How to Fix Broken Twitter Card Images in WordPress

Sharing content from your WordPress site on Twitter can significantly boost its visibility and reach. However, encountering issues like broken Twitter card images can dampen the effectiveness of your social media strategy. In this guide, we’ll explore how to troubleshoot and fix broken Twitter card images in WordPress using a simple custom plugin.

Broken Twitter card images occur when the specified image fails to display correctly when a link is shared on Twitter. This issue can arise due to incorrect meta tags or image URLs within your WordPress site.

The Solution:

Let’s create a simple custom plugin called ‘Twitter Card Fixer’ to address this issue. We’ll include the necessary code snippet to add custom Twitter meta tags to your posts and pages. You don’t have to work with the code. Simply download and activate the plugin. Click here to download the plugin.

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: Twitter Card Fixer
Description: Fixes broken Twitter card images by adding custom Twitter meta tags.
Version: 1.0
Author: Your Name
*/

// Add custom Twitter meta tags
function add_custom_twitter_meta_tags() {
    if (is_single() || is_page()) {
        global $post;
        setup_postdata($post);
        $twitter_title = get_the_title();
        $twitter_description = get_the_excerpt();
        $twitter_image = get_the_post_thumbnail_url($post->ID, 'full');
        $twitter_url = get_permalink();
        $twitter_image_alt = get_post_meta(get_post_thumbnail_id(), '_wp_attachment_image_alt', true);
        if (!$twitter_image_alt) {
            $twitter_image_alt = $twitter_title;
        }
        ?>
        <meta property="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
        <meta property="twitter:site" content="@YourTwitterHandle" />
        <meta property="twitter:title" content="<?php echo esc_attr($twitter_title); ?>" />
        <meta property="twitter:description" content="<?php echo esc_attr($twitter_description); ?>" />
        <meta property="twitter:image" content="<?php echo esc_url($twitter_image); ?>" />
        <meta property="twitter:url" content="<?php echo esc_url($twitter_url); ?>" />
        <meta property="twitter:image:alt" content="<?php echo esc_attr($twitter_image_alt); ?>" />
        <?php
        wp_reset_postdata();
    }
}
add_action('wp_head', 'add_custom_twitter_meta_tags');
?>

Fixing the Issue:

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: We’ve already created the plugin. Simply download it by clicking here, then install and activate it.

2. Verification of Image URLs: Ensure that the featured image URLs fetched by the plugin ($twitter_image) are correct. You can verify this by inspecting the source code of your post or page.

3. Meta Tag Validation: Use Twitter’s Card Validator tool to validate the meta tags generated by the plugin. This tool helps identify any errors or warnings related to the meta tags, allowing for timely corrections.

4. Clearing Cache: Clear the cache on your WordPress site and any caching plugins installed. Additionally, refresh Twitter’s cache by using the “Validate & Apply” option in Twitter’s Card Validator.

5. Compliance with Twitter Requirements: Confirm that the specified image meets Twitter’s size and aspect ratio requirements for optimal display on the platform.

With the simple custom plugin “Twitter Card Fixer” and the provided code snippet, you can effectively address the issue of broken Twitter card images in WordPress. By following the outlined steps and testing your solutions, you can ensure seamless sharing of your content on Twitter, enhancing its visibility and engagement.