Marketing Cloud Foundations (MCF100)
5 Day Class
Runs 9am - 4pm Monday thru Friday
Upcoming Class Dates
Let’s talk and get something scheduled for your team!
Salesforce Marketing Cloud® is a powerful enterprise platform — but without structured enablement, many organizations struggle with adoption, efficiency, and consistent execution.
Marketing Cloud Foundations (MCF100) is designed to help teams move from fragmented knowledge to structured marketing operations. Through guided instruction, scenario-based labs, and hands-on application, your team develops repeatable systems and scalable processes — not just individual campaigns.
Salesforce and Marketing Cloud are registered trademarks of Salesforce, Inc. Blue Cloud University is an independent training provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Salesforce.
How Blue Cloud University Can Help
This training is ideal for organizations seeking to improve platform adoption, reduce execution bottlenecks, and empower marketing teams to work more independently within Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
Whether your team includes marketers, marketing operations professionals, CRM managers, or cross-functional stakeholders, this program provides the structured foundation needed to align strategy, execution, and measurable outcomes.
Marketing Cloud Foundations (MCF100) Curriculum Overview
This 5-day private training program is structured across 12 integrated lessons that guide teams from strategic planning through execution, automation, and optimization inside Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
Organizational Impact: Equips teams to build long-term marketing infrastructure, not isolated campaigns.
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Main Takeaways
Understand what Salesforce Marketing Cloud is and how it evolved from ExactTarget.
Identify the core tools within Marketing Cloud (Email Studio, Journey Builder, Automation Studio, Contact Builder, Analytics Builder, AMPscript).
Learn the difference between the “Old Factory” and “New Factory” tools.
See how Marketing Cloud supports each phase of the Email Marketing Cycle.
Explore how customer journeys are built across email, SMS, landing pages, and automation.
Understand how data, content, automation, and analytics work together in one ecosystem.
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Main Takeaways
Define clear, measurable marketing goals using strategy and tactics together.
Understand the difference between strategy and tactics — and how they align.
Identify target audiences and what motivates them to act.
Select the right channels (email, SMS, social, video, partnerships) for campaign goals.
Use KPIs and ROI measurement to evaluate campaign performance.
Apply goal-setting frameworks to real campaign scenarios (e.g., RollerBaby seasonal campaigns). text goes here
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Main Takeaways
Build and manage Data Extensions to store and organize marketing data.
Understand the difference between Sendable and Non-Sendable Data Extensions.
Use demographic, psychographic, and behavioral data for audience segmentation.
Apply Primary Keys and data structure best practices to maintain data integrity.
Choose appropriate data types (text, numeric, decimal, boolean, email, phone) for filtering and accuracy.
Create filtered Data Extensions to define targeted audiences for campaigns.
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Main Takeaways
Write effective subject lines, preheaders, and calls to action that drive engagement.
Design emails that are accessible, mobile-responsive, and visually clear.
Apply layout and visual hierarchy principles to improve performance.
Build reusable templates and content blocks in Content Builder.
Organize assets using folder structures and best-practice file management.
Use images, buttons, and interactive elements strategically to guide user behavior.
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Main Takeaways
Understand how spam filters and ISPs influence email deliverability.
Learn CAN-SPAM compliance requirements and legal email standards.
Apply best practices for subject lines, frequency, and audience expectations.
Protect sender reputation through opt-in management and list hygiene.
Understand authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
Avoid common deliverability mistakes such as purchased lists and deceptive messaging.
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Main Takeaways
Test emails using Subscriber Preview, Test Sends, Litmus, and Content Detective.
Understand Send Classifications and how they control sender identity and compliance.
Ensure CAN-SPAM compliance before executing a send.
Configure send parameters and testing data extensions properly.
Execute manual and triggered sends using Email Studio.
Track performance using Send Tracking and Analytics Builder tools.
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Main Takeaways
Understand how Automation Studio enables scheduled, hands-off data processes.
Build and manage Sendable Data Extensions connected to the All Subscribers List.
Import, copy, filter, and transform data using Automation Activities.
Use Enhanced FTP and file encryption to safely move external data.
Plan multi-step automations that support ongoing campaign workflows.
Recognize when to use APIs, file drops, or triggered processes for data movement.
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Main Takeaways
Use personalization strings to insert subscriber data into emails.
Understand the limitations of personalization strings within sendable data extensions.
Build reusable Content Blocks to streamline email creation.
Create dynamic content blocks that change based on audience rules.
Use AMPscript to access multiple data sources and apply conditional logic.
Develop advanced personalization strategies for email, SMS, and landing pages.
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Main Takeaways
Understand how SQL is used in Marketing Cloud to filter and manage relational data.
Write basic SQL queries using SELECT, FROM, JOIN, ON, and WHERE.
Combine multiple Data Extensions using INNER JOIN and other join methods.
Store query results in new Data Extensions for campaign use.
Compare Filters vs. SQL Queries and know when to use each.
Build and test SQL queries in Automation Studio and Query Studio.
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Main Takeaways
Understand the different Journey types: Multi-Step, Single Send, and Transactional.
Define entry sources such as Data Extensions, API Events, CloudPages, mobile, and CRM triggers.
Plan journey goals, audience eligibility, and desired outcomes.
Use journey tools like messages, delays, decision splits, joins, and updates.
Distinguish between Journey Data and Contact Data.
Test, schedule, and optimize journeys for scalable, automated communication.
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Main Takeaways
Understand how Marketing Cloud tracks performance across emails, journeys, and campaigns.
Use Analytics Builder reports and the Report Catalog to evaluate email performance.
Create Snapshots and Scheduled Reports to preserve and distribute results.
Interpret Journey Analytics to monitor contact flow, activity performance, and outcomes.
Use Journey History to troubleshoot individual contact behavior.
Leverage Intelligence (formerly Datorama) for executive-level, trend-based insights.
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Main Takeaways
Revisit the full Email Marketing Cycle from audience identification through optimization.
Reinforce the importance of setting measurable goals tied to KPIs.
Review best practices for subject lines, accessibility, and effective email design.
Re-examine personalization approaches including AMPscript and SQL.
Understand how data relationships and joins support advanced targeting.
Connect strategy, data, automation, content, and analytics into one cohesive system.
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This course includes a downloadable workbook that includes all course slides and exercises.
We offer both virtual and on-site training customized to fit your organization’s unique needs. Please send us a note outlining those needs and we will be happy to work with you to get things started.
Ask us about our special discount for our friends who work in education!
What Your Team Gains
A shared, structured understanding of how Marketing Cloud works end-to-end.
Clear alignment between marketing strategy, execution, automation, and analytics.
Improved internal adoption of Marketing Cloud tools and processes.
Reduced dependency on external contractors for everyday campaign execution.
Stronger data management and compliance practices to protect brand reputation.
A foundation for certification readiness and long-term team development.