Deep linking refers to links on the internet that directly redirect to specific content. These links typically direct to a specific page or content within a website. While a standard web link usually redirects to the homepage or a general site, a deep link allows direct access to content that is more specific to a particular topic, product, or service.
For example, while “https://admuch.com/” is a standard link, “https://admuch.com/tr/seo/” is a deep link because it directs you straight to the site’s content related to SEO. Deep links are often more useful and effective because they quickly bring users to the content they are searching for and help them understand the overall structure of the site more easily. Additionally, deep links can assist websites in gathering and analyzing more data about specific content.
What is the situation for mobile applications?
As mobile applications grow in popularity, providing easy and quick access for users who want to share their content has become important. In this context, mobile deep links play a significant role. Simply put, mobile deep links allow users to share specific content within an app.
For instance, consider you want to share a news article from a news app. If mobile deep links are not used in that app, your friend will only see the app’s general homepage and will have to navigate through the app to find the specific news article. However, if mobile deep links are utilized, they will be directly redirected to the page where the news article is located.
Why is this important?
Because content in mobile applications is often not publicly accessible. Normal web links do not work in applications because the application needs to be installed. Even if the application is installed, there is no standard way to access the content, and each application’s content is specific to that application.
Mobile deep links provide app developers and marketers with significant flexibility in directing users to specific content. They enhance the user experience and can increase conversions. Therefore, the use of deep links is becoming increasingly common in the world of mobile applications.
Sharing content through mobile apps should be an easy and quick experience for users. However, standard web links cannot be used to access many app contents. This situation negatively impacts the user experience, disrupts companies’ measurements, and can make communication difficult for small developers. As a result, the level of competition may remain low, and large companies can continue to dominate the market, even if their applications are subpar.
Deep links are an important tool for solving these problems. Deep linking within a mobile app enables users to directly access specific content. This improves the user experience, allows users to easily discover engaging content, and provides developers with better customer engagement.
Deep links can typically be divided into three categories:
Traditional/Old Deep Links: These deep links are created based on the app’s URL scheme. For example, a link like “myapp://category” could direct to a specific category within the app. Each app has its own URL scheme, and if one does not exist, developers can easily create one.
Contextual Deep Links: These deep links direct users to a specific context within the app. For example, they can be used to add a specific product to a user’s cart. In this way, a more personalized experience can be offered to the user.
Parameter Deep Links: These deep links work with specific parameters to direct to a particular section or content within the app. For example, parameters can be used to direct to a specific news article in a news app.
These different types of deep links provide developers and marketers with flexibility in directing users to specific content. This can lead to a better user experience and higher conversion rates, thereby enhancing the competitive edge of the applications.
How do deep links help in this regard?
Deep linking improves user experience in mobile applications by providing direct access to content. This allows users to share and discover specific content within the app. Traditional deep links are created based on the app’s URL scheme. For example, a link like “myapp://category” can direct to a specific category within the app. However, these links do not work for users who have not downloaded the app, as their phones cannot find an address to open the application and they encounter an error.
Deferred deep links operate based on whether the app is installed or not. If the app is installed, the link directs straight to the content. If the app is not installed, it redirects the user to the store page to download the app, and after installation, they can access the content. This allows users to quickly view specific content.
Contextual deep links combine the features of both traditional and deferred deep links. These links provide more information to the user and establish a stronger connection. For example, they can include details about which app the user will be directed to, where the link was clicked, and who created the link. This allows app developers to offer personalized experiences to their users, and users can more easily discover engaging content.
Thus, deep links help mobile applications provide a user-focused and interactive experience. Users can access content more quickly and experience a smoother transition between apps, which enables developers to increase user loyalty and enhance their app marketing strategies.