Deep linking on Facebook allows users to be directed straight to specific content within your app or website from a Facebook ad, post, or message. This can significantly improve user engagement and conversion rates by providing a seamless and targeted user experience.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to creating Facebook deep links.
Understand Facebook deep linking
Facebook deep linking involves creating URLs that link directly to specific pages or content within your mobile app. There are two main types of deep links:
Deferred deep links:These links work even if the app is not installed at the time the link is clicked. The user is directed to the app store to download the app, and once installed, they are taken to the intended content.
Regular deep links: These links only work if the app is already installed on the user’s device. If the app is not installed, the link usually fails.
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Why are Facebook deep links important?
Enhanced user experience
Facebook deep links streamline the user journey by taking users directly to specific content within an app or website, reducing steps and creating a smoother, more efficient experience.
Improved engagement
By guiding users straight to relevant content from Facebook ads, posts, or messages, deep links can significantly boost engagement rates. Users are more likely to interact with content that is immediately accessible and relevant to their interests.
Higher conversion rates
Deep links in Facebook marketing campaigns can drive conversions by directing users to specific product pages or offers, increasing the likelihood of a purchase.
Personalized user journeys
Deep links enable personalized marketing on Facebook by directing users to content tailored to their preferences and past behavior, enhancing satisfaction and loyalty.
Efficient onboarding
For new users, Facebook deep links can simplify the onboarding process by taking them directly to the relevant section of an app after installation. This is particularly effective with deferred deep links, which function even if the app isn’t installed at the time the link is clicked.
Cross-platform consistency
Facebook deep links ensure a consistent user experience across different platforms and devices, directing users to the same specific content within an app or website whether they are on desktop or mobile.
Data and analytics
Facebook deep links provide valuable data and insights into user behavior and preferences. Tracking how users interact with deep links helps businesses optimize their content and marketing strategies.
Replug is a powerful tool for creating deep links that enhance user engagement by directing them to specific pages, sections, or content within a website or mobile application. Follow the step-by-step process below:
Step 1: Sign in or sign up for Replug
If you don’t already have a Replug account, visit the Replug app and sign up for a free account.
Step 2: Navigate to deep links
Once logged in, go to your Replug dashboard. Locate the “drop-down icon” in the top right corner and select “Deep Links”.
Replug is a versatile deep link generator tool that allows you to create branded short links, add retargeting pixels, and track link performance. Using Replug for your Facebook deep links provides several advantages:
Ease of use: Replug’s intuitive interface makes it easy to create and manage deep links without needing advanced technical skills.
Custom branding: Create branded short links to improve click-through rates and build trust with your audience.
Comprehensive analytics: Track the performance of your links with detailed analytics, helping you to optimize your marketing strategies.
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Conclusion
Using Replug for creating Facebook deep links simplifies the process and enhances your marketing efforts. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can efficiently create and manage deep links that direct users to specific content within your app or website.
Replug’s features, such as branded short links, comprehensive analytics, and retargeting capabilities, provide you with the tools needed to maximize the effectiveness of your Facebook marketing campaigns. Ensure thorough testing and continuous optimization to achieve the best results.
FAQs
What are Facebook deep links?
Facebook deep links are URLs that direct users to specific content within a mobile app or website from Facebook ads, posts, or messages, enhancing the user experience by minimizing the steps needed to reach the desired content.
Are Facebook deep links compatible with both iOS and Android?
Yes, Facebook deep links are compatible with both iOS and Android. Ensure you configure URL schemes for iOS and intent filters for Android, and include the necessary App Links metadata.
What data can I track with Facebook deep links?
If you create Facebook deep links through Replug, you will be able to track click-through rates, user engagement, conversion rates, and other valuable marketing metrics.
Welcome to the world of Instagram, where connections flourish, creativity thrives, and opportunities abound. In this busy digital landscape, deep linking emerges as a powerful ally, simplifying navigation and maximizing impact.
With deep linking, you can enhance user experience, boost conversion rates, and keep engagement soaring. It’s the secret sauce that transforms browsing journeys, making them smoother, faster, and more rewarding.
Let’s untangle the secrets of Instagram deep linking, empowering you to unlock Instagram’s full potential with ease and confidence. It’s time to simplify, amplify, and elevate your digital presence. Let’s dive in!
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What is deep linking?
Deep linking is a technology used in digital marketing and mobile app development that allows users to be redirected to specific content or pages within a mobile app, rather than just the app’s homepage or a generic landing page.
Think of it like a shortcut or a direct route to a specific destination within an app. For example, if you click on a link to a product within a mobile app, deep linking ensures that you are taken directly to that product page within the app, rather than navigating through various menus and screens to find it.
Instagram deep link:
Unlike a regular link to an Instagram profile or post, which typically opens in a web browser, an Instagram deep link is designed to open directly within the Instagram app on a mobile device if it’s installed.
These deep links can be used to direct users to various parts of the Instagram app, such as:
Profiles: Directing users to a specific Instagram user’s profile page.
Posts: Linking directly to a specific post within the Instagram app.
Stories: Taking users to a particular Instagram Story within the app.
IGTV: Linking to a specific video on IGTV.
Shopping: Redirecting users to a product page within Instagram Shopping.
Why Instagram deep linking is so important?
Deep linking to Instagram is super important for making the most out of mobile marketing, especially because Instagram is all about mobile. It’s become one of the most popular social networks worldwide, thanks to cool features like Stories and the ability to showcase products in fun ways.
In 2020, the USA, India, and Brazil had the largest number of Instagram users. The audience on Instagram is huge and always hungry for new content.
Getting people straight to a specific Instagram profile or page can be a game-changer for businesses. And the best way to do this? Using deep links to Instagram.
These links let users skip the usual Instagram sign-in process and land right where you want them to be. You can put these deep links pretty much anywhere: in emails, text messages, on your website, or even in social media posts.If you’re looking to enhance user engagement, partnering with a social media app development company can help you integrate deep linking seamlessly into your platform.
But deep linking isn’t just about getting people to the right place. It’s also about tracking how they got there and what they did next. With deep links, you can see how many people visited, where they came from, what kind of device they’re using, and lots more.
This info is gold for understanding how well your marketing is working and what you can do to make it even better. With our deep linking platform, you’ll have all the data you need to supercharge your Instagram campaigns and get the results you want.
Drive more clicks, conversions, and app installations by deep linking
to your favorite platforms.
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How to create an Instagram deep link in Replug?
Replug, a robust URL shortener, enables the creation and management of deep links, providing valuable insights into click rates and conversion rates. It helps optimize campaigns, leading to enhanced user engagement. By directing traffic to specific pages within an app or website, Replug drives more visitors and boosts engagement.
Here’s how to create deep links using Replug:
Step 1: Sign in to your Replug account or sign up for free if you’re new to Replug.
Step 2: Once logged in, navigate to the dashboard and locate the “drop-down icon” in the top right corner. From the drop-down list, select “deep links.”
Step 5: Generate the deep link by clicking on the corresponding option, such as TV, home, tag, personal profile camera, or profile, and click “Create Deep Link.”
Step 6: Select your campaign, andcustomize the deep link URL to make it more user-friendly or branded if desired.
Step 8: Click the “save link” button to save your deep link with the deep linking feature enabled.
Your deep link for Instagram is now ready to be shared, allowing users to directly access the specified Instagram profile, post, or story.
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Different types of deep links:
Understanding the different types of deep links is essential for leveraging them effectively in various scenarios. Here’s a breakdown of each type:
Traditional deep links:
These links directly lead users to a specific location or content within a mobile app, streamlining the user experience.
Deferred deep links:
Designed for situations where users click on a deep link without having the app installed, these links redirect users to the app store for installation and then guide them to the intended in-app location post-installation.
Contextual deep links:
In addition to directing users to a specific location within an app, these links carry additional context or information, enabling personalized user experiences within the app.
Universal links (iOS) and app links (Android):
Platform-specific deep linking standards enable apps to register their deep link URLs with the operating system, facilitating a seamless transition between web and app content.
Custom scheme deep links:
Apps define custom URL schemes that trigger the app to open when a corresponding URL is clicked. While effective, they may be less secure and more prone to conflicts.
Smart app banners:
Not traditional deep links but are noteworthy, these banners appear at the top of a mobile website on devices where the corresponding app is installed, encouraging users to switch to the app for a better experience.
Promotional deep links:
Utilized in marketing campaigns to direct users to specific content or offers within an app, these links are commonly used in email marketing, social media, and advertisements.
One-time use deep links:
These links can only be used once and are often employed for security or tracking purposes, such as one-time login links or referral links.
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FAQs
Why are Instagram deep links important?
Instagram deep links are important for directing users to specific content within the app, enhancing user experience, and maximizing engagement.
Where can I use Instagram deep links?
Instagram deep links can be used in various marketing channels, including email newsletters, SMS campaigns, social media posts, websites, and digital advertisements.
Can I track the performance of Instagram deep links?
Yes, many deep linking platforms offer analytics and tracking capabilities, allowing you to monitor the performance of your Instagram deep links. You can track metrics such as clicks, conversions, geographic location of users, and more, providing valuable insights for optimizing your campaigns.
Link management has been around for a while now. A powerful link management strategy that every marketer should know about is deep links.
All businesses and marketers know how important it is to drive the audience to the appropriate destination.
That’s why implementing a powerful link management strategy is pretty crucial.
Most are still not clear about this URL strategy.
If you’re a tad bit curious about deep links and universal links, then you’re at the right place.
We’ll help you understand the difference so that you can use them for your maximum benefit.
Let’s get right into it.
What is deep linking?
Deep linking is a strategy that takes users directly to specific content within a website or mobile app.
It offers a more direct and efficient navigation experience. It speeds up the communication, data accessibility, and connectivity. Thus, it provides value to the end user.
For example, you receive a recommendation from an online store. You share the link with your friend that takes them directly to the product’s page. Instead of navigating through the app’s main menu or search function, they land on what you recommend.
Common types of deep links
The common types of deep linking are:
Basic deep linking
Deferred deep linking
Universal links (iOS links)
App links (Android links)
Basic deep links:
Basic deep linking is a fundamental technique that directs users to specific pages or content within a mobile app. It improves in-app navigation by allowing users to bypass the app’s homepage and land directly on the intended content. This type of deep link is commonly used to streamline the user experience and guide users to targeted information or features within the app.
Deferred deep links:
Embracing flexibility, deferred deep links bridge the gap even if the app is missing. Clicking such a link first prompts the app download, then seamlessly launches the app and whisks the user to the intended destination upon installation. This smooth transition eliminates user friction and encourages app adoption.
Universal links (iOS):
Designed specifically for iOS, universal links seamlessly blend the web and app experience. These links work regardless of whether the app is installed, leading users to app content via the web browser. Upon downloading the app, future clicks automatically open the link within the app, creating a streamlined journey.
App links (Android):
For Android users, app links mirror their iOS counterparts, facilitating smooth transitions between web and app content on Android devices. In instances where the app is installed, the link seamlessly opens the desired content within the app. Conversely, if the app is absent, the link gracefully reverts to the web content, eliminating the requirement for redirection to the Play Store. This methodology is tailored to ensure a cohesive and trouble-free user experience on Android platforms.
A complete link management solution
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Basic deep links vs deferred deep links vs universal links vs app links?
Undoubtedly, deep links are a smart tech innovation that helps brands, organizations, bloggers, and influencers establish a strong connection with the end users. It’s vital to understand different types of deep links for more clarity.
The reason is that there are several types and each of them works differently, for instance, the traditional deep link would take the user to the specific section in the mobile app, but won’t work if the app isn’t installed.
On the other hand, the deferred deep link would take the user to the App Store and recommend the user install the respective mobile app. After the installation, it will still take the user to the intended content within the app.
While traditional and deferred deep links are more general terms, app links and universal links are platform-specific concepts tailored for Android and iOS, respectively, with a focus on providing a seamless transition between web and app content.
Opens specific content on the mobile web, even if the app is installed later.
Seamlessly switches between web and app content, providing a smooth user experience.
Seamlessly switches between web and app content, providing a smooth user experience.
Fallback Behavior
May result in an error or prompt to install the app if not present.
Redirects to the app store if the app is not installed, then opens the content after installation.
Falls back to web content if the app is not installed, enhancing user experience.
Falls back to web content if the app is not installed, enhancing user experience.
User Scenario
Used for enhancing in-app navigation.
Useful for user on-boarding and re-engagement, allowing users to access specific content after app installation.
Provides seamless transition between web and app content, improving user experience.
Provides seamless transition between web and app content, improving user experience.
Why do you need deep links?
Now that the comparative differences are clear between deep links vs universal links and other links. If you haven’t had a chance to understand the benefits, let us elaborate on why you need to use deep links:
i. Enhance user experience:
User experience is an essential aspect of the customer acquisition journey and plays a key role in convincing prospects to convert into customers. Deep links boost user experience as they direct users to specific in-app content, minimizing navigation steps, and providing a smoother, more enjoyable experience for the end users.
ii. Streamline user on-boarding:
No one wants a complicated sign-up process that takes up so much time. Smart digital marketing experts and consultants use deep linking for a seamless on-boarding process and guide users directly to the specific in-app location or personalized content, ensuring a pleasant experience for the user.
iii. Optimize conversion rates:
Conversion rate optimization is crucial to every digital marketing campaign whether it’s based on organic growth or paid ads. Since deep links drive users to targeted pages, they increase the likelihood of conversions by eliminating unnecessary steps.
iv. Boost user engagement:
User engagement leads to generating more leads, downloads, or purchases – whatever the KPI is set for the campaign. Leveraging deep links enables precise targeting of content to cater to the audience, which fosters effective user engagement by delivering relevant information without wasting time.
v. Facilitate quick customer communication:
It’s clear that deep links provide a direct pathway for sharing specific content or updates, enabling quick communication with customers and prospects, and resulting in effective customer support.
Explore how LINE Music improved conversion rates with deep links
Objective: Boost subscriptions to the music streaming app.
Target audience: The focus was set on non-subscribers, aiming to convert casual listeners into dedicated music enthusiasts.
Creative strategy: Users encountered an ad designed to navigate them seamlessly to the subscription page, the virtual gateway facilitated by the strategic integration of deep linking.
Outcome: The outcome revealed a substantial uplift in conversion rates, with a remarkable increase of 63% for Android users and an impressive surge of 99% for iOS users. The strategic implementation of deep linking proved instrumental in optimizing the user journey, resulting in a significant boost in subscriptions to LINE Music.
Wondering how to create deep links!
Replug is a powerful link management and marketing tool that comes with rich features like deep linking, tracking link analytics and more.
It’s an interactive, educational platform for learning new languages. Duolingo is available on both iOS and Android platforms. It also has a web version.
Duolingo platform uses deep linking to seamlessly bring users back to the stage where they left off or reached the last session.
When a user clicks a CTA link in an email, they can resume their progress from where they left off.
If you are their app user, then it will take the user to their app. Otherwise, the user is redirected to their website. Thus, this language learning platform is a great example of deep links.
ii. Netflix allows users to go to the title directly from the email newsletter
Netflix is one of the most successful online streaming services in the world and continues to innovate its marketing and engagement strategies.
Besides targeting prospects through social media engagement, this streaming service pays close attention to retaining and warming up the current user base through email marketing.
Moreover, Netflix uses deep links in their email newsletters, which allows them to bring users instantly back to their mobile app.
All you need is to click on the “play” CTA button in their email newsletter, and the title will instantly play in your Netflix app.
So, Netflix is a great deep linking use case and example for marketers to learn from, especially when establishing a consumer engagement strategy.
Let’s conclude: How deep linking helps in marketing
Deep links are a massively popular link management strategy for organizations, digital marketers, and SAAS businesses. It assists marketers in smoothing the user journey by providing quick, fast links for swift accessibility, reporting, and analysis.
Moreover, deep linking is crucial to improving the mobile app user experience as it improves the basic app accessibility and provides a long-lasting experience.
Utilize deep linking to reach more users and convert more.
FAQs about deep linking
Let’s take a look at some of the questions to follow up on:
What is the difference between a link and a deep link?
A link is any URL that points the visitors to a specific page on the web server. However, the deep link is a special link that directs the visitors to a specific location on the mobile app. Deep links are used by SAAS tools, affiliate networks, and app-based startups to quickly take visitors from a URL to the in-app content.
What is an example of a universal link?
Here’s an example: go to Google and search for “iMovie” or simply open this link on your iPhone. It’s a link to the iMovie app for iPhone and iPad. The above-mentioned link will directly take you to the App Store to install the iMovie app.
However, if you try to access the link on an Android device, it won’t take you to the App Store app as there won’t be one to open on an Android device. It may open the URL in the mobile web browser. That’s an example of a universal link.
What is deep linking in iOS universal links?
Universal links are deep links for the iOS/Apple ecosystem. They are used to link directly to specific content within an iOS app, rather than just launching the app’s home screen. Universal links are a default deep linking solution from Apple and allow developers to associate web URLs with their iOS apps, enabling a seamless transition between web content and app content.
Why is deep linking good?
There are various reasons why brands and SAAS companies use deep linking, and some of these reasons are quick accessibility of content, faster engagement, easy delivery of information, and seamless transition. Undoubtedly, deep linking is good for content marketing and customer engagement.
Deep link vs. Hyperlink: Which one is better?
A deep link drives the visitor to the specific in-app location or a certain product page on the web, allowing easier and quicker engagement with a seamless transition. However, a hyperlink is just a regular URL pointing to a website page or web address.
How does deep linking affect SEO?
If deep linking is improving engagement, skyrocketing the CTR, and bringing more eyeballs around, then it’s worth a try. No wonder deep linking could increase content discoverability, making it convenient for search engine bots to discover, analyze, and index content for search traffic.
Do you want to share a video with your followers, but can’t find the right way to do it? Are you tired of sending long, cumbersome links that often get lost in translation? Well, look no further because we’ve got you covered!
Deep linking allows you to share a video directly to a specific point within the app or website, saving time and effort for you and the person receiving the link.
Imagine you’ve just found the perfect video to share with your audience. It’s engaging, informative, and sure to make an impact. But, there’s one problem – the link is long, convoluted, and almost impossible to remember.
Enter Replug’s deep links – the superhero that saves the day!
Replug’s deep links work by taking that long and cumbersome link and turning it into a short and snappy one. But, that’s not all – Replug’s deep links can direct your audience to a specific point within the video or website, ensuring they get to the meat of the content and don’t miss out on anything important.
But wait, there’s more! Replug’s deep links also come with advanced features that give you the power to track and optimize your links. You can add custom CTAs, retargeting pixels, and more, giving you valuable insights into how your links are performing and how you can improve them.
So, what are you waiting for? Say goodbye to long and confusing links and hello to Replug’s deep links – which take your audience on a seamless journey to the content they crave.
Replug deep links for videos: how do I do it?
Here’s how to share videos using deep links from Replug:
Step 1: Sign in to Replug or create an account for free.
Step 2: On the main dashboard page, click the “drop-down icon” in the top right corner and choose “deep links’’ from the drop-down list.
Step 3: On the deep links page, click “video” to create a deep link for a video, then choose the video platform you want to create a deep link for. Let’s choose “YouTube”.
Note: Deep links are allowed on up to 70 applications under Social Media, e-Commerce, Music, Video, and Productivity categories.
Step 4: When a deep link for YouTube is generated, clicking on it will open the desired live stream, video or share, profile, channel, home, or playlist directly in the YouTube application. Select the option you want and click the ‘create deep link’ button (here we’ll select the video or share option as we are creating a deep link for a YouTube video).
Note: If the destination URL can not be used as a Deep Link, the following indication will appear.
Step 7: Click the “save link’’ button and your link with the deep linking feature will be saved and available for sharing.
FAQs
What are the two types of deep links?
The two types of deep links are:
Standard Deep Links: These are deep links that take users directly to a specific page or content within an app. For example, a standard deep link could take a user to a specific product page within an e-commerce app.
Deferred Deep Links: These are deep links that not only take users to a specific page within an app but also carry additional information about the user or the context of the link. This information can be used to personalize the user experience within the app. For example, a deferred deep link could take a user to a specific product page within an e-commerce app and also provide information about a promotion that the user is eligible for. Deferred deep links are typically used in marketing campaigns to deliver personalized experiences to users.
How do you create a deep link in HTML?
You can create a deep link in HTML by adding an anchor tag with a specific target location. Here’s an example:
<a href=”https://example.com/page#section”>Click here to go to the section</a>
In this example, “https://example.com/page” is the URL of the webpage, and “#section” is the ID of the section you want to link to. To create a deep link, you simply add a “#section” to the end of the URL in the “href” attribute of the anchor tag.
YouTube playlists are a feature that allows users to organize and view a series of videos together. Users can create their playlists or add videos to existing playlists created by other users. Videos in a playlist can be rearranged, edited, or removed at anytime.
Deep links directly link to specific content within an app rather than simply linking to the app’s home page.
Using a deep link to share a YouTube playlist allows the recipient to immediately access and view the playlist without having to search for it within the app. Also, deep links can contain information about the content, such as the specific video or playlist, so recipients know what they click on and why it is relevant.
Using deep links to share YouTube playlists can also help increase the app’s engagement and retention. As a result, recipients are more likely to continue using the app after being directed to the specific content they are interested in.
Here’s how to share YouTube playlists on mobile and computer devices:
How to share Youtube playlist with deep links on a mobile device?
Follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open YouTube on your mobile phone and tap the profile icon in the top right corner.
Step 2: Tap “your channel” from the drop-down menu.
Step 3: Tap “playlist” on your mobile screen.
Step 4: Open the playlist you want to share.
Step 5: Tap three dots alongside the playlist.
Step 6: Tap share to share the playlist.
Step 7: Tap Copy link to copy the link and create a deep link for your YouTube playlist.
[branded_short_links]
Create a deep link for YouTube Mobile Playlist:
Step 8:Sign in to Replug or create an account for free.
Step 9: Select the desired campaign on the main dashboard or create a new campaign.
Step 10: Enter the YouTube playlist link in the “URL to shorten” section under the campaigns section, and click create.
Step 11: You’ve your newly created Replug link. Click the edit icon to customize the link.
Step 12: Turn on the Deep link button and verify that deep links are allowed for the link.
Step 13: Click the update button to create a deep link for your YouTube playlist.
Note: To find the deep link, Go to the manage section on the main dashboard > Click Replug links.
Create a deep link for a YouTube computer playlist:
Step 8:Sign in to Replug or create an account for free.
Step 9: Select the desired campaign on the main dashboard or create a new campaign.
Step 10: Enter the YouTube playlist link in the “URL to shorten” section under the campaigns section, and click create.
Step 11: You’ve your newly created Replug link. Click the edit icon to customize the link.
Step 12: Turn on the Deep link button and verify that deep links are allowed for the link.
Step 13: Click the update button to create a deep link for your YouTube playlist.
Note: To find the deep link, Go to the manage section on the main dashboard > Click Replug links.
FAQs
How to share a YouTube playlist on WhatsApp?
To share a YouTube playlist on WhatsApp:
Open the YouTube app on your mobile device and sign in to your account.
Find the playlist you want to share and tap on it.
Tap the “Share” button, usually represented by an icon of two arrows pointing in opposite directions.
Select “Share on WhatsApp”
Select the contact you want to share the playlist with
Your contact will receive a message with a link to the playlist
Alternatively, you can share the link by copying it and then sharing it on WhatsApp by creating a new message or pasting it into an existing conversation.
Please note that the person you share the link with needs to have the YouTube app installed on their device to view the playlist.
How many times have you heard the buzzword “deep links” and thought about googling it?
Deep linking has been around for a while, and if you’re a developer working in the tech industry or you have been doing affiliate marketing to make money, then you may know about this.
However, the rest of the readers might not be exactly sure what deep linking is and why they need to learn about it.
Replug users and blog readers are online marketers, affiliate bloggers, digital marketing gurus, web developers, and social media experts.
So, we need to discuss a vital topic in the link management industry to make sure that you don’t miss out on any user engagement opportunities.
Well, this article is going to help you explain what deep linking is and your brand can benefit from deep linking.
So buckle up because you might want to pick a few nuggets from the sections below.
Drive more clicks, conversions, and app installations by deep linking
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What is deep linking?
A deep link is a pathway that drives users directly to a specific page or section of the website or mobile app without having to launch the app or open the website from the home page.
In simple words, deep links are administered by marketers or app developers to direct the users to a specific in-app location or website URL before the user decides to take off.
A brief history of deep linking
The concept of deep linking has been around since the early days of the web, but it wasn’t until the widespread adoption of smartphones and apps that deep linking really took off.
Deep linking went mainstream when social media platforms took over the internet marketing realm. In a nutshell, the convenience of linking to specific content or section within an app, rather than just launching the app from the home screen turned things around for this marketing tactic.
Imagine opening an app and going across different sections to reach a specific section within the app. It would surely take a while to do that. Therefore, deep linking is immediately adopted by digital marketers and app developers to improve engagement and conversion.
Importance of deep links
Brands now understand the power of quick user engagement. Therefore, they try to squeeze every marketing channel to attract, engage, and convert the audience.
No doubt, such engagement tactics do wonders for social media marketing along the way. Not only does a deep link improve user engagement, but it also positively impacts the conversion rate.
In 2023, deep links are specifically linked to mobile apps and social media platforms. However, deep linking has been around for a long time.
Pro-bloggers and veteran affiliate marketing would know that many affiliate networks offer a deep linking tool for affiliate marketers to generate deep links to advertisers’/brands’ product pages.
So affiliate marketers copy and paste the landing pages or specific product pages of brands/advertisers into the deep link tools to generate their custom affiliate URLs for their campaign.
Several affiliate networks offer the facility to create a deep link for the specific page of the advertiser’s website. Usually, it’s the landing page or a product page that affiliate marketers want to promote.
Impact Radius is a popular affiliate network that provides a deep linking tool for affiliate marketers. Take a look at the screenshot below:
Similarly, ShareASale is another well-known affiliate network that offers a custom link generator, which does the same thing. Here’s the screenshot:
How Does a Deep Link Work?
The way deep links work is that such links are created using a specific URL format that includes the full path to the specific page or content within the website or app.
In this case, when the deep link to the product page would be created, the web browser or app will open and navigate visitors directly to the specific product page using the deep link system.
Moreover, in the case of a mobile app, the app may need to be installed on the user’s device in order for the deep link to work properly.
Deep links can be created and used in a variety of contexts, including in emails, social media posts, advertising campaigns, and more. However, they’re widely used in the social media industry mostly by top-tier social media and communication apps.
Why deep linking is so critical in building great mobile journeys?
A great mobile journey is a term that describes how easy and quick the accessibility of a tool or app is for the target audience.
It’s the era of smart devices and mobile communication, so brands might not want to comprise the mobile-first user experience. No wonder companies pay close attention to building responsive websites these days.
Since deep linking assists businesses in providing customers with quick access to resources, it directly influences the conversion rate.
To understand why deep linking is crucial to building a great mobile journey for the audience, it’s important to dive deep into the key reasons to use deep linking for better mobile journeys:
Seamless integration
Deep linking allows for more seamless integration of mobile apps into the overall user experience, as it enables developers to create links that take users directly to specific pages or features within an app, rather than just the home screen. This can help to improve the overall flow and continuity of the user journey.
Intuitive user experience
By allowing developers to link directly to specific content or features within an app, deep linking can help to create a more intuitive user experience, as it makes it easier for users to find and access the information or functionality that they are looking for.
Conversion optimization
Deep linking can be used to optimize the conversion process by allowing developers to create links that take users directly to the pages or features within an app that are most relevant to their needs or interests. This can help to increase the chances of a successful conversion by making it easier for users to find and engage with the content or functionality that they are looking for.
Fast communication
Deep linking can help to facilitate fast communication between apps and websites, as it allows developers to create links that can be used to quickly open specific pages or features within an app. This can help to improve the overall speed and efficiency of the user journey.
User engagement
Deep linking can be used to drive user engagement by allowing developers to create links that take users directly to specific sections or features within an app that are likely to be of interest to them. This can help to increase the amount of time that users spend within an app, and can help to improve the overall user experience.
Customer retention
Deep linking can be used to improve customer retention by allowing developers to create links that take users directly to the features or content within an app that are most relevant to their needs or interests. This can help to keep users engaged with an app and can help to increase the likelihood of them returning to the app in the future.
Benefits of Deep Linking in Mobile Apps
Deep linking has essentially become more useful to social media platforms and mobile applications after the vast adoption of mobile devices globally. The concept seems more like an engagement strategy for mobile users, let’s dive deep into the benefits of deep linking in mobile apps:
Access to location-based content
Deep linking allows you to link directly to a specific location-based page within an app, which can be useful if you want to direct users to content that is relevant to their current location.
Often companies have different versions of the apps or websites, so deep linking helps them navigate the users to the appropriate app or website version based on their country or city.
Personalized user experience
It can be used to provide a more personalized user experience by linking users directly to the content that is most relevant to them or the app version designed for them.
This can be especially useful for e-commerce websites where deep linking can be used to direct users to a specific homepage based on their IP address or other location-detecting parameters.
Target a specific audience segment
Brands and entrepreneurs try to segment their audience whether they’re doing email marketing or social media advertising. Once they successfully do that, it makes it easier for them to reach out to a specific segment of the audience.
This is where deep linking comes in handy when companies and experts can generate specialized deep links based on the credentials of the specific segment.
Speed up the communication
No doubt that deep linking can speed up the communication process by allowing users to access specific content within an app quickly and easily. This can be especially useful in situations where users need to access information quickly, such as when they are trying to make a purchase decision.
Improve conversion rate
By providing a more personalized and relevant user experience, deep linking can help to improve the conversion rate for an app or website. This can be especially important for e-commerce apps, where deep linking can be used to direct users to specific product pages and increase the likelihood of a sale.
You must have noticed that sometimes when you visit a rather big e-commerce store, it automatically detects your country or sometimes directs you to your country-specific online store version.
Improves search engine discoverability
One of the key benefits of deep linking is that it also allows search engines to easily index and rank specific pages or content within a website or app, which can lead to better search engine optimization (SEO) and improved discoverability.
How to create deep links using Replug?
Replug is among the best link management tools that offers URL shortening, deep linking, bio links, QR codes, and several other URL management services.
One of the features of Replug is deep linking. I’ll use the TikTok example, meaning I’ll create a deep link for a TikTok video just to showcase how it’s done.
If everything goes perfectly, the short URL will be created as a deep link and it would open the same TikTok video in the TikTok app on clicking on that short link. Interesting read: How To Put A Link In TikTok Bio?
Let me walk you through how you can create deep links using Replug:
Step 2: Create brand & a shortener campaign (skip if it’s already created)
In the next step, you have to create a brand. Navigate to manage and click on Brands. Once you have landed on the brand’s webpage. Click on the New Brand tab and create your custom brand. Now create a shortener campaign. Navigate to Manage and click on the Campaigns tab.
Go ahead and create a campaign. Provide an appropriate campaign name.
Once you successfully create your campaign in the Replug account, go to the deep links area.
To access the deep links section, click on the profile icon from the top left of the dashboard and then click on the “deep links” option.
Step 4: Choose the platform
This is the step where you’d have to choose the platform for the deep link campaign. After landing on the deep links section page, there will be dozens of options across different categories.
Click on the icon of the platform you want to create your deep link for, for instance, TikTok or Pinterest. Once you click on the platform icon, a popup window would appear.
Step 5: Adjust the formatting
The popup window as shown in the above image would be a deep link integration area where you get a chance to adjust the formatting of the deep link.
Moreover, this integration area would also showcase different available deep link formats/options for each platform.
Once everything looks okay, just click on the “create deep link” button to go ahead.
Step 6: Create a deep link-enabled short URL
The last step is also crucial to the whole deep link creation process. It’s the section where you input the associated URL as well as choose the appropriate campaign.
When everything goes smoothly, there shouldn’t be a problem. Turn on the deep link option for the link using the toggle, just in case.
Also, makes sure that the deep link is supported for the URL. Fix the URL formatting if the deep link is displaying an error.
Once everything seems okay, go ahead and save the link. Now you have created a deep link for your favorite social media platform.
As I said earlier that if everything works out fine, the short link would be used as a deep link and it would open the TikTok video in the TikTok app. I tested this short URL and it did open the TikTok video in the TikTok app. Try it yourself: https://replug.link/CS2titok
FAQs about deep links
What happens when the user is deep linked into an app they don’t have installed?
When a user clicks on a deep link but doesn’t have the relevant app installed, then there are two possibilities that could happen depending on the platform or app. The deep linking system would either open the web version of the app or take you to the relevant app store to install the specific app.
Deep link vs. hyperlink – what is the difference?
A deep link is a mobile link that directs the user toward the relevant app instead of the website. Whereas the hyperlink is a link that sends the website visitor to the specific page or website it’s linking to using a web browser regardless of the device.
What is the biggest benefit of deep linking?
The most important one is that it provides end-users with quick access to the content within the app or website.
Many people share YouTube videos to introduce others to new music, movies, or other content they have discovered and enjoyed. Sharing YouTube videos can be a great way to connect with others and share your interests and passions.
Deep links allow you to share a specific point in a YouTube video rather than just the video’s main link. This can be useful if you want to share a specific video section, such as a specific song or scene.
Additionally, deep links can allow users to bypass ads or other content at the beginning of a video.
You can share YouTube videos with deep links from your mobile device or computer. Follow the steps below to get started:
How to share YouTube videos with Deep links on mobile phones:
Step 1: Open Youtube from your mobile phone and play the video you want to share.
Step 2: Tap the share button below the video you played.
Step 3: Tap copy link to copy the link and add a deep link feature to your link.
[branded_short_links]
Step 4: Go to app.replug.io. Sign in or create an account.
Step 5: Choose the desired campaign on the main dashboard or if you’re new, create a new campaign in just a few seconds.
Step 6: Once selected the campaign, paste the YouTube video link in the “URL to shorten” section below the campaign section.
Step 3: Click copy to share the video link or to create a deep link for your video.
Step 4:Sign in to Replug or create an account.
Step 5: Choose the desired campaign on the main dashboard or if you’re new, create a new campaign in just a few seconds.
Step 6: Once selected the campaign, paste the YouTube video link in the “URL to shorten” section below the campaign section.
Step 7: Click the create button to create a new link.
Step 8: Click the edit icon and customize your link.
Step 9: Turn on the deep link button and click update. Your YouTube video link now has deep link enabled.
Note: To find your newly created Replug link, go to manage on the main dashboard and click Replug links.
FAQs
What is YouTube deep linking?
YouTube deep linking refers to a specific video or playlist on the YouTube platform rather than the YouTube homepage or channel. This allows users to easily access the desired content without searching for it or navigating through a channel. It can be done by using the unique URL of a video or playlist.
What is the difference between deep links and dynamic links?
Deep links and dynamic links are both types of links that can be used to redirect users to specific content within an app or website. However, there are some key differences between the two.
Deep links take users directly to a specific location within an app or website. They typically provide direct access to specific content, such as a product page or website section. Deep links can also trigger specific actions within an app, such as opening a page or performing a specific task.
Dynamic links, however, can change depending on the context in which they are used. These links can redirect users to different locations or content based on factors such as the device they are using, the platform they are on, or the time of day. Dynamic links can also redirect users to different versions of an app or website depending on their devices, such as a mobile app or a web-based version.
