iOS gets the app indexing support from Google

Google has announced on Wednesday that they are bringing App Indexing for iOS app as well. It will allow users from both Android and iOS to access the app content directly from the search listing. Later on Wednesday, Google has also declared App deep linking with goo.gl.

Google has been supporting app indexing for Android Apps for more than two years. They have decided to include iOS apps to app indexing protocol now. It will lead iOS app users directly to the app content from the search result. App indexing is a standard protocol used by Google to drive users to app content directly from the app listing in search result. Google announced in a blog, “Starting today, we’re bringing App Indexing to iOS apps as well. This means users on both Android and iOS will be able to open mobile app content straight from Google Search.”

Developers need to add markup to the app, submit an app sitemap using search console and verify the app to get indexed. Google is currently testing with the small group of apps in search result. Others will get it in coming weeks. They have shared the steps required to get the app indexed.

1. Add deep linking support to your iOS app.
2. Make sure it’s possible to return to Search results with one click.
3. Provide deep link annotations on your site.
4. Let us know you’re interested. Keep in mind that expressing interest does not automatically guarantee getting app deep links in iOS search results.

You can get your iOS app indexed in Google search result using the above steps. Google has already confirmed, App Indexing as a prior ranking signal and recently updated the search analytic feature in Search console. All these signals make it very important to mark up your iOS app for app indexing in Google search.

App deep linking with goo.gl 

Google has also made another announcement regarding the app linking on the same day. You can use goo.gl short link function to shorten the links of Apps. Goo.gl now supports app links along with the web links. So now, you can have one single URL that can be opened in web browsers or in Android apps or even in iOS apps. But you must have used app indexing to use this feature. You can share the link that automatically redirect to its native app platform using this feature.

Google told in blog post, “Starting now, goo.gl short links function as a single link you can use to all your content — whether that content is in your Android app, iOS app, or website. Once you’ve taken the necessary steps to set up App Indexing for Android and iOS, goo.gl URLs will send users straight to the right page in your app if they have it installed, and everyone else to your website. This will provide additional opportunities for your app users to re-engage with your app.

This feature works for both new short URLs and retroactively, so any existing goo.gl short links to your content will now also direct users to your app.”