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Deep Links for Ads: precise routing with UTM & post-install payload

Turn ad clicks into high-intent app sessions. SDDL preserves UTM parameters and delivers payload to your iOS/Android app on first launch, so users land on the right screen—even if they install the app after the click. Use SDK or a pure REST flow.

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Overview

Advertising deep links help you route each paid click to the most relevant in-app destination and keep the campaign context across app install. With SDDL you can use your verified custom domain or an SDDL subdomain for Universal Links (iOS) and App Links (Android), capture UTM parameters at click time, and deliver a post-install payload to your app when it launches for the first time. You can integrate through lightweight SDKs or consume a REST endpoint only.

Why deep links for ads

  • Higher conversion: send users directly to a relevant screen (promo, onboarding step, paywall, PDP/collection).
  • UTM preservation: keep utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, utm_content for your attribution and reporting.
  • Deferred delivery: context survives the store jump; payload is available on first app launch.
  • Flexibility: use SDK or a simple REST request; no heavy tracking SDKs required.
  • Control: optional intermediate page, custom domain, and webhook events for your backend.

How the flow works

  1. A user clicks your SDDL link in an ad (any traffic source that supports standard links and UTM parameters).
  2. SDDL records the click, saves UTM and optional link metadata (e.g., {"promo":"WELCOME10"}), and routes the user to the App Store or Google Play if the app isn’t installed.
  3. On first app launch, your app asks SDDL for the payload and opens the correct screen based on those parameters.
  4. Analytics aggregate clicks and top referrers; optional webhooks can notify your backend about events.

For reliability with ad platforms and in-app browsers, you can enable an intermediate page before the store. This helps ensure the intent is saved and reduces the impact of prefetch/preview bots.

Setup (iOS & Android)

Configure Universal Links and App Links once in SDDL and in your app. SDDL can host apple-app-site-association and assetlinks.json based on your settings—no extra hosting required. Use a trusted domain for ads: your verified custom domain or {YOUR_ID}.sddl.me.

Integration options: SDK or REST

SDDL supports two integration styles so you can choose what fits your stack and release cadence.

  • SDK: the simplest way to handle runtime links and cold-start. Official SDKs are available for iOS, Android, and Flutter.
  • REST only: extract the {key} from your SDDL link and request the payload from the API. If the key isn’t present at launch, resolve via the fallback endpoint.
API reference • Deferred deep links guide

Best practices for ad traffic

  • Use a verified domain: a custom domain often improves deliverability and trust in ad platforms.
  • Keep UTM clean: pass utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, and utm_content consistently for reporting.
  • Enable the intermediate page when needed: helps guard against preview bots and preserves context before the store.
  • Limit redirects: avoid extra hops in your ad URL so Universal/App Links can validate correctly.
  • Test in in-app browsers: verify the flow from major ad placements and devices using our QA checklist.

Analytics & Webhooks

SDDL provides per-link click analytics (countries, referrers, device breakdown, trends) and captures UTM parameters for attribution in your BI. If your workflow needs server-side processing, subscribe to webhook events and reconcile conversions in your backend. SDDL is not an MMP; it focuses on reliable deep linking, payload delivery, and first-party analytics around your links.

FAQ

Will this work with major ad platforms?

Yes. SDDL links work with traffic sources that allow standard URLs and UTM parameters. Use a verified domain and consider an intermediate page to improve reliability in in-app browsers.

Do I need to add an SDK?

No. You can integrate through REST only. SDKs simplify cold-start and runtime handling if you prefer less custom code.

Can I pass promo codes or custom fields?

Yes. Store any fields you need (e.g., promo, screen, product_id) in link metadata and apply them when the app launches.

Does SDDL replace an MMP?

No. SDDL focuses on deep linking and payload delivery. You can use our analytics and webhooks alongside your existing measurement stack.

Create an Ads Deep Link Read API Docs

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