Tracking links are triggered when a user views or clicks on one of your ads. They notify your attribution provider (MMP) of the view or click so the attribution provider can track mobile app installs and re-engagements.
Singular Links are an advanced tracking link solution that provides a friendly UI for creating and managing tracking links. You can choose the link behavior, attribution settings, and additional information to include in the link. Singular Links also automatically leverage iOS Universal Links and Android intent technology to create deep links whenever possible.
Troubleshooting
Some partners do not support retargeting/re-engagement campaigns.
If a partner does support these campaigns, but the option is not available in Singular's Create Link/Edit Link page, contact Singular's support team so we can update the integration.
» Learn more about re-engagement in the Re-engagement FAQ.
Check if the link already exists. You cannot create a tracking link with the same source, tracking link name, and configured app site(s) as an already existing link.
FAQ
Tracking Link Terms and Concepts
When a user views or clicks on one of your ads, they activate a link that notifies your attribution provider of the view or click. The attribution provider uses this information to track mobile app installs and re-engagements. The link can include other information, which will eventually be displayed in your reports.
» For more context about how tracking links enable attribution, see Understanding Singular Mobile App Attribution.
Singular Links are Singular's tracking link solution, which lets you create and manage tracking links through a UI that walks you through all the available options for link behavior, attribution settings, and additional information to include in the link.
Singular Links automatically leverage iOS Universal Links and Android intent technology to create deep links whenever possible (see the Prerequisites).
Here is an example of a Singular Link. You can try it out on your iOS or Android device:
https://singularassist.sng.link/A59c0/nha7?_dl=singularassist%3A%2F%2F
Note on legacy tracking links: In the documentation, we use the terms "Singular Links" and "tracking links" interchangeably. Your account may still have access to Singular's legacy tracking link solution. To avoid confusion, these are referred to as "legacy tracking links."
Deep links are links that not only open the app on the user's device (if the user already has the app installed) but also show specific app content or a specific user experience instead of just opening the app's default screen.
» Learn more in our Deep Linking FAQ.
When a user clicks a regular link on the web, such as www.linkedin.com, the browser asks the URL's server (in this case, LinkedIn) what it should do, and in return, the URL's server gives the browser some HTML to display to the user.
When a user clicks a tracking link, the link provider's server tells the user's browser to go to a different URL instead (the redirect URL) and to serve the content from that URL. The redirection is usually performed via HTTP 302.
In the context of deep linking, a fallback redirect is a redirect destination that you want to take the user to if the deep link fails.
Typically, if a user clicks an ad for your app, you want the deep link to send them into a specific screen inside the app. But if the user doesn't already have the app installed, you want to redirect the user to the app store instead to download your app.
Supported Features by Partner
Deep linking support varies by partner. Some partners even require deep links for re-engagement campaigns since these campaigns target known existing users who already have the app.
» Learn more in our Deep Linking FAQ.
Self-Attributing Network (SAN) Partners
Self-attributing partners such as Facebook and Google Ads do not support tracking links for mobile app campaigns. To configure deep links with these partners, you need to use the partner's dashboard, and you may have to configure your app according to the partner's instructions.
Learn more about deep linking with the following self-attributing partners:
For more information, we recommend reaching out to your partner contact.
Non-Self-Attributing Partners
Some partners in this category do not use MMP tracking links for redirects or deep links. Instead, Singular receives the click notification asynchronously. These partners are also known as server-to-server or asynchronously integrated partners, and deep links can generally be configured in the partner campaign dashboard.
For non-self-attributing partners that support tracking link redirects for mobile app campaigns, Singular Links may be used to deliver the deep link experience when engaging users who already have your app installed.
We recommend adding deferred deep links when a campaign is using deep links.
Note that just like with deep links, deferred deep links setup differs between self-attributing and non-self-attributing partners.
Self-Attributing Partners
Self-attributing partners such as Facebook and Google Ads do not support tracking links for mobile app campaigns. Therefore, deep linking and deferred deep linking are configured in the partner's dashboard and may require partner-specific app handling requirements. Deferred deep linking with self-attributing networks is built into the MMP integration itself with partners that support deferred deep linking in the integration.
Singular supports deferred deep linking with:
- Facebook (read more). To enable deferred deep linking through Singular, contact your Singular Customer Success Manager. Make sure the equivalent functionality is not enabled in the Facebook SDK.
- Snapchat: Automatically enabled with an activated Partner Configuration.
- Google Ads: Automatically enabled with an activated Partner Configuration.
Reach out to your Singular customer success manager to inquire about deferred deep linking possibilities for more self-attributing networks in the works.
Non-Self-Attributing Partners
Deferred deep linking with any non-self-attributing partner can be enabled and used with any of these partners simply by configuring the deferred deep link value for the Singular Link. Unlike deep links, deferred deep linking is not dependent on partner redirects and is a feature enabled via your integrations with Singular's SDK (or S2S API).
Creating Singular Links
Singular tracking links have the following structure, where [SUBDOMAIN] is chosen by you, and [DNS_ZONE] is usually "sng.link" (although some customers prefer to use their own DNS zone). Together, the subdomain and the DNS zone make up the domain.
You can create a single domain and use it for all your links, or you can create several to use for different purposes. You have to create at least one domain.
Example:
For a campaign that markets an app called Jewel Rush, you can create the domain "jewelrush.sng.link". Then you can use it to create tracking links with the following structure:
https://jewelrush.sng.link/[PARAMETERS]
Partners are ad networks and other services that are integrated with Singular's attribution tracker.
When you create a Partner link, Singular automates some of the process by:
- Displaying only the options that are supported by that partner. For example, some partners support only iOS or only Android.
- Generating the tracking link with partner macros that allow the partner to pass campaign information to Singular.
Custom Sources are self-owned or self-managed marketing channels such as email or SMS campaigns, social media, and cross-promotion campaigns.
Note: If you are working with an email service provider, create a Partner tracking link. If you manage your own email campaigns, create a Custom tracking link.
Self-Attributing Networks such as Facebook and Twitter do not use Singular tracking links. To configure them, see the instructions in:
- Facebook Ads Attribution Integration
- Google Ads (AdWords) Attribution Integration
- Twitter Ads Attribution Integration
- Or find the SAN's guide in the Partner Integrations in Detail section.
This is just a name you give your tracking link, and it can be whatever you want (although most users use the campaign name or a variation of the campaign name).
The Tracking Link Name will appear in your reports as "Tracker Name."
You can sometimes - depending on the partner.
- Some partners support only iOS or only Android.
- Others support both platforms but require you to create a separate link for each.
- Finally, some partners allow you to create multi-platform links, where you create one tracking link for use with both platforms.
The Create Link page displays the options that are supported by the partner you have selected.
Note: To make your link available for a certain platform, you first have to set up your app for that platform (add an app site) in Singular's Apps Configuration page.
Re-engagement is the renewed use of a product by a user who has already been converted in the past. Campaigns that aim to create re-engagement are called retargeting campaigns.
To have Singular track re-engagement, you just need to enable re-engagement tracking when you create the Singular Link(s) used in the campaign. Expand the Attribution Settings section and select Enable Re-engagement Tracking.
» Learn more in the Re-engagement FAQ.
Note: Not all partners support this type of marketing campaign.
Deterministic clicks/views are attributed to a source based on a device identifier or Google Install Referrer.
Probabilistic clicks/views are attributed based on a combination of various properties that Singular gathers about the user's device in the absence of a device ID. Probabilistic attribution methods are only available for Android devices. Apple prohibits the use of probabilistic methods on iOS devices.
» For more information, see Singular Attribution Methods.
By default, tracking links use the default lookback window configured for the partner in the Partner Configuration page. However, you can override the default lookback window and customize it for each individual link by selecting Override attribution windows under Attribution Settings.
This allows greater control for partners with different types of channels that can benefit from varying attribution windows.
» See The Attribution Lookback Window for more information.
Note: Link shortening is available for custom links only.
After you click Generate and see the tracking link URL, you can select Shorten Link to create a shorter version of the same link. This is useful for custom channels where the URL is exposed to the end-user, or for channels with restrictions on the length of the URL, such as SMS.
Tip: Shortened links can also be used to update live campaigns without swapping out the tracking link.
For example, you may use a banner or landing page to track a regularly changing promotional offer. If you use a full-length Singular tracking link, you have to swap out the link whenever you want to change the promo details. If you use a shortened link instead, you can update the promo details from the Singular Link Management page (by changing the link parameters).
Link Structure and Parameters
This is an example of a Singular Link generated in the Create Link page:
https://nike.sng.link/C59c0/47bm?_dl=singular%3A%2F%2Ftestlink&idfa={idfa}&aifa={aifa}&pcn={campaign_name}&pcid={campaign_id}&pcrn={creative_name}&pcrid={creative_id}
The components of the link are:
Component | Example | Description |
Subdomain | nike | The customizable subdomain of the tracking link. |
Domain | sng.link | The domain of the tracking link. |
App ID (Path) | C59c0 | A Singular-generated ID representing the app. Used in conjunction with the Link ID to uniquely identify the tracking link. |
Link ID (Path) | 47bm | A Singular-generated ID representing the link information encoded in the tracking link. Used in conjunction with the App ID to uniquely identify the tracking link. |
Query Parameters | _dl=singular%3A%2F%2Ftestlink &idfa={idfa}&aifa={aifa} &pcn={campaign_name} &pcid={campaign_id} &pcrn={creative_name} &pcrid={creative_id} |
Optional parameters that add functionality and reporting granularity to the tracking link. |
See Tracking Link Parameters and Report Dimensions for the full list of query parameters.
Viewing, Editing, and Archiving Links
Starred apps are pinned to the top of the list in the Link Management page. This setting is customizable per user and saved for your next logins.
This means that if your organization has a large number of apps, you don't have to scroll through the whole list every time you want to create or manage Singular Links - you can quickly access the specific app(s) that you are working with.
The changes take effect as soon as you click Save in the Edit Tracking Link page.
If the link is already active in campaigns, any past clicks, impressions, and attributions belonging to these campaigns are not affected.
Note: We do not recommend editing live tracking links. The editing functionality is provided for adjusting settings or correcting mistakes in the campaign preparation stage. Editing a link after it's live may have unintended effects on attribution.
When you archive a tracking link, that link is hidden from your tracking link dashboard. The purpose is to declutter your dashboard by hiding old links that belong to past campaigns.
Archiving does not deactivate a link. If you archive a link that is still being used in a live campaign, the link will still redirect and attribute users.
Note: Archiving is not reversible!
To search and filter your link list, use the search bar at the top left of the Manage Links page.
Just type in a tracking link URL (or a part of it), a link name, a source name, etc. The links that match your string will appear on the right under Available Links.
Advanced Usage
You can make the link do even more work by adding data to it dynamically as you display your ads. This data can then be read and used by your app if a user engages with one of the ads and then arrives into your app. To add dynamic data, append the _p parameter and any value to the end of your Singular Link. _p stands for "passthrough," and you can give it a URL-encoded JSON value or an unstructured string value.
When you display the ad, the specific pair of shoes shown has a product ID, e.g., "Shoes123". You append the product ID to your Singular Link using the "_p" parameter. The result: https://myshoppingapp.sng.link/A59c0/nha7?_p=Shoes123
Whenever a user engages with that banner and then installs and opens the app, your app can read the product ID using the Singular SDK. Your app team can use this information to personalize the user's first app experience.
JSON example: You can build a JSON object as follows:
{
“productid”:”Shoes123”,
“qty”:1
}
Then you URL encode it and append it to the _p parameter in your Singular tracking link:
https://myshoppingapp.sng.link/A59c0/nha7?_p=%7B%22productid%22%3A%22Shoes123%22%2C%22qty%22%3A1%7D
If you decide that a landing page is right for your campaign, and your campaign depends on a mobile attribution provider for tracking, first consider the following:
- Make sure there is a way for the user to convert to the app from the landing page.
- Consider the media channel you're working with. Integrated partners may support different methods to execute a landing page.
Then, decide which touchpoint you would like to attribute the install to.
- Tracking the click that takes the user to the landing page: In this case, just use the Singular Link you generate in the Link Management page as usual and define the landing page as your Mobile Fallback URL.
- Tracking the click that the user engages with within the landing page: If you choose this option, embed the Singular Link is in your landing page. Ensure the link from the ad to the landing page passes any necessary tracking values through to the landing page.
You can use Singular Links to track your marketing efforts in self-owned channels such as social media or SMS. However, deep linking only works in some channels with some technologies.
We've compiled a list of known and common redirect limitations:
Android | iOS | |||
Fallback to Google Play Store | Deep Link | Fallback to App Store | Deep Link | |
Facebook Feed | Yes | Landing Page Required | Yes | Landing Page Required |
Facebook Messenger | Yes | Landing Page Required | Yes | Landing Page Required |
YouTube | Yes | Landing Page Required | Yes | Landing Page Required |
Gmail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Yes | No | No | Landing Page Required | |
LINE | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Mail (iOS) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Messages (iOS) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
No | No | No | No | |
Slack | Yes | Landing Page Required | Yes | Landing Page Required |
Yes | Landing Page Required | Yes | Landing Page Required | |
Yes | No | No | No | |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
When you use Singular Links in custom sources, you can add dimension information to get that added granularity in your reports. For example, if you pass the campaign name in your tracking link, you will get campaign-level granularity in your report.
To pass the information, add it as a parameter to the link when you serve it. See the full list of tracking link reporting parameters supported by Singular. For example, the following link records the Campaign Name dimension as "CoolShoes123":
https://singularassist.sng.link/A59c0/u53f?_dl=singularassist%3A%2F%2F&_p=%7B%22productid%22%3A%22Shoes123%22%7D&pcn=CoolShoes123
You can override link redirects dynamically by adding _dl, _ddl, or other redirecting parameters to your Singular Link (see full table below). This can be useful, for example, if you're serving a dynamic deep link based on some input from the user, or in the context of the user engagement.
You want to use that same link, but deep link to myapp://registration in some cases. To achieve that, update the _dl= to the new value and use the same link: https://myshoppingapp.sng.link/A59c0/nha7?_dl=myapp%3A%2F%2Fregistration.
The following query parameters can be appended or modified as needed. Remember to URL-encode the value when appending it to a parameter.
Parameter | Description |
_dl | Deep link for all mobile platforms. Note: Overriding/using this query parameter is only possible if the original link was enabled with deep linking. |
_ddl | Deferred deep link for all mobile platforms. Note: _ddl can be enable deferred deep linking even if not enabled via the UI during creation. |
_fallback_redirect | The fallback redirect for all platforms (web + any other platform). |
_android_dl | Deep link for Android. This is typically used if your deep link URL on Android is different from your iOS app. |
_android_redirect | Redirect URL if the app is not installed on Android. This is typically the app store URL. |
_android_ddl | Deferred deep link for Android. This is typically used if your deep link URL on Android is different from your iOS app. Note: _android_ddl can be enable deferred deep linking even if not enabled via the UI during creation. |
_ios_dl | Deep link for iOS. This is typically used if your deep link URL on iOS is different from your Android app. Note: Overriding/using this query parameter is only possible if the original link was enabled with iOS deep linking. |
_ios_redirect | Redirect URL if the app is not installed on iOS. This is typically the app store URL. |
_ios_ddl | Deferred deep link for iOS. This is typically used if your deep link URL on iOS is different from your Android app. Note: _ios_ddl can be enable deferred deep linking even if not enabled via the UI during creation. |
_force_redirect=1 |
In cases where iOS Universal Links may not deep link, appending &_force_redirect=1 (or &_force_redirect=true) will enable the Singular Link to use app scheme-based deep linking to force the deep link to the end-user. This is most commonly used to enable deep linking with partners, as link wrapping will break Universal Links. Prerequisites: an iOS app scheme has been configured for your app and the configured deep link value (_dl, _ios_dl) is using that app scheme. A brief message or warning may be shown to the end-user, depending on the user's default browser. |
Singular Links will automatically forward any utm_* or referrer parameters that are included in the link. This includes the singular_click_ID that is a part of the referrer parameter value. (Additional referrer= values appended to a Singular Link will be appended to the referrer next to the singular_click_ID.)
Appending &_forward_params=1 (or &_forward_params=true) to a Singular Link will forward all appended parameters for explicit parameter forwarding.
Examples:
Apple's URLs for custom product pages (see Apple's documentation for this new feature) have an additional parameter denoting the product page ID. For example:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/testflight/id899247664?ppid=76659d7a-d146-43d3-b6b8-b7a12f74bf6b
To use custom product pages in Singular Links, when you create the link, just set the iOS redirect to the desired product page instead of the default app store page. For example:
Alternatively, use the override parameter _ios_redirect. For example:
_ios_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fapps.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Ftestflight%2Fid899247664%3Fppid%3D76659d7a-d146-43d3-b6b8-b7a12f74bf6b
To customize reporting on installs conversions for a custom product page, use any of the available link campaign granularity parameters.
A QR code is automatically generated and displayed when you create Custom source links. QR is supported for both long and short links. You can download the QR code to use in various non-mobile-to-mobile campaigns, such as desktop-to-app or billboard-to-app.
Since Partner links contain macros that are populated dynamically by the partner network, they do not support QR codes. QR codes are generated automatically when you create a Custom source link.