The internet is made of an endless stream of websites that can easily become vastly interconnected very quickly with linking.
This is something that almost all users understand: Links send users from one online location to another. Click on a link in this blog, for example, and you might be taken to another place on our site or to another website’s URL entirely.
URLs are simply digital addresses that contain the files that make up a website. They’re a type of Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that helps users land on the site they’re trying to connect to.
Easy enough.
But what about deep linking? This is where most businesses get lost, particularly when it comes to app deep linking.
App deep linking works a little differently from your standard easy-breezy site hyperlink, and in this post, we’re going to discuss everything you need to know about how it all works.
Standard, everyday linking involves placing a hyperlink in the text that takes users to another basic UR location.
When you click on this link, for example, you’ll be taken to the tracker.my.com home page.
This is a simple link, with basic URL linking.
Deep linking sends users to specific places on a website or to a mobile app via a link. You’re not just sending them to a standard site. Instead of going to just a standard home page, you’re going to a specific place, like where “ https://tracker.my.com/promo/pricing “ will take you.
This is a different type of URL. You can use it to send users to an app directly instead of just an app store page. You can also transport users to a specific page or certain content within the app, and the app can be opened through a URI scheme.
There’s also the option to use deferred deep linking. This is the process that can be used to take users who just installed your app to app launch.
Since mobile apps are designed to provide strong mobile experiences, using app deep linking to deliver users straight to the app itself is a great choice.
You can use app deep linking to increase retention and engagement rates, taking users from a search engine to your app for an improved user experience. This can mean more conversion rates.
Deep linking also can take new users to the app store page so that they can download it, which increases your number of users or subscribers overall. Long-term, this likely means more conversions, too, as you’re able to stay connected and relevant to your target audience.
There are several different core use cases when it comes to deep linking that can help brands increase app engagement, retention, and in-app purchases. These include the following:
App deep linking is actually relatively simple once you understand the process.
Here’s how it works:
You can therefore set up schemes to send users to a specific place in an app, but direct them to the install page if that isn’t possible.
On Reddit, for example, you can browse search results. Once you click on a topic or conversation thread, however, you might be taken straight to the same page you want to view within the app.
MyTracker makes it easier for you to set up and track app deep links for heightened success. We have options available for regular deep links, deferred deep links, and smart links.
Let’s take a look at how they work.
Our regular deep links allow users to click on a link, search result, or an ad, and then have a deep link send users to a relevant landing page within the app if it’s already installed.
If they see an ad for an eCommerce business, for example, they might see an ad featuring a pair of boots. When they click, the app opens and they’ll be taken to the product page in-app for boots in the ad they clicked on.
As we now know, deferred links kick into action when your link tries to send users to an app they haven't downloaded yet, so they defer the traffic to the app store for download. Then once downloaded, the user is delivered to the originally intended location in-app.
So in this case, you’re viewing that pair of boots in the ad, and click to purchase or view other similar products. You’re taken to the app listing in the app store for your device type. If you install it, you’re then taken to the original product page in-app you would have been taken to originally.
This is excellent for users who don’t have the app installed, creating fewer redirects, higher conversion rates, and higher app download rates. Plenty of users who might have otherwise just used your site will now download the app, making it a go-to tool instead of Google search.
We haven’t talked much about smart links yet, but they can be a gamechanger for businesses trying to drive more traffic to their app.
Smart links are a type of advanced links that are available in MyTracker. It’s a universal tracking link that decides exactly where to take the user.
Any scenario can happen; users can be using any platform, any app store, and in any scenario and they’ll still be delivered to the right place. It’s the same end experience no matter what, all while simplifying your process. You can read more about this here.
There are two scenarios when smart links aren’t a good fit. You can’t use smart links when:
App deep linking can take some time to set up, but it’s easy enough to do with the right URI schemes laid out in front of you and tools like MyTracker’s smart links to streamline the process.
And it’s absolutely worthwhile, considering that deep links can lead to significantly more downloads, higher retention rates, more engagement, and increased conversions. You put plenty of time, effort, and money into making your mobile apps capable of delivering outstanding mobile experiences, so you want to do what you can to increase usage. Deep links can help with that.
Interested in streamlining the app deep linking process? Request a demo with MyTracker here to see how we can help you or create a free account and see for yourself!
