Below is a detailed study plan for the Salesforce Certified Administrator exam, incorporating the Pomodoro Technique and Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve to enhance learning efficiency and memory retention. The plan is divided into Study Goals, Study Schedule, Specific Tasks, and Review Arrangements.

Study Schedule

Daily Study Plan (Using the Pomodoro Technique)

• Study for 2-3 hours daily, divided into 4-6 Pomodoro sessions (each session lasts 25 minutes).
• Take a 5-minute break after each Pomodoro session.
• After completing 4 Pomodoro sessions, take a longer break of 15-20 minutes.

Week 1: Configuration and Setup

Study Goals

1. Understand Salesforce company settings, user management, and security configurations.
2. Practice tasks like user role assignment, permission management, and security settings.
3. Learn how to configure login restrictions and multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Daily Study Plan

Day 1: Company Settings

• Study Content:
  1. Configure company information:
     • Default language, time zone, and currency.
     • Fiscal year settings (Standard/Custom).
  2. Learn how to optimize company settings for business needs.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Company Settings
  • Configure the default time zone and currency for a sample organization.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Set up a custom fiscal year:
     • Example: Fiscal year starts in April and ends in March.
  2. Add a virtual primary contact (e.g., company email).
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the "Company Settings" module on Trailhead.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Complete practical tasks for fiscal year and time zone configurations.
  • Review Time: Summarize what you’ve learned and note any difficulties.

Day 2: User Management Basics

• Study Content:
  1. User account management:
     • Create, activate, and assign users.
     • Understand username and email rules.
  2. Roles and Role Hierarchies:
     • Understand their purpose and impact on data access.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • User Management Basics
  • Create 2-3 test users and assign them different roles and permissions.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create the following role hierarchy:
     • CEO → Sales Manager → Sales Rep.
  2. Assign users to different roles and test data access permissions.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the User Management module.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice configuring role hierarchies.
  • Review Time: Summarize key points about roles and user management.

Day 3: Profiles and Permission Sets

• Study Content:
  1. Profiles:
     • Control object access permissions.
     • Understand standard vs. custom profiles.
  2. Permission Sets:
     • Extend access permissions for specific users.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Profiles and Permission Sets
  • Compare the purposes of Profiles and Permission Sets.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Configure a custom profile:
     • Restrict access to sensitive fields (e.g., salary fields).
  2. Create a permission set that grants additional reporting access.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Learn the basics of Profiles.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating custom profiles and permission sets.
  • Review Time: Summarize key differences between Profiles and Permission Sets.

Day 4: Login and Access Management

• Study Content:
  1. Configure login restrictions:
     • Set IP ranges.
     • Define login hours.
  2. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA):
     • Add an extra layer of security.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Security and Access
  • Configure IP range restrictions and MFA.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Set login hours for a sample user (e.g., 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM).
  2. Enable MFA and verify it via a mobile device.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study login security configurations.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice login restrictions and MFA settings.
  • Review Time: Summarize best practices for login security.

Day 5: Health Check and Security Optimization

• Study Content:
  1. Use Salesforce Health Check to evaluate organizational security.
  2. Improve weak security settings:
     • Password policies.
     • Session timeout configurations.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Health Check
  • Learn common security optimization measures.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Run the Health Check tool and record your security score.
  2. Update password policies to improve your security score.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study how to use the Health Check tool.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Optimize weak security settings.
  • Review Time: Summarize the importance of security settings.

Day 6: Consolidation and Practice

• Study Content:
  1. Review all content learned this week.
  2. Organize notes and summarize key points.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Take a Trailhead or Focus on Force mock exam to test your knowledge.
  2. Reinforce weak areas through additional study.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Take a mock exam (20-30 questions).
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Review mistakes and strengthen weak areas.
  • Review Time: Summarize the week’s knowledge framework.

Day 7: Active Recall and Rest

• Study Content:
  1. Rest and engage in light review.
  2. Use active recall to test yourself.
• Tasks:
  • Recall key content from each topic, focusing on weaker areas.
  • Plan next week’s study priorities.
• Schedule:
  • Light Review: 1-2 hours for self-testing and planning.

Week 2: Object Manager and Lightning App Builder

Study Goals

1. Understand the functionality and usage of standard and custom objects.
2. Learn how to configure fields, page layouts, and record types.
3. Practice using the Lightning App Builder to design and optimize dynamic page layouts.

Daily Study Plan

Day 1: Understanding Standard Objects

• Study Content:
  1. Understand the structure and purpose of standard objects (Account, Contact, Opportunity, and Lead).
  2. Learn the relationships between standard objects.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Standard and Custom Objects
  • Analyze fields in standard objects, like Account Name and Opportunity Stage.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a relationship diagram for Account, Contact, and Opportunity.
  2. Explore Opportunity fields and understand key data points.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the purpose of Account and Contact.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Analyze Opportunity and Lead fields.
  • Review Time: Summarize relationships between standard objects.

Day 2: Custom Objects and Fields

• Study Content:
  1. Learn how to create custom objects and understand when to use them.
  2. Configure field types (Text, Number, Formula fields).
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Custom Objects
  • Explore best practices for custom objects.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a custom object named "Project" with the following fields:
     • Project Name (Text)
     • Project Budget (Currency)
     • Deadline (Date)
  2. Configure a formula field "Remaining Budget":
     • Formula: Project Budget - Amount Spent
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study custom objects and field types.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Configure the "Project" custom object.
  • Review Time: Record key considerations for custom object configuration.

Day 3: Field Management and Validation Rules

• Study Content:
  1. Learn the functionality and limitations of different field types:
     • Master-Detail Relationships.
     • Lookup Relationships.
     • Formula Fields.
  2. Understand how to create and apply validation rules to ensure data quality.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Validation Rules
  • Practice configuring various field types and validation rules.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Configure a Master-Detail Relationship:
     • Create a child object "Task" related to the custom "Project" object.
     • Set up a roll-up summary field to calculate the total number of tasks for each project.
  2. Create a validation rule:
     • Ensure the Project Budget field is greater than zero.
     • Formula: Project Budget <= 0
     • Error Message: "Budget must be greater than zero."
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study field relationships and their applications.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating relationships and validation rules.
  • Review Time: Record common field management challenges.

Day 4: Page Layouts

• Study Content:
  1. Understand the purpose and configuration of page layouts.
  2. Learn how to assign and customize layouts for different record types and profiles.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Page Layouts
  • Understand how to optimize user experience by organizing page layouts.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Configure a page layout for the "Project" object:
     • Add important fields like Project Name, Budget, and Deadline.
     • Hide unnecessary fields to reduce clutter.
  2. Add a custom button to the page layout that links to a related list (e.g., "Task List").
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the basics of page layout configurations.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating and optimizing layouts for the "Project" object.
  • Review Time: Summarize the relationship between record types and page layouts.

Day 5: Lightning App Builder Basics

• Study Content:
  1. Understand the functionality and purpose of the Lightning App Builder.
  2. Learn how to create a Lightning page to improve user interaction.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Lightning App Builder
  • Explore the relationship between Lightning pages and Lightning components.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a Lightning application page:
     • Embed a dashboard showing project performance.
     • Add an activity tracker component to the page.
  2. Design a custom Lightning record page for the "Project" object:
     • Highlight fields like Project Name, Budget, and Progress.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Learn Lightning App Builder basics and available components.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating a Lightning application page.
  • Review Time: Record key principles for designing effective Lightning pages.

Day 6: Advanced Lightning Features

• Study Content:
  1. Learn about Dynamic Forms and their benefits in tailoring user experiences.
  2. Use conditional logic to display fields or sections based on user input or context.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Dynamic Forms
  • Explore best practices for configuring dynamic forms and conditional displays.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a dynamic form for the "Project" object:
     • Show the Project Budget field only when the Project Status is "Active."
  2. Use visibility rules to customize the page for different roles:
     • Example: Sales reps see budget details, while project managers see deadline and task details.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Learn the configuration of Dynamic Forms.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice using conditional logic for field visibility.
  • Review Time: Summarize scenarios where dynamic forms enhance user experience.

Day 7: Consolidation and Review

• Study Content:
  1. Review all knowledge learned during the week.
  2. Consolidate notes and organize a comprehensive summary of key points.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Take a Trailhead or Focus on Force mock test to evaluate your understanding.
  2. Identify and revisit weak areas, and perform hands-on corrections in your practice org.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Take a mock test (20-30 questions).
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Review mistakes and reinforce weak areas.
  • Review Time: Summarize key takeaways and prepare for next week’s module.

Week 3: Sales and Marketing Applications

In this week, the focus is on mastering the Sales Cloud and Marketing Features. This includes managing leads, opportunities, quotes, campaigns, and product catalogs. You’ll also practice configuring sales processes and analyzing marketing effectiveness.

Study Goals

1. Understand the functionality of Sales Cloud components, such as Opportunity Management and Quote Management.
2. Learn how to use and configure marketing tools like Campaign Management and Lead Management.
3. Practice creating and managing product catalogs and price books.
4. Gain hands-on experience with Salesforce tools related to sales and marketing applications.

Daily Study Plan

Day 1: Opportunity Management

• Study Content:
  1. Learn the purpose of opportunities in tracking potential sales.
  2. Understand sales stages (e.g., Qualification, Proposal, Closed Won).
  3. Configure and use the Sales Path to provide guidance for sales reps.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Opportunities and the Sales Process
  • Study Opportunity fields and their importance (e.g., Close Date, Amount).
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Define and configure sales stages in a sales process.
  2. Create an opportunity and track it through multiple stages using the Sales Path.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the functionality of opportunities.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Configure a Sales Path and practice moving an opportunity through its stages.
  • Review Time: Summarize the importance of Opportunity Management.

Day 2: Quote Management

• Study Content:
  1. Learn how to generate quotes from opportunities.
  2. Use Salesforce’s PDF template functionality for professional quote creation.
  3. Explore the relationship between opportunities, quotes, and products.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Quote Management
  • Study how multiple quotes can be created for a single opportunity.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Generate a quote for an opportunity and include product details.
  2. Customize a PDF template to include company branding and terms.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the basics of Quote Management.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice generating and exporting a PDF quote.
  • Review Time: Review the lifecycle of opportunities and quotes.

Day 3: Products and Price Books

• Study Content:
  1. Understand the purpose of products and price books.
  2. Learn how to configure products, standard price books, and custom price books.
  3. Enable multi-currency support for organizations operating in different regions.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Products and Price Books
  • Explore how products link to opportunities and quotes.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a standard product catalog with at least three products.
  2. Set up a custom price book for a specific region or customer segment.
  3. Enable multi-currency support and test product prices in USD and EUR.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the configuration of products and price books.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating products and linking them to opportunities.
  • Review Time: Summarize the impact of price books on sales processes.

Day 4: Lead Management

• Study Content:
  1. Learn about the lifecycle of leads:
     • Capture, assign, qualify, and convert leads.
  2. Understand lead assignment rules and lead scoring.
  3. Explore the process of converting a lead into an Account, Contact, and Opportunity.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Leads and Lead Management
  • Study the criteria for lead conversion and its impact on sales data.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Configure lead assignment rules to automatically route leads based on region or industry.
  2. Convert a lead into an Account, Contact, and Opportunity.
  3. Experiment with lead scoring by assigning points based on lead activity (e.g., email engagement).
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study lead lifecycle and assignment rules.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice converting leads and configuring scoring rules.
  • Review Time: Summarize the role of leads in Salesforce’s sales cycle.

Day 5: Campaign Management

• Study Content:
  1. Understand how campaigns track marketing efforts and their effectiveness.
  2. Learn how to manage campaign budgets, costs, and responses.
  3. Explore Campaign Influence to measure the impact of marketing activities on opportunities.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Campaign Management
  • Study how campaigns are linked to leads, opportunities, and accounts.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a marketing campaign (e.g., a product launch event) and track associated costs.
  2. Associate leads with a campaign and measure conversion rates.
  3. Enable Campaign Influence to track how campaigns impact opportunity revenue.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the structure and purpose of campaigns.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating and analyzing a campaign’s effectiveness.
  • Review Time: Summarize the importance of Campaign Management for marketing teams.

Day 6: Consolidation and Practice

• Study Content:
  1. Review all sales and marketing concepts learned this week.
  2. Consolidate notes, organize summaries, and ensure all configurations are complete.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Complete a mock sales process:
     • Capture a lead → convert it to an opportunity → track it through sales stages → generate a quote.
  2. Take a Trailhead or Focus on Force mock exam to evaluate your knowledge.
  3. Identify weak areas and revisit Trailhead modules or hands-on tasks to strengthen them.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Conduct a mock sales process from lead to quote.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Take a mock exam and review mistakes.
  • Review Time: Summarize key takeaways from the week.

Day 7: Active Recall and Light Review

• Study Content:
  1. Use active recall to test yourself on the week’s topics.
  2. Plan the next week’s study focus.
• Tasks:
  • Recall key features and configurations of opportunities, leads, quotes, campaigns, and products.
  • Create flashcards or a quick Q&A list for revision.
• Schedule:
  • Light Review: Spend 1-2 hours testing your memory and reflecting on your learning.

Key Tips for Week 3

• Review content from Week 2 to reinforce your foundation, as these concepts often overlap.
• Use real-world scenarios when practicing, such as designing a campaign for a product launch or tracking a deal through multiple sales stages.

Week 4: Service and Support Applications

This week focuses on the Service Cloud and related features, including case management, support queues, knowledge articles, and Omni-Channel routing. By the end of this week, you’ll have a strong understanding of how Salesforce supports customer service operations.

Study Goals

1. Understand the functionality and configuration of Case Management and Support Queues.
2. Learn how to create, publish, and manage Knowledge Articles.
3. Practice using Email-to-Case and configuring Omni-Channel Routing.
4. Gain hands-on experience with Salesforce Service Cloud tools.

Daily Study Plan

Day 1: Case Management

• Study Content:
  1. Understand the purpose of cases in managing customer service requests.
  2. Learn how to configure case priorities, statuses, and types.
  3. Explore how cases can be created manually or automatically (e.g., via Email-to-Case).
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Case Management Basics
  • Study the fields in a Case record, such as Priority, Status, and Type.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a new case and assign it to a support agent.
  2. Configure custom case types (e.g., Technical Support, Billing Issue).
  3. Create case status values (e.g., New, In Progress, Escalated, Resolved).
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the basics of Case Management.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating and assigning cases with different statuses.
  • Review Time: Summarize key elements of Case Management.

Day 2: Support Queues

• Study Content:
  1. Understand the purpose of support queues in organizing and prioritizing unassigned cases.
  2. Learn how to configure automatic assignment rules.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Support Queue Management
  • Study how queues improve team workflows.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a support queue for a specific case type (e.g., Technical Support).
  2. Configure assignment rules to automatically route cases to the appropriate queue based on criteria (e.g., priority or region).
  3. Test the process by creating cases that match your assignment rules.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study queue configuration and assignment rules.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice setting up and testing support queues.
  • Review Time: Summarize how queues and assignment rules work together.

Day 3: Email-to-Case

• Study Content:
  1. Learn how customer emails can be converted into cases automatically.
  2. Explore how response templates are used to acknowledge customer inquiries.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Email-to-Case Configuration
  • Study the differences between On-Demand Email-to-Case and Email-to-Case with an agent installed.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Configure an Email-to-Case setup that automatically creates cases when emails are sent to a specific address (e.g., [email protected]).
  2. Create and use a response template to acknowledge receipt of a customer email.
  3. Test the process by sending an email and verifying that the case is created.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study Email-to-Case functionality.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice configuring and testing Email-to-Case.
  • Review Time: Summarize how Email-to-Case enhances customer support efficiency.

Day 4: Knowledge Articles

• Study Content:
  1. Understand the role of Knowledge Articles in enabling self-service and aiding agents.
  2. Learn how to create, categorize, and publish Knowledge Articles.
  3. Explore access permissions for internal and external audiences.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Knowledge Management
  • Study how Knowledge Articles are linked to cases and other records.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a Knowledge Article about resolving a common technical issue.
  2. Categorize the article using data categories (e.g., Product A, Troubleshooting).
  3. Publish the article and configure access permissions for agents and customers.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study Knowledge Article creation and management.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating and publishing articles with appropriate permissions.
  • Review Time: Summarize best practices for Knowledge Article management.

Day 5: Omni-Channel Routing

• Study Content:
  1. Understand the purpose of Omni-Channel in routing work to agents based on workload and skillset.
  2. Learn how agents use Omni-Channel to manage their availability and workload.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Omni-Channel Basics
  • Explore the configuration of Presence Status and Routing Configurations.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Configure Omni-Channel to route cases based on priority.
  2. Create Presence Status options (e.g., Available, Offline, On Break).
  3. Test the routing process by simulating cases and observing how they are assigned.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study Omni-Channel configuration.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating routing rules and testing the process.
  • Review Time: Summarize the benefits of Omni-Channel for service teams.

Day 6: Consolidation and Practice

• Study Content:
  1. Review all concepts from the week: Case Management, Queues, Email-to-Case, Knowledge Articles, and Omni-Channel.
  2. Organize notes and ensure all configurations are complete.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Simulate a complete support process:
     • Receive a customer email → convert it into a case → route it to the appropriate queue → resolve the case using a Knowledge Article.
  2. Take a mock exam to test your understanding of Service Cloud concepts.
  3. Identify weak areas and revisit relevant modules or practice configurations.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Simulate the support process end-to-end.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Take a mock exam and review mistakes.
  • Review Time: Summarize the week’s learning outcomes.

Day 7: Active Recall and Light Review

• Study Content:
  1. Use active recall to test your memory of the week’s topics.
  2. Plan the focus areas for the next week.
• Tasks:
  • Recall key concepts of Case Management, Email-to-Case, and Omni-Channel.
  • Create flashcards or a quick quiz to reinforce learning.
• Schedule:
  • Light Review: Spend 1-2 hours testing your knowledge and refining notes.

Tips for Week 4

• Pay attention to hands-on practice, as Service Cloud configurations can be complex but rewarding.
• Ensure you fully understand how each feature works in real-life customer service scenarios.

Week 5: Data and Analytics Management

This week focuses on Data Management and Reports and Dashboards. These skills are essential for ensuring data quality, analyzing business performance, and creating insightful visualizations.

Study Goals

1. Understand how to manage data using tools like Data Import Wizard and Data Loader.
2. Learn techniques for data deduplication to maintain clean and accurate records.
3. Gain expertise in creating reports and dashboards, including advanced features like dynamic dashboards.
4. Practice analyzing data using Salesforce reporting tools to draw meaningful insights.

Daily Study Plan

Day 1: Data Import and Export

• Study Content:
  1. Learn the difference between Data Import Wizard and Data Loader.
  2. Understand when to use each tool for importing and exporting data.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Import and Export Data
  • Study the steps for mapping fields during data import.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Use the Data Import Wizard to import a small dataset of leads (e.g., 20-50 records).
  2. Use Data Loader to perform a bulk export of opportunity records (e.g., all closed deals from the past year).
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study Data Import Wizard and its use cases.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice using Data Loader for bulk data operations.
  • Review Time: Summarize key differences between the two tools.

Day 2: Data Deduplication

• Study Content:
  1. Learn how to configure duplicate and matching rules to identify and prevent duplicates.
  2. Understand how to use merge tools to clean up existing duplicate records.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Duplicate Management
  • Study how matching rules can be customized for different objects.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Set up a matching rule to detect duplicate contacts based on the same email address.
  2. Merge two duplicate contact records while retaining key data.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study duplicate management and matching rules.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice merging duplicates and configuring rules.
  • Review Time: Summarize the role of deduplication in maintaining data quality.

Day 3: Reports – Basics

• Study Content:
  1. Understand the purpose and structure of Salesforce reports.
  2. Learn the difference between Tabular, Summary, and Matrix reports.
  3. Study how to apply filters and grouping to reports.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Reports and Dashboards Basics
  • Explore real-world examples of each report type.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a Tabular Report to list all active accounts.
  2. Build a Summary Report to group opportunities by stage and show total revenue.
  3. Experiment with a Matrix Report that groups data by region and by quarter.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study report types and their applications.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating different report types.
  • Review Time: Summarize key features of each report type.

Day 4: Dashboards – Basics

• Study Content:
  1. Learn how dashboards visualize data from reports.
  2. Explore dashboard components like charts, tables, and metrics.
  3. Understand the role of dynamic dashboards in tailoring views for different users.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Dashboards Basics
  • Study the relationship between reports and dashboard components.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a dashboard with the following components:
     • A bar chart showing total revenue by region.
     • A metric displaying the total number of open opportunities.
  2. Configure a dynamic dashboard so different users see data relevant to their role.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the basics of dashboards and their components.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice building and customizing dashboards.
  • Review Time: Summarize the benefits of dynamic dashboards.

Day 5: Advanced Reporting Features

• Study Content:
  1. Learn how to use advanced report filters, bucket fields, and cross-filters.
  2. Explore custom report types and their applications.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Advanced Reporting
  • Study examples of cross-object reporting.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a report with a cross-filter to display opportunities with open tasks.
  2. Add a bucket field to group opportunities by size (e.g., Small, Medium, Large).
  3. Build a custom report type to include data from Accounts and their related Cases.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study advanced reporting techniques.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice using cross-filters and bucket fields.
  • Review Time: Summarize advanced features and their use cases.

Day 6: Consolidation and Practice

• Study Content:
  1. Review all concepts from the week: data import/export, deduplication, reports, and dashboards.
  2. Organize notes and summarize key points.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Simulate a real-world scenario:
     • Import a dataset of leads → clean up duplicates → create a report showing lead conversion rates.
  2. Take a mock test on Salesforce’s reporting and data management features.
  3. Reinforce weak areas by revisiting Trailhead modules or configurations.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Simulate a real-world data management process.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Take a mock test and review mistakes.
  • Review Time: Summarize the week’s knowledge framework.

Day 7: Active Recall and Light Review

• Study Content:
  1. Use active recall to test your memory of the week’s topics.
  2. Plan next week’s focus on Workflow/Process Automation.
• Tasks:
  • Test yourself on key concepts:
    • What are the differences between Data Import Wizard and Data Loader?
    • How do you create dynamic dashboards?
    • What is the purpose of a bucket field in reports?
  • Create flashcards or a self-test quiz for further review.
• Schedule:
  • Light Review: Spend 1-2 hours reinforcing concepts and preparing for Week 6.

Tips for Week 5

• Focus on hands-on practice with data import/export and reporting tools to solidify your understanding.
• Regularly review earlier weeks’ content, as some concepts (e.g., object relationships) will overlap with reporting.

Week 6: Workflow/Process Automation

This week focuses on mastering Salesforce’s automation tools, including Workflow Rules, Process Builder, Flows, and Approval Processes. These are essential for automating repetitive tasks and improving efficiency.

Study Goals

1. Understand when and how to use Workflow Rules, Process Builder, and Flows for automation.
2. Learn how to create and manage Approval Processes for multi-step approvals.
3. Gain hands-on experience building and testing automation in Salesforce.

Daily Study Plan

Day 1: Workflow Rules

• Study Content:
  1. Understand the functionality of Workflow Rules and their limitations.
  2. Learn how to define trigger criteria and configure automated actions.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Workflow Rules Basics
  • Study common use cases for Workflow Rules, such as sending email alerts or updating fields.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a Workflow Rule to send an email alert when an Opportunity is marked as "Closed Won."
  2. Configure a field update to automatically set a Follow-Up Date field 7 days after a Case is created.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the basics of Workflow Rules and triggers.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating Workflow Rules and testing automated actions.
  • Review Time: Summarize the strengths and limitations of Workflow Rules.

Day 2: Process Builder

• Study Content:
  1. Learn how Process Builder allows more complex automation than Workflow Rules.
  2. Explore cross-object automation and multiple criteria-based actions.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Process Builder Basics
  • Study how Process Builder integrates with other tools like Flows.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a process to automatically create a task for the Opportunity owner when the Opportunity is marked "Closed Won."
  2. Configure a process to update related Contact records when an Account’s billing address changes.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study Process Builder’s capabilities and use cases.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice building processes with cross-object updates.
  • Review Time: Summarize when to use Process Builder instead of Workflow Rules.

Day 3: Screen Flows

• Study Content:
  1. Understand how Screen Flows provide user interfaces for guided data entry and task completion.
  2. Learn how to design and embed Screen Flows into Lightning pages.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Screen Flow Basics
  • Study the structure of a Screen Flow, including screens, decision elements, and actions.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Build a Screen Flow to guide users through creating a new Lead record, with fields like Name, Company, and Email.
  2. Embed the Screen Flow on the Home page for easy access.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the components of Screen Flows.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating and embedding a Screen Flow.
  • Review Time: Summarize the benefits of Screen Flows for user interaction.

Day 4: Background Flows

• Study Content:
  1. Learn how to automate backend processes with Background Flows.
  2. Explore loops, decision elements, and record updates in Flows.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Automation with Flows
  • Study real-world use cases for Background Flows, such as mass updates or scheduled tasks.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create a Background Flow to automatically create a renewal Opportunity 30 days before a subscription’s end date.
  2. Use a loop in the Flow to update the Status of all open Tasks related to a completed Case.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the functionality of Background Flows.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating and testing Background Flows.
  • Review Time: Summarize advanced features like loops and decision elements.

Day 5: Approval Processes

• Study Content:
  1. Understand how Approval Processes automate multi-step approvals.
  2. Learn how to configure approval paths and set up notifications.
• Tasks:
  • Read and complete the Trailhead module:
    • Approval Process Basics
  • Study how records are locked during approval and how notifications are sent.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Create an Approval Process for discount requests over 20%, requiring approvals from the Sales Manager and Finance Team.
  2. Configure email alerts to notify approvers when an approval request is assigned to them.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Study the structure of Approval Processes.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating multi-step Approval Processes.
  • Review Time: Summarize best practices for managing approvals in Salesforce.

Day 6: Consolidation and Practice

• Study Content:
  1. Review all concepts from the week: Workflow Rules, Process Builder, Flows, and Approval Processes.
  2. Ensure all configurations are complete and tested in a practice org.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Simulate a complete workflow:
     • Trigger a Workflow Rule → Update related records using Process Builder → Automate additional tasks with Flows.
  2. Take a mock test focusing on Workflow/Process Automation features.
  3. Revisit Trailhead modules to strengthen weak areas.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Simulate an end-to-end automation workflow.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Take a mock test and review mistakes.
  • Review Time: Organize notes and summarize the week’s key takeaways.

Day 7: Active Recall and Light Review

• Study Content:
  1. Use active recall to test your understanding of Workflow Rules, Process Builder, Flows, and Approval Processes.
  2. Plan the focus areas for final exam preparation next week.
• Tasks:
  • Recall key automation concepts, such as:
    • Differences between Workflow Rules and Process Builder.
    • When to use Screen Flows vs. Background Flows.
    • Key components of Approval Processes.
  • Create flashcards or quizzes to reinforce learning.
• Schedule:
  • Light Review: Spend 1-2 hours testing yourself and summarizing concepts.

Tips for Week 6

• Prioritize hands-on practice to ensure you fully understand how each automation tool works.
• Test your configurations with real-world scenarios to identify potential issues.
• Review earlier weeks’ content, especially topics like object relationships and field updates, as they often intersect with automation.

Week 7: Final Review and Exam Preparation

In the final week, the focus is on consolidating your knowledge, revisiting weak areas, and preparing for the Salesforce Certified Administrator exam through practice tests and scenario-based learning.

Study Goals

1. Review all knowledge areas comprehensively, including core concepts and advanced features.
2. Reinforce weak areas identified in previous weeks or mock tests.
3. Develop a strong test-taking strategy to manage time effectively during the exam.
4. Build confidence through multiple mock exams and hands-on practice.

Daily Study Plan

Day 1: Comprehensive Review – Configuration and Setup

• Focus Topics:
  1. Organizational Settings:
     • Company Information, Fiscal Year, Locale Settings.
  2. User and Permission Management:
     • Roles, Profiles, Permission Sets, Login Access Management.
  3. Security Settings:
     • Health Check, Login IP Ranges, MFA.
• Tasks:
  • Review your notes and Trailhead modules on Configuration and Setup.
  • Take a short mock quiz focused on this topic (10-15 questions).
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Revisit a sample org and configure:
     • A new user with custom roles and permissions.
     • Security settings like IP restrictions and MFA.
  2. Conduct a Health Check and address any weak security settings.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Review key concepts and take a quiz.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice tasks in a sample org.
  • Review Time: Summarize key points and clarify doubts.

Day 2: Comprehensive Review – Object Manager and Lightning App Builder

• Focus Topics:
  1. Standard and Custom Objects:
     • Field types, relationships, and validation rules.
  2. Page Layouts and Record Types:
     • Tailoring user experiences.
  3. Lightning App Builder:
     • Designing dynamic pages and embedding components.
• Tasks:
  • Review your notes and Trailhead modules on Object Manager and Lightning App Builder.
  • Take a short mock quiz (10-15 questions) focused on this topic.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Design a new page layout for a custom object and assign it to specific profiles.
  2. Create a dynamic Lightning page that displays fields based on record status.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Review concepts and take a quiz.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice designing custom layouts and pages.
  • Review Time: Summarize and address weak areas.

Day 3: Comprehensive Review – Sales and Marketing Applications

• Focus Topics:
  1. Opportunity Management:
     • Sales stages, Sales Path.
  2. Quote Management:
     • Generating quotes, PDF templates.
  3. Lead and Campaign Management:
     • Lead lifecycle, campaign influence.
  4. Products and Price Books:
     • Configurations and multi-currency support.
• Tasks:
  • Review notes and Trailhead modules on Sales and Marketing Applications.
  • Take a short mock quiz (10-15 questions) on this topic.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Configure a sales process, including a Sales Path and Opportunity stages.
  2. Generate a quote from an Opportunity and export it as a PDF.
  3. Create a campaign and associate leads to measure conversion rates.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Review sales and marketing concepts.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice tasks related to sales processes and campaigns.
  • Review Time: Summarize key marketing tools and their impact.

Day 4: Comprehensive Review – Service and Support Applications

• Focus Topics:
  1. Case Management:
     • Status, priorities, assignment rules.
  2. Support Queues:
     • Managing case queues and automatic assignments.
  3. Email-to-Case and Knowledge Articles:
     • Setting up Email-to-Case, publishing articles.
  4. Omni-Channel Routing:
     • Configuring routing rules and presence status.
• Tasks:
  • Review notes and Trailhead modules on Service and Support Applications.
  • Take a short mock quiz (10-15 questions) on this topic.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Configure Email-to-Case and test automated case creation.
  2. Publish a Knowledge Article and set permissions for internal and external users.
  3. Configure Omni-Channel to route cases based on workload.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Review service and support concepts.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice case management and Omni-Channel configurations.
  • Review Time: Summarize the integration of support tools.

Day 5: Comprehensive Review – Data and Analytics Management

• Focus Topics:
  1. Data Management:
     • Data Import Wizard, Data Loader, data deduplication.
  2. Reports:
     • Tabular, Summary, and Matrix reports.
  3. Dashboards:
     • Adding components, configuring dynamic dashboards.
• Tasks:
  • Review notes and Trailhead modules on Data and Analytics Management.
  • Take a short mock quiz (10-15 questions) focused on reports and dashboards.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Import a dataset using the Data Import Wizard and clean up duplicates.
  2. Create a Summary Report grouping Opportunities by Stage and showing total revenue.
  3. Build a Dashboard with:
     • A bar chart showing revenue by region.
     • A metric for total closed deals.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Review data management and reporting concepts.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice building reports and dashboards.
  • Review Time: Summarize key data analysis tools.

Day 6: Comprehensive Review – Workflow/Process Automation

• Focus Topics:
  1. Workflow Rules:
     • Trigger criteria and automated actions.
  2. Process Builder:
     • Cross-object updates, multi-criteria logic.
  3. Flows:
     • Screen Flows and Background Flows.
  4. Approval Processes:
     • Multi-step approval workflows.
• Tasks:
  • Review notes and Trailhead modules on Workflow/Process Automation.
  • Take a short mock quiz (10-15 questions) focused on automation tools.
• Practice Tasks:
  1. Build a Workflow Rule to update a record field when a condition is met.
  2. Create a Process Builder flow to automate task creation when an Opportunity closes.
  3. Configure an Approval Process for discount requests exceeding 20%.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Review automation tools.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Practice creating automation processes.
  • Review Time: Summarize when to use each automation tool.

Day 7: Full Mock Exam and Final Review

• Tasks:
  1. Take a full-length mock exam (60 questions).
  2. Analyze your performance and revisit weak areas.
  3. Organize notes and ensure all study resources are complete.
• Schedule:
  • Pomodoro Session 1: Take a mock exam under timed conditions.
  • Pomodoro Session 2: Review mistakes and revisit weak topics.
  • Light Review: Go through all knowledge areas briefly and focus on high-impact topics.

Tips for the Exam

1. Time Management: Allocate time per question (~1.5 minutes) and flag questions you need to revisit.
2. Eliminate Options: Use process of elimination for tricky questions.
3. Focus on Key Concepts: Salesforce often tests real-world scenarios, so prioritize understanding over memorization.