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How to Check Meta Tags for Social Sharing: A Simple Guide

Graham keywordnumbersJuly 7, 20266 min read
How to Check Meta Tags for Social Sharing: A Simple Guide

Sharing your content on social media should make your site look its best—but only if your meta tags are set up correctly. In this guide, you'll learn how to check meta tags for social sharing, why they matter, and how to easily optimise them for platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

What Are Social Sharing Meta Tags?

Meta tags are snippets of code in your site's HTML that help control how your pages appear in search engines and social media feeds. For social sharing, special meta tags like Open Graph (for Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp) and Twitter Cards determine the title, description, and image displayed when your link is shared.

Common Social Meta Tags

PlatformTag TypeExample Tag
Facebookog:title, og:desc
Twittertwitter:card
LinkedInUses Open Graph

Why Check Meta Tags for Social Sharing?

  • Boost Click-Throughs: A compelling image and description make people more likely to click your link on social platforms.
  • Control Your Brand: Without proper meta tags, social networks might pull random images or text.
  • SEO Synergy: Well-optimised meta tags can indirectly support your search rankings by increasing engagement.

    • How to Check Meta Tags on Your Website

    There are several ways to see which meta tags are on your pages:

    1. Use a Free Meta Tag Checker Tool

    The easiest route is to use an online meta tag checker. Try the free Meta Tags Checker tool on KeywordNumbers. Just enter your URL and you'll get a full report of your meta tags, including which ones are set up for social sharing.

    2. Check Meta Tags Manually in Your Browser

  • Open the page you want to check.
  • Right-click and select View Page Source.
  • Use Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac) to search for og:, twitter:, or meta tags.

    • Look for tags like:

    `html

    `

    3. Use Browser Extensions

    Extensions like "Open Graph Preview" or "Meta SEO Inspector" for Chrome/Edge can show you the meta tags at a glance.

    How to Optimise Social Meta Tags: A Quick Example

    Suppose you’re sharing a blog post about cycling safety. The perfect preview for social media would be:

  • Title: Cycling Safety: 10 Essential Tips
  • Description: Stay safe on the roads with our top 10 tips for cyclists. Ideal for beginners and seasoned riders alike.
  • Image: A high-quality image of a cyclist with visible safety gear.

    • Here’s how your HTML might look:

    `html

    `

  • Image Sizing:*
  • For Open Graph: At least 1200 x 630 pixels (approx. 47 x 25 inches / 120 x 63 centimetres)
  • For Twitter: 800 x 418 pixels works well (approx. 31.5 x 16.5 inches / 80 x 41.8 cm)

    • Pro Tips for Social Sharing Meta Tags

  • Always use high-quality, relevant images (avoid generic stock photos).
  • Keep titles under 60 characters so they don’t get cut off.
  • Fill in all basic tags (title, description, image) for both Open Graph and Twitter.
  • Check how your page looks on multiple social platforms.
  • Update meta tags when you refresh your content.

    • Questions People Are Actually Asking

    How to check meta tags on website?

    You can check meta tags by viewing your page’s HTML source or using a free online meta tag checker like the Meta Tags Checker tool on KeywordNumbers. Simply enter your page URL for a full report.

    How to see a website’s meta tags?

    Right-click on the page and select View Page Source, then search for tags. Alternatively, browser extensions or online tools can display all meta tags without any coding knowledge.

    How to do meta tags?

    Add meta tags to your site’s section in the HTML. Use specific tags for each platform (Open Graph for Facebook/LinkedIn, Twitter Cards for Twitter). Many CMS platforms like WordPress have plugins to make this easier.

    How much is a share of meta?

    If you’re asking about the value of Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook) shares, check a financial news site or your local stock exchange for the current price. For website meta tags, “share of meta” isn’t applicable.

    How to use meta tags in SharePoint?

    In SharePoint, you can add meta tags via the site’s settings or by editing the page HTML (for advanced users). SharePoint may handle some metadata automatically, but for full control, consult your site administrator.

    What happens if I don’t set social meta tags?

    Social platforms may pull random text or images from your page, which could look unprofessional or even misleading. Setting meta tags ensures your content is shared with the right message and branding.

    Do meta tags affect SEO rankings?

    While social meta tags don’t directly impact rankings, they can increase click-through rates and engagement when your links are shared, which may have an indirect positive effect.

    Conclusion

    Checking and optimising your meta tags for social sharing is crucial for making your content stand out across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and beyond. Take a few minutes to audit your site with the free Meta Tags Checker on KeywordNumbers, and give your content the best shot at being clicked and shared.

    Free tools to put this into practice

    Reading is one thing — testing your own pages is what moves the needle. Here are the free KeywordNumbers tools that pair best with this guide:

  • Meta Tag Analyser — audit every meta tag on a page in one click.
  • Title Tag Analyzer — score your page title and see how it looks in Google.
  • SERP Preview — preview exactly how your page will appear in search results before you publish.

    • Every one of our free SEO tools is genuinely free to use, with no sign-up required.

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