Select Page

No Image on Social

How Open Graph issues affect social media posts.

Open Graph errors are related to the implementation and usage of Open Graph (OG) markup on your website. Open Graph is a protocol that allows websites to control how their content is presented when shared on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.

Here are five common Open Graph issues:

  1. Missing or Incomplete Open Graph Markup
    One of the main issues is the absence of Open Graph markup on web pages where it could be beneficial. Without the necessary OG tags, social media platforms may not be able to generate rich previews or display the desired content when the page is shared.
  2. Incorrect or Invalid Open Graph Markup
    Implementing Open Graph requires following specifications and guidelines set by Open Graph Protocol. Errors in markup, such as missing required properties, incorrect data formats, or invalid values, can lead to Open Graph issues. This can result in incorrect or incomplete previews when the content is shared on social media platforms.
  3. Conflicting or Inconsistent Open Graph Data
    If pages on your website have conflicting or inconsistent Open Graph data, social media platforms may display discrepancies in the information provided. This can lead to brand confusion and inconsistent previews for shared content.
  4. Dynamic Content and Open Graph
    If your website generates dynamic content you may face challenges in accurate and relevant Open Graph data for each unique page. It is important to ensure that the dynamic content is properly accompanied by appropriate Open Graph markup.
  5. Open Graph and Caching Issues
    Caching mechanisms used by social media platforms or third-party plugins can lead to outdated or incorrect Open Graph data content being displayed. This can result in inconsistencies between your shared preview and your actual content.

Open Graph issues can impact how shared content is presented on social media platforms, potentially affecting click-through rates, user engagement, and the overall visibility of the website’s content.

To minimize Open Graph issues, we recommend the following four steps:

  1. Implement Proper Open Graph Markup
    Include the necessary Open Graph meta tags on relevant web pages. Follow the Open Graph Protocol guidelines and ensure accurate and complete implementation.
  2. Validate Open Graph Markup
    Use Open Graph validation tools provided by social media platforms or third-party validators to check for errors or issues in the markup. Address any reported problems and revalidate the markup.
  3. Test Shared Previews
    Regularly test how the shared content appears on different social media platforms. Use tools like the Facebook Sharing Debugger or Twitter Card Validator to preview how your content will be displayed when shared.
  4. Clear Caching
    If you have encountered caching issues with Open Graph data, try clearing the cache of your social media platforms or any third-party caching systems involved. This can help ensure that the most up-to-date Open Graph data is fetched when your content is shared.

With proper implementation, Open Graph issues can be minimized, and you can improve the presentation and visibility of your content when shared on social media platforms. This can enhance the technical SEO performance, click through rate (CTR), engagement, and social sharing potential of your website content.