How to Update Link Preview on Facebook / Twitter / LINE?

2021-02-05

How to Update Link Preview on Facebook / Twitter / LINE?

If you are a content creator or editor, you may find a problem when updating content. After modification, the thumbnail and title of link preview display incorrectly when sharing on social platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, LINE, etc. In fact, we can use debugging tools to enable major platforms to read the latest information.

Contents

Why the Wrong Metadata is Shown?

When you paste a link, the platform will temporarily store the metadata, e.g. title, thumbnail, description, of the link in the cache. The next time to extract this link, the system will extract the data that has been stored in the cache, so that the access speed is accelerated.

However, if it is modified after the platform cache, there will be old titles, descriptions, or thumbnails.

So, ensure the metadata is correct before sharing the link.

Sometimes, the initial click-through rate is low, so you may want to modify metadata after caching. How can you ask the platform to update the correct relay data?

There are 2 methods to help you. But the published links can not be updated, you have to delete and repost.

Method 1: Use Debugging Tools

Facebook, Twitter & LINE provide debugging tools. Enter the URL in the debugging tool and this will immediately update the cached title and description.

PlatformTool
FacebookSharing Debugger | Batch Invalidator
TwitterCard Validator
LINEPage Poker

Facebook Sharing Debugger & Batch Invalidator

Facebook 分享除錯工具
Facebook Sharing Debugger

You can use the Sharing Debugger to see the information that is used when your website content is shared on Facebook, Messenger, and other places.

Facebook 批次失效工具
Facebook Batch Invalidator

The Batch Invalidator will let you refresh this information for multiple URLs at the same time.

Twitter Card Validator

Twitter Card Validator
Twitter Card Validator

Enter the URL to validate if the data is shown correctly.

LINE Page Poker

LINE Page Poker
LINE Page Poker

Let LINE update the information of shared link.

Before & after of sharing link on Facebook.

更新網頁縮圖
Updated Link Preview

Method 2: Use Shorten URL

For the platform without debugging tool, such as WhatsApp, we can use shorten URL service. For example, Bitly, PicSee. Share the shorten URL will trigger the update of caching.

ServiceDescription
BitlyFree URL shortener to create perfect URLs for your business. Bitly helps you create and share branded links with custom domains at scale.
PicSeePicSee shortens URLs, customises thumbnails and brand domain, tracks link clicks. Built-in UTM Builder. Integration with Facebook Pixel, GTM.
Bitly
Bitly
PicSee
PicSee

I used Bitly to create a shorten URL and share it via WhatsApp.

用短網址讓WhatsApp更新連結預覽
Use shorten URL to update link preview on WhatsApp

Tips: Thumbnail Design

Do you aware there are different thumbnail sizes of the link preview on different platforms?

The thumbnail of a shared link on Facebook is in 1200 × 630 px size. If the thumbnail is in a ratio of 16:9, it will be cropped a little bit at the top and bottom.

The thumbnail ratio on Twitter, WhatsApp and LINE is 1:1. It will be cropped on the left and right.

So put the important information in the center, and it will not be cropped.

Reserve margins when designing thumbnail

Conclusion

Create an attractive title and thumbnail can increase the click-through rate. Remember to use the mentioned debugging tools or shorten URL services to ensure they are displayed correctly.

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References

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香港斜槓族,喜歡學習的宅女。打工時期做過行銷、教育及IT行業。自學技能包括:網站開發、網路行銷、影片製作、平面設計等。

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