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Explore the world of mobile app deep linking, a powerful tool that enhances the app experience and boosts conversion rates. Understand its types, benefits, and implementation on Android and iOS. Learn how to leverage deep links for app promotion, user engagement, and retention rates (plus mind-blowing examples…).
Deep linking is a powerful tool that allows mobile users to navigate directly to specific app content within an app, bypassing the need to launch the app and manually search for the content. This technology has been around for a while, but it’s been gaining significant traction due to its potential to enhance user experience and engagement, especially for mobile marketers.
In the context of mobile apps, deep linking can be likened to teleportation. Imagine receiving a link to a product on an e-commerce app. Instead of opening the app’s homepage and searching for the product, a deep link transports you directly to the product’s page within the app. This seamless user experience not only saves time but also provides a more personalized app experience.
Free plan includes 500 clicks/month, 3 links, custom back-halves, QR-Code, fallback page, UTM-Parameter and link click statistics. For sure (because Germany 
): 100 % GDPR compliant & non-PII.
Traditional deep links are the most basic form of deep linking. They work only if the recipient, the mobile app user, already has the app installed. If not, the user is unable to access the linked content and must download the app to proceed.
Delayed deep links offer a more user-friendly approach. Regardless of whether the user has the app installed, these links always lead to the intended content. If the app isn’t installed, the link directs the user to the app store to download the app, and then to the linked content post-installation. This is particularly useful for re-engaging inactive users.
Contextual deep links are the most advanced form of deep linking. They function like delayed deep links but also store additional information about the user’s intended destination, the source of the link, and other relevant data. This information can be used to provide a more personalized user experience.
Deep linking operates on the principle of URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) schemes.
When a deep link is clicked, the operating system checks if the corresponding app is installed.
In the dynamic world of mobile applications, deep linking has emerged as a powerful tool to enhance the user experience. It serves as a bridge, connecting the vast digital landscape to the specific content within your app, making navigation effortless and intuitive. Essentially, there are two primary scenarios where deep linking can significantly elevate the app experience:
Enhancing Your Own App Experience: Deep linking can be leveraged to streamline the user journey within your own app. Whether it’s guiding a new user from your website, onboarding emails, or social media directly to your app download page, or leading an existing user to a specific feature or content within the app, deep links make the transition seamless. They eliminate the need for users to navigate through multiple pages, providing a direct path to the desired content.
Improving Third-Party App Experience: Deep linking isn’t just confined to your own app. It can also be used to enhance the user experience of third-party apps like Instagram, YouTube, or Amazon. For instance, if you’re running a promotional campaign on Instagram, a deep link can take your followers directly from your Instagram post to the specific product page within your app.
In the following sections, we’ll explore various ways to use mobile app deep links, providing practical examples for each use case. Whether you’re looking to boost user engagement in your own app or aiming to create a more integrated experience with third-party apps, deep linking offers a myriad of possibilities.
Deep links, when integrated into various channels such as your website or onboarding emails, can significantly increase app downloads. By directing users straight to the app store or a specific section within your app, you can boost conversion rates, effectively turning potential users into active ones.
Moreover, deep links can be a powerful tool for promoting specific features or content within your own app. Providing a direct path to this relevant content can significantly enhance user engagement and retention, making this strategy particularly beneficial for mobile marketers running marketing campaigns.
QR codes can be used to encode deep links. When scanned, these QR codes can open the app and navigate directly to the linked content. This is a great way to engage both app and non-app users.
In the context of gaming apps, deep links can be used to share specific game levels, scores, or challenges with friends. This can be done through various marketing channels.
E-commerce apps can use deep links to direct users to specific product pages, categories, or promotional offers. This can significantly improve conversion rates.
Deep links can be used to promote content across different apps. For instance, a movie review app could include adeep link to the movie’s page on a streaming app. This cross-app promotion can enhance the app experience for mobile users.
Affiliate marketers can use deep links to direct users to specific products or services within an app, earning a commission in the process. This can be done through incoming links from various marketing channels.
Think of the amazon example: most users are logged into their app, but not their browser. That means a) they have to log in or b) open the app separately. Send people directly into their amazon account & you will see your conversion rate jump.
Deep links can be used to create a personalized onboarding experience for new users. For example, if a user signs up for your app through a specific marketing campaign, a deep link could direct them to a custom welcome screen or tutorial that aligns with the campaign’s messaging.
If your app hosts events, deep links can be used to direct users straight to the event details or registration page. This can be particularly effective when promoting events through email newsletters or social media.
Deep links can be used to facilitate content sharing within your app. For instance, a news app could allow users to share deep links to specific articles, leading the recipient directly to the article within the app.
For users who have become inactive, deep links can be used in re-engagement campaigns. For example, you could send a push notification with a deep link to a piece of new and exciting content within your app.
For apps that provide location-based services, deep links can be used to direct users to a specific location within the app. For example, a restaurant app could use deep links to show users the menu for a specific restaurant location.
Deep links can be used to direct users to specific sections of your app’s customer support or FAQ. This can help users find the help they need more quickly and improve their overall experience with your app.
Gamechanger: Create predefined links to the most important pages within your app so that support staff can use them in their daily contact with customers.
Remember, the goal of using deep links is to create a seamless user experience by reducing the number of steps users need to take to reach the desired app content.
On Android, deep links are implemented using intent filters and URI schemes. The Android Manifest file is updated to include the intent filter for the activity that should be opened when the deep link is clicked. This is a crucial step for app developers looking to enhance the app experience on mobile devices.
On iOS, deep linking is implemented using Universal Links and custom URL schemes. Universal Links are standard web links that point to both a web page and a piece of content inside an app. When a Universal Link is opened, the iOS device checks if the corresponding app is installed. If it is, the app opens and displays the linked content. If the app isn’t installed, the link opens the web page in Safari, providing a seamless user experience for both app and non-app users.
For custom URL schemes, the process is slightly different. The app needs to register a unique URL scheme with the system, and this scheme is used to create deep links. When a link with this scheme is clicked, the system opens the app and passes the link to it for handling. If the app isn’t installed, the link won’t work.
Both Universal Links and custom URL schemes have their pros and cons. Universal Links are more secure and flexible, but they require the app to have a website with an associated domain. Custom URL schemes are easier to implement and don’t require a website, but they are less secure and can potentially be hijacked by other apps.
In the realm of deep linking, there are numerous tools available that simplify the process of creating deep links. These tools not only make the management of links effortless but also provide valuable insights to enhance your app’s performance.
One of the key features of most deep linking solutions is their ability to handle scenarios where the app is not installed on the user’s device. In such cases, the user is conveniently redirected to the app store. For desktop users, this redirection occurs in the browser-based app store, ensuring a seamless user experience across different platforms.
Moreover, some deep linking providers offer the option to redirect users to a custom URL. This flexibility allows you to tailor the user journey according to your specific needs and objectives, further enhancing the effectiveness of your deep linking strategy. One tool for example is Merge.
Some tools with deeplink feature already create a qr code automatically.
There are three main types of mobile deep linking: Traditional (Simple) Deep Links, Delayed (Deferred) Deep Links, and Contextual Deep Links.
Mobile deep linking enhances user experience by providing a seamless transition to specific content within an app. It can increase user engagement, improve user retention, and support effective app promotion strategies.
A deep link operates on the principle of URI schemes. When a deep link is clicked, the operating system checks if the corresponding app is installed. If it is, the app opens and displays the linked content. If the app isn’t installed, the behavior depends on the type of deep link used.
Creating a deep link involves defining a URI scheme for your app and updating the app’s manifest file (on Android) or associated domains (on iOS) to handle the defined URI scheme.
Universal Links are a type of deep link used on iOS. They are standard web links that point to both a web page and a piece of content inside an app.
App Links are the Android equivalent of iOS’s Universal Links. They are standard web links that point to a website and a piece of content within an app.
Yes, implementing deep links typically requires a developer. It involves updating the app’s code to handle the deep links and potentially setting up a server to handle dynamic or deferred deep links.
At the end the only way you will find the perfect machting link tool for you is to test. Test fast. Get first impressions. If you test different tools, you quickly will get a feeling of what kind of points are important for you.
Take action now and take advantage of free plans and free trials. Then you are able to see different features, usability and pricing which help you find the perfect match.
I hope this guide has helped you to find the right answer to the question “what is onelink.me?”.
Free plan includes 500 clicks/month, 3 links, custom back-halves, QR-Code, fallback page, UTM-Parameter and link click statistics. For sure (because Germany ): 100 % GDPR compliant & non-PII.
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