How to Use Device Targeting

Deliver device-specific content and experiences with LegendLinks device targeting feature. Show different links or redirect users based on their device type (mobile, tablet, desktop).

Overview

Device targeting allows you to customize user experiences based on the device they're using. This is perfect for mobile-specific offers, app downloads, or optimizing content delivery across different screen sizes.

What is Device Targeting?

Device targeting detects the visitor's device type and redirects them to device-appropriate content automatically.

Key Benefits

📱 Mobile Optimization: Direct mobile users to mobile-optimized content
📲 App Downloads: Send mobile users to app stores
🖥️ Desktop Experiences: Provide full desktop experiences
📊 Analytics: Track device-specific performance
🎯 Personalization: Tailored user journeys

How Device Targeting Works

Device Detection

LegendLinks automatically detects:

Mobile: iPhone, Android phones, mobile browsers
Tablet: iPad, Android tablets, other tablets
Desktop: Laptops, desktops, workstations

Redirect Logic

When a visitor clicks your device-targeted link, LegendLinks:

Detects the visitor's device type (mobile, tablet, or desktop)
Checks if you have device-specific URLs configured
Redirects iOS users to iOS URL, Android users to Android URL, or uses the default URL

Example Flow:

iOS device → Redirects to iOS URL (e.g., App Store link)
Android device → Redirects to Android URL (e.g., Play Store link)
Desktop/Other → Redirects to default URL

Requirements

✅ LegendLinks Pro/Plus/Business Plan (device targeting is premium)
✅ Device Targeting Enabled: Must be activated in settings
✅ Device-Specific URLs: Set up mobile/tablet URLs as needed
✅ Fallback URLs: Always provide default destinations

How to Enable Device Targeting

Step 1: Access Settings

Go to LegendLinks → Settings in your WordPress admin
Click on the "General" tab

Step 2: Enable Device Targeting

Find the "Device Targeting" setting:

✅ Device Targeting: ON (recommended for mobile optimization)

Step 3: Save Settings

Click "Save Settings" at the bottom of the page.

Setting Up Device-Specific Links

Step 1: Create/Edit Link

Go to LegendLinks → Links
Create a new link or edit an existing one

Step 2: Access Device Targeting

In the link editor, find the "Geo/Device" tab
This tab handles both geographic and device targeting

Step 3: Configure Device URLs

Default URL (Required)

Primary destination for all visitors
Fallback when device-specific URLs aren't available
Required field - cannot be empty

iOS URL (Optional)

App Store links for iPhone/iPad users
iOS-specific landing pages
Mobile-optimized content for iOS devices

Android URL (Optional)

Google Play Store links for Android users
Android-specific content
Mobile-optimized pages for Android devices

Step 4: Device Detection Logic

LegendLinks follows this priority order:

iOS Detection: iPhone/iPad users → iOS URL
Android Detection: Android devices → Android URL
Fallback: All other devices → Default URL

Device Detection Examples

App Store Redirection

Use Case: Direct mobile users to download your app

Default URL: yoursite.com/web-app
iOS URL: https://apps.apple.com/app/your-app/id123456789
Android URL: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yourapp

Result:

iPhone users → App Store
Android users → Play Store
Desktop users → Web app

Mobile-Optimized Content

Use Case: Different content experiences per device

Default URL: yoursite.com/full-experience
iOS URL: yoursite.com/ios-optimized
Android URL: yoursite.com/android-optimized

Result:

Mobile users → Optimized mobile experience
Desktop users → Full desktop experience

Lead Generation

Use Case: Different contact methods per device

Default URL: yoursite.com/contact-form
iOS URL: yoursite.com/ios-app-contact
Android URL: yoursite.com/android-app-contact

Advanced Configuration

Combining with Geo-Targeting

Device targeting works alongside geo-targeting:

First: Geo-targeting checks visitor location
Then: Device targeting checks device type
Result: Location + device specific content

Example Priority:

Geo-Targeting: US visitors → us-site.com
Device Targeting: Mobile → us-site.com/mobile
Final Result: us-site.com/mobile for US mobile visitors

Analytics Integration

Device targeting data is tracked in analytics:

Device Breakdown: Mobile vs tablet vs desktop clicks
Conversion Tracking: Performance by device type
A/B Testing: Compare device-specific experiences

Testing Device Targeting

Method 1: Browser Testing

Mobile Testing

Open Chrome DevTools (F12)
Toggle device toolbar (Ctrl+Shift+M)
Select mobile device from dropdown
Refresh page and click link
Verify redirect to mobile URL

Tablet Testing

Select tablet device in DevTools
Test tablet-specific URLs
Verify correct redirection

Method 2: Real Device Testing

Physical Devices

Use actual mobile/tablet devices
Access your site from different devices
Test redirects on real hardware
Verify app store links work

User Agent Switching

Browser extensions to spoof user agents
Test different device types
Verify detection accuracy

Method 3: Link Analytics

Check Reports

LegendLinks → Analytics
View device breakdown
Verify correct attribution
Monitor conversion rates

Troubleshooting

Links Not Redirecting by Device

Symptoms: All devices go to same URL Solutions:

✅ Enable device targeting in settings
✅ Set up device-specific URLs in link editor
✅ Clear any caching (browser/plugin/server)
✅ Test with fresh link creation

Wrong Device Detection

Symptoms: Mobile users going to desktop URLs Solutions:

✅ Check user agent detection
✅ Test with multiple devices/browsers
✅ Verify device-specific URLs are set
✅ Clear caches and test again

App Store Links Not Working

Symptoms: App store redirects fail Solutions:

✅ Verify correct app store URLs
✅ Test links manually in new tabs
✅ Check for URL encoding issues
✅ Ensure app is published and available

Best Practices

✅ Implementation Tips

Progressive Enhancement: Start with desktop, add mobile optimizations
Fallback First: Always set working default URLs
Test Thoroughly: Use multiple devices and browsers
Monitor Performance: Track conversion rates by device
Update Regularly: Keep app store links current

✅ Content Strategy

Mobile-First: Design for mobile, enhance for desktop
App Integration: Use app store links when apps exist
Speed Optimization: Mobile content should be fast-loading
Touch-Friendly: Large buttons and touch targets for mobile

✅ User Experience

Consistent Branding: Same look/feel across devices
Clear Navigation: Easy movement between device experiences
Performance: Fast loading on all devices
Accessibility: Usable by all users regardless of device

Use Cases and Examples

E-commerce Mobile Optimization

Problem: Desktop and mobile users need different shopping experiences Solution: Device-specific landing pages

<!-- Mobile users get simplified checkout -->
Mobile URL: yoursite.com/mobile-checkout

<!-- Desktop users get full catalog -->
Default URL: yoursite.com/full-catalog

App Marketing Campaigns

Problem: Drive app downloads from different platforms Solution: Automatic app store redirection

iOS URL: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/your-app/id1234567890
Android URL: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yourapp
Default URL: yoursite.com/web-version

Content Adaptation

Problem: Different content formats for different devices Solution: Device-appropriate content delivery

<!-- Mobile: Simplified content -->
Mobile URL: yoursite.com/article-mobile

<!-- Desktop: Full multimedia experience -->
Default URL: yoursite.com/article-full

Performance Considerations

Loading Speed

Mobile-First: Optimize for slower mobile connections
Progressive Loading: Load content based on device capabilities
Caching: Use appropriate caching strategies per device

Analytics Tracking

Device Attribution: Track which devices convert best
A/B Testing: Test different experiences per device
Conversion Optimization: Improve based on device performance

Frequently Asked Questions

Does device targeting slow down redirects?

Minimal impact. Device detection happens server-side and adds negligible latency.

Can I target specific mobile devices?

Currently by type only. Detection works for mobile/tablet/desktop categories.

What if device detection fails?

Graceful fallback. Users go to default URL if detection fails.

Can I combine device and geo-targeting?

Yes, they work together. Geo-targeting applies first, then device targeting.

Do I need separate URLs for each device?

No, optional. You can use the same URL for all devices if preferred.

Can I disable device targeting per link?

Yes. Simply don't set device-specific URLs in the link editor.

How accurate is device detection?

Very accurate. Uses reliable user agent and feature detection methods.

Can I test device targeting locally?

Yes. Use browser DevTools device emulation or user agent switchers.

Geo-Targeting - Location-based content delivery
Creating Links - Basic link creation with device URLs
Analytics - Device-based performance tracking

Need help? Check our FAQ or contact support.