July 13, 2016

Facebook Link Preview: Is Your URL Showing?

As you scroll down your Facebook timeline, you might see many posts that have “link previews” that work just like the blue URL text. These link previews connect to outside sites and articles, just like URLs. The difference is that Facebook’s automatically generated link preview shows the title, the intro, and the image of that particular page. This quick reference allows users to gain quick insight on what the article is about before they click on it. This is a great tool to quickly inform your followers and friends about what you are sharing, and can help your pages’ SEO.

The debate here is whether or not to leave the long text URL above the nice looking link preview. When you share a link on Facebook, you need to paste the actual URL into the “what’s on your mind?” box, and Facebook automatically creates a link preview for you. You have the ability to slightly modify this. Once you are satisfied with the link preview and have written your comments, you can delete the URL text and your link preview will still be there, ready to be clicked. But there are those who leave the long, blue URL link hanging around in their post. So here are the pros and cons of leaving the actual URL link:

CONS:

Aesthetics:

Aesthetically speaking, that long, blue text sticks out like a sore thumb in your post. The URL may feel redundant as most link previews already come with a short or long URL somewhere in them.

Get With the Times:

Most posts that you see won’t show the blue text anymore, and most people know that clicking or tapping the link preview will take them to a new site. Leaving the URL almost seems like you don’t know that you could do without, and again it just seems redundant.

PROS:

Aesthetics:

Aesthetically speaking, that long, blue text sticks out like a sore thumb in your post. With almost every post having a link preview a shining blue link might just catch some eyes.

Do It Old School:

Although most people know that clicking or tapping the link preview will get them to where they want to go, you have to consider your demographics. Link previews are fairly new, and an older demographic may not yet know what is there for. Having the URL text with the link preview gives them options to get where they want to go. They know what a blue text means and so do younger demographics.

In the end it will ultimately depend on your demographic and your personal aesthetic choice whether or not you want the URL text. There is no harm in keeping the URL text in your post, but is no added features that come with it either, that the link preview doesn’t already do. These ways of connecting with your followers can help them discover your page or blogs and whether it was through a blue link or a link preview, what is important is that you are posting. For more social media tips and advice check out our GreatLike Media blogs about social media. GreatLike Media is an Orange County digital marketing agency.

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