Google’s Link Shortcut Service Supports App Deep Linking

Google announces that goo.gl supports now deep linking into apps.

Google’s link shortcut service goo.gl now links to content in Android app, iOS app, besides websites. This works when App Indexing for Android and iOS is configured. Clicking a goo.gl URL will send users straight to pages in an app if they have it installed, and everyone else to your website. This will provide additional opportunities for an app to re-engage users. 

This feature works for both new short URLs and retroactively, so any existing goo.gl short links to your content will now also direct users to your app.

Google explains what this new feature can do with Google Maps. With the new cross-platform goo.gl links, the Maps share button generates one link that provides the best possible sharing experience for everyone. When opened, the link auto-detects the user’s platform and if they have Maps installed. If the user has the app installed, the short link opens the content directly in the Android or iOS Maps app. If the user doesn’t have the app installed or is on desktop, the short link opens the page on the Maps website.

To set up app deep linking on goo.gl:

1) Complete the necessary steps to participate in App Indexing for Android and iOS at g.co/AppIndexing. Note that goo.gl deep links are open to all iOS developers, unlike deep links from Search currently. After this step, existing goo.gl short links will start deep linking to your app.

2) Optionally integrate the URL Shortener API with your app’s share flow, your email campaigns, etc. to programmatically generate links that will deep link directly back to your app.

Google also announced to bring App Indexing to iOS apps as well. This means users on both Android and iOS will be able to open mobile app content straight from Google Search.