deep link
A deep link is a hyperlink that leads directly to a subpage or specific content within a website, rather than to the homepage. In SEO, it improves indexing and user experience; in web design, it enhances navigation. The term gained prominence with mobile apps starting in the 2010s, but has been relevant on the web since the 1990s.
A deep link doesn't point to the homepage, but directly to the specific page it's about. This sounds obvious, but it's constantly violated: In newsletters, advertisements, and press releases, readers often land on the homepage and have to search for the page themselves.
The difference is measurable. Users who arrive at the homepage via an ad for a specific product are, in practice, two to three times more likely to leave than those who land directly on the product page. With 1.000 clicks and a conversion rate of 3 percent instead of 1 percent, that translates to 20 additional inquiries, simply due to the correct link destination.
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