Marketplace apps have a unique onboarding challenge: two different user types with different goals, different activation events, and different definitions of value. A buyer wants to find and purchase something. A seller wants to list something and get sales. The onboarding must route each user to the right experience quickly, and deep links often carry the context to determine which side of the marketplace the user belongs to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For freemium onboarding, see Onboarding for Freemium Apps: Free to Paid Journey<\/a>. For personalization, see Personalized Onboarding Flows with Deep Link Data<\/a>. For general onboarding principles, see Onboarding Best Practices for Mobile Apps in 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Often, the deep link itself reveals the user's role. For a deeper look at deep linking in marketplace contexts, see Marketplace App Deep Links: Connecting Buyers and Sellers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the deep link doesn't indicate the role, ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Buyer onboarding should be minimal. Buyers want to browse, not fill out forms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The buyer activation event depends on your marketplace model:<\/p>\n\n\n\nRole Detection and Routing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Deep Link-Based Role Detection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n Link Source<\/th>\n Likely Role<\/th>\n How to Tell<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Product listing shared<\/td>\n Buyer<\/td>\n Path: \/product\/{id}<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n Seller referral<\/td>\n Seller<\/td>\n Params: role=seller<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n Category ad<\/td>\n Buyer<\/td>\n Params: category=electronics<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n "Start selling" campaign<\/td>\n Seller<\/td>\n Path: \/sell<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n Buyer referral<\/td>\n Buyer<\/td>\n Params: ref=buyer_123<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n Partner integration<\/td>\n Seller<\/td>\n Params: partner=shopify<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nasync function detectRole() {\n const deferred = await Tolinku.checkDeferredLink();\n\n if (deferred) {\n const params = deferred.params;\n const path = deferred.path;\n\n if (params.role === 'seller' || path.startsWith('\/sell')) {\n return 'seller';\n }\n\n if (path.startsWith('\/product\/') || params.category) {\n return 'buyer';\n }\n\n if (params.partner) {\n return 'seller'; \/\/ Partner integrations are typically seller-facing\n }\n }\n\n return null; \/\/ Unknown, ask the user\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nRole Selection Screen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
function RoleSelection({ onSelect }) {\n return (\n <Screen>\n <Heading>How do you want to use [App]?<\/Heading>\n\n <RoleCard\n title="I want to buy"\n description="Browse products, compare prices, and purchase from sellers."\n icon="shopping-bag"\n onSelect={() => onSelect('buyer')}\n \/>\n\n <RoleCard\n title="I want to sell"\n description="List your products and reach thousands of buyers."\n icon="store"\n onSelect={() => onSelect('seller')}\n \/>\n\n <Text style={styles.note}>\n You can switch anytime in Settings.\n <\/Text>\n <\/Screen>\n );\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nBuyer Onboarding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Flow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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function BuyerOnboarding({ intent }) {\n const [step, setStep] = useState(0);\n\n const steps = [\n <QuickSignup \/>,\n <InterestPicker\n suggested={intent.category}\n onComplete={(interests) => {\n saveInterests(interests);\n setStep(2);\n }}\n onSkip={() => setStep(2)}\n \/>,\n ];\n\n if (step >= steps.length) {\n \/\/ Onboarding complete, go to browsing\n if (intent.productId) {\n return <Redirect to={`\/product\/${intent.productId}`} \/>;\n }\n return <Redirect to="\/browse" \/>;\n }\n\n return steps[step];\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\nBuyer Activation Event<\/h3>\n\n\n\n