Introduction to Force.com Sites – Overview

In the ever-evolving realm of Salesforce development, Force.com Sites stand as a powerful tool to extend the reach of your applications beyond the traditional Salesforce user base. Let's embark on an overview of this feature that empowers you to create public-facing websites and applications seamlessly integrated with your Salesforce data.

Force.com Sites provides a gateway to bring your Salesforce data and functionality to the broader audience on the internet. It's a revolutionary feature that enables you to create public websites, portals, and applications, allowing users who aren't traditional Salesforce users to interact with your Salesforce data securely and controlled.

Introduction to Force.com Sites – Overview

Force.com sites allow users to build public websites by utilizing visual force pages and applications on the force.com platform, seamlessly connecting with salesforce.com. Since Force.com sites are hosted on Force.com servers, data integration is easy.

Force.com Sites enables users to build and deliver public websites and applications directly from the Force.com platform. Force.com Sites are created utilizing Apex and Visualforce while including basic HTML markup, JavaScript, CSS, and Flash to generate an aesthetically engaging user interface.

· We can create a Force.com Site with our domain name.

· Corporate websites or intranets, Ecommerce applications, and simple microsites can be built using force.com sites.

· Force.com Sites is available for most versions, although it is essential to note that there are limitations in bandwidth and usage.

Now we shall discuss advantage of Force.com sites in salesforce. To have a comprehensive understanding salesforce feature, you can enroll in Salesforce course, which help you learn  

Advantages of using Force.com sites in Salesforce

· Force.com Sites enable public access to Salesforce data, allowing external users, such as customers and partners, to interact with specific information without requiring a Salesforce login.

· Create a seamless user experience with custom domains, reinforcing brand identity and establishing trust with users interacting with your public-facing applications.

· Leverage the seamless integration between Force.com Sites and Salesforce data, ensuring real-time updates and synchronization between your public site and Salesforce records.

· Design and develop custom pages tailored to your needs, providing a user-friendly interface for tasks like lead capture, event registration, or knowledge base access.

· Implement robust security controls to define what data and functionality are exposed on your public site, maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of your Salesforce information.

· Foster community engagement by creating customer portals, partner communities, or public knowledge bases, enhancing collaboration and communication beyond your internal Salesforce users.

· Benefit from the scalability and performance of the Salesforce platform, ensuring that your public-facing applications can handle varying levels of traffic and maintain optimal performance.

· Avoid additional infrastructure and hosting costs by utilizing Force.com Sites, as the platform seamlessly integrates with Salesforce and eliminates the requirement for separate web hosting services.

How do you create force.com sites?

Before developing Force.com sites, it is necessary to establish the Force.com domain, which consists of a distinct subdomain prefix combined with the force.com extension. The Force.com domain name is utilized for all websites created within the salesforce.com platform.

Example:- https://100bucks-developer-edition.ap1.force.com.

https://100bucks-developer-edition.ap1.force.com is the Force.com domain name we created in salesforce.com, and we will develop crmsalesforcetraining Force.com site.

Follow the steps given below to create Force.com sites in Salesforce.

To create a Force.com website, select Setup=>Build=>Develop=>Sites.

Now click on the New Button.

Now, a new page will appear where we must enter information such as:

· Site label

· Site name

· Site Description

· Site contact

· A default web address

· Active

· Active site home page

· Inactive site home page

· Site template

· Site robot.txt

· Site favorite icon

· Analytics tracking code,

· URL rewriter class

· Enable feeds

· Clickjack protection level

· Require secure connections(HTTPS).

Use the lookup field to select the Visualforce page.

Here, we are creating a crmsalesforcetraining site, so I am giving the site name “crmsalesforcetraining“.

As illustrated above, the first part of the URL in the default web address is the Force.com domain name, and the second part is the Force.com site name. After entering all of your information, click Save.

Managing Force.com Site

We generated a new Force.com site in the first section; now, we must activate the recently created site in salesforce.com.

· To activate the Force.com site, select Setup=>Build=>Develop=>Sites.

· Now, we can view all sites hosted on our force.com domain.

· To modify the site's status, select Edit; to activate the site, select Activate.

We have successfully created crmsalesforcetraining Force.com site in salesforce.com.

As we navigate the expansive capabilities of Force.com Sites, envision a Salesforce ecosystem extending its reach far beyond conventional users. This feature opens doors to innovative solutions, fostering collaboration, engagement, and efficiency.

The journey into Force.com Sites promises a landscape where Salesforce manages internal processes and becomes a dynamic force in connecting organizations with the world. Let's explore functionalities, configurations, and best practices to unleash the full potential of Force.com Sites in your Salesforce development odyssey!