What is Deep Linking and Why Are Deep Links Important?

In a world that revolves around digital technology, people want and expect their experience to be quick and easy on any device they choose to use. Deep linking is a powerful technique that enhances navigation by allowing users to access specific content within an app directly. 

Instead of just opening a standard home screen, deep linking is that type of link which directs the user to the specific in-app page that is relevant to him/her, thus, the engagement and user satisfaction levels are improved. No matter for what purpose deep links are used, it plays an important role in improving user engagement and overall growth of the app. It can be used for marketing campaigns, re-engaging, and onboarding new functionality of users too. 

The change of the digital world into the mobile world gave apps a huge advantage in digital interactions. Due to this fact, the businesses that wanted to boost user experience along with their sales had to understand deep linking and its implementation.

Let’s understand more about Mobile Deep Linking and its best practices in detail:

What is Deep Linking?

A deep link is when you send the visitors not just to the home screen, but to a certain page of the app. It is done by the URL scheme that easily switches you from one place to another inside the app. 

With Mobile Deep Linking being followed, usability is increased as there are fewer steps which the users have to take to get to where they were leading.

Importance of Deep Linking:

• Enhanced User Experience – Mobile Deep Linking allows users to access specific content instantly.
• Higher Conversion Rates – Businesses can use deep linking to directs users to relevant pages to improve and boost engagement rate
• Personalized Marketing – This enables the businesses to show users ads that match what they are looking at on the website. 
• Better App Retention – This drives the habit of the users of going back to a specific app continuously by systematically redirecting to the new products. 
• Efficient Cross-Platform Navigation – Works seamlessly across different operating systems.

Want to explore How to Enhance App Retention and increase app success, checkout our detailed blog. The blog has covered steps and strategies for enhancing app retention. 

Types of Deep Links

Deep links come in different forms, each serving specific use cases. They enhance user journeys by providing direct access to in-app content, improving engagement and conversions.

Direct Deep Links 

Direct deep links are those which are generally referred to as traditional deep links whereby users are directed to one page inside an app if the app is already installed. These links are usually used in email campaigns, SMS promotions, and social media advertisements. 

For example, a shopping app may utilize a direct deep link so that the users would land directly on the product page without having to navigate through categories.

Deferred Deep Links 

Deferred Deep Linking are the kind of links that still function if the app is not installed. If a user clicks the link, he or she will first be taken to the App Store or Google Play Store to install the app. When the app is installed, it will then automatically carry them to the intended in-app page. 

This approach proves to be very effective in acquisition campaigns, which are interested in customer courses, to such an extent that new users are directly directed to a sign-up page, an onboarding screen, or a promotional offer after the app is downloaded.

How Deep Linking Works?

Deep linking is a method of using a well-structured URL to send a user to a specific location in an app instead of merely opening the app. The whole thing is a multipart process where we are dependent on different technologies. They include the use of URL schemes, universal links, and app links to allow the user to move smoothly through screens. 

Defining URL Schemes and Link Types

• Developers make reference to deep links using custom URL schemes (e.g., myapp://product/123) or standardized universal links (iOS) and app links (Android).
• Universal links and app links are the most optimal as their performance is excellent and the user experience is not disrupted by change in the platform and any subsequent location in the app is reached without any interruption by browser download.

User Clicks the Deep Link

• Deep links are distributed through emails, SMS messages, push notifications, social media ads, and web pages.
• The system is responsible for making a decision as to whether the app is already installed or not right at the moment of the user clicking the deep link

Operating System Determines Link Handling

• In case of the custom URL scheme deep link, the OS first checks if there is an app that can respond to such a scheme.
• If the deep link is a universal link or app link, the OS determines if there is a relationship between the website and the app. The OS then allows the link to go through if a match is found.

Scenario 1: App is Installed

• If the app is installed, it directly opens the specific in-app content featured in the deep link and takes the user there.
• The app processes data extracted from the deep link (e.g., product ID or a user profile) and directly presents the appropriate content.

Scenario 2: App is Not Installed (Deferred Deep Linking)

• The app sends the user to the relevant store i.e. the App Store (iOS), or Google Play Store (Android) via the deep link after being installed, who in the long run downloads it anyway from there when the app is not already in the device.
• Upon successful installation, the deepness of the link is made retrievable, and it is sent to the app to ensure the target destination is reached by the user.

Handling Link Routing in the App

• Intent filters (Android) or universal link handling methods (iOS) are used to manage deep linking within the app.
• Having received the deep link data, the app decides what screen is to be loaded and does so at runtime.

Tracking and Analytics for Deep Links

• Companies systemize analytics tools (such as Google Firebase, Branch.io, or Adjust) to follow up on deep link clicks, user behavior, and conversions.
• The obtained information helps to carry out subsequent marketing campaigns, improve user engagement, and measure the performance of the already concluded ones.

Deep Link Security 

• In a bid to keep off unwanted individuals, businesses put in place security roadblocks which include digital signatures, multi factor authentication, and HTTPS encryption for deep links.
• This kind of security layer also aids in confirming the credentials of the origin of the link thus blocking off any attempts of unauthorized access.

Deep Linking Technical Features 

• Custom URL Schemes: Exclusive deep link codes with a need for a pre-installed app (myapp://page). 
• Universal Links (iOS) & App Links (Android): Safe deep links that work rightly between the web and app versions. 
• Deferred Deep Linking Mechanism: Users can still get to the right in-app page after they have installed the app. 
• Redirection Handling: It makes sure that people without the app are sent to either the relevant app store or the secondary web page. 

The correct application of deep linking can deliver several benefits to businesses such as an improved user experience, an increase in customer involvement, and an in-app navigation facilitation.

Benefits of Deep Linking

Deep Linking Best Practices when implemented strategically can improve user navigation and enhance engagement by directing users to specific in-app locations. It cuts out irrelevant actions, therefore, making a user experience without friction, as well as facilitating both app retention and conversions to the maximum extent.

1. Better User Experience – The direct to the point or relevant content approach taken by the app via deep linking takes out the rough edges of the journey for users. The painful task of being forced to scroll and search for what one wants through the app becomes history, and a customer can easily locate their desired service or product hence making the customer happy and satisfied with the app’s features and their own functionality. 
2. Elevated User Engagement and Retention – Since deep linking refers the users to the most relevant personalized content, their average session time with the app is going to be longer. It rejuvenates the real intention of the dormant user by providing him with a new feature, the advances, and unique deals, hence the loss can be turned into retainable customer loyalty besides increasing the total retention. 
3. Clear Path to Goal – The linking of deep is a direct way of taking the users to the part of the app they are interested in without asking them to spend much time searching for it. Be it a case where the intention is to direct them to a product page once they arrive at a settings menu or the fact that they are in demand for an app’s characteristics, it largely gives the users an easy and direct way of going through. 
4. More Conversions – The idea of using a deep link throughout the process of the purchase ensures the user that they are already in the right direction by leading them to actions such as the signs up or check out. The only way a high conversion rate is achieved is by cancellation of the extra steps in the process, so the customer can concentrate on only the significant issue thus leading to a higher turnover of the transactions that are desired. 
5. Efficient Re-Engagement – With the help of mobile deep linking, marketers are able to send out highly effective push notifications, emails, and social media messages. They bring back those people who were already using the app but stopped as they may have the same reasons as those of the limited time offer. 

To learn more about Push Notification Implementation Strategies, read our blog and improve sales. 

Deep Linking in Mobile Applications

Deep linking helps in improving navigation, and marketing effectiveness, engagement. It enables a seamless user experience by linking directly to app content rather than requiring users to search manually. This is because it unifies the entire process by only taking the user to the app content. They will not need to manually search for it. This strategy is widely used in e-commerce, social media, and entertainment.

Major Use Cases of Deep Linking in Mobile Apps:

1. Smooth Onboarding: New customers can be shown where to sign up personally, how to follow the tutorial or given a voucher during their first few days.
2. E-Commerce Applications: Product pages can be reached directly by clicking on the deep as in ads or emails, thus shortening the purchasing process.
3. Social Media & Content Sharing: In-app contents can be shared through deep links by users, making sure recipients are directed to the very page they want to have.
4. Push Notifications & Re-Engagement: Based on the deep linking concepts, mobile applications can be more intelligent in their marketing strategies. The apps send those notifications, or emails, with the link that the customer will click which will bring them to the right content, products, or abandoned carts.

Best Practices for Implementing Deep Links

Choose the Appropriate Type of Deep Links 

Selecting the right deep linking method is the key to ensuring that users will have a great experience. The use of regular deep URLs can be quite confusing as the app will just not function without having the app first, while Deferred Deep Linking sends the user to the app store prior to opening the specific content. Contextual deep linking, by keeping data and user preferences, generates a personalized experience perfectly after app installation as well. 

Ensure Cross-Platform Compatibility

Across Different Operating Systems The links you are implementing have to be sure to work seamlessly on all kinds of devices and OS. Universal Links (iOS) and App Links (Android) are the most common ways of one being redirected from one app to another without a browser playing any part. When you move onto conducting the testing of deep links on different platforms, you make sure that they stay in good working order and that nowhere are there any inconveniences for the user to experience. 

Optimize for SEO & App Indexing

Your Priority Deep linking can take your rankings to a whole new level by combining Google App Indexing with deep links and adopting iOS Spotlight Search. If you take this kind of step, you’ll open the way for the in-app experience to show up in the search results to a new audience. Easier app engagement, better retention, and more organic traffic are some of the elements boosting the activity on the Web. 

Implement Strong Security Measures

To forbid unwanted entries, deep links are to be impenetrable, that implies encrypting them (HTTPS) and confirming their validity prior to exploiting them. A second layer of security is added through tokenized deep links as they require an authenticator to access sensitive content. In addition, developers should also have in place a system for examining deep link operations for the purpose of spotting phishing attacks, data causeries, and other forms of looping. 

Explore steps to enhance app security and safeguard your users data. 

Provide a Fallback Mechanism

It can be beneficial to have a strategy for when deep links are not working properly which, as a result, makes the experience for a customer better. In the case when an application is not installed on a certain mobile phone, it is expected that the users will be taken to a webpage with information about that app, or directly, the app store. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between deep linking and regular linking?

Deep linking directs users to specific in-app content, while regular links typically open a webpage or app homepage.

How do I create a deep link for my app?

Developers can use URL schemes, Universal Links (iOS), or App Links (Android) to create deep links.

Why is deep linking important for mobile apps?

It improves navigation, increases app engagement, boosts conversions, and enhances user experience by reducing unnecessary steps.

What is deferred deep linking and how does it work?

Deferred deep linking directs users to an app store if the app is not installed and then takes them to the intended content post-installation.

Do deep links work on both Android and iOS?

Yes, deep links work on both platforms using Universal Links (iOS) and App Links (Android) for seamless redirection.

Conclusion

Deep linking is a powerful tool that enhances user experience, boosts app engagement, and streamlines app navigation. By implementing best practices such as secure links, cross-platform compatibility, and fallback mechanisms, businesses can maximize their app’s potential. A well-optimized deep linking strategy improves retention and conversions, making it essential for modern apps.

Looking to enhance your mobile app with seamless deep linking? Twinr simplifies app development with advanced deep linking solutions. 

Start building smarter apps with Twinr today!