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Links opened inside social apps ​

Why Linkrunner shows an intermediary page on social media platforms and how to customise it

Wonder why you are seeing this page when you click on a Linkrunner link on Instagram or other social media platforms? This page explains why it exists and the problems it solves.

Intermediary page shown inside Instagram's in-app browser

The Problem ​

Social media platforms like Instagram block redirecting users outside of their app. If we were to remove this intermediary page, here's what would happen:

  • Instagram opens its own in-app browser: Instead of opening the Play Store or App Store app, Instagram opens the store's website inside its built-in browser. This prevents users from actually downloading the app through the native store experience.
  • No redirect to an already installed app: If a user already has the app installed, they won't be redirected into it. The in-app browser has no way to trigger the app to open.
  • Additional friction: Users are stuck in a web view with no clear path to the store app or the installed app, leading to drop-offs.

How Linkrunner Solves This ​

This intermediary page acts as a bypass mechanism. When a user taps a Linkrunner link on Instagram (or similar platforms), the intermediary page:

  1. Detects the environment: It identifies that the user is coming from a social media in-app browser.
  2. Redirects to the native store app: Instead of loading the store website, it triggers the actual Play Store or App Store app to open.
  3. Handles already-installed apps: If the user already has the app installed, Linkrunner redirects them directly into the app via deep linking.

All of these cases are handled automatically by Linkrunner via this intermediary page. No extra setup is required from your end.

Customising the Page ​

You can replace this page with your own designs, and use a different one for each Meta ad or campaign. Upload your own pages in the dashboard, and Linkrunner checks them, fixes what slows them down, and shows you the result before they go live. See Custom landing pages.

Need help? Contact support@linkrunner.io.

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