How to Trigger Referrals from Salesforce with GrowSurf

Connect Salesforce from GrowSurf's Integrations step

Connect Salesforce in GrowSurf first, and make sure the Salesforce user you authorize can create custom fields, assign field permissions, manage contacts, and manage the Salesforce event PushTopic GrowSurf uses for referral-trigger events. GrowSurf uses that connection for both contact-field sync and referral-trigger settings.

If the Salesforce user cannot create or update that PushTopic subscription, GrowSurf may let you connect Salesforce but fail when you try to enable or change a Salesforce referral trigger. In that case, ask your Salesforce admin to grant the missing API and PushTopic permissions before you continue.

Choose the Salesforce record change that should count as a referral

Turn on Referral Trigger, then choose the Salesforce object, direct trigger field, and exact value that should qualify the referral. New setups can use Opportunity, Lead, Contact, Account, or another queryable Salesforce custom object.

Use a single-value trigger field. GrowSurf does not currently support Salesforce multi-select picklist fields or large text / textarea fields for referral triggers, so choose a standard picklist, boolean, or compatible single-line text field instead.

Keep the trigger focused on the business event that actually matters. Common choices are a closed-won opportunity, a lead status that proves handoff or acceptance, or a custom object state that confirms the customer reached the milestone you care about.

Choose how GrowSurf should find the referred participant

GrowSurf keeps participant matching explicit. For new Opportunity setups, Use the Primary Opportunity Contact is the default, while Use all Opportunity Contacts (advanced) stays available as an advanced option. Leads use Lead.Email to find the participant, Contacts use Contact.Email, and Accounts or custom objects must use either a direct email field, a direct Contact lookup, or a direct Lead lookup.

• Make sure the selected matching path resolves to a real email address.
• Make sure that email already exists as a participant in the connected GrowSurf campaign.
• Avoid relying on indirect Salesforce relationship chains, because GrowSurf does not follow them for Salesforce referral triggers.

Add a hold period if matching records still fall out of qualification

If your team sees Salesforce records match the rule briefly and then move back out, turn on a referral trigger hold period. GrowSurf will cancel the referral if the selected Salesforce record stops matching before that hold window finishes.

Validate the attribution in GrowSurf activity logs before you trust the report

Salesforce record updates are processed asynchronously. During testing, update a known record, wait for GrowSurf to receive the event, and inspect the participant activity log before you assume the referral should have credited instantly.