Have you ever submitted something to Facebook only to be disappointed with the way it looked afterward? You’re not alone. Many people don’t realize that how their website looks on Facebook can be controlled with Open Graph Meta Tags.
Many firms struggle with this issue on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn –– from low-quality photos to ineffective titles. But there’s one way to help ensure your posts look great no matter where they appear: open graph meta tags.
San Antonio SEO company has experts that can help you through the process of setting up your open graph meta tags. Once they’re in place, you’ll be able to control how each post on your website is displayed when you share it out to social media sites.
This guide will help demystify the process of setting up open graph meta tags for your website.
What are Open Graph Meta Tags?
Open graph meta tags provide a way to tell social networks how your web page should look when shared. They not only control what the title of the post will be, but they also allow you to set parameters for things like images and description text. So, for example, you can set a title, description, image, and even the thumbnail image for Facebook sharing.
Why You Should Take Advantage of Open Graph Meta Tags
Open graph meta tags will make your website look better when shared on social media sites because they give you complete control over what people see. Without them, how your posts appear may be out of your hands.
When you take advantage of open graph meta tags, you can ensure that the right information is always displayed –– whether it’s on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. This includes the title of your article, a brief summary, and a high-quality image that will help to represent your website in the best light possible. San Antonio SEO services can help you ensure your website is ready for social media.
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How Open Graph Meta Tags Work
Open graph meta tags control how things are displayed on social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. They are implemented on your website using HTML code, which is embedded in the page’s markup.
- Open graph meta tags are added to web pages on your site that will be distributed on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.
- When something from your website is shared on Facebook, open graph meta tags are responsible for how the social network displays the shared content. Know how content marketing plays an important role in your marketing funnel.
- When someone views a shared item on Facebook, they’ll see an edited version of your webpage that’s custom-tailored to look its best when it’s shown on the social network. The information you want them to see is included and nothing else.
Different types of open graph meta tags
1. og: title
Syntax: <meta property=”og:title” content=”Your Article Title”>
The og: title meta tag sets the title of your article that will be displayed when it’s shared on Facebook. This og tag should be placed within the <head> section of your website’s HTML markup.
Best practices:
- Make sure your page title is concise, 60 characters or less
- Use the article’s headline as the og: title for highest relevance
- Do not include “Facebook” or any other variations in the og: title
2. og: type
Syntax: <meta property=”og:type” content=”article”>
The og:type meta tag tells Facebook what type of content is being shared. This type tag should be placed within the <head> section of your website’s HTML markup.
Best practices:
- Use “article” for most websites
- Use “video” for websites with videos
3. og:url
Syntax: <meta property=”og:url” content=”http://www.website.com/article-title.html”>
The og:url meta tag tells Facebook the canonical URL of your content. This og:url tag should be placed within the <head> section of your website’s HTML markup.
Best practices:
- Make sure the canonical URL is correct and leads to the content you want to be shared on Facebook
- Use og:url instead of other URL tags (e.g., link or href)
4. og: description
Syntax: <meta property=”og:description” content=”This is a short description of your article”>
The og: description meta tag sets the brief description of your article that will be displayed when it’s shared on Facebook. This description tag should be placed within the <head> section of your website’s HTML markup.
Best practices:
- Use a sentence that summarizes the article’s content
- Keep descriptions brief, 150 characters or less
5. og: image
Syntax: <meta property=”og:image” content=”http://www.website.com/image-url.jpg”>
The og: image meta tag sets the high-quality image that will be displayed when your content is shared on Facebook. This image tag should be placed within the <head> section of your website’s HTML markup.
Best practices:
- Make sure there is a high-quality image and suitable for a 16:9 aspect ratio
- Use og: image instead of other image tags (e.g., src, source)
Can you check your tags to make sure they’re right?
If you want to be sure that your open graph meta tags are implemented correctly, you can use a tool like the Facebook Debugger. The debugger will scan your website for open graph meta tags and let you know if there are any errors. It’s a great way to troubleshoot any problems and ensure that your tags are working properly.
The debugger will tell you if your meta tags are properly implemented so that the content shared on Facebook is accurate. It’s a great way to troubleshoot any problems and make sure that nothing is missing or wrong when it’s shared. San Antonio SEO company offers a suite of open graph meta tag tools to simplify adding tags.
Summing up
Open graph meta tags are essential for any website that wants to share content on social media sites. By implementing them correctly, you can ensure that the content shared is always accurate and up-to-date. The code used to add open graph meta tags is simple and easy to understand, so there’s no reason not to add them to your website. Take help from an SEO company in San Antonio to add open graph meta tags efficiently and effectively.