First impressions matter, especially when sharing links on social media or messaging platforms. The Open Graph (OG) preview is the snippet that appears when you share a link, usually displaying a title, description, and image. Customizing this preview can significantly enhance your link's click-through rate and overall engagement.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to change and customize the Open Graph preview of a link using CutMe Short, allowing you to create eye-catching and branded link previews.

Why Customize Your Open Graph Preview?

Customizing the OG preview offers several benefits:

• Increased Engagement: A compelling preview encourages more clicks.

• Brand Consistency: Aligns shared links with your brand’s visuals and messaging.

• Better Communication: Helps convey the right message at a glance.

• Enhanced SEO: Well-optimized previews can improve visibility on social platforms.

What Elements Can You Customize?

The Open Graph preview typically includes the following elements:

• Title: The main heading of the link preview.

• Description: A short snippet that provides context.

• Image: A thumbnail or image that represents the link.

• URL: The displayed link, which can also be customized.

CutMe Short allows you to modify these elements to create a tailored and professional link preview.

How to Customize the Open Graph Preview in CutMe Short?

Step 1: Create or Edit a Short Link

• On your dashboard, click 'Create Link' or choose an existing link to edit.

  
  

  

  
  

• Enter the original URL if you're creating a new link.

  
  

Step 2: Navigate to Open Graph Settings

• As we paste the link in the URL we will be able to see the preview of it in the ‘Open Graph Preview’ section.

• Scroll to the 'Open Graph Preview' section.

  
  

• Toggle the option to 'Override Metadata' to activate the customization options.

  
  

Step 4: Customize Each Element

• Title: Enter a catchy and relevant title for your link.

• Description: Write a brief yet engaging description to provide context.

• Image: Upload a custom image that aligns with your brand or campaign.

• URL: You can also customize the displayed URL to make it more appealing.

  
  

Step 5: Preview and Save

• Use the preview feature to see how the link will appear on social media.

• Make any necessary adjustments to ensure everything looks perfect.

• Click 'CutMe Short' to finalize the changes.

Best Practices for Open Graph Previews

• Use High-Quality Images: Recommended size is 1200 x 630 pixels for optimal display on social platforms.

• Keep Titles Short: Aim for 60-80 characters to avoid truncation.

• Write Compelling Descriptions: Highlight the value or key message of your content.

• Maintain Brand Consistency: Use visuals and messaging that reflect your brand identity.

Where Are Open Graph Previews Displayed?

Once customized, the OG preview will show up when sharing links on platforms like:

• Facebook

• LinkedIn

• Twitter (via Twitter Cards)

• Messaging Apps (e.g., WhatsApp, Slack)

This ensures your audience sees a polished and professional link preview regardless of the platform.

Troubleshooting Open Graph Previews

If your customized OG preview doesn’t display correctly, try the following:

• Clear Cache: Social platforms sometimes cache previews. Use tools like Facebook’s Sharing Debugger to refresh the cache.

• Check OG Tags: Ensure your link has the correct Open Graph meta tags applied.

• Test the Link: Share the link privately to verify the preview before public distribution.

Customizing the Open Graph preview of your links with CutMe Short is a simple yet powerful way to boost engagement and reinforce your brand’s image. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create visually appealing and informative link previews that capture your audience’s attention and drive more traffic to your content.