app-clips

# App Clips You help plan, implement, and optimize App Clips — lightweight iOS experiences (max 15MB) that users can launch instantly without installing the full app. ## What App Clips Are App Clips are small, focused pieces of your app that users can use without downloading the full app. They appear in: - **App Store search results** — alongside your full app - **Smart App Banners** on websites - **QR codes** and App Clip codes (physical NFC/QR) - **Safari** — when visiting a linked URL - **Messages** — when a URL is shared in iMessages - **Maps** — for location-based businesses - **Nearby** — NFC and visual codes in the physical world - **Siri suggestions** ## Size Limit | Target | Limit | |--------|-------| | App Clip binary | **15MB** max (thinned, downloaded on demand) | | App itself | No change | This forces you to ship only the essential experience. ## Best Use Cases | App Type | App Clip Experience | |----------|-------------------| | Parking/transit | Pay for parking or buy a ticket | | Restaurant | View menu, order, or pay | | Retail | Product preview or loyalty card | | Fitness | Try a single workout | | Games | Play a demo level | | Finance | Calculator or quick quote | | Events | Ticket purchase or check-in | | Utilities | Use core feature once | **The key question:** What is the minimum experience that demonstrates your app's core value? ## App Clip Discovery in the App Store App Clips appear in **App Store search** as a separate card below your full app result — labeled "App Clip" with an "Open" button (not "Get"). - Users who tap "Open" launch the App Clip instantly - After using it, they see a banner: "Get the full app" - Conversion from App Clip user → full install is typically **3–5× higher** than cold organic traffic **ASO implication:** The App Clip card inherits your app's title and description metadata. Optimizing your main listing improves App Clip discoverability too. ## Technical Requirements ### What to include in the App Clip - Only the core experience - Apple Pay or Sign in with Apple for authentication (no full account creation) - No App Clip–only content — everything in the clip should also be in the full app - Request only essential permissions (no push notifications in App Clips) ### URL scheme Each App Clip is triggered by a URL: ``` https://yourdomain.com/clip/[experience] ``` Configure in App Store Connect → Your App → App Clip Experiences. ### Handoff to Full App Always include a clear upgrade prompt: ```swift // Show SKOverlay after the user gets value from the clip let config = SKOverlay.AppClipConfiguration(position: .bottom) let overlay = SKOverlay(configuration: config) overlay.present(in: windowScene) ``` Show the overlay **after** the user has experienced value — not immediately. ## App Clip Experiences You can configure multiple App Clip experiences (one per URL pattern): | Experience | URL | Use Case | |-----------|-----|---------| | Default | `yourdomain.com` | General / App Store search | | Location | `yourdomain.com/location/123` | Maps, NFC at specific location | | Campaign | `yourdomain.com/promo/summer` | Marketing campaign | | Feature | `yourdomain.com/feature/x` | Specific feature demo | Each experience can have its own: - Title (max 18 chars) - Subtitle (max 13 chars) - Header image (3000×2000px) - Action button text ## App Clip Card Design The card is shown before the App Clip launches: | Field | Limit | Tips | |-------|-------|------| | Title | 18 chars | Clear action: "Order Coffee" not "App Name" | | Subtitle | 13 chars | Reinforce the value: "Skip the line" | | Header image | 3000×2000px | Show the outcome, not the UI | | Action button | — | Use context-specific text: "Order", "Pay", "Play" | ## Measurement Track in App Store Connect → App Analytics → App Clips: - App Clip sessions - App Clip cards displayed - App Clip → full app conversions - Unique App Clip users ## App Clip vs Full App Install Trade-offs | | App Clip | Full Install | |---|---------|-------------| | User friction | Very low | Higher | | Commitment | Low | High | | Retention | Low (one-time use) | High | | Conversion from Clip | — | 3–5× higher than cold traffic | | Best for | Discovery + conversion | Retention + monetization | ## Implementation Checklist ``` Setup: - [ ] App Clip target added to Xcode project - [ ] App Clip < 15MB (use size report in Xcode) - [ ] Associated Domains entitlement configured - [ ] App Clip experience URLs registered in App Store Connect UX: - [ ] Core value delivered within 60 seconds - [ ] Sign in with Apple or Apple Pay (no custom sign-up) - [ ] SKOverlay shown post-value (not immediately) - [ ] Clear data handoff when user installs full app App Store Connect: - [ ] Default App Clip experience configured - [ ] Header image uploaded (3000×2000px) - [ ] Title ≤ 18 chars, subtitle ≤ 13 chars - [ ] Additional experiences for locations/campaigns (if applicable) ``` ## Related Skills - `aso-audit` — Clip discoverability depends on main app ASO - `onboarding-optimization` — Apply same "value-first" principles to Clip experience - `ua-campaign` — Drive traffic to App Clip URLs in paid campaigns - `app-store-featured` — App Clips can support featuring eligibility