When defining a status message, there are two possible image settings available, depending on the social network in question:
- Use OpenGraph Settings
- Use Feat. Image, not Linked to Post
Not all social networks support all options, as detailed below.
| Use OpenGraph Settings | Use Feat. Image, not Linked to Post | |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Google+ | Yes | Yes |
| No | Yes |
Use OpenGraph Settings
Requires {url} tag in status text: Yes
Use Cases:
- You have an SEO or Open Graph Plugin
- You want to use the Featured Image as defined by an SEO or Open Graph Plugin
When using the {url} tag on the statuses that you have defined with this setting, Hootsuite will attempt to read the Open Graph / social metadata for the Page, Post or Custom Post Type that’s being shared, to find an image to include when publishing to social networks.
This Open Graph / social metadata is not controlled or produced by WordPress to Hootsuite Pro. Therefore, to ensure that your site contains the necessary open graph / social metadata output, you’ll need to use either a free SEO Plugin or Open Graph plugin:
It’s good practice to have one of the above plugins installed and activated on your WordPress installation, as it will also ensure URLs that are directly shared on social networks by visitors include an image.
Depending on your SEO Plugin or Open Graph plugin, here’s how statuses will look when using this setting, along with the status text = {title} {url}
Google+
Use Feat. Image, not Linked to Post
Requires {url} tag in status text: No
Use Cases:
- You do not have an SEO or Open Graph Plugin
- You want to explicitly define the precise image to be used with the status update on your social media profiles
- You do not want the Image to link to the Post (clicking the image would simply display its full size version within that social network)
With this setting chosen, WordPress to Hootsuite Pro again use the following options, in order:
- WP to Hootsuite Pro: Featured Image. If used, this image will be used as the image on the status update. This overrides the Post’s Featured Image, even if it is also supplied.
This Featured Image is ignored if a status’ image setting = Use OpenGraph SettingsFacebook: You’ll need to verify your site’s domain name and Page. See https://help.hootsuite.com/hc/en-us/articles/115009836987, specifically https://developers.facebook.com/docs/sharing/domain-verificationGoogle+: Google does not support this feature, as noted at https://faq.buffer.com/article/255-can-i-customize-images-for-my-link-attachments - Featured Image. If your Post, Page or Custom Post Type supports Featured Images, this image will be used as the image on the status update.
Depending on your WordPress site, not all Posts, Pages or Custom Post Types register a Featured Image option. In this case, use the WP to Hootsuite Pro: Featured Image option above and ensure that your status settings do not use Use OpenGraph Settings.
You do not need to specify the {url} tag in your status text, unless you want to include a link within your status text. Doing this will not link the Featured Image to the Post’s URL.
Here’s how statuses will look when using this setting, along with the status text = {title}
Google+
