Why Deeplinks Are Essential for Improving User Experience on Mobile

Today, more than 70% of online browsing is done on smartphones. Users expect a smooth and immediate experience. However, too often, they have to go through several screens or menus before reaching what they're looking for. Each additional click increases the risk of frustration—and therefore abandonment. This is where deeplinks come into play: a simple yet powerful tool to reduce friction and make the mobile experience much more intuitive.

What is a deeplink?

A deeplink (or deep link) is a link that directs the user not to the home page of an application, but directly to specific content.

Concrete examples:

• In an e-commerce application: opening directly to a promotional product page.
• In a streaming application: immediately accessing a video or playlist.
• In a delivery app: going directly to the order tracking page.

In short, a deeplink allows you to skip unnecessary steps and guide the user exactly where they want to go.

The friction of a user journey without deeplinks

Without deeplinks, a typical journey often looks like this:

1. Open the application
2. Home → search
3. Category selection
4. Product/content selection
5. Final page

Each step is a potential barrier:

• Complex navigation → risk that the user abandons the process.
• Time wasted → loss of satisfaction.
• Lack of fluidity → impression of an "old-fashioned" experience.

How deeplinks improve user experience

With a deeplink, everything changes:

• Direct access to content → the user immediately arrives at the desired page.
• Smooth navigation → fewer clicks, less effort.
• Trust and satisfaction → a fast experience inspires professionalism and builds user loyalty.

Result: more engagement, more conversions, fewer uninstalls.

Examples of applications that leverage deeplinks

• E-commerce (Amazon, Jumia, Shopify Apps): a click on an ad or email opens the product directly in the app.
• Streaming (Netflix, Spotify, YouTube): users access the recommended video, album, or series directly.
• Food delivery (Uber Eats, Glovo, Bolt Food): promotions or order tracking redirect instantly to the right screen.

These major players understand that every second gained means more retention and revenue.

Conclusion

Deeplinks are not just a "technical detail." They are at the heart of the modern mobile experience. By reducing friction, they help increase satisfaction, loyalty, and conversions.