# **🔍 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.