When sharing your content on social media, that first impression can count the most. Open Graph meta tags are the core elements that determine how it looks when sharing a website’s content on social media: clickable images to an engaging headline.
These tags essentially work as a foundation to create rich snippets, making links look more attractive and more likely to engage users.
Whether the same is placed on the blog, product page, or promotion of the offer, a full fill can be obtained with Open Graph tags in increasing the visibility and, consequently, engagement on social platforms.
This easy guide will teach you how to implement Open Graph meta tags yourself and get most of your social media marketing. So, with that, let’s get into it!
A. What Are Open Graph Meta Tags?
The Open Graph Meta Tag protocol regulates which content appears when people share links on social media. Any web page that includes Open Graph tags becomes a rich item in the social graph.
For instance, you can customize the images, titles, and descriptions that show up when you post links on social media using the Open Graph protocol.
Without Open Graph, social media services can use a random picture, title, and description.
Social networking networks such as Facebook, Twitter (X), and LinkedIn recognize Open Graph tags. X does, however, employ meta tags known as X Cards. However, if no X Card tags are found, Open Graph will be used.
The Open Graph protocol is globally acknowledged. It is typically compatible with any website. As a result, it’s an essential tool to use.
B. Different Types of Open Graph Tags
Open Graph tags help control how content appears on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Slack, and WhatsApp when shared.
You’ll find these tags in the <head> section of a webpage, identified by the “og:” meta property in HTML.
To explore all available Open Graph tag types, visit the Open Graph Protocol website.
Various Open Graph tags exist, including:
- og:type
This tag specifies the type of content, such as website, article, music, or video. The chosen type affects how the content is displayed.
Example in HTML: <meta property=”og:type” content=”music.song” />
Best Practice: Some types require additional properties. Use “music.song” for a single song, for example, or “music:album” for an album. “Website” is the default if no type is given.
- og:url
This tag defines the page’s URL, serving as its permanent identifier. Changing the URL will break shared links on social networks.
Example in HTML: <meta property=”og:url” content=”https://your-website.com” />
Best Practice: Keep URLs simple and concise, and use the canonical URL to consolidate metrics and metadata.
- og:title
This tag sets the title of the webpage, like the title of a blog post.
Example in HTML: <meta property=”og:title” content=”Your catchy title here” />
Best Practice: Make titles compelling, concise, and no longer than 60 characters to prevent truncation.
- og:description
This tag briefly describes the content, typically in 1-2 sentences.
Example in HTML: <meta property=”og:description” content=”Your brief description here.” />
Best Practice: Keep descriptions compelling, concise, and under 200 characters to prevent truncation.
- og:image
This tag specifies the image to display, which is crucial for attracting clicks and engagement.
Example in HTML: <meta property=”og:image” content=”your-image-url.png” />
Best Practice: Ensure images meet resolution and file size requirements for optimal sharing.
- og:site_name
This tag defines the website’s name, displayed beneath the page title.
Example in HTML: <meta property=”og:site_name” content=”your-website-name” />
Best Practice: While not essential, including the site name indicates your content’s association with a larger website.
- og:video
This tag provides the URL to a video in the content, enhancing its presentation on social platforms.
Example in HTML: <meta property=”og:video” content=”your-video-url.mp4″ />
Best Practice: Use additional tags to specify video dimensions for optimal display.
- og:locale
This tag defines the content’s language, defaulting to en_US (American English).
Example in HTML: <meta property=”og:locale” content=”en_US” />
Best Practice: Use this tag for multi-language content.
Note: Open Graph tags also generate snippets when links are shared on platforms like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, iMessage, and Slack.
C. Setup Open Graph Using Rank Math
When Rank Math generates Open Graph or Social Preview images, it follows the below hierarchy:
- OpenGraph image: The image is specifically set for Open Graph.
- Featured image: The image is set as featured for the post or page.
- First image in the post: The first image found within the post content.
- Default OpenGraph thumbnail: A fallback image is set as the default.
- To customize the Open Graph or Social Preview image:
Go to Rank Math SEO → Titles & Meta → Edit Snippet → OpenGraph Thumbnail.
Upload the desired image and save the changes.
Important: Ensure that the OpenGraph thumbnail meets the recommended dimensions (1200px X 630 px) and is in supported image formats (jpeg, png, and gif) according to OpenGraph Standards.
Use the given filter to replace the post’s first image with the OpenGraph thumbnail by default.
// Replace the first picture in the article with the default OpenGraph thumbnail to serve as the Open Graph/Social Preview.
add_filter(‘rank_math/opengraph/pre_set_content_image’, function() {
return true;
});
D. Benefits of Using Open Graph Meta Tags
Implementing Open Graph meta tags across your website may require some effort, but the benefits it brings outweigh the investment. Here’s why:
- Boost Social Media Click-Through Rates (CTR)
It’s important to stand out in the cluttered social media ecosystem.
Open Graph enables you to create visually appealing links that capture attention, increasing the likelihood of users clicking through. This leads to better ROI in your content distribution efforts.
- Control Link Display on Social Platforms
With Open Graph, you have full control over how your links appear on social platforms.
You can test different variations of images, titles, and descriptions, even customizing them for different languages.
This control extends to messaging apps like Slack and WhatsApp.
Pro Tip: Invest in compelling Open Graph images, akin to video thumbnails, to enhance visibility and engagement.
- Encourage Shares and Re-Shares
Well-designed links are more likely to be shared by users, fostering trust and engagement.
Links without Open Graph details may be perceived as low quality or broken, reducing their likelihood of being shared.
- Increase Visibility and Backlinks
While social media sharing may not directly focus on link building, Open Graph increases link visibility, making them more discoverable by industry influencers, writers, and journalists.
Compelling content shared through Open Graph can lead to organic backlinks.
- Enhance SEO Performance with Positive Social Signals
Social signals, such as shares and likes, contribute to brand visibility and credibility, potentially boosting SEO performance.
While there’s ongoing debate, increased brand awareness and engagement on social platforms can indirectly improve search engine rankings.
Summarizing Open Graph Meta Tags
Open Graph meta tags are essential for improving how your content displays on multiple social media sites. Implementing these tags gives you control over how your links are presented, which improves visibility and engagement.
The advantages of using Open Graph meta tags go beyond social media, potentially improving your website’s SEO performance and overall online presence.
Investing time and effort in Open Graph meta tags may greatly improve your content distribution strategy and bring vital visitors to your website.
Suggested read: Unlocking the Secrets: The Key Google Ranking Factors Everyone Needs to Know
Common FAQs on Open Graph Meta Tags
Are Open Graph meta tags recognized by all social media platforms?
Most major social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Slack, recognize Open Graph meta tags. Twitter uses its own meta tags called Twitter Cards, but if no Twitter Card tags are found, it falls back to Open Graph. This means you should include Open Graph tags to ensure compatibility across multiple platforms.
The Open Graph tags also influence the SEO performance.
Open Graph tags do not have a correlation with SEO rankings but can factor into social media-driven traffic. The more clicks and engagement on shared links, the more traffic will go through to your site, indirectly supporting SEO goals.
How do I implement Open Graph tags on my WordPress site?
While Open Graph tags do not have to be added individually by WordPress users, they can always get the job done using the likes of Yoast or Rank Math for SEO purposes, thus making it easy to tweak meta tags in applications without ever needing to touch the HTML code itself.
Can I modify Open Graph meta tags for different social media platforms?
Yes, you may edit Open Graph meta tags to adapt your content to various social networking sites. For example, you may use alternative photos or descriptions to improve how your material looks on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
