Mobile Marketing Insights

Expert guides, tutorials, and best practices for smart links, deep linking, QR codes, and mobile app growth strategies.

Includes practical playbooks for Instagram Stories, Instagram and TikTok profile links, and paid social app-install campaigns.

Latest Articles

Our most popular and comprehensive guides

Guide
10 min read

Mobile Attribution in 2026: What Still Works After Privacy Sandbox Died

Privacy Sandbox for Android is cancelled, ATT opt-in sits near 14%, and Safari strips click IDs by default. An honest map of the measurement mechanisms that still function in 2026 — and the order in which to rely on them.

mobile attribution
privacy sandbox
att
adattributionkit
first party measurement
2026
Aug 14, 2026
Read more
Data
11 min read

QR Code Statistics 2026: The Numbers That Actually Matter

A sourced roundup of QR code usage, market size, payment volume, and scan behavior in 2026 — every figure with a named source, plus the honest read on what each one means for app teams.

qr code statistics
qr code trends
dynamic qr codes
ctv qr
mobile marketing data
2026
Aug 14, 2026
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Checklist
9 min read

Firebase Dynamic Links, One Year Later: Find the Links That Are Still Returning 404

August 25 marks one year since every FDL link went dark. Most teams fixed the obvious ones in 2025. This is the audit for the surfaces everyone forgets — old emails, printed QR codes, store listings, bios, help docs — and why printed QR codes need more than a new URL.

firebase dynamic links
fdl shutdown
404 audit
migration
dynamic qr codes
smart links
Aug 14, 2026
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All Articles

Browse our complete library of mobile marketing resources

Guide
Aug 14, 2026
10 min read

Mobile Attribution in 2026: What Still Works After Privacy Sandbox Died

Privacy Sandbox for Android is cancelled, ATT opt-in sits near 14%, and Safari strips click IDs by default. An honest map of the measurement mechanisms that still function in 2026 — and the order in which to rely on them.

mobile attribution
privacy sandbox
att
adattributionkit
first party measurement
2026
Read Article
Guide
Aug 14, 2026
10 min read

Beyond Google Play: RuStore, AppGallery, and the New Android Store Map

Android distribution is turning into a portfolio decision. A field guide to the stores that now ship as device defaults, who actually needs each one, and how to keep a single campaign link working across all of it.

rustore
huawei appgallery
alternative app stores
android distribution
emerging markets
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Guide
Aug 14, 2026
11 min read

Deferred Deep Linking Without an SDK: How It Actually Works Under the Hood

You can carry link intent across an app install without embedding an attribution SDK. What actually survives the store boundary on Android and iOS, what breaks, and what each workaround costs in privacy.

deferred deep linking
install referrer
ios
android
attribution
engineering
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Marketing
Aug 14, 2026
10 min read

QR Codes in TV Ads: Why Scan Rates Are Collapsing and How to Beat the Average

QR usage in CTV ads grew 3x in a year while the average scan rate fell 60 percent. Most TV codes are too small, on screen too briefly, and point somewhere not worth going. The playbook for not being average.

ctv advertising
qr codes
tv ads
app installs
dynamic qr
mobile growth
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Marketing
Aug 14, 2026
9 min read

Link in Bio for App Installs: A Creator Playbook That Survives In-App Browsers

Creator campaigns route every install through one fragile surface: a bio link opened inside TikTok or Instagram's in-app browser. A per-creator link system that survives the WebView and produces numbers both sides of the deal can trust.

link in bio
creator marketing
tiktok
instagram
app installs
attribution
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Data
Aug 14, 2026
11 min read

QR Code Statistics 2026: The Numbers That Actually Matter

A sourced roundup of QR code usage, market size, payment volume, and scan behavior in 2026 — every figure with a named source, plus the honest read on what each one means for app teams.

qr code statistics
qr code trends
dynamic qr codes
ctv qr
mobile marketing data
2026
Read Article
Troubleshooting
Aug 14, 2026
10 min read

Android App Links Not Verified: A Five-Minute Diagnosis with adb

Since Android 12, an App Link that fails domain verification opens in the browser instead of your app — silently, and not on every device. The adb checklist that finds the cause fast, including the Play signing key mismatch behind most incidents.

android app links
assetlinks.json
app links verification
adb
deep linking
troubleshooting
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Guide
Aug 14, 2026
11 min read

How to Get Your App Recommended by ChatGPT: GEO for Mobile Apps

People now ask assistants which app to use, and the answers drive installs. How assistants pick apps to recommend, a GEO playbook that matches the evidence, and how to measure AI-referred installs at the click layer.

chatgpt
geo
generative engine optimization
ai recommendations
llm referral traffic
app marketing
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Reference
Aug 14, 2026
8 min read

App Store, Google Play, and AppGallery Link Formats: The Reference

Every canonical, legacy, and scheme URL for the three major app stores — what each form does, where each one dies, and the encoding mistakes that silently eat campaign data. Built to be bookmarked.

app store link
google play link
appgallery
install referrer
url formats
reference
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Checklist
Aug 14, 2026
9 min read

Firebase Dynamic Links, One Year Later: Find the Links That Are Still Returning 404

August 25 marks one year since every FDL link went dark. Most teams fixed the obvious ones in 2025. This is the audit for the surfaces everyone forgets — old emails, printed QR codes, store listings, bios, help docs — and why printed QR codes need more than a new URL.

firebase dynamic links
fdl shutdown
404 audit
migration
dynamic qr codes
smart links
Read Article
Comparison
Aug 13, 2026
9 min read

AppsFlyer’s Free Plan Just Shrank: What Moved to Paid, and What Your Options Are

As of August 13, 2026, deferred deep linking, branded domains, Smart Banners, bulk links, and API access sit outside AppsFlyer's free Zero plan. What changed, what it costs to replace, and a migration path that takes an afternoon.

appsflyer alternative
onelink
smart links
pricing
migration
deep linking
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Guide
Aug 13, 2026
9 min read

One Link for the App Store, Google Play, and Huawei AppGallery

A Google Play link is a dead end on a Huawei phone. Learn how one smart link routes every Android visitor to a store that actually exists on their device.

huawei appgallery
smart links
app store
google play
store routing
emerging markets
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Guide
Aug 13, 2026
10 min read

iOS 26 Link Tracking Protection: Which URL Parameters Survive?

Safari now strips click identifiers like gclid and fbclid from campaign links while UTMs pass through. What that means for app install measurement, and how first-party links keep attribution working.

ios 26
link tracking protection
utm parameters
attribution
privacy
first party measurement
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Marketing
Aug 13, 2026
10 min read

Web-to-App Funnels: Turn the Traffic You Already Have into Installs

Paid install costs climb every quarter while your website hands visitors to nobody. A practical guide to routing web traffic into your app with smart links and scan-to-continue QR codes.

web to app
smart links
qr codes
smart banners
conversion
mobile growth
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Guide
Jul 16, 2026
8 min read

Parameter Forwarding for Deep Links, Universal Links, App Stores, and Web

Learn how to preserve campaign and context parameters across app opens, app-store redirects, Universal Links, and web fallbacks without overwriting destination values.

parameter forwarding
deep linking
universal links
app stores
utm parameters
smart links
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Guide
May 14, 2026
9 min read

Deferred Deep Linking: How It Works and When to Use It

Understand how deferred deep linking carries the original link intent across install so new users land on the right in-app screen, not a generic home tab.

deferred deep linking
install referrer
deep linking
mobile attribution
smart links
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Tutorial
Mar 16, 2026
9 min read

QR Code to App Store and Google Play: Use One Scan for Both

Create one QR code that routes iPhone users to the App Store and Android users to Google Play, with web fallback and analytics.

qr code
app store
google play
smart qr
app install campaigns
Read Article
Marketing
Mar 16, 2026
10 min read

How to Track QR Code App Installs Without Guessing

A practical measurement setup for QR code app install campaigns, including redirects, UTMs, first-open events, and reporting.

qr code analytics
app installs
measurement
attribution
mobile growth
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Guide
Mar 16, 2026
8 min read

Best QR Code Size for Posters, Packaging, and App Campaigns

Choose the right QR code size for posters, packaging, flyers, and retail placements so scans convert into app installs.

qr code size
posters
packaging
offline campaigns
app marketing
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Troubleshooting
Mar 7, 2026
11 min read

Universal Links Open Safari? Fix AASA, App Links, Redirects, and Headers

A practical troubleshooting workflow to fix universal links and app links that open the browser instead of your app.

universal links
app links
aasa
assetlinks
deep link troubleshooting
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Guide
Feb 19, 2026
11 min read

Instagram & TikTok Deep Links for App Installs: Route to App, Store, or Web

Learn how to route Instagram Stories, profile links, and paid ads plus TikTok bio and ad traffic to deeplinks, app stores, or web fallbacks with one smart link.

instagram deep links
tiktok deep links
social media ads
app install campaigns
mobile growth
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Tutorial
Oct 10, 2025
12 min read

Complete Guide to Universal Links for iOS and Android

Everything you need to know about universal links, deep links, and app links. Learn how to implement them and boost your mobile marketing.

universal links
deep linking
ios
android
implementation
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Guide
Oct 8, 2025
8 min read

Deep Linking vs Universal Links: Complete Comparison

Understand the key differences between deep links and universal links, when to use each, and how to implement them effectively.

deep linking
universal links
comparison
mobile apps
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Tutorial
Oct 5, 2025
6 min read

How to Create One Link for App Store and Google Play

Step-by-step guide to creating a single smart link that routes iOS users to the App Store and Android users to Google Play automatically.

smart links
app store
google play
routing
mobile marketing
Read Article
Marketing
Oct 3, 2025
10 min read

QR Code Best Practices for Mobile App Marketing

Learn how to design, implement, and track QR codes for maximum engagement and app installs. Includes design tips and analytics strategies.

qr codes
mobile marketing
campaigns
design
analytics
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Migration
Oct 1, 2025
7 min read

Firebase Dynamic Links Shutdown: Migration Guide to Appy

Firebase Dynamic Links is shutting down. Here's a complete guide to migrating your links to Appy with zero downtime.

firebase
dynamic links
migration
deep linking
Read Article
Comparison
Feb 1, 2025
14 min read

Branch.io vs AppsFlyer OneLink vs Appy: 2025 Deep Linking Comparison

See how Branch.io, AppsFlyer OneLink, and Appy compare across implementation, analytics, pricing, and compliance to choose the right deep linking platform.

deep linking
branch
appsflyer
smart links
mobile marketing
appsflyer alternative
appsflyer onelink alternative
branch alternative
Read Article

Ready to try Appy?

Put these strategies into action with Appy's smart links, QR codes, and analytics platform.