Apple Action Links | Yext Hitchhikers Platform
On an Apple Maps listing, there is a row of call-to-action buttons at the top called the Action Row. Each CTA in this row is an Action Link. Some of these links can be managed via Apple Business Connect, and thus through Yext.
This reference details how Apple action links work and what customization options are available.
Types of Action Links
Within the Action Row, there are three types of customizable Action Links:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Quick Link | Button with a CTA type and app icon that links to a custom URL |
| App Clip | Button that links to an Apple App Clip , a small part of an app |
| App Extension | Button that links to an Apple App Extension , an extended piece of custom functionality that lives beyond an app |
App Clips and App Extensions are managed separately through the Apple App SDK.
Action Link Schema and Display
An Action Link is made up of four components:
- CTA
- App Store URL
- Quick Link URL
- App Name (not displayed on Action Links)
CTA
Each Action Link has a CTA displayed on the button. For example, Galaxy Grill uses the Order CTA:
Below is the list of CTA options available:
- Activities
- Amenities
- Availability
- Book
- Book (Hotel)
- Book Ride
- Book Tour
- Book Travel
- Careers
- Charge
- Check in
- Coupons
- Delivery (Restaurant)
- Delivery (Retail)
- Donate
- Events
- Flight Status
- Gift Card
- Menu
- Order (Restaurant)
- Order (Retail)
- Parking
- Pickup (Restaurant)
- Pickup (Retail)
- Pricing
- Quote
- Reserve (Restaurant)
- Reserve (Parking)
- Schedule
- Services
- Shows
- Showtimes
- Sports
- Support
- Tee Time
- Tickets
- Waitlist
Certain types of CTAs are available depending on the category of the location (e.g., Restaurant, Professional, etc). You can view which options are available for your locations in Apple Business Connect. For more on setting up Apple Action Links in Apple Business Connect, see these resources:
- About Custom Action Links in Apple Business Connect
- Manage Custom Action Links for your Showcase in Apple Business Connect
App Store URL
This URL is used to fetch the app icon to display next to the CTA.
For example, Galaxy Grill also uses the Menu CTA and includes a link to the Yelp app on the Apple App Store, allowing Apple to display the Yelp logo on the Action Link.
This field is required for non-delegated locations. If you have not linked an Apple Business Connect account to Yext, you will need to fill out this field for your listings or the action link will not be sent to the publisher. For more on linking Apple Business Connect accounts, see Link Apple Business Connect with Yext.
For all users that have linked an Apple Business Connect account and delegated access to Yext, this field is optional.
Quick Link URL
Each Action Link will also have a Quick Link URL. This URL is where the user will be taken if they click the Action Link. For example, the Eiffel Tower has a Quick Link URL of getyourguide.com where you can buy tickets:
Users must provide one unique Quick Link URL per App Store URL and CTA combination. For example, you cannot add two action links for a single Order CTA that both lead to the business’ app.
App Name
The App Name sub-field is not displayed on Apple Listings and is only used to distinguish the call-to-action type when utilizing action links in Apple Showcase posts.
Action Links and Showcase Posting
For full details on how to leverage Call-To-Actions in Apple Showcase posts, visit the Apple Showcase posting reference documentataion.