Mobile deep links are crucial to building a seamless experience for mobile users. By sending users directly to pages within apps, you can personalize the customer journey and make the content as relevant as possible.
But how do you find those deep links? And how can you track the engagement across your mobile audience as they interact with your apps?
It all starts with Bitly. Check out our guide to find out how!
Interested in learning more about how to use Bitly with your deep links? Visit www.bitly.is/DeepLinksSS to get more mobile deep link resources!
3. The Science of the Mobile Deep Link
SCHEME
Tells the phone which
app to open
URI
Tells what page to
open within the app
com-eventbrite-attendee://event/301259074
4. Deep Links
Can be
Used For
1. Customer Experience
2. Driving App Installs
3. App Re-Engagement
5. How to Find Them…
If the content on your app is similar to the
content on your website, then you probably
already have mobile deep link tags.
Those are the tags that provide the information
you need to create deep links with Bitly.
10. Shorten a Long URL & Configure
the Mobile Deep Link
4
TO ADD A NEW APP:
● Name Your App
● Click “Select Application”
● Click “Add Application”
11. Customize Your Application (iOS)5
App Store ID: 48792229
http://itunes.apple.com/us/apple/eventbrite-local-events-fun/id487922291?mt=8
● Enter the Application Label
● Enter the iOS App Store ID via
iTunes web page for the app
13. Modify the Details7
MODIFY APP NAME
You can modify the App Name from what is
listen in the app store for internal use here.
ENTER APP SCHEME
Enter the app scheme/name which was
registered with the App Store - this is specific
to each platform (iOS, Android, etc.)
PROMOTE INSTALLS
If you want Bitly to present the user who does
not have the app install with an interstitial page
driving the user to the App Store or the mobile
web, check this box.
14. Finalize the Bitlink8
ADD THE URI
A mobile deep link URI tells
the device which page to
open within the app.
15. Test It Out!9
Join us for a night of sunset
cocktails and (free) live jazz:
bit.ly/JazzEvent
NYC Invites
@nycinvites
9/8/15
16. Measuring the Analytics
METRICS
There are two separate graphs to track your
deep link analytics in Bitly: the first is
around the operating system and the
second is if you are promoting installs
through the interstitial.
● Opens - the times the app has been
opened
● Store Visits - the number of clicks the
download app button
● Mobile Web - the number of clicks to
the mobile web link on the interstitial
● CTR - sum of all interstitial
actions/number of times the
interstitial was viewed
10
17. Programmatic Deep Link Creation via API
BITLY API
Want to enable deep
linking functionality for all
of your links? You can use
the Bitly API to create
programmatic deep links.
To learn more, visit
bitly.is/DevResources
11
18. QA Testing
Send an email with your Bitlink
Click the link on your computer & phone
Click the link across apps & on your desktop to make sure
it goes to the right page
Post the link across social networks
Test the interstitial ad with a phone that doesn’t have the
app installed
19. What’s Next?
Once you’ve created a deep link, it’s time to start building
marketing campaigns for your app.
With deep links,
you can customize
the user experience
to drive
installs and app re-
engagement.
20. THANK YOU
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
bitly.com
Want to learn more about deep linking implementation?
Sign up to learn more at bitly.is/DeepLinkSS or email your customer success manager.
Editor's Notes
Hi everyone,
Thanks for joining the webinar today. My name is Blaise Lucey. I’m the senior content strategist here at Bitly. Lately at Bity, we’ve been exploring omnichannel marketing and how brands can create a better customer experience by ensuring that messaging, marketing, and campaigns are always consistent.
Today, we’re going to ask a really important question: “What the heck IS omnichannel?”
To do that, we’re first going to define omnichannel as it stands today. That means talking about how different businesses think about channels and terms they use to describe their strategies.
Second, we’ll break down why omnichannel is critical for marketing, showing the ways that businesses like Starbucks and Disney are creating omnichannel customer experiences.
Finally, we’ll talk about how you can get started on building your own omnichannel engine.
To do that, we’re first going to define omnichannel as it stands today. That means talking about how different businesses think about channels and terms they use to describe their strategies.
Second, we’ll break down why omnichannel is critical for marketing, showing the ways that businesses like Starbucks and Disney are creating omnichannel customer experiences.
Finally, we’ll talk about how you can get started on building your own omnichannel engine.
How to Find Deep Links
Many websites today have already placed a variety of tags on their pages which provide the information you need to create mobile deep links. By viewing the actual HTML of the page, you can search and discover this information if the tags are present.
To find a deep link:
Go to the web page you want to deep link to
In your browser, right click on the page and select “View Source.”
In the HTML window, search for the following tags:
Facebook AppLinks
iOS
Search for: “al:ios:url”
Example: <meta property="al:ios:url" content="applinks://docs" />
Android
Search for “al:android:url”
Example: <meta property="al:android:url" content="applinks://docs" />
Twitter Cards
iOS
Search for: “twitter:app:url:iphone”
Example: <meta name="twitter:app:url:iphone" content="sportscenter://x-callback-url/showStory?uid=12793263"/>
Android
Search for: “twitter:app:url:googleplay”
Example: <meta name="twitter:app:url:googleplay" content="sportscenter://x-callback-url/showStory?uid=12793263"/>
Google App Index
Android Only
Search for: android-app://”
Example: <link rel="alternate" href="android-app://com.example.android/example/gizmos" />
For the above example, the mobile deep link to enter would be: example://gizmos
If your site does not have any of these tags on the page, you should talk to your mobile app developer to see if this app supports deep links.
How to Find Deep Links
Many websites today have already placed a variety of tags on their pages which provide the information you need to create mobile deep links. By viewing the actual HTML of the page, you can search and discover this information if the tags are present.
To find a deep link:
Go to the web page you want to deep link to
In your browser, right click on the page and select “View Source.”
In the HTML window, search for the following tags:
Facebook AppLinks
iOS
Search for: “al:ios:url”
Example: <meta property="al:ios:url" content="applinks://docs" />
Android
Search for “al:android:url”
Example: <meta property="al:android:url" content="applinks://docs" />
Twitter Cards
iOS
Search for: “twitter:app:url:iphone”
Example: <meta name="twitter:app:url:iphone" content="sportscenter://x-callback-url/showStory?uid=12793263"/>
Android
Search for: “twitter:app:url:googleplay”
Example: <meta name="twitter:app:url:googleplay" content="sportscenter://x-callback-url/showStory?uid=12793263"/>
Google App Index
Android Only
Search for: android-app://”
Example: <link rel="alternate" href="android-app://com.example.android/example/gizmos" />
For the above example, the mobile deep link to enter would be: example://gizmos
If your site does not have any of these tags on the page, you should talk to your mobile app developer to see if this app supports deep links.
How to Find Deep Links
Many websites today have already placed a variety of tags on their pages which provide the information you need to create mobile deep links. By viewing the actual HTML of the page, you can search and discover this information if the tags are present.
create a link in bitly
To find a deep link:
Go to the web page you want to deep link to
In your browser, right click on the page and select “View Source.”
In the HTML window, search for the following tags:
Facebook AppLinks
iOS
Search for: “al:ios:url”
Example: <meta property="al:ios:url" content="applinks://docs" />
Android
Search for “al:android:url”
Example: <meta property="al:android:url" content="applinks://docs" />
Twitter Cards
iOS
Search for: “twitter:app:url:iphone”
Example: <meta name="twitter:app:url:iphone" content="sportscenter://x-callback-url/showStory?uid=12793263"/>
Android
Search for: “twitter:app:url:googleplay”
Example: <meta name="twitter:app:url:googleplay" content="sportscenter://x-callback-url/showStory?uid=12793263"/>
Google App Index
Android Only
Search for: android-app://”
Example: <link rel="alternate" href="android-app://com.example.android/example/gizmos" />
For the above example, the mobile deep link to enter would be: example://gizmos
If your site does not have any of these tags on the page, you should talk to your mobile app developer to see if this app supports deep links.
Google App Index
Android Only
Search for: android-app://”
Example: <link rel="alternate" href="android-app://com.example.android/example/gizmos" />
For the above example, the mobile deep link to enter would be: example://gizmos
If your site does not have any of these tags on the page, you should talk to your mobile app developer to see if this app supports deep links.
How to Find Deep Links
Many websites today have already placed a variety of tags on their pages which provide the information you need to create mobile deep links. By viewing the actual HTML of the page, you can search and discover this information if the tags are present.
create a link in bitly
To find a deep link:
Go to the web page you want to deep link to
In your browser, right click on the page and select “View Source.”
In the HTML window, search for the following tags:
Facebook AppLinks
iOS
Search for: “al:ios:url”
Example: <meta property="al:ios:url" content="applinks://docs" />
Android
Search for “al:android:url”
Example: <meta property="al:android:url" content="applinks://docs" />
Twitter Cards
iOS
Search for: “twitter:app:url:iphone”
Example: <meta name="twitter:app:url:iphone" content="sportscenter://x-callback-url/showStory?uid=12793263"/>
Android
Search for: “twitter:app:url:googleplay”
Example: <meta name="twitter:app:url:googleplay" content="sportscenter://x-callback-url/showStory?uid=12793263"/>
Google App Index
Android Only
Search for: android-app://”
Example: <link rel="alternate" href="android-app://com.example.android/example/gizmos" />
For the above example, the mobile deep link to enter would be: example://gizmos
If your site does not have any of these tags on the page, you should talk to your mobile app developer to see if this app supports deep links.
Enable Deep Linking for Your Bitlink
Once you have located the deep links for your app, you can enable this functionality to the Bitlinks you create in your Bitly Brand Tools account.
To enable deep linking in your account, follow these steps:
Shorten a long URL in your Bitly Brand Tools account
Configure the mobile deep link in the action sheet shown:
If there are no applications configured, first configure an application:
Click on “Select or Add Applications”
Click on “Add Application” button
If there are no applications configured, first configure an application:
Click on “Select or Add Applications”
Click on “Add Application” button
On the Application detail pane, fill in the app information:
Enter the Application Label - The application label will be the label used to refer to the configuration settings of your iOS and Android apps.
Enter the iOS App Store ID - The app icon will be retrieved from the app store. You can find the App Store ID by searching for the app and finding the iTunes web page for the app.
In the example below, the App Store ID is 407690035:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hotel-tonight-last-minute/id407690035?mt=8
Repeat the same steps for configuration of your Android app.
Enter the Android App Store ID - Once you move to the next field, the app icon will be retrieved from the app store. You can find the App Store ID by searching for the app and finding the Google Play web page for the app.
In the example below, the App Store ID is com.hoteltonight.android.prod:
Modify the App Name: If you want to modify the App Name from what is listed in the App Store, you can modify it here.
Enter the App Scheme Name: Enter the app scheme/name which was registered with the App Store. The app scheme/name is specific to each platform (iOS, Android, etc.).
Add the Install URL: If you work with a 3rd party platform to measure installs you can replace the default app store link here.
Choose to Promote Installs: If you want Bitly to present the user who does not have the app install with an interstitial page check this box. When this box is unchecked, the user will not be presented with the interstitial page upon clicking on a Bitly link.
Modify the App Name: If you want to modify the App Name from what is listed in the App Store, you can modify it here.
Enter the App Scheme Name: Enter the app scheme/name which was registered with the App Store. The app scheme/name is specific to each platform (iOS, Android, etc.).
Add the Install URL: If you work with a 3rd party platform to measure installs you can replace the default app store link here.
Choose to Promote Installs: If you want Bitly to present the user who does not have the app install with an interstitial page check this box. When this box is unchecked, the user will not be presented with the interstitial page upon clicking on a Bitly link.
Click Save and then click the X in the upper right corner to close the app configuration list.
Select the app you want to associate with this Bitlink.
Enter the mobile deep link URI in the input box.
Note: the input box will only appear after you have configured an application. The App Scheme/Name will already populate based on the app configuration.
Click Save.
This Bitlink is now ready to drive app re-engagement and/or installs.
Click Save and then click the X in the upper right corner to close the app configuration list.
Select the app you want to associate with this Bitlink.
Enter the mobile deep link URI in the input box.
Note: the input box will only appear after you have configured an application. The App Scheme/Name will already populate based on the app configuration.
Click Save.
This Bitlink is now ready to drive app re-engagement and/or installs.
Deep Link Analytics
Bitly deep link analytics highlight the number of places the user was directed when they clicked on your Bitlink. Bitly currently tracks app opens, mobile web visits and the number of times users selected to go to the app store.
Log into your Bitly Brand Tools account and click on Your Bitlinks in the left hand navigation.
Find the Bitlink you are looking for analytics on in the list view.
Any deep link enabled Bitlink will have a deep link icon in the list view (see below).
Select the Bitlink by clicking in the list view.
At the top of the detail pane on the righthand side of your computer, you will see the Deep Link analytics section:
Programmatic Deep Link Creation via API
Adding mobile deep links through the Bitly API is as simple as it is through the UI. The initial configuration of the app configuration must still be completed through the UI, but mobile deep linking functionality can be enabled for any Bitlink through our API.
A few notes to use the API to enable mobile deep linking:
To shorten a web url and provide the mobile deep link URLs the following API should be used:
http://dev.bitly.com/links.html#v3_user_link_save
To modify a Bitlink with new mobile deep link URLs the following API should be used:
http://dev.bitly.com/links.html#v3_user_link_edit
If you were previously using the v3/shorten API you can migrate over to the user_link_save API for all URL shortening.
The app configurations and app store information needs to be created through the Bitly interface (see above for instructions) before the API can be used for deep linking. Once you have your app configuration setup you will need to supply on each API call the Bitly App ID which can be found under Your Settings - Advanced - “Deep Link Applications”.
Best Practices for QA
How do I test if my Bitly deep link is working?
Once you have the link created and configured with the mobile deep link information, you will want validate the experience is working as expected.
Testing Re-engagement (taking your users into your app)
Email
Send the link to your email.
Click the link on your computer to test desktop experience
Open the email on your phone and click the link to test app experience
Social
Post the link on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social network account
Sign in to the Facebook app and Twitter app, view the new posts, and click on the link in each app.
Testing App Installs
If you are promoting the app install to users who do not have the app installed, you should do the following after creating your Bitly deep link:
Delete the mobile app you are deep linking to
Go through the same steps as above to ensure the desired behavior occurs in each channel you plan to publish the link
Validate the link continues getting users to the web content from a non mobile device.
Programmatic Deep Link Creation via API
Adding mobile deep links through the Bitly API is as simple as it is through the UI. The initial configuration of the app configuration must still be completed through the UI, but mobile deep linking functionality can be enabled for any Bitlink through our API.
A few notes to use the API to enable mobile deep linking:
To shorten a web url and provide the mobile deep link URLs the following API should be used:
http://dev.bitly.com/links.html#v3_user_link_save
To modify a Bitlink with new mobile deep link URLs the following API should be used:
http://dev.bitly.com/links.html#v3_user_link_edit
If you were previously using the v3/shorten API you can migrate over to the user_link_save API for all URL shortening.
The app configurations and app store information needs to be created through the Bitly interface (see above for instructions) before the API can be used for deep linking. Once you have your app configuration setup you will need to supply on each API call the Bitly App ID which can be found under Your Settings - Advanced - “Deep Link Applications”.