What is Deep Linking in Mobile Apps and How it Can Boost App Engagement?

Mobile deep linking is one of the essential parts of today’s mobile marketing arsenal. 

Today, users not only expect push notifications to deliver information but also add more value and ease to visit the landing page. 

Be it their abandoned cart, or a reminder to check their wishlist, an offer of sale, or new products, if you need them to visit, you have to make it super easy for them. 

In this article, we will explain mobile deep linking, its benefits, how it works, and some other important information. Let's start.

What is Mobile Deep Linking?

To understand deep linking, one should know about links. Links or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is an HTML object that allows you to visit internet pages whose information it contains. Links are used universally on the internet and can be found in this article as well. For example, you can visit MobileAppDaily Studio by clicking on it.

Deep links are the links that can take traffic from different locations to the different pages of a mobile application. It is noteworthy that deep links don't leave the traffic on the app’s homepage, instead, take them to the exact page you desire them to visit. It's all about convenience. Tap on a deep link and the user can go on profile pages, product pages, marketing pages, showcases, etc. You can use deep links to take users from Ad to app, Weblink to an app, SMS to an app, Email to an app, App to an app, Search result listing to an app (using app indexing), Push notification to the app, Social media post to an app, etc.

What is Deferred Deep Linking?

Deep linking is fine but what if the user who clicks on the deep links doesn't have the app installed on their device? This is when Deferred Deep Linking can help you make the difference and make valuable retention by offering convenience and value.

If users click on a deferred deep link but do not have the app installed, they will be directly taken to the app’s downloading page. The best part is, when the app is installed on the device and opened, it will open on the page linked in the deep link.

How does deep linking work?

As explained by experts, there are three standards of mobile deep links, URI schemes, Universal Links, and App Links. Here are what they stand for:

• URI Schemes - URI schemes are the main method of mobile deep linking. URIs are standard for other links also, and here too, this stands for Uniform Resource Identifier. Just as a link sends a user to a page on the web, the URI scheme sends the user to the desired apps on the mobile device. For example, the URI Scheme for Twitter will be twittering:///, or to start the mail app from the browser, the URI Scheme is mailto://.
• Universal links - Universal links are the app links created by Apple for maintaining app standards. It has a fallback system by default which will send the user to your website in case the app is not installed on their device. They also offer enhanced privacy and other additional features.
• App Link - App links are the URI Scheme created by Android and offer a similar value as Universal links.

What are the benefits of Deep Linking in mobile apps?

Deep links, like any other links, are a tool to move traffic from point A to point B. But what it offers is the ability to connect the user to the pages on your app directly. Apps are a more consolidated and personalized place for the user as well as offer liberty to get extra value. With the ability to directly send the user to desired pages on your app, you can add enormous value to the experience and make your product better for your users.

Sending users to shopping pages:

Deep links send users to various shopping pages offered by you via your mobile applications. These pages can be abandoned carts they must have not visited for a while, a launch of a new product or series of products, the arrival of products in their wish list, and many more.

Deliver value and enhance user engagement:

Mobile deep linking has proved significant in enhancing user engagement on mobile apps. They dismiss the distraction and allow users to land on their pages of interest directly. 

Enhanced user retention and bounce back rate:

Deep links also help in calling back users to your platform and make your brand more memorable for them. Data shows deep linking has yielded much more results in enhancing user retention rate and any other recent strategies deployed by companies around the world.

Deep linking boosts User Engagement:

Sending a timely notification with properly embedded deep links can alone result in a sale. Yet, there are many other ways to improve your user engagement.

Specific Promotions:

Deep linking is a great tool for promoting products and services which are under limited offer. If you want the user to take a look at a product, a deep link can make it happen.

Deep links to introduce new features:

If you have introduced a new feature in your app which you want to showcase to your users, deep linking is the way to do it. Send your users directly to the desired page and introduce the new features to your audience via an embedded deep linking in your push notifications.

Promote personalized or trending content:

With deep linking, you can help users find something trending on your app. Users can also receive any personalized content if you can prepare for them. With the help of deep linking, you can send the links to those personalized content pages directly to the users.

What are some of the mobile deep linking challenges?

There are a few challenges in the deployment of deep links which can be if dealt with if you have enough information about them. Unlike links, which are universal in their application and acceptance, deep links are a bit complex. The deep link which will open on the iOS app will be different from the deep links that will open on the Android app.

The deployment of deep links is a little more sophisticated than the standard links. Though many services offer deep linking services, we think knowing about deep linking and how it can help you is of paramount importance for budding businesses.

EndNote

Deep linking is a powerful tool to enhance your app engagement. The idea of offering value and ease to the users can help you retain and even enhance the level of engagement that you get from your apps. If you can be strategic about the deep linking and use them with efficiency, you can create a user flow that will showcase all your products and introduce to the users what you intend to offer.

Undoubtedly, deep linking and deferred deep linking are crucial elements of mobile marketing. If done properly, deep linking can deliver not only more traffic but also convert those traffic metrics into sales. We hope you got a decent idea about deep linking and how they can help you in your venture. If you are a product owner who wants to get your app reviewed, get in touch with MobileAppDaily Studio. If you have any queries or requests, you can write to us.

By Manish

Sr. Content Strategist

Meet Manish Chandra Srivastava, the Strategic Content Architect & Marketing Guru who turns brands into legends. Armed with a Masters in Mass Communication (2015-17), Manish has dazzled giants like Collegedunia, Embibe, and Archies. His work is spotlighted on Hackernoon, Gamasutra, and Elearning Industry.

Beyond the writer’s block, Manish is often found distracted by movies, video games, AI, and other such nerdy stuff. But the point remains, If you need your brand to shine, Manish is who you need.