How to Use Open Graph Tags to Boost Social Engagement

Aug 18, 2025 10:43 PM - 8 months ago 298284

What Is Open Graph?

Open Graph tags are snippets of codification you adhd to your webpages that specify really your contented appears erstwhile users stock it connected definite societal media sites.

OG meta tags beryllium to the Open Graph protocol, which Facebook created to standardize really metadata is pulled from webpages and displayed successful its feed.

For example, return this blog station shared connected Facebook pinch an Open Graph image tag:

Blog station shared connected Facebook by Semrush pinch an unfastened chart image tag.

Compared pinch this station without the OG image tag:

Blog station shared connected Facebook without an unfastened chart image tag.

The first station is much visually appealing and provides other specifications astir the shared content.

OG tags springiness you much power complete really your contented looks erstwhile shared connected sites for illustration Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Pinterest.

They spell successful the header conception of your webpages. Like this:

Open chart tags for illustration title, image, description, type, locale, and tract sanction connected a web page's header.

We’ll screen really to adhd them later successful this article.

Why Are Open Graph Meta Tags Important?

Open Graph meta tags create appealing and informative previews of your pages, which tin amended social media metrics for illustration engagements, impressions, and reactions.

A 2024 INMA study showed that Facebook posts pinch images had 100% much engagement and 114% much impressions than posts without images.

Other Open Graph tag benefits whitethorn include:

Higher click-through complaint (CTR): Link previews are much enticing to click on, which tin lead to much referral postulation to your site
More shares: People are much apt to stock contented pinch nexus previews
Stronger branding: Enriched previews thief support brand voice and consistency crossed societal platforms
Professional look: Missing tags tin make your marque look neglected
Indirect SEO benefits: More clicks and shares tin make backlinks and personification interactions that use SEO

Open Graph Types: Required & Optional Tags

Open Graph tags enrich really societal media platforms show your page previews. Some tags are required. Others are optional. This conception provides modular codification snippets, champion practices, and examples.

Required Tags

The beneath tags must beryllium coming for societal media sites utilizing the Open Graph Protocol to show enriched previews.

og:title

The og:title tag specifies a title for your contented and shows users what your page is about.

Best Practices:

Match the webpage’s content
Encourage clicks pinch descriptive text
Keep titles betwixt 55-60 characters to debar truncation
Use title lawsuit aliases condemnation case, but debar each caps

Example:

og:image

og:image adds an image to your preview that takes up a batch of ocular space, which tin summation clicks.

Best Practices:

Use images astatine 1200 x 630 pixels for astir societal media platforms
Use JPEG aliases PNG formats
Ensure your OG societal image matches your page content
Use high-resolution images

Example:

og:url

og:url is the uniform assets locator (URL) of your page and tells societal media sites wherever to propulsion the contented from.

Best Practices:

Use an nonstop URL.
Use the canonical URL for immoderate duplicates, which ensures the societal media tract tin entree the correct metaproperties, moreover if different versions of the page are shared

Example:

og:type

og:type describes the type of contented and should lucifer 1 of the pursuing object type values:

Website
Article
Book
Profile
Video
Music

Best Practices:

Choose an OG type that matches the page’s content. If you person aggregate contented types (e.g., a blog station pinch images and videos), take the superior one
Use the correct corresponding entity type value

Example:

Optional Tags

These tags are not required, but they tin amended really societal media sites show your content.

og:description

The og:description tag provides a little summary of your contented to motivate clicks.

Best Practices:

Keep your descriptions concise, accurate, and enticing
Use less than 120 characters to forestall truncation
Avoid repeating the og:title

Example:

og:site_name

The og:site_name tag lists the site, business, aliases marque associated pinch the content.

Best Practices:

Verify pronunciation and lucifer your branding
Avoid repeating your marque sanction if it appears successful the og:title

Example:

og:locale

The og:locale tag specifies your content’s connection and state truthful societal media sites tin categorize it.

Best Practices:

Use the correct language and state code
Confirm the correct bid (i.e., language_country)
Use og:local:alternate for further regions aliases languages

Example:

How to Set Up OG Tags

Here’s really to adhd Open Graph tags connected a fewer celebrated content guidance systems.

In Wordpress

In WordPress, you tin adhd Open Graph tags done various plugins, but we urge Yoast SEO.

To entree and usage the plugin for Open Graph, travel these steps:

Log successful to your WordPress account
Navigate to “Plugins” and hunt for “Yoast SEO” (the Premium type is required)
Install and activate the plugin
Navigate to “Yoast SEO” > “Settings”
Slide the toggle beneath the Open Graph characteristic to alteration it
Use the “Social” tab successful the plugin to customize tags connected individual pages

Social media quality settings connected Yoast pinch options to customize the image, title, and description.

In Wix

Wix adds Open Graph tags to your pages by default based connected your site’s information and Open Graph champion practices.

To customize them, travel these steps:

Log successful to your Wix account
Go to “Search Engine Optimization (SEO)” successful your dashboard
Click connected “SEO Settings”
Select the page type you want to edit (i.e., Blog post, Product page, etc.)
Click “Edit” adjacent to “SEO basics & societal share”
Scroll down to “Social share” and use your civilization tags

Social stock tab connected Wix showing a preview of the station on pinch options to customize the title and description.

In Squarespace

Squarespace adds basal OG types, but you tin customize them connected a per-page basis.

Here’s how:

Log successful to your Squarespace account
Hover complete the page to edit and click connected the cogwheel icon adjacent to “Menu”
Click “Advanced”
Copy and paste your OG tags into “Page Header Code Injection”
Click “Save”

Advanced settings for a page connected Squarespace pinch the 'Page Header Code Injection' array and the 'Save' fastener highlighted.

How to Check Your OG Meta Tags

For Facebook

Use Facebook’s Sharing Debugger instrumentality to trial your OG tags.

Insert the page URL and click “Debug.” Any issues will look nether “Warnings That Should Be Fixed.”

image spot should beryllium explicitly provided' highlighted.

Scroll to the “Link Preview” conception to spot really your station will look.

Link preview conception connected Meta's Sharing Debugger instrumentality showing really a station pinch a nexus will look connected Facebook.

For LinkedIn

Use LinkedIn’s Post Inspector to cheque your OG tags.

Enter your page URL and click “Inspect.” Review the nexus preview and if thing is missing aliases tin beryllium improved.

LinkedInâ€™s Post Inspector pinch a URL entered, 'Inspect' clicked, and a preview of the station appearing below.

For X

X nary longer provides a nexus preview successful its card validator, truthful usage the Tweet Composer to cheque really your contented will appear.

A URL entered connected X's Tweet Composer to spot really the contented will look erstwhile posted.

Audit Your Open Graph Tags

Use Site Audit to corroborate that your OG tags are coming and correctly group up.

To cheque which pages connected your tract person OG tags, tally a tract audit. Then, click “View details” nether the “Markup” report.

Thematic Reports connected Site Audit pinch "View details" nether Markup clicked.

Find the “Pages by Markup Type” conception and look for “Open graph.” The bluish number shows really galore pages person OG tags. Click to spot the afloat list.