaign manager's role. This approach maintains operational efficiency and compliance with license limitations.

To create a suppression list for hard-bounced email addresses, the most direct approach is to query the Bounce Data View in SQL. This Data View contains all bounce-related information, allowing admins to specifically filter for hard bounces by the bounce category. Using a query activity, the admin can extract all hard bounce records and create a dynamic or static suppression list based on these results. This method is efficient and ensures that only relevant data is included in the suppression list.