Trying to track user referrals through app store, any tips?

forgarty · 9th Feb 2014, 12:22 AM

I have a system where my users can refer their friends and they get paid if their friend engages.

The tracking for this isn't great and so friends have to go to the website to be tracked as having signed up.

I'd highly prefer to send referrals through the app, if I could keep tracking them through the app store, and track signup through a referral link there.

I'm not a developer, but does anyone have any suggestions I can bring back to my team?

Much appreciated!

Iconiplex · 9th Feb 2014, 01:54 AM

Android and iOS both have implementations of this that generate app store links with the data.

On Android, it is primarily used for tracking what website, keywords, etc. resulted in the install of your app, but you could use it to track user IDs, usernames, e-mails, etc. This data is passed to your app on install.

iOS requires iOS 6, but Smart App Banners allow data to be passed to the app in a similar fashion to the Android system.

From the app, you could have users text/e-mail/share the install link with their referrer info, which is then passed to the app on each install.

Alternatively, you could share a link such as:
www.myappsite.com/refer?referrer=username

This would be a passthrough link, where the potential new user IP address is tied with the referring account info and stored in the database, then the user is forwarded on to your app store link. Upon install, your app would search the database for the new user IP, find the referrer, and credit the install to that user.

The latter method would allow you to avoid having to code individual classes and data management systems for both Android and iOS, though I suppose the former method is the official way to do it.

Let me know if you need any development help with this.

forgarty · 9th Feb 2014, 06:49 PM

Thanks Iconiplex.

The Smart App Banners looks like the solution that will work.

I'm going to be going over this with my devs tomorrow and if they have questions I'll definitely reach out.

9th Feb 2014, 12:22 AM	#1
forgarty Warrior Member Join Date: 2014 Location: USA Posts: 10 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Trying to track user referrals through app store, any tips? Share on: I have a system where my users can refer their friends and they get paid if their friend engages. The tracking for this isn't great and so friends have to go to the website to be tracked as having signed up. I'd highly prefer to send referrals through the app, if I could keep tracking them through the app store, and track signup through a referral link there. I'm not a developer, but does anyone have any suggestions I can bring back to my team? Much appreciated!

9th Feb 2014, 01:54 AM	#2
Iconiplex Development, SEO, & ORM Join Date: 2014 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 62 Thanks: 3 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Trying to track user referrals through app store, any tips? Share on: Android and iOS both have implementations of this that generate app store links with the data. On Android, it is primarily used for tracking what website, keywords, etc. resulted in the install of your app, but you could use it to track user IDs, usernames, e-mails, etc. This data is passed to your app on install. iOS requires iOS 6, but Smart App Banners allow data to be passed to the app in a similar fashion to the Android system. From the app, you could have users text/e-mail/share the install link with their referrer info, which is then passed to the app on each install. Alternatively, you could share a link such as: www.myappsite.com/refer?referrer=username This would be a passthrough link, where the potential new user IP address is tied with the referring account info and stored in the database, then the user is forwarded on to your app store link. Upon install, your app would search the database for the new user IP, find the referrer, and credit the install to that user. The latter method would allow you to avoid having to code individual classes and data management systems for both Android and iOS, though I suppose the former method is the official way to do it. Let me know if you need any development help with this.
	US-based design, development, marketing, branding, printing, and all other business services. *High-risk payment processing for pharma, e-cigs, seeds, and more!* Accepting investment management clients. Minimum deposit is $3000. Skype/AIM: artizhay

9th Feb 2014, 06:49 PM	#3
forgarty Warrior Member Join Date: 2014 Location: USA Posts: 10 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Trying to track user referrals through app store, any tips? Share on: Thanks Iconiplex. The Smart App Banners looks like the solution that will work. I'm going to be going over this with my devs tomorrow and if they have questions I'll definitely reach out.