The Overlooked Website Detail That Could Be Costing You Clients: Social Share Images
- Holly Michelle
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
You’ve spent time and money building a website that reflects your business. But here’s some questions most business owners never think to ask:
“What does my website look like when someone shares it on social media?”
“How do I change that preview image that comes up when I share my website on Facebook or in message?”
If the answer is “I don’t know” or “it looks like a random photo from the page..”
…you might be losing clients before they even click.
That’s where social share images come in and why they’re a small but powerful detail you can’t afford to skip. Social media is a huge part of marketing nowadays. You want your presence to be professional from every corner.
What Is a Social Share Image?
A social share image (sometimes called an OG image) is the preview picture that shows up when your website link is shared on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or inside a text message.
Think of it as your website’s first impression on social media. If it’s missing, blurry, or completely unrelated to your brand, a random photo from the page that isn’t cropped right….it instantly makes your business look unprofessional even if your actual site is gorgeous and perfect!
Why They Matter More Than You Think
Here’s what research reveals about the subtle but powerful role social share (Open Graph) images play in your online presence:
Social posts with images dramatically outperform text-only posts. A 2024 INMA study found that Facebook posts with images delivered 100% more engagement and 114% more impressions compared to posts without images. That’s not a minor difference…it’s the difference between being seen or getting lost in the scroll.
Eye-catching visuals get more clicks and shares. When your link is shared with a compelling OG image, people notice it. Platforms that support these enhanced previews including Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), WhatsApp, Slack, and Pinterest...all give you more engaging link displays when OG tags are used.
Missing or auto-generated previews hurt credibility and clicks. Without a properly set OG image, social platforms often auto-generate or display blank previews that look completely unprofessional...leading to fewer clicks and lost engagement.
Optimized OG images elevate brand perception and SEO. While OG images don’t directly boost search rankings, they help drive clicks, shares, and better engagement metrics that indirectly support SEO performance.
Putting it bluntly; neglecting your social share image or letting it be slapped together at random by the computer… isn’t just a missed opportunity. It’s actively hurting your brand reputation, your traffic, and your business credibility. Social media presence is HUGE nowadays.
The Benefits of Having Social Share Images Set Up
When your website has properly designed and optimized social share images, you:
✅ Control your first impression instead of leaving it up to chance.
✅ Look polished and consistent across every platform. (HUGE BONUS!) your attention to tiny details = an authoritative brand to trust!
✅ Increase clicks because your link actually stands out in the feed and in noticed.
✅ Build trust instantly with a professional online presence.
✅ Protect your brand reputation. No more random, outdated, or cut-off photos.
This isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s a brand credibility booster that directly impacts whether people see you as the expert they should hire, work with or buy from.
This is also a wonderful way to target your ideal client when someone shares your links to a whole list of different people on their social media profiles.
How HM Digital Design Handles It for You
At HM Digital Design, we design websites that do more than look good. “We go beyond just design”
….we make sure they work everywhere your business shows up. That includes the small, often-overlooked details like social share images.
Here’s what we do:
Create custom, on-brand social share images that reflect your business.
Set them up correctly on your site so they display automatically.
Apply them and customize them to important pages like your homepage, services, and blog posts.
It’s one less thing you have to worry about and one more way your brand looks consistently professional across all platforms!
Check out even more small but significant elements we take care of for you ...
The Strategic Advantage with HM Digital Design
Most web designers stop at the surface; they build the site and call it done. But at HM Digital Design, we know the small details are what set you apart online.
We think about how your website shows up everywhere and not just on your domain.
We combine design + strategy expertise, so your site works seamlessly behind the scenes.
You gain peace of mind knowing that whether you or a client shares your website, it will look flawless!
That’s the HUGE difference between a website that just exists as a placeholder… and one that actively grows your business!
Check out ALL the info, behind the scene details we build for you and our processes by clicking HERE
Ready to Stop Losing Clients to a Bad First Impression?
Your brand deserves more than a broken or missing preview image on social media.
Let’s make sure your website leaves the right impression every single time.
Want to learn more about the hidden website details that make or break your online presence? Listen to my podcast, Pixels to Profits, where I share the strategies that turn your website into a true growth tool for your business.
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