If your SEO audit or the SEO Action Plan browser extension flagged a missing og:description, you’re not alone. Many site owners overlook this tag because it doesn’t directly affect rankings. But the truth is, it affects how your pages appear when shared on social platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or X (formerly Twitter). A good description makes your link look inviting, while a missing one leaves the preview looking blank or incomplete.
Let’s examine this tag, why it matters, and how you can quickly fix it.
What is og:description? #
The og:description tag is part of the Open Graph protocol, which was originally created by Facebook to control how web pages are displayed when shared on social media. It looks something like this in your site’s HTML:
<meta property="og:description" content="A short and compelling summary of your page content." />
This description doesn’t appear on your actual page — it’s picked up by social media platforms and messaging apps to generate the preview snippet beneath your link’s title.
Why does og:description matter? #
Without a proper og:description, platforms often pull random text from your page. That could be part of a menu, footer, or some unrelated sentence that makes no sense as a preview. Adding this tag:
- Gives you control over how your content looks when shared.
- Increases click-through rates because people see a clear, relevant summary.
- Ensures consistent previews across platforms.
Even though Google doesn’t use this tag for search rankings, your visitors do care about how links look when shared.
How to fix missing og:description #
There are two main ways to add or fix this tag: using SEO plugins or adding it manually.
1. Add og:description with an SEO plugin #
If you’re using a CMS like WordPress, Shopify, or Joomla, most SEO plugins make this easy.
- WordPress: Plugins like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, and All in One SEO allow you to set an Open Graph description for each page or post.
- Shopify: Use apps like SEO Manager or Smart SEO to control your Open Graph settings.
- Joomla or Drupal: Extensions like Easy Frontend SEO or Metatag modules provide similar options.
After installing one of these plugins or extensions, look for “Social” > under the “Open Graph” accordion tab when editing your content. You can write a custom description there, and the plugin will insert the proper HTML code automatically.
2. Add og:description manually #
If you’re not using a plugin, you can add the tag directly into your page’s <head> section:
<head>
<meta property="og:description" content="Write a short, engaging summary of your page here." />
</head>
Keep it around 150–200 characters, and make sure it’s written for people, not search engines. This is your chance to “sell the click” when someone shares your link.
How to check if it’s working #
Once you’ve added or updated the og:description, you’ll want to confirm it’s showing up correctly. Here’s how:
- Use the SEO Action Plan browser extension: Open the page in Chrome, click the extension icon, then go to the SEO tab. It will show whether the og:description is present and what it says.
- Facebook Sharing Debugger: Visit https://developers.facebook.com/tools/debug/, paste your URL, and see how Facebook reads your tags.
- LinkedIn Post Inspector: Go to https://www.linkedin.com/post-inspector/ and check the preview.
These tools will confirm that your new description is being picked up correctly.
Quick tips for writing a good og:description #
- Make it specific, not generic.
- Summarize the page in a way that makes people want to click.
- Avoid stuffing keywords — this isn’t about rankings.
- Match the tone of your brand or content.
For example:
- Bad: “Welcome to our website, where we provide many services.”
- Good: “Learn how our expert team helps small businesses grow with custom digital solutions.”
Why you might have missed it in the first place #
Many themes and site builders don’t insert Open Graph tags by default. If you’ve migrated your site, changed themes, or disabled an SEO plugin, the tag might have disappeared without you realizing it. This is why running regular SEO checks is helpful.
The SEO Action Plan Extension makes it simple to spot missing metadata like og:description, favicon issues, and more — right in your browser without having to inspect the source code manually.
Wrapping up #
Fixing a missing og:description is quick, whether you do it through an SEO plugin or by adding it manually. Once it’s in place, your links will look cleaner and more professional across social platforms, which means better engagement and more clicks.
Take a few minutes to check your pages using the SEO Action Plan extension, add the tag where it’s missing, and you’re done. It’s a small detail that makes your site look far more polished when shared.