Have you ever clicked on a link in a text or social post, only to land squarely in your app exactly where you wanted to? That little magic trick is called mobile app deep linking, and it’s one of the smartest ways app makers keep users happy.
One company making this superpower simple for marketers is Apptrove, a trusted mobile measurement partner (MMP) that helps businesses track, optimize and personalize their app experiences. Before we get into what they do so well and how they do it, let’s break down what mobile app deep linking is.
What Is Mobile App Deep Linking?
Most of the time, if you click a link to your app, you might land on the home screen. With the help of a mobile measurement partner and mobile app deep linking, you land on the specific page or function you need.
It’s like walking into a giant mall and??? Voila, you were teleported exactly to your store–no wandering, no losing your way.
For example:
- Click a link to a new shoe collection→ land on the product page in a shopping app.
- Tap your friend’s shared game level→ open the exact game level you are invited to in the gaming app.
Why App Developers Love Mobile App Deep Linking
To a user, mobile app deep linking works seamlessly. That’s because it does.
But for app developers and marketers, it’s a game-changer.
It allows them to:
- Enhance experience (nobody likes to search through menus).
- Increase engagement (users are more likely to use an app when it’s easy and convenient).
- Drive purchases or conversions (fewer steps = more sales).
Without mobile app deep linking, just getting the user through the app to take action can leave them frustrated and happy to exit without doing anything. And that’s bad for business.
The Importance of Mobile Linking Platforms
The magic happens behind the curtain with a mobile linking platform. This type of tool manages the underlying technology that takes users to the correct place in the app, regardless of what device the user is on or if it is installed.
For example, after you click the link, but you don’t have the app, a mobile linking platform will take you directly to the App Store or Google Play to install the app and then will still take you to the right destination after you install the app. That’s digital magic.
How Mobile Deep Linking Differs from Normal Links
Regular links simply take a user to a website. But deep linking can take a user to a specific place in an app.
Imagine it this way:
- A regular link is similar to giving someone an address.
- And mobile deep linking is like giving them the actual apartment number and floor plan.
By taking users to the key piece of the experience, mobile deep linking saves time and limits friction, resulting in more users doing what the app wants them to (i.e., signing up, making a purchase, or playing a new level of a game).
Measuring Success with Deep Linking Analytics
Of course, just making your deep links isn’t enough. App marketers want to know if their deep links are working. This is where deep linking analytics come into play.
These tools allow you to track the following things:
- How many clicks does a deep link receive.
- What users do after they enter the app.
- Which deep links generated the most purchases or sign-ups?
Utilizing deep linking analytics helps marketers test different strategies and see what works best.
Why Mobile App Deep Linking Is a Win-Win
Here’s the fun part: mobile app deep linking works for users and businesses alike.
- For users: it’s faster, easier, and more personal. You get exactly what you want without a bunch of extra clicks.
- For businesses, it means more engagement, better conversion rates, and happy customers.
And when businesses combine mobile app deep linking with other tools, like deep linking analytics and a robust mobile linking platform, the impact can be even greater.
Real-World Example
Say you receive a notification from your favourite food delivery app: “Your favourite pizza is 20% off today!” You tap the link and — bam! — You are exactly on the page for that pizza inside the app.
You put it in your cart and are out the door in seconds. Without mobile app deep linking, you would likely have searched for the pizza, scrolled endlessly through menus, and maybe even given up halfway through. That one smooth link probably made the sale.
The Future of Mobile App Deep Linking
As app technology advances, mobile app deep linking will increasingly grow in importance. We’ll be seeing more intelligent links that can adapt to user preferences, links that can trigger in-app actions, and links that can provide deeper connections with marketing campaigns.
Most importantly, if you have used a mobile app and enjoyed the convenience of being able to land exactly where you wanted in the app, you’ve already experienced it.
