Open Graph is a powerful tool for enhancing how your content appears when shared on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. By adding Open Graph meta tags to your website, you can control the title, description, image, and other elements that appear in link previews. However, many website owners and marketers make common mistakes when implementing Open Graph, which can lead to poor user experiences, reduced click-through rates, and missed opportunities for engagement.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the most common mistakes to avoid when using Open Graph and provide actionable tips to ensure your content stands out on social media.
One of the most frequent mistakes is neglecting to include Open Graph tags on your website. Without these tags, social media platforms will attempt to scrape your page for information, often resulting in incomplete or unattractive previews. This can lead to lower engagement and fewer clicks.
How to Avoid It:
Always include the essential Open Graph tags in your HTML <head> section, such as:
og:title (the title of your content)og:description (a brief summary of your content)og:image (a high-quality image to represent your content)og:url (the canonical URL of your page)The image you choose for your Open Graph tag (og:image) plays a critical role in attracting attention on social media. Using low-resolution, irrelevant, or improperly sized images can make your content look unprofessional and unappealing.
How to Avoid It:
og:typeThe og:type tag defines the type of content being shared (e.g., article, video, website). Omitting this tag can cause social media platforms to misinterpret your content, leading to suboptimal previews.
How to Avoid It:
Set the og:type tag based on your content type. For example:
og:type="article" for blog posts or news articles.og:type="website" for general web pages.Even if you’ve added Open Graph tags, failing to test them can result in unexpected issues. Social media platforms may cache outdated information or fail to display your tags correctly.
How to Avoid It:
Your og:title and og:description tags are your first opportunity to grab attention. Using vague or generic text can fail to entice users to click on your link.
How to Avoid It:
Social media is predominantly accessed on mobile devices, so your Open Graph content must be optimized for smaller screens. Oversized images or lengthy text can negatively impact the user experience.
How to Avoid It:
While Open Graph is widely supported, different platforms have unique requirements and preferences. For example, Twitter uses Twitter Cards, which require additional meta tags for optimal display.
How to Avoid It:
twitter:title, twitter:description, twitter:image) alongside your Open Graph tags.If you update your content but forget to update the Open Graph tags, social media platforms may continue displaying outdated information due to caching.
How to Avoid It:
If your website serves a global audience, failing to localize your Open Graph tags can result in a poor user experience for non-English speakers.
How to Avoid It:
og:locale tag to specify the language and region of your content (e.g., og:locale="en_US" for English in the United States).og:locale:alternate tag for multilingual websites.While Open Graph is essential, it’s not the only factor that influences how your content performs on social media. Neglecting other aspects of social media optimization can limit your reach and engagement.
How to Avoid It:
Open Graph is a game-changer for improving how your content appears on social media, but only if implemented correctly. By avoiding these common mistakes and following best practices, you can create eye-catching link previews that drive clicks, engagement, and traffic to your website.
Take the time to audit your Open Graph implementation today, and watch your social media performance soar!