Technical Reference: Optimizing Meta Property OG Tags
Quick Answer: The essential meta property OG tags are: og:title (60-90 chars), og:description (150-200 chars), og:url (absolute canonical URL), og:type (website/article), and og:image (1200x630px). Always use absolute URLs and test with debugging tools before publishing.
The Ultimate Meta Property OG Reference
To truly master social SEO, you need to understand the nuances of each meta property og attribute.
1. Meta Property OG Title
The og:title should be clear and descriptive.
- Limit: 60-90 characters.
- SEO Tip: Keep it consistent with your brand voice but make it more "clickable" than your standard meta title.
2. Meta Property OG URL
The og:url should always be the absolute canonical URL. This ensures that all social signals (likes, shares) are attributed to a single version of your page.
3. Meta Property OG Description
The og:description provides the context.
- Limit: 150-200 characters.
- SEO Tip: Don't keyword stuff here. Use this space to entice the user to click.
4. Meta Property OG Type
The og:type defines the schema of your object.
- Common values:
website,article,book,profile. - Why it matters: It determines how your content is categorized in social platform databases.
5. Meta Property OG Image
The og:image is the most important visual element.
- Dimensions: 1200x630 pixels.
- Format: PNG, JPEG, or WebP.
Pro Tip: Check your page's OG properties instantly with our SEO Analyzer by entering your URL on the homepage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the character limit for og:title?
The recommended og:title length is 60-90 characters. Titles longer than 90 characters may be truncated on some platforms. Facebook typically displays up to 88 characters.
Can og:url be different from the page URL?
While possible, og:url should match your canonical URL. This ensures all social engagement (likes, shares, comments) is consolidated to one URL rather than split across variations.
What happens if I don't set og:type?
If og:type is missing, platforms default to "website." For better categorization and potential rich features, always specify the appropriate type (article, product, video, etc.).
Should og:image use absolute or relative URLs?
Always use absolute URLs for og:image (starting with https://). Relative URLs may not be resolved correctly by social platforms and can result in missing images.
What's the minimum og:image size?
The minimum recommended size is 200x200 pixels, but 1200x630 pixels is optimal for high-resolution displays. Images smaller than 200x200 may not be displayed at all.
Can I use SVG for og:image?
No, SVG is not supported for og:image. Use PNG, JPEG, or WebP formats. PNG is best for graphics with text, while JPEG is better for photographs.