Setting up a Facebook Call-to-Action Button

The 1.50 update brings some great changes to your Mobile App, both on the surface and under the hood.  One less than obvious update has been the inclusion of what are known as "Deep Links".  These are links that let you direct people to specific tabs in your app from external sources.

Now, Facebook has added a "Call-to-Action" button which allows you to easily add an important task as a button on your Page's banner image.  Lets look at how we can use Deep Links with this button to let your Fans effortlessly access your Mobile App from your Facebook page.

First, go to your Page and find the "Create Call to Action" button.  It is important to note that this is for Pages, and not your personal Timeline.

When you click on this, you will see a pop-up box which has a "Choose a Button" menu.  Open this and select "Use App".

Once you have selected the type of Call-to-Action, there will be a place to enter in two URLs.  One for your website and one for your mobile website.  Because we want to focus people's behavior on using your Mobile App, create a SmartURL (remember those?) for this purpose and add it to both fields.

The next screen will let you setup your iOS Deep Link.  Use the format instantencoreCID://deeplink/#home where CID is the same value used in the SmartURL.  The Backup Destination will be automatically filled in from the website field.

The Android Deep Link setup is similar, but you will also need your Android Package Name. To find this, just go to your main control panel, copy the link for the Android App, and use the end of the URL that starts with "com.instantencore".

So, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instantencore.bcsd2go_5109242 becomes just com.instantencore.bcsd2go_5109242.  Again, the Backup Destination will be automatically added.

Click the final Create button and you will be all set.  Your Facebook fans will now have easy access to your Mobile Apps!

• If they already have your app installed, it will immediately open it.  
• If they don't yet have your app, the SmartURL will intelligently direct them to the proper platform.  
• If the button is clicked on a desktop or laptop computer, it will give them links to both.

Finally,  if you have a campaign going on for a specific event or initiative, you can go back to edit the "Use App" button and update the App Links to go to a specific content item or tab in the App.  Just replace the #home at the end of the Deep Link with a different "In-app Link" using InstantEncore's App URL Builder, available at the bottom of your list of Tabs in the Control Panel.

BONUS: Facebook offers some insights on how many times the button has been clicked.  Just look for the "This Week" box to the right and click on where it says "Use App"

7 Tips for Customizing Your App's Welcome Screen

As we mentioned in a previous post, the Welcome Screen for your app is a great tool for encouraging new app users to stay connected via notifications.

To get you started with this tool, we have provided you with a default message:

Enhance your <app name> experience with personal notifications.

We will only send you relevant messages with insider info, special deals and pertinent updates.

We encourage you to adopt, edit, and add to it so that the message is unique to you and appeals specifically to your app users.

7 Tips for Customizing Your Welcome Screen's Message

1.  Thank your patrons for downloading your app.  Many patrons will visit your website on their mobile devices.  Those who download your mobile app are interested enough in your work that they want to give you a presence on the most personal of their devices.  It's always a good idea to thank them for that.

2.  Use special formatting to draw the user's eye to parts of the message you wish to emphasize.

3.  Affirm for your app subscriber's that your messages will meet their wants and needs.

4.  Let them know that they can customize their information and interests to tailor the notifications they will receive. It can also be reassuring to let them know that they can change their selections at any time.

5.  If you have specific types of notifications you will be sending out, let them know.  There are a few options listed in the default message, but feel free to include other types that apply to your app.

6.  Encourage them to help you give them the most relevant notifications by answering some questions.

7.  Add simple instructions for customizing notifications both now and later.

No matter how many adjustments you make to the Welcome Screen's message, be sure to:

• Encourage app users to maintain a deep connection with you
• Assure them that you will not spam them with irrelevant messages
• Let them know that they can control which notifications they receive

Questions?  Contact us at support@instantencore.com.