{"id":966,"date":"2026-05-02T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tolinku.com\/blog\/?p=966"},"modified":"2026-03-07T03:48:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T08:48:50","slug":"personalized-onboarding-flows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tolinku.com\/blog\/personalized-onboarding-flows\/","title":{"rendered":"Personalized Onboarding Flows with Deep Link Data"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every user who installs your app got there from somewhere: an ad, a referral link, a social media post, a QR code, or an organic search. That "somewhere" tells you what the user cares about. Deep links carry this context through the install, letting you build an onboarding experience that matches the user's intent instead of showing them a generic welcome screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For deferred deep linking mechanics, see Deferred Deep Linking for Personalized Onboarding<\/a>. For the complete onboarding guide, see User Onboarding with Deep Links<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Context You Can Capture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Deep links carry data through the install process. Here's what each source tells you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Source<\/th>\nDeep Link Data<\/th>\nWhat It Tells You<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Ad campaign<\/td>\nProduct category, promo code, ad creative<\/td>\nWhat product\/feature attracted the user<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Referral link<\/td>\nReferrer name\/ID, reward details<\/td>\nWho sent them, social proof context<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Content link<\/td>\nArticle topic, feature page<\/td>\nWhat they were reading about<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
QR code<\/td>\nPhysical location, event, product<\/td>\nWhere they scanned (in-store, billboard, packaging)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Partner link<\/td>\nPartner name, integration context<\/td>\nB2B or partnership origin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Email link<\/td>\nSubscriber segment, email campaign<\/td>\nExisting relationship context<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Implementation Pattern<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Capture Context on First Launch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\/\/ On first app launch\nasync function initializeOnboarding() {\n  const deferredLink = await Tolinku.checkDeferredLink();\n\n  const context = {\n    source: 'organic', \/\/ default\n    campaign: null,\n    referrer: null,\n    product: null,\n    promoCode: null,\n  };\n\n  if (deferredLink) {\n    const params = deferredLink.params;\n    context.source = params.utm_source || 'deep_link';\n    context.campaign = params.utm_campaign;\n    context.referrer = params.ref;\n    context.product = params.product;\n    context.promoCode = params.promo;\n  }\n\n  onboardingStore.setContext(context);\n  return context;\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Choose the Onboarding Flow<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
function getOnboardingFlow(context) {\n  if (context.referrer) {\n    return 'referral'; \/\/ Acknowledge the referrer, show reward\n  }\n\n  if (context.product) {\n    return 'product_focused'; \/\/ Skip category selection, show the product\n  }\n\n  if (context.campaign) {\n    return 'campaign'; \/\/ Show the campaign-specific landing\n  }\n\n  return 'default'; \/\/ Standard onboarding\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Customize Each Step<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
function OnboardingScreen({ context }) {\n  const flow = getOnboardingFlow(context);\n\n  switch (flow) {\n    case 'referral':\n      return (\n        <ReferralWelcome\n          referrerName={context.referrerName}\n          reward="$10 off your first order"\n        \/>\n      );\n\n    case 'product_focused':\n      return (\n        <ProductOnboarding\n          product={context.product}\n          promoCode={context.promoCode}\n        \/>\n      );\n\n    case 'campaign':\n      return (\n        <CampaignLanding\n          campaign={context.campaign}\n          headline={getCampaignHeadline(context.campaign)}\n        \/>\n      );\n\n    default:\n      return <StandardOnboarding \/>;\n  }\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Personalization Strategies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Skip Irrelevant Steps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If the deep link tells you the user's interest, skip steps that ask about it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Deep Link Context<\/th>\nSteps to Skip<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
product=fitness<\/code><\/td>\n"What are you interested in?" category picker<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ref=friend123<\/code><\/td>\n"How did you hear about us?" survey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
partner=EMPLOYER<\/code><\/td>\nAccount type selection (partner defines it)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
promo=PREMIUM_TRIAL<\/code><\/td>\nPricing page (they already know the offer)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Every skipped step reduces drop-off. If you know the answer, don't ask the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Show Relevant Content First<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reorder the onboarding to show the most relevant content based on context:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
User from a fitness ad:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. "Welcome! Let's set up your fitness profile." (not generic welcome)<\/li>\n
  2. Fitness preference selection<\/li>\n
  3. Account creation<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    User from a referral:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. "Sarah invited you! Here's your $10 reward."<\/li>\n
    2. Quick account creation<\/li>\n
    3. Browse products (with reward highlighted)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      User from a QR code at a retail store:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. "Welcome! Scan products to see reviews and prices."<\/li>\n
      2. Location permissions (to enhance in-store experience)<\/li>\n
      3. Account creation (optional, can browse first)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        Pre-Fill Known Data<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        If the deep link includes data the user already provided (email from a newsletter signup, name from a partner integration):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        function AccountCreationScreen({ context }) {\n  return (\n    <Form>\n      <Input\n        label="Email"\n        defaultValue={context.email || ''}\n        disabled={!!context.email} \/\/ Pre-filled and locked\n      \/>\n      <Input label="Password" \/>\n      <Input label="Name" \/>\n    <\/Form>\n  );\n}\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
        Customize Messaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        Tailor the copy to match how the user arrived:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        \n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Source<\/th>\nWelcome Message<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
        Referral<\/td>\n"Sarah thinks you'll love [App]. Here's $10 to get started."<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Fitness ad<\/td>\n"Ready to crush your fitness goals? Let's go."<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Back-to-school campaign<\/td>\n"Everything you need for the new semester."<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Organic (no context)<\/td>\n"Welcome to [App]. Let's get you set up."<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        Small copy changes make the experience feel intentional, not generic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        Deferred Deep Linking Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        Personalized onboarding depends entirely on deferred deep linking working correctly. The user clicks a link, installs the app, and the context must survive the install process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        How Deferred Deep Links Work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. User clicks https:\/\/go.yourapp.com\/signup?product=fitness&promo=FIT20<\/code><\/li>\n
        2. User is redirected to the App Store \/ Play Store<\/li>\n
        3. User installs the app<\/li>\n
        4. On first launch, the SDK contacts the server<\/li>\n
        5. The server matches the device (fingerprinting) to the original click<\/li>\n
        6. The deep link data (product=fitness<\/code>, promo=FIT20<\/code>) is returned to the app<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          Match Rate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          Deferred deep link match rates are typically 60-80%. Factors that affect matching:<\/p>\n\n\n\n