Link messaging

Factors that you control, such as how Link is placed in your onboarding flow, and the UI of the page where it is hosted, can have large impacts on Link conversion. This article outlines best practices for Link presentation that you can adopt to maximize conversion and overall user experience.

Your UI should tell the user why they want to use Link. For example, linking an account might let them make free transfers, versus having to pay a credit card transaction fee. Or it might be faster, allowing them to avoid manual data entry of balances or transactions, or having to wait several days for a micro-deposit-based verification flow.

Before launching the Link flow, explain to the user that they'll be prompted to link a bank account. Explain what data your app will be collecting from their account, and why it's needed.

Rather than presenting Link and manual flows as equal alternatives, encourage your customers to use Link through the size, positioning, and color of the Link entry point. You can also use labels such as "Recommended" or "Preferred". Yet another option is to display manual flows as an option only after the onExit callback (indicating a failed link attempt) has been received.

Let customers know that Link is secure and uses 256-bit encryption; a lock icon can also be used to help convey that Link uses encryption. Explain that your app does not have access to their credentials. If your app implements the best practice of allowing users to disconnect accounts from within the app, explaining that they can choose to unlink their account later can increase users' confidence in their control over their data.

A Link hosting flow that is aesthetically engaging, polished, and reflects your brand conveys the legitimacy and importance of linking an account. Illustrations and interactive elements can all be a part of your pre-Link messaging.

While post-Link messaging has a less direct impact on conversion, it can still impact the confidence your users have in Plaid and in your app.

Let the user know that they successfully linked their account to your app. You can also show some of the data that your app has collected, so that the user can have proof that the link process worked correctly. If applicable, have a CTA on this screen that allows them to link another account.

Having an area within your app where users can view, manage, or remove linked Items is a privacy and security best practice. It can also minimize the risk of duplicate Items (when a user accidentally adds the same Item twice) and help users fix Items that are unhealthy and need to go through update mode.

To measure the impact of these steps or set up an experiment to evaluate them, see Measuring Link conversion. For more conversion maximization tips, see Maximizing Link conversion.