Firebase Dynamic Links is shutting down. Here’s the deep linking solution you need

Google’s Firebase Dynamic Links solution is shutting down on August 25. That means likely thousands of mobile app developers need new tools and methods of running deep links and deferred deep links to ensure clean, simple, and contextualized onboarding journeys for mobile app users.

The good news is that Singular has you covered with a mature and complete implementation of deep links — and yes, there’s a free tier to Singular’s services too.

Firebase Dynamic Links: sayonara

Google launched Firebase Dynamic Links 7 years ago to enable deep linking across platforms, especially the web and mobile. Like most deep links solutions, they update in real time depending on context, dynamically linking either to an app listing page in Google Play or the App Store, or to specific in-app content as a deferred deep link.

And, of course, they integrate with Firebase Analytics.

You could use Firebase Dynamic Links in ads, on the web, in emails, on social media, or via SMS. Shorten them and you could theoretically use them on a billboard by the freeway.

So essentially they were super-useful as a single link for anywhere and everywhere: UA, referrals, marketing campaigns, content sharing … you name it. Google’s suggested switch is to Android App Links for Android apps and iOS Universal Links for iOS apps, or Google Play Instant and iOS App Clips for quick pre-download-and-install app experiences.

We think there’s a better option. 

And in fact it’s an upgrade.

Upgrade Firebase Dynamic Links to Singular deep linking

Singular deep linking offers everything you need in a deep linking and deferred deep linking solution.

Singular deep links allow you to create 1 link and use it everywhere:

• Paid campaigns
• Email
• SMS
• Push notifications
• Web2app
• Social media
• Referrals
• QR codes

That QR code is generated for you automatically when you create Custom source links, by the way, which means you can use QR codes for desktop to phone or billboard to phone or TV to phone campaigns, if you wish. (Interestingly, even if unused, the presence of a QR code in a video ad tends to increase engagement and conversions.)

With a Singular deep links, you get multiple advantages:

• No need for separate set up for iOS and Android
• Always works, everywhere
• Users get to the right place in the right app, whether it’s already installed or not 

So yes: deferred deep links is an integral part of the solution.

“You can finish creating a link and campaign in seconds versus the 7-10 minutes per link it took previously. You can create all the marketing assets you need quickly and then go and do your day job,” says Josh Nadler, Senior Product Manager, Marketing Platform, DraftKings.

Plus, because they are Singular deep links, all the insights and data available via the click and eventual install process is collected, analyzed, measured, and presented in your analytics dashboard or your BI via Singular ETL. 

Singular’s unparalleled analytics mean you get everything you need in 1 single place:

• Click data
• Cost data
• Conversion data
• Revenue data 

All of that is combined, unlocking insights on best channels, best partners, best creative, best offers, and best campaigns.

And yes, you get branded subdomains to maintain a unified customer experience, plus shortlinks that keep things clean and manageable.

In short, Singular’s deep links are powerful, simple, and far more capable than Firebase Dynamic Links.

Plus .. Singular deep links API

A friendly interface with an easy way to create deep links is par for the course, but Singular also offers an API for those who want to either create links at scale, or programmatically when needed, or both. The Firebase Dynamic Links API will, of course, be shut down this summer along with the rest of the Dynamic Links service.

The Singular deep links API allows you to create custom and unique links for any requirement with flexible configurations and attribution settings, including attribution windows, plus custom parameters.

Customers love Singular deep links

There’s a reason why Singular is the top-ranked MMP on G2: clients love our tools, including Singular deep links. 

Here’s just a few examples:

• DraftKings (see full case study here)
  DraftKings uses Singular deep links and deferred deep links, customizing them and mapping custom Draft Kings field to Singular web parameters and UTMs. DraftKings also uses Singular’s deep links for promo codes, QR codes — including branded QR codes — and shortlinks.
• Offerwise (see full case study here)
  Offerwise uses Singular deep links to track the full user journey via both our mobile and web SDKs, and links on both paid campaigns and owned channels, including social.
• Kakao Games (see full case study here)
  Kakao Games needs full cross-platform measurement across web, mobile, PC, and console, and deep links are a big enabler. But it’s the customer service and user experience that matters most, and Kakao creates excellent cross-platform user experiences with Singular’s linking and deep linking capabilities.

 

Getting ready to migrate from Firebase Dynamic Links

Migrations suck, but you can get started for free with Singular if you’re not already a customer. The free tier at Singular does include deep linking and deferred deep linking, so you’ll be able to play around with the tools as you wish.

If you’re already a customer, you can of course just start moving your links over. Talk to your customer success manager for any tips you might want.

Or if you’d prefer to just get a demo first, we can do that too.

Firebase Dynamic Links may be going away, but Singular deep links are here to stay.