Customizing the link thumbnail displayed when sharing site via text, Facebook, etc?

[Braden]

I think I have a method, but I'm not sure if it will work, or if anyone has a proper understanding of how to do it, but here's what I have.

PLEASE CORRECT ME WHERE I'M WRONG:

I once was able to customize the thumbnail and message for my Blogger page whenever it was shared via text message, Facebook Messenger, Facebook Post, etc., by using an open graph generator.

Here's a couple of links to some generators, there are probably others:
https://smallseotools.com/open-graph-generator/
https://realfavicongenerator.net/soc...8#.XVXh8-hKiUk

Enter your info, grab your picture, enter the image URL, etc., then copy the generated HTML metadata.

On Blogspot, I posted my metadata straight into the HTML, on Xara you'll need to copy and paste it into "HTML Code (head)" once you get it from the generator.

Go to Utilities>Web Properties>"Website" Tab>"HTML Code (head)" Button: then paste it into the dialog box after you click the button.


Facebook caches these types of link thumbnails, so after you have added the code and updated your site, you'll need to "scrape" Facebook's servers of the old link thumbnail, otherwise, your new one WILL NOT SHOW UP.

Once your site is updated with the code, go to this link:
https://developers.facebook.com/tools/debug/sharing/

Enter your site's URL, and click "Debug": test your new thumbnail by sharing it via Facebook Messenger or sharing it on your wall.

I've never tried it with Xara, I don't know anyone who has though I searched for it a little in Talk Graphics, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT WILL WORK, and I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a coder;
but I plan to try out the same method this evening on my own website because my thumbnail is not what I want.

If my method works, I'll confirm it in this thread.

Peace be with you,

-Braden