Back to Blog
Testing

How to Test Meta Tags Effectively: Tools and Best Practices

Shreyansh Gohil
February 19, 2025
7 min read

How to Test Meta Tags Effectively: Tools and Best Practices


Testing your meta tags is crucial to ensure your links look perfect when shared on social media. Here's a comprehensive guide to testing meta tags effectively.


Why Testing Meta Tags is Important


Without proper testing, you might discover issues only after sharing:

  • Broken or missing images
  • Incorrect titles or descriptions
  • Poor formatting
  • Platform-specific issues

Testing beforehand ensures professional, engaging link previews.


Manual Testing Methods


1. View Page Source

The simplest way to check if meta tags are present:


1. Right-click on your page

2. Select "View Page Source"

3. Search for "og:" or "twitter:"

4. Verify tags are present and correct


2. Browser Developer Tools

Use browser DevTools to inspect meta tags:


1. Open DevTools (F12)

2. Go to Elements/Inspector tab

3. Check the section

4. Look for meta tags


Platform-Specific Testing Tools


Facebook Sharing Debugger

Test how your links appear on Facebook:


1. Visit: https://developers.facebook.com/tools/debug/

2. Enter your URL

3. Click "Debug"

4. Review the preview

5. Click "Scrape Again" to refresh cache


Features:

  • See how link appears on Facebook
  • Refresh Facebook's cache
  • View all Open Graph tags
  • Check for errors or warnings

LinkedIn Post Inspector

Test LinkedIn link previews:


1. Visit: https://www.linkedin.com/post-inspector/

2. Enter your URL

3. Click "Inspect"

4. Review the preview


Features:

  • Preview LinkedIn link cards
  • Refresh LinkedIn cache
  • View Open Graph data
  • Check for issues

Twitter Card Validator

Test Twitter Cards:


1. Visit: https://cards-dev.twitter.com/validator

2. Enter your URL

3. Review the card preview


Features:

  • Preview Twitter Cards
  • Test different card types
  • View Twitter-specific tags
  • Check for errors

Our Meta Tag Preview Tool


Our tool allows you to test how your links appear across multiple platforms:


1. Visit: https://metatagpreview.com

2. Enter your URL

3. View previews for:

  • WhatsApp
  • Facebook
  • Twitter/X
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Advantages:

  • Test all platforms at once
  • See real-time previews
  • No account required
  • Free to use

What to Test


1. Title Tags

  • [ ] Title is present
  • [ ] Title is under 60 characters
  • [ ] Title is compelling
  • [ ] Title includes relevant keywords

2. Description Tags

  • [ ] Description is present
  • [ ] Description is 150-200 characters
  • [ ] Description is engaging
  • [ ] Description encourages clicks

3. Image Tags

  • [ ] Image URL is absolute (not relative)
  • [ ] Image is accessible (not blocked)
  • [ ] Image meets size requirements
  • [ ] Image file size is reasonable
  • [ ] Image alt text is present

4. URL Tags

  • [ ] Canonical URL is correct
  • [ ] URL uses HTTPS
  • [ ] URL is clean and readable

5. Platform-Specific Tags

  • [ ] Open Graph tags for Facebook/LinkedIn
  • [ ] Twitter Card tags for Twitter
  • [ ] All required tags are present

Common Testing Scenarios


Scenario 1: New Page

Test immediately after creating a new page to ensure all meta tags are correct.


Scenario 2: After Updates

Test after updating meta tags to verify changes are reflected.


Scenario 3: Before Major Campaigns

Test before launching marketing campaigns to ensure perfect previews.


Scenario 4: Regular Audits

Schedule regular testing to catch any issues early.


Testing Checklist


Use this checklist when testing your meta tags:


Open Graph Tags:

  • [ ] og:title
  • [ ] og:description
  • [ ] og:image
  • [ ] og:url
  • [ ] og:type
  • [ ] og:site_name

Twitter Card Tags:

  • [ ] twitter:card
  • [ ] twitter:title
  • [ ] twitter:description
  • [ ] twitter:image
  • [ ] twitter:site (optional)

SEO Tags:

  • [ ] title tag
  • [ ] meta description
  • [ ] canonical URL
  • [ ] robots meta tag

Troubleshooting Common Issues


Issue: Image Not Showing

Solutions:

  • Verify image URL is absolute
  • Check image is publicly accessible
  • Ensure image file size is reasonable
  • Clear platform cache

Issue: Title/Description Not Updating

Solutions:

  • Clear platform cache
  • Wait a few minutes for cache to refresh
  • Verify tags are in section
  • Check for typos in tag names

Issue: Preview Looks Wrong

Solutions:

  • Check image dimensions
  • Verify aspect ratios
  • Test on multiple platforms
  • Use our preview tool

Best Practices for Testing


1. Test Regularly

Don't just test once. Test after every major update.


2. Test on Multiple Platforms

Different platforms may display differently.


3. Test on Mobile and Desktop

Previews can look different on different devices.


4. Keep a Testing Log

Document issues and fixes for future reference.


5. Use Multiple Tools

Don't rely on just one testing tool.


Automated Testing


Consider setting up automated testing:

  • Regular audits
  • Pre-deployment checks
  • Monitoring tools
  • Alert systems

Conclusion


Testing meta tags is essential for:

  • Professional appearance
  • Maximum engagement
  • Avoiding embarrassing mistakes
  • Ensuring consistent branding

Make testing a regular part of your workflow and use multiple tools to ensure comprehensive coverage.


Use our Meta Tag Preview tool to test your links across all major social media platforms!