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Creating and Editing SmartLinks™

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This feature is available only with paid Kochava accounts. Contact us to learn more.

The following document defines the process for creating and editing App Groups and SmartLinks™ within Kochava. SmartLinks™ are URLs that send users to predefined destinations based on device platform, OS (Operating System) version, location, and a variety of other defined targeting criteria. Additionally, with the creation of SmartLinks a QR code will be generated.

CAUTION: Minimum SDK Versions — Android Native 3.7.0, iOS Native 3.12 for attributing with a Universal/App Link.

A SmartLink™ enables Kochava users to perform tasks such as:

  • Create a single link for off-network marketing (email, SMS, company website, social) enabling customers from different mobile platforms to reach the correct app store or download destination.
  • Use a single link to redirect customers to geo-specific app stores.
  • Create device OS version conditions to offer users the best experience for their device.
  • Monitor performance of Campaigns utilizing SmartLinks™.
  • Create a dynamic QR Code for use in OTT/CTV.
  • Create a dynamic QR Code for print media.

NOTE: The following instructions provide the procedures for creating a basic SmartLink™ for two apps of different operating systems (i.e., iOS and Android).

NOTE: Amazon devices will be redirected to the Google Play Store when an Amazon App is added to a Smartlink™ App Group. For more information, contact your Client Success Managers.

NOTE: Windows devices will be redirected to the Catch-All Destination URL when a Windows App is added to a Smartlink™ App Group. For more information, contact your Client Success Managers.

NOTE: At this time, SmartLink™ does not support BlackBerry due to the fact that the BlackBerry user agent cannot be parsed. For more information, contact your Client Success Managers.

Create an App:
  1. If not previously setup, create an app. For more information on creating an app, refer to Create/Edit Apps.

NOTE: An app must be created within Kochava for each app that will be associated with the SmartLink™.

App Groups:

App Group User Interface:

  1. Log in to Kochava.
  2. Select the desired Account and App.
  3. Select Apps & Assets > App Groups.

Feature Note: To add this menu item to your Favorites Menu, select the “+” sign that appears when you hover over the menu. The Features Menu provides quick access to your most frequently visited areas of the Kochava UI.

App Group Location and Organization Tools

App Groups can be easily located by utilizing the search and organization tools.

Live Search Tools:

App Groups can be located using the live search tool by typing part of all of the name of the app group.

App Group Organization:

App Groups can be organized by using one of the following:

Sort –

  • Created (Newest)
  • Created (Oldest)
  • Name (A-Z)
  • Name (Z-A)
  • SmartLink Count (Asc)
  • SmartLink Count (Desc)
  • App Count (Asc)
  • App Count (Desc)

Creating an App Group

  1. Click + Add an App Group.
  2. Enter a unique App Group Name.
  3. Select at least two (2) apps from the drop-down lists.

NOTE: More than two (2) apps may be selected, for more information on using SmartLinks™ for more than two apps contact your Client Success Managers.

  1. Click Save.
  1. Click + Add a SmartLink.

A. Check to indicate Paid Media.
B. Select Yes if the destination is supported in an App Clip or Instant App.

  1. Enter a unique SmartLink™ Name.
  2. Select an App Group.
  3. Select a Campaign.

NOTE: If Create New is selected, enter a unique campaign name.

  1. Select a Media Partner. (optional)

NOTE: If a QR code is needed, do not select a Media Partner. If a media partner is selected, a QR code will not be generated.

NOTE: These are separate integrations from app specific integration. You need to set up postbacks for the universal integration network in partner configuration. Similarly, if they are using custom reconciliation settings for networks, you will need to create these as well.

  1. Check Paid Media. (optional)

NOTE: By checking Paid Media, the SmartLink will be managed under the iOS 14 rules and regulations when applicable.

  1. Select an Agency Partner. (optional)
  2. Select the Domain.

NOTE: By default the domain is set to https://smart.link. If additional domains are required, contact your Client Success Management team for further deails.

  1. Select the Universal Link or App Link Destination. (optional)
  2. Enter the Link Destination.

NOTE: This option will only appear if Universal Link or App Link support has been setup for the corresponding app.

  1. Select if the Destination is Supported in the App Clip and Instant App.
Use iOS Universal Link and Android App Link:
  1. Check Use iOS Universal and Android App Link. (optional)

NOTE: Ensure that the minimum iOS and/or Android SDK version is installed.

  1. Select the Universal Link and App Link Destination if App is Installed:
    • App Default
    • Custom
    • User Created Universal Link or App Link

NOTE: For information refer to our Adding Universal Link or App Link Support documentation.

A. If Custom Destination is selected, enter a destination.
B. Click “+” to add a Conversion Event.
C. If Custom Destination is selected, enter the destination.
D. Click to update UTM Parameters.

  1. Select the desired Conversion Events.
  2. Enter the Tracker Name.
  3. Select the Destination if App is Not Installed:
    • App Default
    • Custom
    • App Store Link
    • Install Link
  4. Edit the UTM Parameters. (optional – Android Only)

NOTE: For more information on Google UTM parameters, refer to our Google UTM Parameters and Install Referrer support documentations.

Manually Enter SmartLink:
  1. Select the desired Conversion Events.
  2. Enter a unique Tracker Name.
  3. Select the Destination if App is Not Installed:
    • App Default
    • Custom
    • App Store Link
    • Install Link
  4. Select the Destination if App is Installed:
    • Custom
    • Deeplink

A. Uncheck to enter SmartLink properties manually.
B. Click to add an additional destination.
C. Enter Custom Destination.
D. Click to edit UTM Paramters.

Add A Destination:

  1. Click Add a Destination.
  2. Enter a Tracker Name.
  3. Select the Destination if App is Not Installed:
    • App Default
    • Custom
    • App Store Link
    • Install Link
  4. Select the Destination if App is Installed:
    • Custom
    • Deeplink

A. Enter Custom Destinations if needed.
B. Click to add an additional filter.
C. Click to remove the filter.
D. Click to remove the destination.

  1. Select a Filter:
    • Device > Type
    • Device > OS Version
    • Geo > Country
  2. Select a Condition:
    • Matches
    • Dosen’t Match
  3. Select the desired Values.

NOTE: Filters can be removed by clicking “X”.

NOTE: Destinations may be removed by clicking on Remove Destination.

All Other Platforms (Catch-all):

  1. Enter a Destination.
  2. Enter a Target App for tracking.
  3. Add a Custom Parameter. (optional)
  4. Click Save.

A. Click to add a Custom Parameter.
B. Enter Custom Parameter.

Once a SmartLink™ has been created, the associated Click, Impression URLs and QR code can be easily located from the main SmartLinks™ page.

  1. Click on the desired SmartLink™.
  2. The associated SmartLink™ URLs and QR code will be displayed in the detail card.
  3. Click Copy URL to copy the URL to your local clipboard.
  4. Click the SVG or JPEG button next to the QR code to download the image.
  5. Click the QR Code to see a larger preview.

NOTE: QR code will be in the style format dictated by the account settings; either Black and White (Generic) or SmartLinks™ (Kochava-branded).

A. Click on desired SmartLink™.
B. Click to copy associated SmartLink™ URL.
C. Click on the QR code to view a larger image. Right-clicking on the image provides the ability to download the QR code.
D. Click to download the QR code in SVG or PNG format.

NOTE: If not already on the SmartLinks™ page, navigate to the Links > SmartLinks™ page.

  1. Log in to Kochava.
  2. Select the desired Account.
  3. Select Engagement > SmartLinks™.

Feature Note: To add this menu item to your Favorites Menu, select the “+” sign that appears when you hover over the menu. The Features Menu provides quick access to your most frequently visited areas of the Kochava UI.

  1. Locate and Click on the desired SmartLink™.
  2. Click the SmartLink™ Tools menu (⋮) > Edit.
  3. Update the desired settings.
  4. Click Save.

Once a SmartLink™ has been created, a tracker for the SmartLink™ and All Other Platforms (Catch-all) will be created, and those trackers can be easily viewed through the Campaign Manager.

  1. Locate and Click on the desired SmartLink™.
  2. At the bottom of the SmartLink™ detail card, Click the SmartLink™ Detail Chevron.
  3. Click on the Jump to Campaign.

NOTE: The All Other Platforms (Catch-all) tracker will be located in the SmartLink™ App for Targeting (i.e., Android or iOS).

NOTE: Clicking on the Jump to Campaign button will navigate you to the SmartLink™ campaign located within the associated app.

NOTE: The “Catch-all” tracker will be located with the Target App (For Tracking) tracker.

  1. Click the SmartLink™ Tracker expand button.

NOTE: By expanding the SmartLink™ Tracker, data such as Impressions, Clicks, Click Rate, Conversions and CV Rate are displayed.

NOTE: By selecting Tracker Tools > Edit SmartLink, the UI will be redirected to the SmarkLink edit page.

A. Click to Expand.
B. Click to be taken to the associated campaign.

A. Click to Expand.
B. Click to be taken to the associated campaign.

NOTE: By clicking on Jump to SmartLink will navigate you to the associated SmartLink™.

NOTE: By expanding the Default Destination “Catch-All” tracker, data such as Impressions, Clicks, Click Rate, Conversions and CV Rate will be displayed.

NOTE: The trackers associated with a SmartLink™ are not editable. Any changes that are required, need to be made at within the SmarkLink interface.

Locating QR Code Data

Once Kochava has started receiving data associated with the QR codes, that data will be propagated in the following ways:

Reporting:

  • Summary Reports (Campaign/Network): traffic > optional qr_code.
    Two new fields will be added to the report install_matched_to_click_from_qrcode_count and click_from_qrcode_count. The volume in these two fields is a subset of the install_matched_to_click and click_count.

NOTE: The click volume for the QR Code(s) will always be included in the install_matched_to_click and click_count columns. Adding qr_code as a traffic option simply controls whether the two additional QR Code specific columns are added to the report.

  • Install Report: optional click column click_from_qr_code — true or blank
  • Click Report: optional column click_from_qr_code — true or blank
  • Event Report: optional click column click_from_qr_code — true or blank
  • Reengagement Report: optional column click_from_qr_code — true or blank
  • Click Multi-Touch Attribution Report: included by default clickwin_from_qr_code — true or blank

Analytics:

  • Events Volume: Split by > QR Code — true or false
  • Event Detail: Split Event Volume By > QR Code — true or false
  • Cost & ROI: Split by > QR Code — true or false
  • LTV: Split by > QR Code — true or false
  • Retention: Split by > QR Code — associated retention data displayed
  • Retention Advanced: Split by > QR Code — associated retention data displayed
  • Explorer: Dimensions > QR Code — true or false

Query:

  • Click Primary Table: qr_code — true or false

NOTE: The qr_code value will be blank previous to, as well as part of, May 14th 2020.

Updated on March 6, 2025

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