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Deep Linking In Mobile Apps
Submitted by Lefay » Fri 10-May-2019, 22:09Subject Area: Software Engineeering | 5 member ratings |
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When working with mobile devices links are used to draw clients attention to a product, conduct promo campaigns on Facebook, or redirect to an app store from websites or email. There are a lot of recipes for how to make your application highly effective in engaging users, blending with different communication channels (social media, sites), and ultimately bringing great profit. One of the possible solutions is deep linking. It is an important element of any marketing campaign that runs on mobile devices: it ensures easy navigation, improves UX and reduces barriers between a user and an ultimate goal a developer wants to deliver.
Deep link is a link to content inside an application. When you upload an application to any store, you will have one single link where you can direct your users – a link to download an app from that very store. But since we’re in the 21st century, and a mobile application is no longer a simple program but a full-fledged online store, it occurs necessary to forward a client to the page with a specific product item or dropped basket. This kind of an issue is helped to deal with by implementing deep linking.
Installing an application is only the start of an app’s lifecycle. Researches claim only approximately a half of audience that installed an application will register with it – another situation when deep linking may come in handy. Users who come through deep links 2 times more likely happen to register, and most likely to stay following 3 days after installation. For sustainable growth and reducing marketing costs, deep linking is correct decision.
If an application is already installed, link immediately takes user to right section of an application (for instance, landing page), and if not – offers to install an application from app store first, for redirecting user to right section as downloading is complete.
In the World Wide Web concept, deep linking was embedded in HTTP and URL as an ability to navigate not only in root pages but in any documents on the network. Regular for web browsers navigation function with arbitrarily arranged deep links will not be applicable in case of native applications on a smartphone.
Basic deep linking redirects to a page/section in an app only if it’s already installed on a smartphone. When downloading is done, the basic deep link directs a user to the main page of your app rather than a section they expected to reach.
Contextual deep linking (the term was invented by a firm specializing in deep-linking technology – Branch) is an augmented version of a deferred one, it allows collecting information about your users, such as conversion tracking, number of clicks, user’s location and many other data. Contextual deep linking facilitates an explicit personalized experience for your target audience.
Deferred deep linking understands when smartphone doesn’t have the required app, so first, it redirects user to application store, and when a necessary program has been installed, navigates to the needed section.
Deep linking is an important tool for application developers who want to increase their client base, define what campaigns engage more users, or improve applications for utility and convenience. And it's strongly recommended including it in the future updates. Together with it, you will dramatically increase usability of your application and, as a result, will attract more new customers while retaining old ones as well. It won’t take much of your time and effort but will make your clients happy with application you deliver and more satisfied with their experience while using it!
References
Austin A. "How to Use App Links to Deep Link on Facebook." Branch, 2015, blog.branch.io/how-to-deep-link-on-facebook/.
Cohen, Rosenfelder. "Connecting your mobile universe." AppsFlyer, www.appsflyer.com/resources/everything-marketer-needs-to-know-deep-linking/deep-linking-basics/
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