Deep Link (to the Future)

Akash Gupta Ashish Tyagi

Brief Overview● About Deep linking● Traditional Approach● Universal Links● Case Study● Techniques and Applications

App Stats

The RequirementWhat: Implement deep linking to our mobile apps.

Why: So that clicking on an ad can take users to the mobile app.

The Traditional WayURL Schemes

my-app://com.myapp.fooBarIdentifier

And in the App Delegate:

Advertisement (linked-url)

Mobile Web Page(url-scheme)App

Installed?

Open App ?

Yes

No

Mobile AppYes

No Action

No Action

How it works

Universal Links● Native first, browser second● Available iOS 9 onwards

Advertisement (linked-url)

Mobile Web PageApp Installed?

Mobile App

Supports URL ? Mobile Web Page

Yes

Yes

No

No

How Universal Links Work ?

Entitlements File

App-Site-Association File { "applinks": { "apps": [], "details": [ { "appID": "9JA89QQLNQ.com.myOrganisation.myApp", "paths": [ "/feature1/subFeature/", "/videos/wwdc/2015/*", NOT /about] }, { "appID": "ABCD1234.com.myOrganisation.mySecondApp", "paths": [ "*" ] } ] } }

The Actual ProblemWhat : Implement deep linking to our mobile apps.

Why : So that business can track which marketing campaigns are generating how much revenue.

Akash Reacts

Traditional Analytics/App-Stitching

Advertisement (linked-url)

Redirects to mobile safari UserId Cookie ?

Yes

NoGenerate Cookie(Analytics

Library)

Append cookieId & campaign id to url-scheme

Open App with updated url scheme

Limitations of Universal Links● Difficult to pass any additional parameters in Universal Links.● Universal Links do not work with redirects.● The user can also disable universal links altogether by innocently tapping on the

website breadcrumb that is shown on the top.● Difficult to debug and test because of all the various components involved.● Deep linking to intercept subdomain.

Universal Links are Frustrating

● A separate domain name for marketing links.● A server application responsible for routing traffic to the correct platform.● For desktop browsers, it is a simple matter of routing to the website.● For mobile browsers, a web page is generated with the deep link to the app.

Looking Towards New Domain Names

Custom web page with Deep Link to

app

Domain Name just for Deep Linking?

Marketing URLCustom Redirect

Server(Track Ad Click)

Display content in app

Website or App Store

What if the App is not even installed yet?

Deferred Deep Linking● Resolve deeplinks immediately after app install from a Universal Link.● Device fingerprinting by link server before redirect to App Store.● App reaches out to link server for pending context on first launch.● Content displayed/action taken based on context.

Deferred Deeplinking Explained

Deeplink URL

Custom Redirect Server

(Device Fingerprint)

App Not Installed

App Installed

App Store Install Page

Contact Deeplink Server for pending

context

Exchange deeplink with server for

context

Display custom content based on

context

App Opens Directly

Third Party Providers

Let’s Play Some Golf

User Experience with Deferred Deeplinks● Personalized welcome screen flow● Redirect to content shown in App Install ad● Referrals/Invites can be resolved immediately● Discounts/Offers availed

Harnessing the Power of Universal Links● Index app activities and content.

○ Native app indexing allows you to provide app content and user activities in Spotlight search.

○ Third party indexing such as that provided by Google can be used to provide deep linking into

your app through Google search.

● Promote content and not just the app.○ Using the above mentioned indexing tools one can create marketing campaigns that are dynamic

and work across platforms.

Prepared for the Future!

Questions...

Useful Links● Deeplink Golf on Github● Universal Links Documentation

Thank You!