TrueLink - Adjust's deep linking solution

TrueLink is Adjust's comprehensive deep linking solution designed to simplify complex user experiences. TrueLink helps you enhance your marketing reach by driving users to your mobile app through frictionless deep linking. TrueLink covers major platforms and channels, ensuring a seamless experience across user journeys.

Why would you use TrueLink?

If deep linking is not set up correctly, it leads to a poor user experience, resulting in lower engagement and reduced conversions. With TrueLink, you use one link for all your deep linking and user engagement needs.

• Multi-platform linking - TrueLink works seamlessly across iOS and Android apps. Links created using TrueLink fall back to the web or store, as and when needed. TrueLink uses one standardized link format to ensure compatibility across all devices. TrueLink combines multiple linking standards - such as iOS universal links, Android App Links, URI schemes, web URLs - into a single link. This simplifies the complexity of links and allows you to manage and deliver seamless cross-platform experiences.
• Aesthetics and branding - With TrueLink, use your branded domain (brandName.go.link) in your links. You can set up long or short links depending on the use case, and customize your landing pages and social link previews to maintain brand trust at every step of the user journey.
• Successful routing across environments - TrueLink guarantees successful deep link routing across various environments like social media, messaging apps, and the web. With better link coverage, you have more robust, reliable deep links that you can use across multiple channels. With a single link, you can deep link users across the following environments:

What does TrueLink include?

TrueLink includes the following capabilities:

• Cross-platform linking - Send users to the relevant location in the app using direct and deferred deep links. You could also set up alternate redirects or fallbacks based on the device and platform the user is on.
• Branded short links - Create branded short links (brandedDomain.go.link/:shortToken) in Campaign Lab and automatically create a QR code along with the short link. You also have access to the long link URL, if you need it.
• Deep link generator in Campaign Lab - Create individual deep links from network-level links for any platform and ad environment.
• Deep link generator API- Create branded short deep links or long links dynamically via an API, individually or in bulk.

Get started with TrueLink

You can start using TrueLink immediately in Campaign Lab. You get instant access to cross-platform deep linking, deferred deep linking, branded short links, and the Deep link generator in Campaign Lab.

The Deep link generator API is a part of the TrueLink Core or Enterprise package. You can use the Deep link generator API to create branded short deep links or long links dynamically via an API, individually or in bulk. Contact sales@adjust.com for more information.

Set up TrueLink for your app

You need to set up a branded domain (brandedDomain.go.link) to achieve seamless deep linking across platforms. Follow these steps to set up TrueLink for your app.

iOS apps

1. Update to Adjust iOS SDK v5. This is a recommended step to take full advantage of TrueLink's features.
2. Set up the same branded domain for your iOS and Android app.
   • If you previously used Adjust’s universal link domain (xxx.adj.st), this will continue to work after you implement TrueLink. Any users that aren’t using the latest version of your app are redirected from the branded domain (brandedDomain.go.link) to the Adjust universal link domain to open your app. If the link doesn’t open your app as expected, the user is redirected to the app store.
3. Set up universal links in the Adjust SDK.
   1. Add your branded domain as an Associated Domain. If you are already using xxx.adj.st as your universal link domain, do not remove it. Keeping both xxx.adj.st and brandedDomain.go.link as associated domains will simplify the transition for all users.
   2. Enable universal linking in your app. You need to provide the App ID prefix and your app scheme.
   3. Work with your developer to determine the app screens for directing existing users or new users after they install the app.
4. Configure the Adjust iOS SDK to resolve your short links. This is required if you want to use short links.
   • You don’t need to set up LinkMe or Link resolution to use short links.
5. Create your links.
   • Create short custom links in Campaign Lab.
   • You can also use the Deep link Generator in Campaign Lab to create individual long deep links from network-level links for any platform and ad environment.
   • If you have access to the Deep link generator API, you can use it to create branded short links individually or in bulk. You need to be on the TrueLink Base, Core, or Enterprise package to get access to the Deep link generator API. Contact sales@adjust.com for more information.
6. Test your links in the updated version of your app. If you face any issues, reach out to your Adjust representative or contact support@adjust.com.

Transitioning from iOS universal links

If your developer is working on implementing a new app build with the brandedDomain.go.link as an Associated domain for universal links, follow these steps:

Before you publish the updated app version to the store

Continue using the xxx.adj.st links for your campaigns. If you use the brandedDomain.go.link link for an older app build, it functions as an install link, but not as a universal link. This is because the old app version does not have the brandedDomain.go.link domain as an associated domain yet. If you have a way of force-updating app builds, we recommend doing that to shorten the transition period.

• If you want to create universal links after setting up the branded domain for your app, create long links using the branded domain, and then replace go.link with adj.st as the domain. The rest of the parameters in the link will be the same and we recommend that you test the link to make sure it works.

After you publish the updated app version to the store

You can start creating and using branded short links (brandedDomain.go.link) in your campaigns. If users on a previous version of the app select the brandedDomain.go.link link, it redirects to the xxx.adj.st link. This opens the app in most cases, minimizing any disruption for your users.

Android apps

1. Update to Adjust Android SDK v5. This is a recommended step to take full advantage of TrueLink's features.
2. Set up the same branded domain for your iOS and Android app.
3. Set up deep links in the Adjust SDK.
   1. Configure your branded domain as the Android App Link.
   2. Set up Android App Links for your app. You need to provide at least one SHA-256 certificate fingerprint and your app scheme.
   3. Work with your developer to determine the app screens for directing existing users or new users after they install the app.
4. Configure the Adjust Android SDK to resolve your short links. This is required if you want to use short links.
   • You don’t need to set up Link resolution to use short links.
5. Create your links.
   • Create short custom links in Campaign Lab.
   • You can also use the Deep link Generator in Campaign Lab to create individual long deep links from network-level links for any platform and ad environment.
   • If you have access to the Deep link generator API, you can use it to create branded short links individually or in bulk. You need to be on the TrueLink Base, Core, or Enterprise package to get access to the Deep link generator API. Contact sales@adjust.com for more information.
6. Test your links in the updated version of your app. If you face any issues, reach out to your Adjust representative or contact support@adjust.com.

Transitioning from Adjust deep links

1. Continue using the app.adjust.com or adj.st links for your campaigns. You cannot create new deep links until you set up Android App Links.
2. Work with your developer to generate an updated app build with the branded domain (brandedDomain.go.link) as the Android App Link. You can now create and use new deep links in your campaigns.

If users on a previous version of the app select the brandedDomain.go.link link, it redirects to the app.adjust.com or adj.st link. This opens the app in most cases, minimizing any disruption for your users.