Ad group deferred deep links (DDL) allow you to specify at an ad group level the in-app page your users will first find after they install and open your app. Without DDL, your user would view and click on your ad, install your app, and then be taken to the home screen or start page of your app.
With DDL, you can designate a deep link that’s related to the theme, category, or topic of your ad group, and users will be taken there immediately after they click on your ad and install or open your app. To maintain context for the user, the user must install and open the app within 24 hours to be taken to the deep link within the app.
This article gives an overview of how to set up and edit ad group deferred deep links.
Instructions
How to set up ad group deferred deep links
To set up ad group deferred deep links, follow these steps:
Steps to set up ad group deferred deep links
1. Implement deep links through custom schema or Android App Links
We only support custom schema and Android App Links with DDL. Links like 3P deep links or “smart links” aren’t supported. Learn more about deep links
If an unsupported deep link type is submitted, an error screen will surface:
Test your deep link using the deep link validator.
2. Enable deferred deep links in your app measurement SDK (either Google Analytics for Firebase or a supported App Attribution Partner (AAP))
Learn how to enable deferred deep linking in your measurement SDK
3. Add deferred deep links to the relevant ad group
- Sign in to your Google Ads account.
- Follow the instructions found in Create an App campaign until step 13.
- When setting up ad assets, in the “app URL” field (under “Advanced Options”), specify the URL of the app specific page to direct users to after app installation.
How to edit ad group deferred deep links
- In your Google Ads account, click the Campaigns icon
.
- Click the Campaigns drop down in the section menu.
- Click Ad groups.
- Click on the Ad group you want to edit.
- Click the edit icon
and update the URL in the “app URL” field under “Advanced Options”.
- Click Save.
and update the URL in the “app URL” field under “Advanced Options”.Reporting for ad group deferred deep links
Reporting for ad group deferred deep links are available as part of asset reporting. The deferred deep link will be listed as an asset where you’ll be able to find impressions, clicks, and others associated with the deep link. Performance stats are associated with the app install and not the deferred deep link open. For example, if the user doesn’t open the app within 24 hours of clicking the ad, they’ll be taken to the generic home page.
