How to get the most out of Open Graph tags in WordPress

Imagine this: you spend hours creating an amazing article, designing a spectacular website, or uploading that one star product you know your customers will love. Finally, you decide to share it on social media, hoping it looks just as awesome as it does on your website. But when you share it… it comes up with a badly cut title, a description that has nothing to do with it and, even worse, a pixelated or out-of-context image.

The result? Your content goes unnoticed, clicks don’t come through and the first impression, the one that counts so much on the Internet, is ruined. This is a common pain for those who manage websites or work in agencies: you invest in quality content, but lose control when it is shared on social networks.

This is where Open Graph comes in, a simple but powerful tool that lets you decide how your content will look when shared on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn or WhatsApp. Implementing it can make the difference between a link that no one notices and one that attracts clicks, builds trust and reinforces your brand.

Let’s discover how it works, why it is essential and, above all, how you can take advantage of it, especially if you manage a WordPress site.

What is Open Graph and how does it work?

Open Graph is a protocol developed by Facebook that allows website administrators to control how their content is displayed on social networks and messaging applications. It works through HTML tags (meta tags) that provide detailed information about a web page, such as its title, description, main image and content type.

When someone shares a URL of your website, social platforms look for these tags to determine what information to display. If you don’t use Open Graph, the platforms generate an automatic preview that is often inaccurate or unattractive.

Why is it important to use Open Graph?

Using Open Graph on your website is key to ensuring that content shared on social networks has a positive impact. Here’s why:

1. Total control over appearance.
   Without Open Graph, platforms automatically select elements of your page, which can result in clipped titles, incorrect images or irrelevant descriptions. Open Graph allows you to choose what is displayed.
2. Increase click-through rate (CTR).
   An attractive link with an eye-catching title, a striking image and a clear description increases the likelihood that users will click.
3. Strengthen your brand.
   Controlling how your content is presented reinforces your brand’s visual identity, ensuring consistency in every shared link.
4. Improves user experience.
   Offering a clear and relevant preview gives users confidence and motivates them to interact with your content.

Open Graph is more than a technical detail; it is a strategic tool to capture attention and generate more traffic from social networks.

How can you implement Open Graph in WordPress?

Implementing Open Graph in WordPress is a simple process thanks to the multiple options available. Here are the main ways to do it:

1. Using an SEO plugin (the easiest option)

Popular plugins such as Yoast SEO, Rank Math or All in One SEO include support for Open Graph, which simplifies its configuration.

Basic steps:

• Install the plugin from the WordPress repository.
• Activate Open Graph functionality in the plugin settings.
• On each post or page, customize the title, description, and image in the SEO settings section.

2. With a specific Open Graph plugin

If you don’t need a full SEO plugin, you can opt for one dedicated to Open Graph, such as Open Graph and Twitter Card Tags. This type of plugin allows you to manage only the tags needed for social networks.

3. Adding code manually

If you prefer to customize everything from scratch, you can include the Open Graph tags directly in the functions.php file of your theme or in a custom plugin. Here is a basic example:

function add_open_graph() {
if (is_singular()) {
echo '<meta property=“og:title” content="' . get_the_title() . '” />';
echo '<meta property=“og:description” content="' . get_the_excerpt() . '” />';
echo '<meta property=“og:image” content="' . get_the_post_thumbnail_url() . '” />';
echo '<meta property=“og:url” content="' . get_permalink() . '” />';
echo '<meta property=“og:type” content=“article” />';
}
}
add_action('wp_head', 'add_open_graph');

4.Keep your site always active to maximize the impact of Open Graph

Remember that all the effort you put into optimizing your Open Graph tags will be in vain if your website is not available when someone clicks on a shared link. An unexpected crash can ruin the user experience and affect your online reputation.

To avoid this, it is essential to have tools that guarantee the stability of your website. If you use WordPress, I recommend reading this article about Uptime Monitor for WordPress. You will discover how to monitor your site’s uptime and make sure it is always accessible, maximizing the impact of your social media optimization strategies.

Tips for getting the most out of Open Graph

Once implemented, Open Graph can be a powerful tool if used strategically. Here are some tips to take advantage of its full potential:

1. Optimize images

• Use eye-catching images that are relevant to your content
• Follow the size recommendations: 1200×630 px is ideal for Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Make sure your images are high quality, lightweight and mobile friendly.

2. Customize titles.

• Create titles that are clear, impactful and inviting to click.
• Avoid using titles that are too generic such as “Home” or “Blog”.

3. Make the description count.

• Think of the description as a teaser for your content. Use persuasive text that arouses curiosity or highlights the benefits of clicking through.
• Keep it the right length so it doesn’t cut into previews (between 100 and 160 characters).

4. Test and adjust regularly.

• Test different combinations of title, description and image to identify which generates the most interaction.
• Use tools such as Facebook’s Sharing Debugger to preview changes before posting.

5. Adapt Open Graph to the type of content.

• For products: Include additional information such as price or availability with specific tags (og:price, og:availability).
• For blogs or articles: Highlight an interesting fact or key phrase in the description.
• For events: Add details such as date, location or a clear call to action.

6. Align Open Graph with your marketing strategy.

• If you are promoting specific campaigns or products, make sure the information you share on social networks reinforces your main message.

7. Use videos instead of images (if applicable).

• In place of an image, you can use a video as a featured element (og:video), which can increase engagement.