What Is An Open Graph Image? [Examples + Free Tools!]

Have you ever struggled to share an article on Facebook because the image just didn’t want to show up? Yes, we all know the pain. When this happens, the issue is Facebook doesn’t see an object to pull from the page to use as a preview image. However, when you see this issue, the solution’s to use an Open Graph Image. What’s more, it can increase engagement and boost the exposure of your brand. But how do you incorporate it into your content?

What is an Open Graph Image?

Whenever you share a web page on a social media site like Facebook or Twitter, an associated image accompanies a post. This is what’s called an Open Graph Image. Web developers create these images using what’s called the open graph protocol. When used, images from web pages are turned into objects that can be pulled from the page and used on other platforms. That’s how Facebook other social media platforms can display a preview image simply through a user sharing a link.

Why is an open graph image important? If your OG image is good, it will provide visual context to the content found on your webpage. And the most captivating images work to attract Facebook users to click.

If there is no OG image, your post will look like the screenshot below, a plain box featuring the webpage URL and its meta description:

This isn’t very attractive. As you can see, the shared link above is bland, almost like a computer posted it rather than a person. And with limited windows to capture an audience’s attention, your links will get lost in the sea of content without an OG image. So, to maximize engagement and exposure, you need to incorporate at least one open graph image on any page you publish.

Related:

Check the screenshot below for an example of using an open graph image properly:

Open Graph Image Size

Of course, required OG image dimensions vary across platforms. For example, a Facebook open graph image should be 1200×630 pixels and no more than 8MB to display properly. So, do your research on the required OG image dimensions and edit your pictures accordingly, so they look good on any platform.

Sometimes, you’ll have to make specific cuts to an image to ensure the focus of the image used shows properly across platforms. This is where Simplified AI comes to the rescue. And the best thing is it’s totally free of charge.

Simplified’s magic ‘resize‘ tool can solve all of your problems. Whether you need an OG image for Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

By clicking Simplified’s magic wand, you will see a menu with templates for the different types of posts you want to make. Choose the template that suits you, and voila! You have an OG image for your post.

Simplified is also user-friendly. And since it’s free, all you have to do is sign up to get started.

There are still a few things that you have to remember about OG dimensions while using different platforms.

For example, Twitter can be problematic. That’s because an OG image doesn’t fit perfectly into a tweet, which means that content can be cut off when shared. You then need to create two different images – an OG image and a Twitter Card image. With Simplified’s tool, you can easily resize the images you have and adjust their proportions. The size for a Twitter card is 1024×512 pixels, and Simplified already has a template prepared.

You can find all the necessary information about image sizes on each platform’s website. For example, you can find the Facebook OG image requirements on the Facebook Developers page.

Open Graph Image Content

Here’s a list of what to include in your OG image:

• A suitable image for the content of the article. It might be confusing for your viewers if the picture is ambiguous.
• Text that grabs the attention of your audience. It could be something that gives more information about the article or a CTA like ‘Read more.’
• Your brand’s logo. You want people to recognize your content, which establishes your brand easily. It’s especially pertinent if the post gains traction as you want to ensure your branding associates your business to the post. Here, Simplified can help you design your logo and attach it to your OG image.

You can create OG images by using different software, including Simplified! Simplified allows you to resize the pictures however suits your needs best. You also are provided with the chance to add different components such as text and logos to them.

The sidebar menu of the tool will give you any necessary design features to create and edit the perfect image for your brand.

When you decide to start creating your OG image, you have to make only a few choices from the two menus that you can see in the picture above. After your OG image is ready, you will have the perfect post – vibrant and attractive! Following these steps, you can create attention-grabbing posts that encourage audiences to engage.

• The text icon will let you add a title and modify the color and the font.
• The image icon allows you to add images. You can lay them out to your specifications in your OG image.
• The visuals icon is where you add logos and other graphics to make your image more appealing.
• The magic wand is where you can resize and edit the image.
• The bucket tool changes the background color according to your preferences.
• If you press the three dots in the corner, the whole menu will extend, and you will be able to see all features on the left side of your workspace.

The tool itself is super easy to use! Just play around with the listed features above and find what best suits your needs.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Shopify Image Sizes

Yoast Open Graph image

Yoast SEO is one of WordPress’s plugins that allows content producers to add meta-tags to their posts, including title and description. These show in the results of a Google search and broadcast the page’s content to potential readers.

Yoast SEO also allows you to add OG images to any article on WordPress that you’d like. However, you need to upgrade to a business account to access this feature.

Yoast Premium allows you to preview the OG image before you share it on Facebook. It also provides templates to get you started on designing impactful images for your content.

If you don’t have Yoast Premium, you’ll have to share your posts directly on Facebook to see the final result.

How to do this? Go to the front end of the site, then to the article itself. Next, highlight the complete URL of the article in the address bar. Once you’ve done this, go to Facebook and create a new post and paste the URL. You’ll then see the image on top of the content description.

With Facebook’s “Share Post Only With Me” option, you can preview how a post will look discreetly and make adjustments before sending it out to the world.

Open Graph Image lowdown

This section will give you a short overview of the criteria for a lowdown OG image.

• The recommended size for a lowdown OG image is 1200×630 pixels so that you can get a big rectangle picture under the post text.
• Images that are under 600 pixels will display to the left of the OG title.
• The minimum size is 200×200 pixels.
• You can add text to your image, but try to keep the words to the minimum to avoid crowding.

Examples

In this section, we’ve selected some images that will give you an idea of what a good OG image should look like.

Now, you know everything about OG images and how to add them to your posts. The only thing left to do is to put theory into practice! And what’s a better way to get started than signing up for a free and accessible tool like Simplified.