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What is Deep Linking?

Mobile app deep linking is a powerful marketing method that creates contextually relevant user experiences across devices, platforms, and channels. Imagine a user clicking on a product ad—instead of landing on your app's home page and searching for that product, they're taken directly to the exact product page, ready to purchase in seconds.

But here's where it gets even better: if the user doesn't have your app installed yet, deep linking still works its magic. They're seamlessly guided to install the app from the store, and once installed, the app opens automatically to that exact product page they were interested in—no manual searching, no friction, just instant engagement. This is called deferred deep linking, and it transforms how you convert new users.

The result? Dramatically reduced friction, accelerated conversions, and measurable revenue growth from every click.

Universal/App Link
https://example.com/product/123?ref=campaign
Custom URL Scheme
myapp://product/123?ref=campaign
1

Opening the App

The deep link opens the app at the moment of click using linking standards like Apple Universal Links, Android App Links, or URI schemes.

2

Routing the User

Once opened, the app routes users to the specific in-app content using direct deep linking, deferred deep linking, or contextual deep linking.

Types of Deep Links

Direct Deep Links

Work when a user already has the app installed. When clicked, a direct deep link opens the app and navigates to the specific content or page within the app.

Deferred Deep Links

Handle situations where the user doesn't have the app installed. Users are first directed to the app store to download the app. Once installed and opened, they are taken to the specific content that was linked.

Contextual Deep Links

Advanced deep links that not only direct users to specific in-app content but also pass along contextual information like source details, user attributes, or other data to personalize the experience.

Universal Links & App Links

Platform-specific linking standards for iOS (Universal Links) and Android (App Links) that provide seamless app opening experiences and fallback to web when the app isn't installed.

Seamless Customer Journeys That Drive Results

Better experiences are the key to better marketing. Discover how our customer experience and engagement suite lets you create exceptional experiences that convert across channels and operating systems.

User Acquisition

Drive app installs by easily guiding users from ads and external sources to your app with smooth, frictionless experiences.

User Retention

Channel high-quality users back to your app to boost conversions, retention, and lifetime value with personalized deep-linked experiences.

Re-engagement Flows

Capture existing user attention with personalized messaging and creatives that lead directly to relevant in-app content.

Conversion Optimization

Reduce friction and accelerate conversions by eliminating unnecessary steps and delivering users exactly where they need to be.

Drive Engagement Across Every Touchpoint

Your customers interact with your brand across numerous online and offline touchpoints. Create seamless journeys that convert at every stage, from discovery to loyalty.

Smart Banners and Smart Scripts

Dynamically generate links behind banners, web copy, CTAs, badges, and more to effectively drive and measure traffic from mid-funnel, high-intent users arriving at your site. Seamlessly direct them to your app while maintaining full attribution visibility.

Messaging, SMS, and Push Notifications

Engage users with discounts, limited-time offers, and time-sensitive messages using dynamically generated short links that smoothly and reliably deliver users to contextual in-app content. Perfect for flash sales and urgent promotions.

Social Landing Pages

By routing users from social feeds to landing pages, you'll engage the right users and connect them smoothly and contextually to the right in-app content. Measure engagement, installs, and loyalty to assess ROI and plan future tactics from the minute you launch your campaign.

QR Codes

Seamlessly route users into your app from QR code scans taken at key engagement points. Drive user acquisition by connecting online and offline customer touchpoints to app engagement, bridging the physical and digital worlds.

User Invites, Referrals, and Content Sharing

Leverage the trust between friends to drive new users to your app through direct referrals, user invites, and content sharing. Build frictionless paths from a user share directly to specific in-app content, turning your users into brand advocates.

Increase Conversions with Engaging Journeys

Smooth end-user experiences have a direct impact on revenue, loyalty, and LTV. That's why we developed our suite of engagement tools that let you create exceptional experiences and deliver 2-5X more conversions for true return on experience (ROX).

Create & Manage with Ease

Build and customize digital experiences across all touchpoints with intuitive tools that require no technical expertise.

Maximize Performance with Owned Media

Owned media campaigns with deep linking ensure user privacy and security while supporting your growth goals in the era of privacy.

Unified Measurement

Track and measure the performance of your deep linking campaigns with comprehensive analytics all in one dashboard.

Key Benefits of Deep Linking

Strategic deep linking transforms user journeys and drives measurable results across all marketing channels.

Streamlined User Experience

Remove barriers like excessive navigation and confusing paths. Direct users to relevant content instantly for an effortless journey.

Improved Retention

Reduce friction to keep users in the funnel. Personalized in-app pages create clear conversion paths that drive completion.

Boosted User Acquisition

Deferred deep links guide new users directly to app store landing pages, reducing steps to acquisition and driving installs.

Enhanced Data & Optimization

Append custom parameters to links for insights into referral sources, user behavior, and campaign performance for continuous optimization.

Superior Conversion Rates

Eliminate unnecessary steps and deliver personalized, direct experiences that significantly impact your app's ROI.

Improved Trust & Brand Reputation

Personalize journeys with recognizable branded domains and short links, building loyalty, trust, and long-term engagement.

Deep Linking Use Cases & Real-World Applications

Deep linking isn't just a technical tool—it's a strategic powerhouse that transforms user journeys and drives measurable results across verticals and industries.

Shopping & E-commerce

Drive users directly to product pages from ads, send notifications with links to flash sales, use deep links in abandoned cart emails to bring users back to their exact cart, and direct users from influencer posts to relevant in-app categories or featured items.

Gaming & Entertainment

Send players directly to specific game levels or events based on their progress, drive users to claim rewards and bonuses, enable multiplayer invites that open the app to a specific lobby, and streamline in-app purchases by linking directly to premium items or bundles.

Finance & Insurance

Direct users to specific sections like account balance, recent transactions, or bill payment pages. Link to specific investment products or educational content, deep link to loan application processes, and deliver personalized offers via notifications.

Web-to-App: Smart Banners & Smart Scripts

While mobile apps drive the majority of mobile sales, users often rely on web browsers during research. Web audiences are often high-intent, engaged, and high-performing when transitioned to mobile. Smart banners and scripts maximize conversions by conveniently connecting web experience to mobile app.

Smart Banners

Dynamic call-to-action banners that appear as users browse your mobile website, prompting them to download your app for a better experience. Fully customizable with your brand colors, icons, messaging, and styling.

Smart Scripts

Web-to-app scripts activate when users click Download buttons or similar CTAs on your mobile website. They capture key user parameters, enabling precise attribution and effective deep linking in the mWeb-to-mApp flow.

Capture high-intent web traffic and convert to app users

Enable precise attribution from web to app transitions

Fully customizable to match your brand identity

Create seamless cross-platform user experiences

Frequently Asked Questions

Deep linking transforms how users discover and engage with your app. Create personalized, contextual journeys from any touchpoint—web, SMS, email, social media, or offline—directly to specific in-app content. This seamless experience eliminates friction points, significantly increasing conversions and revenue.

Yes, our deep linking technology understands where to direct users regardless of whether an app is installed. If the app is not installed, deferred deep linking occurs: users are seamlessly directed to the app store first, then taken directly to the specific content you intended after installation—no extra steps required.

Yes. Adshift saves you from managing separate links for different platforms. Instead of juggling iOS and Android links, you create one smart link that works everywhere. It automatically leverages the right technology based on the user's device, while giving you unified analytics in a single dashboard.

Absolutely. Our free tier includes deep linking functionality, along with core attribution and analytics capabilities. When you're ready to scale up, our paid plans add features like custom domains and advanced options, but many customers run successful campaigns using just the free plan.

Power up your marketing knowledge with our comprehensive deep linking guides, case studies, and best practices documentation. Contact our team for personalized guidance and implementation support.

Everything your team needs is in our Developer Hub. You'll find Quick Start Guides to set up your first deep link, SDK References with platform-specific guides, and comprehensive API Documentation for advanced customization.

Ready to Drive Exceptional User Experiences?

See how Adshift's deep linking engine can help you create seamless anywhere-to-app journeys that drive conversions and revenue.

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