Articles on: USING THE APP

Smartlink

On Ctrl+Reach, there are two types of Smartlinks:


Created directly during the campaign setup.
You can then edit it either from the campaign page or from the Smartlink section, where you can find all your links.
It is only available through your campaign ads.


An independent link that you can use daily in your communication (bio, social media, newsletters, etc.).
You can also find it in your Smartlink section.
It is available wherever you choose to share it.


In this article, we’ll explain how to create, edit, and delete a simple Smartlink (outside of a campaign), but all the tips shared here also apply to campaign Smartlinks.


I. Types of Smartlinks


Ctrl+Reach offers different types of Smartlinks to adapt to your objectives and maximize the impact of your campaigns. Here are the main types available:


Generate followers

Objective: Encourage users to follow your profiles on platforms like YouTube.
Description :
The smartlink redirects visitors to your page, with a call to action to subscribe.
Recommended for :

  • Developing your community.
  • Strengthening your presence on social or music platforms.

Collect email addresses

Objective: Build an e-mail database for your marketing campaigns.
Description :
Smartlink offers visitors the opportunity to share their e-mail address in exchange for exclusive content, access to pre-sales, or other benefits.
Recommended for :

  • Building a CRM strategy.
  • Building audience loyalty by communicating directly with your fans.

TO KNOW: Ctrl+Reach's email space is designed as a simplified CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool to enable manage and activate your community. It centralizes e-mail addresses collected via Smartlink campaigns on Ctrl+Reach (New listeners, emails, tickets, merch) offering an efficient way to communicate with your most engaged fans. Thanks to CRM integration, you can identify your super followers (those who interact most with your content) and offer them personalized experiences, such as early access to tickets or exclusive content. This strengthens the emotional bond and builds loyalty with your audience.



Custom button

Objective: Redirect visitors to a specific site or action.
Description:
This type of Smartlink includes a customizable button (e.g. “Buy now”, “Book here”) that redirects to a specific page.
Recommended for :

  • Selling tickets for concerts or tours.
  • Promoting merchandising or an e-commerce site.

Add to library (music)

Objective: Encourage visitors to save a single or album to their music library.
Description :
Redirects users to their preferred platform to add your content to their personal library.
Recommandé pour :

  • Boosting the visibility and engagement of your tracks on Spotify.

Generate listeners (music)


Objective: Convert visitors into streams on music platforms.
Description :
This type of Smartlink redirects your visitors to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, etc.
Recommended for :

  • Launching a single, album or EP.
  • Increasing listening on streaming platforms.

Presave (music)

Objective: Generate pre-saves ahead of your release
Description:
Generate hype ahead of your release by making people pre-save a song or an album. You'll also gather their email and info.
Recommended for :

  • Boosting the visibility and engagement of your tracks on Spotify or Apple Music.

Presave are only available on Apple music and Spotify.



II. Focus Presave



A presave allows your fans to save a song or album on their streaming platform before its official release. It’s an essential step to build excitement and generate plays within the first hours of release.


On CtrlReach, pre-saves are currently available only on Spotify and Apple Music. 


The pre-save link is slightly more specific to configure, as it depends on your track ID (ISRC) or album ID (UPC).


There are three ways to set it up on CtrlReach:

  • Find and enter your ISRC
  • Find and enter your UPC
  • Or retrieve your Spotify URI, which looks like this: spotify:album:3hk6KO4d1iKlh8YQ8nPcgk


The Spotify pre-save link is specific and requires a particular format.
You need to build your link by adding:
For an album:

  • /prerelease/album/ + album ID


For a track:

  • /prerelease/track/ + track ID


The ID is the string of characters found in your Spotify link.



Example 1 — Spotify URI format


Example 2 — Spotify URL format (album)


Example 3 — Spotify URL format (track)


The ID is always the last part of the URL, after /album/ or /track/. It remains the same whether you use a URI or a URL.


IMPORTANT: Do not confuse pre-save links with release links — these are not the same as campaign links used after release.


  • Go to the Smartlink tab and click “New Smartlink.”




  • Select the artist you want to create the Smartlink for, then choose the objective “Pre-save.”
  • Once you’ve added your link (as explained above), you can start configuring your Smartlink.



  • Add the release date and time, and make sure to select the correct time zone.
  • Double-check that the date and time you enter match exactly the official release on DSPs.

  • Then, create your link by adding a domain name — for example, the artist’s name — followed by the project name at the end of the link.
  • Then add the artist name and the project title.

Finally, configure your landing page:

  • You can add other links if you want (like a merch store or ticket website),
  • Add the artwork of the project or a video,
  • And, if you wish, a tracking pixel.

  • Once everything is configured, click on “Save.”


After the release, the link will automatically update to the public version of the project, as long as the date and time entered in your Smartlink are correct.


Here are the most common issues:

  • You used a standard release link instead of a pre-save link → replace /album/ or /track/ with /prerelease/album/ or /prerelease/track/
  • You used a campaign link instead of a direct Spotify link → these are different
  • The ID is incomplete or incorrect → make sure you copied the full string with no missing characters
  • The release is not yet registered as a pre-release on Spotify → the link will only work once Spotify has properly indexed your project as a pre-release



 III. Platforms included in a Smartlink


A Ctrl+Reach Smartlink lets you integrate multiple platforms to direct your visitors to the services most relevant to your music or content. Here's a list of the platforms you can include:


Streaming audio platforms (music)

These platforms allow your fans to listen directly to your music.


Audiobook platforms

These platforms allow audiences to download audiobooks and listen to them directly on their phone.


Video platforms

Ideal for promoting clips or exclusive videos.


Social profiles

Redirect your visitors to your profiles to generate subscribers and engagement.


Download or purchase platforms (music)

Perfect for fans who want to buy or download your music.


Ticketing platforms

Promote your concerts and events.


Custom sites

Add redirects to :

  • Your official website
  • A merchandise or e-commerce site
  • A specific landing page



IV. Create, modify or delete a Smartlink


  • Log in to your Ctrl+Reach account. Go to your profile
  • Click on the “Smartlinks” tab in the left-hand menu.
  • Click on the “Create a Smartlink” button.

Step 2: Choose an objective

Select the main objective of your Smartlink according to your campaign:

  • Get more streams: Convert visitors into streams (+ saves and subscribers) on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer or Amazon Music.
  • Follow me: Encourage visitors to follow your profile on Spotify, YouTube or other platforms.
  • Gather email address: Get e-mails for your newsletters or marketing campaigns.
  • Add to library: Encourage visitors to save a single or album to their Spotify or YouTube library.
  • Custom CTA: Redirect visitors to a specific site (merchandising, tickets, etc.).
  • Presave: Create excitement before your release by pre-saving a song or album.

Spotify presave link is a little more specific to configure.
You need to add at the beginning of the URL:
👉 For an album: https://open.spotify.com/album/
👉 For a track: https://open.spotify.com/track/
Next, add the album or track ID, which you'll find in the Spotify URL.


Example: If your Spotify link is spotify:album:6n0krSCXoyPZPnsb5IvtFE, then the correct URL for the pre-save will be: https://open.spotify.com/album/6n0krSCXoyPZPnsb5IvtFE`



WARNING: Not to be confused with release links: these are not our campaign links.


  • You can add several links to other platforms or content.

Examples : Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, Deezer, Youtube, a website

 

ADVICE: Prioritize the platforms where you want to generate the most engagement or conversions.


Step 4: Customize the design
  • Background image or video: Upload a high-quality 1:1 ratio image or video to make the Smartlink attractive.

  • Give your Smartlink a clear, precise name so you can find it easily in your dashboard.

Example: “Artist name - Single/Album - Décembre 2024”.
Example: "Campaign name - Product - December 2024".


Step 6: Integrate a Pixel (optional)
  • If you want to track performance on your Meta Business, connect a Meta Pixel or other analytical tools.
  • This will enable you to collect data on clicks and conversions generated by your Smartlink.


Step 7: Publish and share
  • Click on “Validate” to finalize your Smartlink, or any modifications.
  • You'll get a unique link that you can share on your social networks, in your advertising campaigns or via other channels.


To maximize the performance of your campaigns, it’s important to carefully configure your Smartlink. Here are some best practices to follow:

  • Use an attractive background image or video to grab attention in the first few seconds.
  • Limit the number of links to avoid spreading your audience too thin (ideally 4–5 links max).
  • Share your Smartlink regularly across your social media to increase visibility.
  • For France, remember to add Amazon Music and YouTube alongside the main DSPs (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer).
  • If you’re running a listeners/streams campaign, don’t include merch or ticketing links in the Smartlink. The goal is purely to drive listens, not commercial conversions. 


1. Access your Ctrl+Reach dashboard:
  • Log in to your account and go to the Smartlinks tab

  • Click on the “Edit” icon (symbolized by a pencil).

3. Make any necessary changes:
  • You can adjust the included platforms, change the graphic design, or update content and links.


4. Save your changes:
  • Once you have made your changes, click on “Validate”.


Deleting a smartlink is not currently supported. If you no longer wish to use a smartlink, here are some alternatives:

  • Deactivate the associated promotion: If a smartlink is used in a campaign, stop the campaign so that it is no longer active.
  • Rename: Rename the smartlink to avoid confusion in your dashboard.
  • Create a new smartlink: If you want to start with a completely different link, create a new smartlink from scratch.



V. Measuring Smartlink Results


Smartlinks are powerful tools for centralizing and promoting your content while collecting valuable performance data. Here are the main key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor to assess the impact of your campaigns.


Visits

What's this?
The total number of times your Smartlink has been consulted, from all sources. This includes every click, even if it comes from the same person.


Why is this important?
It gives you a general idea of the attractiveness of your link and the effectiveness of your promotional efforts.


Unique visits

What's this?
The number of distinct people who clicked on your Smartlink. Unlike visits, each person is counted only once, even if they click several times.


Why is this important?
This measures the true breadth of your audience and helps assess your ability to attract new visitors.


DSP Redirections

What's this?
The number of times visitors have clicked on a music streaming platform (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, etc.) from your Smartlink.


Why is this important?
This reflects your Smartlink's ability to convert visitors into listeners on DSPs (Digital Service Providers).


Follow

What's this?
The number of people who followed your profile on a streaming platform (e.g. Spotify or YouTube) thanks to your campaign.


Why is this important?
Followers increase your organic visibility and build audience loyalty.


Add to Library

What's this?
The number of times users have added your music to their personal library on a streaming platform.


Why is this important?
This indicator shows the real engagement of your listeners and their interest in listening to your content again.


CTA Click

What's this?
The number of clicks on a customized call-to-action button in your Smartlink, such as “Buy Now” or “Watch Clip”.


Why is this important?
It shows the effectiveness of your calls-to-action and your ability to engage your audience.


Presave


What's this?
The number of users who have saved your music before its official release on a streaming platform.


Why is this important?
Pre-saves boost your visibility from the day of release, increasing your chances of appearing in the platforms' algorithms.


Engagement

What's this?
A global measure of user behavior (clicks, adds, shares, etc.) on your Smartlink.


Why is this important?
A good engagement rate indicates that your content and Smartlink are captivating and motivating users to take action.


Remember: Regularly analyze these KPIs and adapt your campaigns according to the data collected to achieve ever-better results! 😊



VI. My Smartlink Doesn't Work


If your Smartlink isn't working properly, here are a few steps to identify and solve the problem:


  • Make sure the URL generated is correct and complete.
  • Try opening the link in a different browser to see if it works.
  • Check that there are no capital letters in your smartlink.


Refresh your settings

  • Go back to the Smartlinks tab on Ctrl+Reach and open the relevant link.
  • Recheck settings such as content, skinning and platform links.
  • Save the Smartlink again to refresh the information.


Technical bug

  • Possible cause: This may be a temporary problem with the platform.
  • Solution: Refresh the page or try to recreate the Smartlink.


Contact support

If the problem persists despite these checks:

  • Take a screenshot of the error or note the steps where the problem occurs.
  • Contact our support team, specifying the name of your Smartlink, the platforms concerned, a description of the problem.


Updated on: 12/08/2026

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