10 Common Meta Tag Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Meta tags are powerful, but small mistakes can significantly impact how your content appears on social media. Here are the most common mistakes and how to fix them.

1. Using Relative URLs for Images

Mistake:

<meta property="og:image" content="/images/og-image.jpg" />

Problem: Social media platforms can't access relative URLs, so images won't display.

Fix:

<meta property="og:image" content="https://yoursite.com/images/og-image.jpg" />

Always use absolute URLs (full URLs starting with https://).

2. Images Too Small

Mistake: Using small images (e.g., 200x200 pixels)

Problem: Images appear pixelated or get rejected by platforms.

Fix: Use images at least 1200x630 pixels for best results across all platforms.

3. Missing og:image Tag

Mistake: Not including an og:image tag

Problem: Platforms will try to guess an image, often choosing poorly.

Fix: Always include a high-quality, relevant image:

<meta property="og:image" content="https://yoursite.com/image.jpg" />

4. Title Too Long

Mistake: Using very long titles (100+ characters)

Problem: Titles get truncated, losing important information.

Fix: Keep titles under 60 characters for optimal display.

Example:

❌ "This is a Very Long Title That Will Get Cut Off and Look Unprofessional When Shared on Social Media Platforms"
✅ "Complete Guide to Meta Tags"

5. Description Too Short or Missing

Mistake: Missing or very short descriptions

Problem: Poor preview appearance, missed opportunity to engage users.

Fix: Write compelling descriptions between 150-200 characters:

<meta property="og:description" content="A compelling description that provides value and encourages clicks. Make it informative and engaging." />

6. Not Including twitter:card

Mistake: Only using Open Graph tags, missing Twitter-specific tags

Problem: Twitter may not display optimal preview cards.

Fix: Include Twitter Card tags:

<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Your Title" />
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Your Description" />
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://yoursite.com/image.jpg" />

7. Duplicate Meta Tags

Mistake: Having multiple og:title or og:description tags

Problem: Platforms may use the wrong tag or get confused.

Fix: Ensure each meta tag appears only once per page.

8. Missing og:url or Canonical URL

Mistake: Not specifying canonical URLs

Problem: Duplicate content issues, inconsistent sharing.

Fix: Always include canonical URLs:

<meta property="og:url" content="https://yoursite.com/page" />
<link rel="canonical" href="https://yoursite.com/page" />

9. Image File Size Too Large

Mistake: Using very large image files (5MB+)

Problem: Slow loading, platforms may reject images.

Fix: Optimize images to under 1MB while maintaining quality:

Use compression tools
Choose appropriate format (JPG for photos, PNG for graphics)
Resize to recommended dimensions

10. Not Testing After Changes

Mistake: Making changes without testing

Problem: Issues only discovered after sharing, causing embarrassment.

Fix: Always test after making changes:

1. Use our Meta Tag Preview tool

2. Test on Facebook Sharing Debugger

3. Test on Twitter Card Validator

4. Share a test link to verify

Complete Correct Example

Here's an example with all best practices:

<!-- SEO Meta Tags -->
<title>Your Page Title - Brand Name</title>
<meta name="description" content="A compelling description that encourages clicks and includes relevant keywords." />
<link rel="canonical" href="https://yoursite.com/page" />

<!-- Open Graph Tags -->
<meta property="og:type" content="website" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://yoursite.com/page" />
<meta property="og:title" content="Your Page Title" />
<meta property="og:description" content="A compelling description that provides value and encourages clicks." />
<meta property="og:image" content="https://yoursite.com/images/og-image-1200x630.jpg" />
<meta property="og:image:width" content="1200" />
<meta property="og:image:height" content="630" />
<meta property="og:image:alt" content="Descriptive alt text for the image" />
<meta property="og:site_name" content="Your Site Name" />

<!-- Twitter Card Tags -->
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Your Page Title" />
<meta name="twitter:description" content="A compelling description that provides value." />
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://yoursite.com/images/twitter-image-1200x628.jpg" />
<meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="Descriptive alt text for the image" />

Quick Fix Checklist

Use this checklist to avoid common mistakes:

[ ] All image URLs are absolute (https://)
[ ] Images are at least 1200x630 pixels
[ ] og:image tag is present
[ ] Title is under 60 characters
[ ] Description is 150-200 characters
[ ] Twitter Card tags are included
[ ] Each meta tag appears only once
[ ] Canonical URL is specified
[ ] Image file size is under 1MB
[ ] Tested after implementation

How to Find and Fix Mistakes

Step 1: Identify Issues

Use our preview tool
Check platform-specific validators
View page source
Use browser DevTools

Step 2: Fix Issues

Update meta tags
Optimize images
Fix URLs
Adjust content length

Step 3: Verify Fixes

Test again with preview tools
Clear platform caches
Share test links
Monitor results

Prevention Tips

1. Use Templates - Create meta tag templates to ensure consistency

2. Validate Early - Test during development, not after launch

3. Document Standards - Keep a style guide for your team

4. Regular Audits - Schedule regular meta tag audits

5. Automate Testing - Set up automated checks where possible

Conclusion

Avoiding these common mistakes ensures:

Professional appearance on social media
Higher engagement rates
Better click-through rates
Consistent branding
Improved user experience

Take time to implement meta tags correctly and test thoroughly. The effort pays off in better social media performance.

Use our Meta Tag Preview tool to catch these mistakes before sharing your links!