With over 2 billion active users, WhatsApp is the world's most popular messaging platform. When links are shared in WhatsApp chats and groups, they generate preview cards that can significantly influence whether recipients click. Understanding how WhatsApp generates these previews is essential for any brand with a mobile-first audience.
How WhatsApp Generates Link Previews
WhatsApp reads Open Graph tags from your page's HTML to generate link previews. The preview is generated on the sender's device when they paste a URL into the chat input field. WhatsApp displays the og:title, og:description, and og:image in a compact card format below the message.
WhatsApp Image Requirements
WhatsApp displays images in a square or near-square format in the preview card. While it reads the og:image tag, it crops the image to fit its compact card layout. Use images that are at least 300×200px, but 1200×630px works well as WhatsApp will crop it appropriately.
💡 WhatsApp does not support animated GIFs in link previews. Use static JPG or PNG images for your og:image to ensure consistent display.
Key Takeaway
WhatsApp link previews are a powerful but often overlooked channel for driving traffic. By ensuring your Open Graph tags are properly configured with compelling titles, descriptions, and centered images, you can significantly increase the click rate of links shared in WhatsApp.
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David Osei
David is a mobile marketing specialist focused on messaging app strategies for consumer brands in emerging markets.
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