What are Deep Links and How Does It Help in Conversion and Retention Through the App?

Did you know that 77% of mobile apps are abandoned just three days after being installed? That's right—most users delete an app within a short time, and the main culprit is often poor user experience. 

So, if you want customers to stick around and keep using your Shopify mobile app, you need to deliver an immediate, seamless experience that hooks them right away. This is where deep links come into play. 

In this guide, we'll dive into how deep links can transform your app’s onboarding and engagement process, improving both conversions and customer retention. 

Let’s dive right in and explore everything you need to know about deep links for your Shopify mobile app! 

What are Shopify Mobile App Deep Links? 

Deep links are special URLs that take users straight to specific content within a Shopify mobile app, instead of just the homepage. 

In eCommerce, this means deep links can guide shoppers directly to product pages, deals, or collections, bypassing unnecessary steps. 

While deep links are common on websites—where you might click a link to a product or blog—eCommerce mobile apps are more isolated, making it harder for users to find what they want. That’s why deep links are essential for eCommerce apps. They streamline the shopping experience by leading customers to exactly what they’re looking for. 

You can use deep links in email campaigns, ads, social media, or even QR codes to bring users back into your app, making it a key tool for increasing engagement and conversions. 

App Deep Links vs Deferred Deep Links: What’s the Difference? 

While both deep links and deferred deep links guide users to specific in-app content, the key difference lies in how they function for new users. 

Deep links work seamlessly if the app is already installed—users click the link and are taken directly to the targeted content. 

Deferred deep links, however, come into play when the app isn’t yet installed. In this case, users are directed to download the app first, and after installation, they’re taken to the specific content they intended to visit. 

This makes deferred deep links a valuable tool for acquiring new users and ensuring a smooth experience even before they’ve installed your Shopify mobile app. 

Here’s a quick breakdown: 

This distinction is crucial for eCommerce brands aiming to engage both existing and potential customers more effectively. 

How to Create Deep Links in Your Shopify Mobile App Using Appbrew

1. Log into Appbrew – Access your Appbrew dashboard to begin setting up your deep links.

2. Navigate to Deep Link Settings – Go to the “Deep Links” section within your app configuration.

3. Select the Target Destination – Choose where you want the link to lead, such as a specific product, collection, or page in your app.

4. Embed in Push Notifications – Integrate your deep link into a push notification to direct users to their intended destination with a single tap.

5. Set up Campaign Links – For campaigns like abandoned carts, configure the deep link to go directly to the user's cart.

6. Test and Launch – Preview the deep link to ensure it navigates correctly, then save and start using it in your campaigns!

Tip: Use Appbrew’s deep linking to boost user engagement and enhance conversions by directing users to relevant in-app content instantly.

5 Benefits of Using Deep Links for Shopify Mobile Apps 

Deep links offer several advantages for Shopify mobile apps, improving user experience and helping drive conversions. Here’s how they can benefit your eCommerce mobile app: 

1. Streamlined User Experience 

Deep links simplify navigation by taking users directly to the desired page within your app, reducing the steps they need to take. Whether it’s a specific product, sale, or category, customers reach their target faster, which leads to a smoother shopping journey and higher satisfaction. 

2. Increased Retention and Engagement 

By providing a more seamless experience, deep links encourage users to stay engaged with your app. They also help bring users back from external platforms like social media or search engines. Studies have shown that using deep links can significantly increase user engagement over time, helping you retain more customers. 

3. Boost in App Discovery and User Acquisition 

Deferred deep links help attract new users by directing them to download your app first, before taking them to relevant content. Optimized deep links can also enhance your app’s visibility in search results, making it easier for new users to discover your Shopify app. 

4. Higher Conversions 

By shortening the customer journey and reducing friction, deep links help move users closer to making a purchase. Reports show that deep links can boost conversions by up to 66%, making them a key tool for driving revenue. 

5. Valuable Insights 

Deep links also offer valuable data. You can track which links are being clicked, allowing you to optimize marketing campaigns and gain insights into customer behavior for better personalization. 

Also Read: Shopify Mobile App vs Website: Which is Better for Gathering Customer Data?

6 Use Cases of Deep Links for Shopify Brands 

Deep links offer Shopify brands multiple ways to engage with their audience and enhance the user experience. By creating a direct path to specific content within your mobile app, deep links simplify the customer journey, leading to higher engagement and conversions. Let’s explore seven use cases of deep links that Shopify businesses can leverage to maximize results.

1. Email campaigns 

Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach your customers, and deep links can improve the experience. 

Instead of directing users to a general landing page, you can use deep links to send customers straight to specific products or promotions within your Shopify mobile app. This personalized approach shortens the buying process and makes the email content more relevant. 

For example, a fashion retailer running a "Back to School" campaign can include a deep link in the email that takes users directly to the collection of backpacks and school accessories. 

Instead of landing on the homepage and browsing manually, customers are taken to the exact products they're interested in, increasing the likelihood of a purchase. 

You can also segment customers based on their past purchases and create deep links tailored to their preferences, leading them directly to related items or exclusive offers. 

2. Social Media Marketing 

Social media is a crucial channel for Shopify brands, and deep links can enhance your social marketing efforts by providing a seamless transition from platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to your mobile app. 

When users click a link in your post, they are taken directly to the in-app product page or content, reducing friction and making it easier to convert social media traffic into customers. 

How Shopify brands can use deep links in social media: 

• Promote flash sales and exclusive in-app discounts by directing users straight to the deal. 

• Encourage users to explore trending collections by linking directly to specific sections of your app. 

• Use influencer marketing by providing deep links that take users to featured products in collaboration posts. 

By using deep links in social media, you create a smoother customer experience that bridges the gap between discovery and purchase, driving more conversions from your social audience. 

3. App Push Notifications 

Automated app push notifications are a great way to bring users back into your Shopify mobile app, but they’re even more effective when paired with deep links. Instead of a generic notification that leads to the app’s homepage, deep links ensure that users are guided to specific in-app content. 

For example, a beauty brand can send a push notification about a limited-time offer on skincare products. By embedding a deep link in the notification, users who click on it are taken directly to the skincare section, saving them the time and effort of navigating the app. 

This targeted approach not only increases engagement but also boosts conversions, as customers are immediately taken to what they are interested in. 

4. SMS Marketing 

SMS campaigns often have high open rates, making them an ideal channel to pair with deep links. Instead of merely informing customers about sales or promotions, you can use deep links to guide them straight to the offer within your app — or if they don’t have the app yet, make them install it. 

Also Read: 2x your eCommerce App Installs: A 2024 Launch Checklist for Shopify Businesses

Here’s how you can use Shopify mobile app deep linking in SMS marketing: 

• Send exclusive discount codes with a deep link that takes users directly to the discounted product page. 

• Run flash sales and direct customers to the app for a faster, more streamlined checkout. 

• Notify customers about restocks and use deep links to let them immediately access the restocked items in the app. 

Deep linking ensures that your SMS campaigns are actionable, making it easier for users to interact with the content directly.

5. Retargeting Campaigns 

Retargeting campaigns are crucial for bringing back users who showed interest but didn’t complete a purchase. With deep links, these campaigns can be more targeted by sending users back to the specific product or cart they abandoned in the app. 

Here’s how Shopify business can use deep links in retargeting campaigns: 

• Retarget users who viewed a specific product by sending them back to that product page with a deep link. 

• Remind users of items left in their cart by linking directly to the shopping cart within your app. 

• Offer time-limited discounts for cart abandoners and direct them back to the checkout process via a deep link. 

This precision targeting can make your retargeting campaigns more effective and personalized, increasing the chances of conversion.

6. Content Marketing 

When you create content such as blog posts, videos, or guides, deep links can direct readers or viewers to relevant products or services in your Shopify app. 

A blog post on summer fashion trends could include deep links to the featured items in your app, making it easy for readers to transition from inspiration to purchase. 

This use of deep links creates a seamless connection between your content and your app, encouraging users to explore your products while they’re still engaged with your content. 

10 Best Practices for Shopify Mobile App Deep Links 

While deep links are a highly effective tool to enhance the user experience and drive conversions, there are certain best practices you can follow to ensure they deliver the best results. 

Following these deep link best practices will help you increase conversion and retention and get the most out of your deep link strategies: 

1. Ensure Deep Links Work Across All Platforms: Make sure your deep links function seamlessly on both iOS and Android devices. This ensures a consistent experience for all users, regardless of their platform. 

2. Test Deep Links Regularly: Check your deep links frequently to make sure they are working correctly and directing users to the right content within the app. Broken links can frustrate users and lead to drop-offs. 

3. Implement Deferred Deep Links: For new users, use deferred deep links to guide them to specific content even if they don’t have the app installed yet. This ensures that new users have a smooth onboarding experience. 

4. Use Contextual Deep Links: Personalize the user experience by embedding contextual information in the deep link, such as personalized product recommendations based on past behavior. 

5. Optimize Deep Links for SEO: Make sure that your deep links are optimized for search engines by including relevant keywords to increase the chances of discovery. 

6. Create Short, Trackable URLs: Use URL shorteners or custom domains to create concise, trackable deep links. This also allows you to monitor their performance and tweak campaigns as needed. 

7. Use Deep Links in Multiple Channels: Include deep links in various marketing channels—such as email, SMS, social media, and ads—so users can engage with your app from their preferred platforms. 

8. Track Campaign Performance: Use deep link analytics to measure the performance of your campaigns and understand which channels or links drive the most engagement. 

9. Provide a Smooth Transition for New Users: Make sure that deferred deep links offer new users a seamless journey from the app store to the intended content once the app is installed. 

10. Ensure the Destination is Mobile-Optimized: The deep link should lead to mobile-friendly content that enhances the in-app experience, ensuring that users enjoy a smooth and responsive interaction. 

On a Concluding Note… 

Deep links do more than just make navigation easier for your customers—they also ensure you get your attribution right. By tracking the channels that drive the most sales, deep links help you identify which marketing efforts are paying off. This insight allows you to refine your strategy and invest in the channels that deliver the best results, further boosting your Shopify store’s performance. 

When you build your eCommerce app with a Shopify mobile app builder like Appbrew, it comes equipped with all the features you need to not only increase sales but also retain more customers. Appbrew offers an easy-to-set-up deep linking feature, ensuring that every click leads your customers directly to the desired destination, creating a seamless and engaging experience.

To use the Deeplink feature, turn your Shopify store into a mobile app with Appbrew — Book a demo today!