Link items most commonly are used in the Mobile App but also can power QR codes and short links, serving a greater purpose that we will get in to.
In this article, we'll show you how to add a link to any URL you want. Facebook page, or any other links that you'd like to direct your users to.
Link items can be found in your Library > Links. Here you will see all your existing Links you have set up and can opt to create a new one.
A link item will consist of the URL, where you want the link to connect to, and the Link Type which tells the link how to behave.
Link items are very powerful in that you can add the link in your app, send its QR code, or use its share URL... and then update the URL of the link item at any point without having to re-do any work.
Link Types
The type of a link will determine how the app opens the URL and how it behaves in the app.
The app stores have strict policies on what content is allowed in the app. Any links that your user can possibly navigate to and make a transaction or watch a lengthy youtube video will result in your app being rejected during app store reviews.
App Link
This type is perfect for linking in pages that have no website navigation, or a site that does not have any way to make a transaction. Link to forms, prayer requests, and Bible passages.
This link type opens within the internal mobile app browser.
Example of an end-user being able to make a donation within the app, this will violate the app store policies.
If you built a page using Snappages, you can use the App Link type and amend the URL so that it removes the website navigation. Add ?embed=1 to the end of your URL. Without the Header and Footer, app users won’t be able to navigate to other parts of your website such as Giving. Essentially creating a standalone page that is cleanly embedded into your app.
Video
The app stores are picky about what they allow for videos and tend to reject apps with youtube videos that play within the app. This type will open outside of your app to prevent app store rejections.
Not for use with Subsplash Media, try adding the Media item or Media series directly to your app.
Website
This is great for linking in websites that could potentially lead your user to donations or payments. This will open outside of the app to prevent app store rejections.
Page
Similar to App Link above, these open in the apps internal brwoser but will give you the option to select from an existing page you have built in SnapPages. Linking pages this way takes advantage of some deep integrations between your app and SnapPages. We have a dedicated article for this here.
Giving or payments
Use this type to link your users to charitable donations, payments, and event registration sites. This will safely take your user outside of the app to ensure that you are in compliance with app store guidelines.
Not required for Subsplash Giving
Subsplash Giving
If you have Subsplash Giving, we will pre-fill the link for you. This will open outside of the app.
Contact Link
This type is for adding links for calls or emails. If you are wanting more info about contact links, see our article here.
To add an email address, phone number, or text message, simply use the prefixes below.
Email Address
mailto: (example: mailto:example@example.com)Phone Number
tel: (example: tel:5558881234)Text Message
sms: (example: sms:5558881234)
Adding a Link Item to your App
You can add a Link Item in the app will using a Build Your Own Tab, once you are in your app editor just click Add Item > Link and select the link(s) you want to add and save your tab.
Another option is bringing a URL into your app is with the Browser Tab, if you want this URL to be the first thing a tab opens.
Share Options
Link items have some powerful share options that allow your users to interact with them outside of the app.
Copy Link
This will copy the share URL (short link) of this Link Item for you to send as needed. Because of the nature of Link Items, this share URL is dynamic. If you update the URL of the Link Item you do not need to re-send the share URL or re-create the Link Item.
QR Code
Similar to the share URL above, you can generate a QR code from this Link Item to download and include in mailouts, connection cards, etc. This share URL is dynamic so if you send it out but need to update the URL of the Link Item later, you can, without needing to re-send the share URL or re-create the Link Item. Because of the nature of Link Items, this QR code is dynamic. if you update the URL of the Link Item you do not need to re-send the share URL or re-create the Link Item.
View
This will open up the current URL attached to the Link Item in your browser as a quick way to verify the URL is working and correct.
Notify
This will automatically attach this Link Item to a Push Notification for you to send to any one on the app. Users will see the notification pop up with any text you have added and if they tap on it they will go to the URL of the Link Item.