Open Graph Preview Guide: Make Shared Links Look Trustworthy

Platforms use these tags to build link previews, but they may also apply their own rules and caching.

The Preview Card Checklist#

Before publishing an important page, check:

• Is the title specific?
• Is the description accurate?
• Is the image the right size?
• Does the image load publicly?
• Is the image visually readable when cropped?
• Does the URL match the canonical page?
• Does the card work in dark and light contexts?
• Does the card still make sense without the description?

The preview should tell a user why the link is worth opening.

Title Mistakes#

Bad Open Graph titles are often either too vague or too long.

Vague:

Overstuffed:

Better:

The title should identify the page, not repeat every keyword you hope to rank for.

Description Mistakes#

The description should summarize the value of the page. It should not be generic marketing fog.

Weak:

Better:

Good descriptions are concrete. They set expectations.

Image Requirements#

Preview images need to be:

• Publicly accessible.
• Large enough for social cards.
• Not blocked by robots or auth.
• Fast enough to load.
• Clear when cropped.
• Relevant to the page.

Common image problems:

• Relative image URLs.
• Image behind authentication.
• Tiny logo stretched into a card.
• Text too close to the edge.
• Low contrast.
• Wrong aspect ratio.
• Old cached image still showing.

If the page matters, create a dedicated preview image.

Test Before Sharing#

Do not wait until after launch to discover that previews are broken.

Use a preview tool and check:

• Your homepage.
• Landing pages.
• Blog posts.
• Product pages.
• Documentation pages.
• Pricing pages.
• Campaign pages.

For dynamic sites, test pages generated from real data. Template bugs often appear only with long titles or missing images.

Platform Caching#

Social platforms often cache previews. If you fix metadata and still see the old card, the platform may be using cached data.

What to do:

• Confirm the page HTML is updated.
• Confirm the image URL changed or cache headers allow refresh.
• Use platform debugging tools when available.
• Add a versioned image URL for important updates.

Caching can make preview bugs feel stubborn even after the site is fixed.

Open Graph and SEO#

Open Graph tags are not a direct replacement for SEO metadata. You still need good title tags, meta descriptions, canonical URLs, structured data when appropriate, and useful page content.

But Open Graph affects distribution. A better preview can improve click-through when links are shared in chat, social feeds, forums, and internal tools.

That matters because content often travels through people before it travels through search.

A Practical Publishing Workflow#

1. Write the page title.
2. Write a specific Open Graph title.
3. Write a concise description.
4. Create or select a relevant image.
5. Use an absolute image URL.
6. Preview the card.
7. Check mobile cropping.
8. Publish.
9. Recheck after deployment.

This takes a few minutes and prevents embarrassing link previews.

The Bottom Line#

Open Graph metadata is small, but it shapes how your pages appear when shared. A trustworthy preview makes a link feel intentional. A broken preview makes users hesitate.

Preview before publishing. Make the title specific, the description useful, and the image clear. Shared links deserve the same care as the page itself.