🔍 What Is an Open Graph Description?

An Open Graph (OG) description is a specific HTML meta tag (og:description) that controls how your page appears when shared on social platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter). It is separate from your standard HTML meta description, and it has its own recommended character limits.

⚙️ Why OTTO Uses Different Character Limits

You may notice that OTTO suggests a fix even when your description appears to fall within the commonly cited 120–160 character range for standard meta descriptions. This happens because Open Graph descriptions follow a different standard:

• Standard meta description: 120–160 characters recommended for search engine snippets.
• Open Graph description: 55–200 characters is the accepted range, but social platforms typically display only the first 55–100 characters before truncating.

OTTO is optimised for social sharing performance. Its suggestions prioritise descriptions that display fully and clearly on the widest range of social platforms — not just the technical maximum allowed.

📋 Understanding the 59-Character Suggestion

If OTTO flags a 159-character OG description and recommends something closer to 59 characters, it is not an error. Here is what is happening:

• Your original description may be technically valid but risks being cut off mid-sentence on platforms like Facebook, which truncates OG descriptions aggressively on mobile.
• OTTO targets the safe display threshold — the length most likely to render completely across all major platforms and devices.
• A shorter, complete description often outperforms a longer, truncated one for click-through and social engagement.

In short, OTTO is optimising for visibility and impact, not just technical compliance.

🛠️ What You Should Do

You have two options when OTTO raises this suggestion:

1. Accept the suggestion: Apply OTTO's recommended description if social sharing performance is a priority for that page. The shorter text is crafted to display fully on all major platforms.
2. Keep your original and dismiss the suggestion: If you have a specific reason to retain the longer description — for example, platforms you target support longer previews — you can dismiss the OTTO recommendation without affecting your other optimisations.

Neither choice will break your page. This is an optimisation recommendation, not a critical error.

🚀 How to Review OTTO Suggestions in the Platform

1. Go to OTTO SEO in the left sidebar, then open All Sites (SEO Automation) (or navigate to /seo-automation-v3).
2. Select the page or URL flagged by OTTO.
3. Locate the Open Graph section within the suggestions panel.
4. Review the current value and OTTO's recommended replacement.
5. Click Apply to accept or Dismiss to keep your existing description.

💡 Best Practices for Open Graph Descriptions

• Keep OG descriptions between 55 and 100 characters for the safest cross-platform display.
• Lead with the most important information — do not bury your key message near the end where it may be cut off.
• Write in active voice and make the description compelling as a standalone sentence.
• Remember that your OG description and your HTML meta description can — and often should — be different texts optimised for their respective purposes.

🙋 Need More Help?

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.