Use a wide canvas and protect the safe area
A 1200 × 630 canvas is a practical default for link previews. Keep the title, logo and other identifying information away from the outer edges because messaging apps and social platforms may crop, round or overlay parts of the preview.
Use one clear focal point. A busy collage, several logos and a long headline compete for attention when the card is shown at thumbnail size.
Write for thumbnail-size reading
Short titles work better than copying a full page heading onto the image. Use large type, strong contrast and a background that does not interfere with letter shapes. The page title and description still belong in HTML metadata, so the image does not need to repeat every detail.
When using a photograph, add a controlled overlay or place text in an uncluttered region. Preview the final PNG at a much smaller width before publishing.
- Keep the headline concise
- Use high contrast between text and background
- Leave generous space near every edge
- Export a real PNG and inspect the downloaded file
Publish metadata and test the live URL
The page should expose an absolute og:image URL together with an Open Graph title and description. The image URL must be publicly reachable; a local file or authenticated preview cannot be fetched by a social crawler.
Sharing services cache previews. After replacing an image, use the platform's own preview or debugging tool when available, and confirm that the live page returns the updated metadata.