Web-to-App Forwarding

Overview

Web-to-App Forwarding bridges the gap between your mobile website and mobile app by preserving campaign attribution data when users transition from web to app. Instead of losing valuable marketing information about how users discovered your app, this feature automatically transfers UTM parameters or Singular WP parameters from web campaigns into your website button or link to get or open your mobile app.

When implemented, Web-to-App Forwarding enriches your mobile app attribution reports with the original web campaign source, helping you understand the complete user journey from initial web discovery to app install or re-engagement.

Before and After

Before Web-to-App Forwarding:

All mobile installs from your website are grouped under a generic "Mobile Web to App" source, hiding the actual campaign performance.

After Web-to-App Forwarding:

Mobile installs now show the actual web campaigns that drove users to your website (e.g., "Adwords", "Some_source"), providing actionable attribution insights.

Prerequisites

1. A mobile app integrated with the Singular SDK. NOTE: Deep link support must be configured to support re-engagement on web-to-app flows.

2. Singular Web SDK version 1.0.8 or higher integrated on your mobile website either using the Native JS or Google Tag Manager approach.
3. Singular campaign parameters applyed to your Web Campaign destination URLs.
4. A Singular Link configured as a Web-to-App baselink for your Mobile App.

   Important: Contact your Customer Success Manager to obtain your Web-to-App baselink.

Implementation Methods

The implementation method is based on how the Singular WebSDK was implemented on your site.

// Basic usage - redirect to app with web parameters
singularSdk.openApp("https://mydomain.sng.link/Buour/55cx");

// With deep link to specific content
singularSdk.openApp(
  "https://mydomain.sng.link/Auour/55ba", 
  "product/12345",
  null,
  "product/12345"
);

// Build link and assign to button
const webToAppLink = singularSdk.buildWebToAppLink(
  "https://mydomain.sng.link/Buour/55cx"
);

document.getElementById("download-btn").href = webToAppLink;

// Or redirect programmatically
window.location.href = webToAppLink;

<script>
(function() {
  // Replace with your Web-to-App baselink
  var baseLink = "https://mydomain.sng.link/Auour/55ba";
  
  // Extract optional parameters from URL
  var urlParams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
  var deeplink = urlParams.has('_dl') ? decodeURIComponent(urlParams.get('_dl')) : '';
  var deferredDeepLink = urlParams.has('_ddl') ? decodeURIComponent(urlParams.get('_ddl')) : '';
  var passthrough = '';

  function replaceSngLinks() {
    if (window.singularSdk && typeof window.singularSdk.buildWebToAppLink === 'function') {
      var webToAppLink = window.singularSdk.buildWebToAppLink(
        baseLink,
        deeplink,
        passthrough,
        deferredDeepLink
      );

      if (webToAppLink) {
        // Update all Singular Links on the page
        var links = document.querySelectorAll('a[href*="sng.link"]');
        links.forEach(function(link) {
          link.href = webToAppLink;
        });
      }
    }
  }

  // Run immediately and after 1 second (for dynamically loaded content)
  replaceSngLinks();
  setTimeout(replaceSngLinks, 1000);
})();
</script>

<script>
(function() {
  if (window.singularSdk && typeof window.singularSdk.openApp === 'function') {
    var baseLink = "https://mydomain.sng.link/Auour/55ba";
    var deeplink = '';
    var passthrough = '';
    var deferredDeepLink = '';
    
    singularSdk.openApp(baseLink, deeplink, passthrough, deferredDeepLink);
  }
})();
</script>

Enhance Mobile Web-to-App Attribution accuracy with this tip:

Parameter Priority and Mapping

Parameter Capture Priority

The Web SDK automatically captures parameters from your page URL in this priority order:

1. Singular WP parameters (highest priority) - Custom parameters prefixed with wp_
2. UTM parameters - Standard marketing parameters like utm_source, utm_campaign

UTM to Singular Dimension Mapping

UTM parameters from your web campaigns are automatically mapped to Singular reporting dimensions:

Reporting

After implementation, mobile app installs and re-engagements originating from your website will appear in Singular reports with:

• Tracker Name: "Mobile Web to App"
• Link Type: "Mobile Web to App" (new dimension)
• Source/Campaign/Creative: Original web campaign parameters (if UTM parameters were present)

This allows you to measure the true ROI of web campaigns that drive mobile app growth, not just immediate web conversions.

Troubleshooting

Links aren't being updated

• Verify the Singular Web SDK is loaded before your Web-to-App code executes
• Check browser console for JavaScript errors
• Confirm your baselink is correctly formatted (should include sng.link)

Web parameters aren't appearing in reports

• Ensure your website URL contains UTM parameters or Singular WP parameters
• Verify the Web SDK version is 1.0.8 or higher
• Check that the _web_params query string is present in the generated link

Need additional help?

Contact your Singular Customer Success Manager for implementation assistance and baselink provisioning.