# Journey Builder entry sources, activities and settings

*Marketing Cloud Engagement Administrator Study Guide · Channel Management · Last updated October 16, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-engagement-administrator/channel-management/journey-builder-entry-sources-activities-and-settings*

How Journey Builder admits contacts (entry sources, reusable entry events, the data extension snapshot at activation, Contact Data Event deprecation), when a Single Send journey is enough, what the Flow Control activities do, what Journey Settings, default personalization values and goals control, and how Journey Builder permissions and Sales and Service Cloud activities are granted.

- Certification: Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement Administrator
- Exam section: Channel Management
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/marketing-cloud-engagement-administrator

**Official exam objective:**

> Explain the concepts and typical use cases of Journey Builder.

## What the exam expects

- Explain why every journey needs an entry source, when to make an entry event reusable, and why an active journey ignores fields added to its entry data extension.
- Replace a Contact Data Event entry source with the Data Extension entry source.
- Choose a Single Send journey for a one-off message, and the right Flow Control activity (a wait type, a split type or Join) for timing and branching.
- Use Journey Settings for contact entry mode and the default email address or mobile number; set default attribute values so personalization is never blank; describe goals.
- Grant Journey Builder access (General Access, View plus Automation Create, Edit; deny by default) and Sales and Service Cloud activity access.
- Key terms: **entry source** (where contacts entering a journey come from); **entry event** (the action that prompts contacts to enter); **Single Send journey** (one message to one data source, scheduled or immediate); **contact entry mode** (when a contact may enter or re-enter); **goal** (a filter-based target that measures, and can end, a contact's journey).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entry source | Required in every journey | [Entry Sources](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_entry_sources.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Entry data extension | Snapshot at activation; new fields need a new journey version | [Entry Sources](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_entry_sources.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Contact Data Events | Not supported in an upcoming release; use the Data Extension entry source | [Entry Sources](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_entry_sources.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Entry events | Journey-specific or reusable; in-use events can't be deleted | [Entry Source Administration](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_entry_source_administration.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Single Send | Choose a message, data source and send time | [Send a Single Message with Journey Builder](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/journey-builder-basics/send-a-single-message-with-journey-builder) |
| Splits and Join | Engagement (open, click, bounce), Decision (Remainder path), Random (up to 10 paths); Join merges paths | [Split and Join Activities](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_split_join_activities.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Journey Settings | Gear icon: contact entry mode and default address | [Journey Settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_settings.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Blank personalization | Define a default value for every attribute | [Message Activities](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_message_activities.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Goals | Optional; evaluated every 24 hours; not in Single Send | [Goals in Journey Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_goals.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Create, Edit permission | Works only with General Access, View allowed; unset means Deny | [Configure Journey Builder Access](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/journey-builder-basics/configure-journey-builder-access) |
| CRM activity access | Grantable to any role except Marketing Cloud Engagement Administrator | [Sales and Service Cloud Activities](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_sales_service_cloud_activities.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why doesn't a running journey see a field added to its entry data extension?
- When is a Single Send journey the right choice?
- Which setting decides whether a contact can re-enter a journey?
- Why can a user with Automation Create, Edit still be unable to build journeys?
- What should replace a Contact Data Event entry source in a new journey?

## Sources

- [Entry Sources](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_entry_sources.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Journeys and Messages](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_builder.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Entry Source Administration](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_entry_source_administration.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Journey Builder Activities](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_canvas_activities.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Journey Settings](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_journey_settings.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Message Activities](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_message_activities.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Wait Activities in Journey Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_wait_activity.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Journey Builder Split and Join Activities](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_split_join_activities.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Goals in Journey Builder](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_goals.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Sales and Service Cloud Activities](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.mc_jb_sales_service_cloud_activities.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Send a Single Message with Journey Builder](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/journey-builder-basics/send-a-single-message-with-journey-builder)
- [Configure Journey Builder Access](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/journey-builder-basics/configure-journey-builder-access)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 12 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Marketing Cloud Engagement Administrator pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams