A "buy link" is a direct link to the checkout page with pre-selected items for purchase and with several other pre-defined parameters, e.g. quantities, discounts, price adjustments, currency, language, UTM tags.
It can be shared with buyers via social media or messengers, added to buttons on custom landing pages (created in various builders), used in email or SMS marketing, etc. In fact, a business may even start selling online without having or maintaining a proper website (a storefront). The link is really compact and looks like this:
https://checkout.checkify-demo.com/api/link?id=66ffc3554167a100120bbaf1
Sample format of a direct checkout link by Checkify
The buy link is created once and can be shared with multiple customers across various channels. When a buyer clicks on such a link, the URL changes itself: a checkout with its own unique identifier is generated.
In this article:
1. Create a direct Checkify checkout link for your store
Visit the Buy links section in your admin panel to start managing direct checkout URLs for your store.
Buy links section in the admin
Press "Create buy link+" button to proceed with designing direct checkout links.
Give the buy link a name by adding a title in the appropriate field. It will be visible only to you.
Add a 5...50% increase to the price of products being sold via this link, if necessary.
Optionally, apply one of the existing discounts for this straight-to-checkout URL by copy-pasting or typing the code into the appropriate field.
It is possible to define the specific currency and / or the language applicable for this link only, without changing the localization and the currency settings which are set for the whole account (store).
Every direct checkout link can have an optional set of UTM parameters added to it for ensuring improved analytics and attribution. The available UTM codes are:
utm_campaign: refers to a specific campaign (e.g., BFCM_Sale).
utm_medium: identifies the marketing medium (e.g., email, social, CPC).
utm_source: identifies the traffic source (e.g., Google, TikTok).
utm_content: distinguishes between different versions of a link (e.g., different ads).
utm_term: tracks paid keywords.
The "Products basket" section is designed for adding the contents (items) for your direct checkout link. Selection of products is mandatory. Press "Select products" button to open your store's catalogue.
You may pick products, their variants and adjust quantities for the buy link. Confirm your choice by pressing "Select products" button.
Press "Save changes" button once all the necessary settings for the link have been applied.
2. Manage direct checkout URLs
The buy links are being managed in a simple way, from one place in the Checkify admin. The links are presented in the table mode. It is possible to see links' statuses, search by title, apply the product filter.
Example: The product filter is applied. Only the links that include one specific product are shown in the table
The column with statistics contains the number of checkouts (equivalent to 'checkout reached'), orders (equivalent to 'checkout completed') and revenue (presented in the store's default currency) generated by this link.
The link is copied in one click by pressing on the appropriate icon. It is possible to clone (copy, duplicate) the link, disable or delete it completely. If the URL is deactivated or removed, but your buyer still lands on it, they will see a message that the link is "expired or incorrect".
You can get a QR code for every buy link by clicking on the appropriate icon in the table.
A snippet of HTML code for the embeddable "Buy" button is available for every link. It is possible to add the 'direct to checkout button' into your website and to customize it.
3. Embed a buy button on your website
Any direct checkout link can be easily transformed into an embeddable "Buy" button that can be published anywhere on your store, product pages, etc. This functionality is generally for advanced users, so, we recommend to review and to implement the steps and customizations described below together with your developer (in-house or freelance, whoever is available).
Click on the HTML < > icon to open the button's editor. Copy the code and paste it into your website.
For Shopify customers, the steps are the following:
1. Open the store's code editor. Visit Sales channels > Online Store > Themes.
2. Open the menu ( … ), next to “Customize” button, and select “Edit code”) and add the snippet into theme.liquid file, for example right below Checkify's script (after </script>
<!-- end -->).
3. Save changes to your theme.
The design of the button can easily be changed, with no coding skills required. Pick the color and the shape for the button, change font color, then add a catchy text, which could be capitalized or made bold just in one click. All of your design changes will be instantly available for preview on the right side of the interface.
However, further customizations, like turning it into a "sticky button", or adding some desired behavior, may require a deeper knowledge in coding and additional testing, and it should be treated with care.
4. Get a QR code
With every link, you also get a QR code associated with it. Access the QR code from the table view, or from the link editor by clicking on the appropriate icon. The code can be copied and saved as an image or downloaded as a .PNG file.
The QR codes have no expiration date. If the buy link associated with the QR code is disabled or deleted but a customer still lands on it, they will get a page with the expiration message.
5. Resolving common issues
🙀 Can I create a checkout link for several products?
Yes, just add several products or variant IDs and their quantities to the same link, thereby forming a product basket for your buyers.
🙀 My buy link is not working. I am getting an error page.
Make sure the Shopify store is live and active, there are no spaces and no unnecessary characters (symbols) in the URL, all the numbers (IDs) are correct. Also, double-check the status of the URL in "Buy links" section of the admin. Pay attention to other relevant messages in its interface too.
🙀 How can I use a buy link on my landing page or in my newsletter?
You can embed it to any button or text in a promotional email or a landing page. You can also send this link directly to your customer, for example, if you want to offer them a personal discount. Test various geos by creating links in different currencies. Set the language for the specific link, without changing the localization and translation settings for the whole account (store). Also, since the spending power is different around the world, you may apply and test price increases instantly.
🙀 What happens to my buy links of older versions, those created earlier?
They will continue to work. However, we recommend to re-create all of them, in the new format, and then update on your web / email or social media pages and properties accordingly.
🙀 Do I need to change all of the buy links in case of the domain change?
If the links were initially created with the default pay.checkify.pro domain we provide, they will continue to work.
However, if you had a custom domain and rolled back to the default one, or, there is a change in your custom domain, it is necessary to create all of the links again.
🙀 Can I allow customers editing quantities, picking variants?
No, the quantities, as well as several other parameters, are pre-determined by the values you set while designing the buy link, and they cannot be changed or modified at the checkout.