Quick Fix: SalesLoft is a sales engagement platform that automates outreach, tracks interactions, and integrates with CRM systems to help sales teams close more deals. If you're new to SalesLoft, start by exploring its cadences (sales sequences) and integrations with your CRM.
What Is SalesLoft?
SalesLoft is a sales engagement platform launched in 2011, designed to help sales teams automate outreach, track customer interactions, and analyze performance. Most CRMs focus on storing customer data—think of SalesLoft as the tool that actually uses that data to move deals forward. It handles email sequences, call logging, and meeting scheduling, and as of 2026, it’s still one of the top choices in sales tech, going head-to-head with Outreach and HubSpot Sales Hub.
What Is SalesLoft Used For?
SalesLoft takes the grunt work out of selling. Here’s what it actually does:
- Cadences: These are automated workflows—email chains, call schedules, even LinkedIn touches—all tailored to your sales process.
- CRM Integrations: It connects with Salesforce, HubSpot, and others to pull customer data and update records automatically.
- Analytics: You’ll see open rates, reply rates, and call outcomes, so you can tweak your approach based on real numbers.
- Communication Tools: Built-in dialer, email templates, and text messaging make outreach a breeze.
Is SalesLoft a CRM?
Nope. SalesLoft is a sales engagement platform, which means it sits on top of your CRM (like Salesforce) to do the heavy lifting. CRMs store the data, but SalesLoft helps your team use it—think automated follow-ups, call tracking, and meeting scheduling. By 2026, it’s branched out beyond just Salesforce, adding HubSpot to the mix, which sets it apart from plain-vanilla CRMs.
Step-by-Step: Getting Started with SalesLoft
Before you begin: You’ll need a SalesLoft account (team plans start at 3 users) and a CRM already in place.
- Set Up Your Profile:
- Log in at https://app.salesloft.com.
- Head to Settings > User Settings to set your email signature and time zone—don’t skip this, or your emails might look off.
- Connect Your CRM:
- Go to Settings > Integrations.
- Pick your CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.) and authorize the connection via OAuth.
- Map fields like "Owner" and "Lead Status" so records sync correctly—this keeps your data clean.
- Create a Cadence:
- From the dashboard, hit Cadences > New Cadence.
- Pick a template (like "Cold Email Sequence") or build one from scratch.
- Add steps: emails (use Templates for consistency), calls, or LinkedIn touches.
- Drag contacts into the cadence to assign team members—no manual list-pushing here.
- Track Performance:
- Head to Analytics > Cadence Reports.
- Check reply rates and call durations—then adjust your strategy based on what’s working.
If This Didn’t Work
Nothing’s more frustrating than a cadence that won’t run or data that won’t sync. Here’s how to fix it:
- Check CRM Permissions: Make sure SalesLoft has "read/write" access in your CRM. In Salesforce, double-check under Setup > App Manager > SalesLoft Connected App.
- Refresh the Connection: Try disconnecting and reconnecting your CRM under Settings > Integrations—sometimes a reset does the trick.
- Review Cadence Logic: If contacts aren’t moving forward, look for paused steps or conflicting rules (like "Skip if recent call").
Prevention Tips
Don’t wait for problems to pop up—here’s how to keep things running smoothly:
- Regularly Audit Integrations: Update CRM field mappings every 6 months. Salesforce API updates can break things if you ignore them.
- Train Your Team: SalesLoft offers free training modules to keep everyone on the same page.
- Monitor API Limits: SalesLoft’s API has rate limits (100 calls/minute for Enterprise plans). Avoid bulk actions during peak hours, or you’ll hit throttling.
- Backup Data: Export cadence analytics monthly via Settings > Data Export—just in case you need to look back.
