Title: How to check metadata
Author: joshua
Published: August 9, 2024
Last modified: November 21, 2025

---

 1. [Installation resources](https://docs.parse.ly/installation-resources/)
 2. [Parse.ly Integration](https://docs.parse.ly/installation-resources/parsely-integration/)
 3. [Test Integration](https://docs.parse.ly/installation-resources/parsely-integration/test-integration/)
 4. How to check metadata

#  How to check metadata

When you’re following [the instructions to set up Parse.ly](https://docs.parse.ly/parsely-integration/),
you’ll hear a lot about metadata. We ask you to send us your metadata and ensure
it looks correct, but what does that mean? Here, we’ll review how to check metadata.
The end of this guide will contain instructions for updating metadata.

## Getting started

Before you can evaluate your metadata, your Parse.ly dashboard must be receiving
pageviews.

 1. [Log into your dashboard](https://dash.parsely.com/to/)
 2. Navigate to the [**Posts** (or **Pages**) tab](https://dash.parsely.com/to/posts/?interval=1d).
 3. The timeline graph at the top of the page will contain data if pageviews are being
    received.
 4. If we are not receiving your pageviews, perform our [testing instructions](https://docs.parse.ly/test-integration/)
    and follow our [troubleshooting guide](https://docs.parse.ly/test-integration/#h-troubleshoot).

## Posts and non-post pages

Parse.ly categorizes all pages on your site as either [“Posts” or “Non-post”](https://docs.parse.ly/metadata/#h-post-vs-non-post).
The first thing to check is that your pages are categorized correctly.

Navigate to the [**Posts** (or **Pages**) tab](https://dash.parsely.com/to/posts/?interval=1d)
and toggle the _Page Type_ filter between “Posts” and “Non-Post.”

[[

You should expect to see content pages (articles, reports, blog posts, etc.) when“
Posts” is selected, and navigational or informational pages (homepage, section pages,
contact pages, etc.) when “Non-post” is selected.

If any pages are miscategorized, consult our [metadata guide](https://docs.parse.ly/metadata/#h-post-vs-non-post)
and update your metadata within your CMS.

 * The `@type` (if using [JSON-ld](https://docs.parse.ly/metadata-jsonld/)) and `
   parsely-type` (if using [repeated meta tags](https://docs.parse.ly/metatags/))
   dictates this categorization.
 * If you’re using the WordPress Parse.ly plugin, visit `wp-admin/options-general.
   php?page=parsely#recrawl-section` and adjust _Track Post Types as_.

## Thumbnail

Now that we’re in a post listing, let’s examine all the pieces of metadata that 
appear there. We’ll start with the thumbnail.

While this isn’t necessary, your dashboard will appear less monotonous if your post
listings each had a unique thumbnail. Select a [supported file type](https://docs.parse.ly/metadata/#h-thumbnail-images-supported-file-formats)
and follow one of these examples:

 * meta tag: `<meta name="parsely-image-url" content="https://docs.parse.ly/wp-content/
   uploads/sites/5/2023/09/complete2.gif" />`
 * JSON-LD: `"thumbnailUrl": "https://docs.parse.ly/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/
   09/complete2.gif"`

[[

## Title

If you’re only seeing url, then we don’t see a title value in your metadata. You
can specify one like this:

 * meta tag: `<meta name="parsely-title" content="Open in Parse.ly" />`
 * JSON-LD: `"headline": "Open in Parse.ly"`

[[

## Publication Date

Note the formatting of the date is an [ISO 8601](https://www.iso.org/iso-8601-date-and-time-format.html)
UTC timezone string

 * meta tag: `<meta name="parsely-pub-date" content="2023-10-12T22:26:30Z" />`
 * JSON-LD: `"datePublished": "2023-10-12T22:26:30Z"`

[[

## Author

You may have one or [more authors](https://docs.parse.ly/track-multiple-authors/).
If you don’t provide an author, we will list `Staff`.

 * meta tag: `<meta name="parsely-author" content="joshua" />`
 * JSON-LD: `"creator": ["joshua"]`

[[

## Section

We accept one section value. WordPress calls these categories. If we don’t see a
category, we’ll use the placeholder value of `Uncategorized`:

 * meta tag: `<meta name="parsely-section" content="Tools" />`
 * JSON-LD: `"articleSection": "Tools",`

[[

## Tags

We accept up to 100 tag values per url. You may also know these as “keywords”. The
tags that appear with a dashed border are automatically-generated [smart tags](https://docs.parse.ly/smart-tags/).

 * meta tag: `<meta name="parsely-tags" content="bookmarklet" />`
 * JSON-LD: `"keywords": ["bookmarklet"]`

[[

## Putting it all together

It’s important to get your metadata correct so that you can take advantage of [filters](https://docs.parse.ly/using-dashboard-filters/),
[reports](https://docs.parse.ly/reports/), and more. Review each of the above fields
to ensure you have the correct values. If you need to make changes, then read about
[our recrawl process](https://docs.parse.ly/whats-a-recrawl/). Here are some additional
examples in each format so that you can see the complete picture:

### Meta tags

    ```lang-html
    <meta name="parsely-title" content="Best pizza in town" />
    <meta name="parsely-link" content="https://www.example.com/post/best-pizza-in-town" />
    <meta name="parsely-type" content="post" />
    <meta name="parsely-image-url" content="https://www.example.com/tumblr-pizza-logo.png" />
    <meta name="parsely-pub-date" content="2024-01-24T16:00:00Z" />
    <meta name="parsely-section" content="Reviews" />
    <meta name="parsely-author" content="Donnie" />
    <meta name="parsely-author" content="Leo" />
    <meta name="parsely-author" content="Mikey" />
    <meta name="parsely-author" content="Raph" />
    <meta name="parsely-author" content="April O'Neil" />
    <meta name="parsely-tags" content="editor: April, city guide, reviews: pizza" />
    ```

### JSON-LD (Structured Data)

    ```lang-html
    <script type="application/ld+json">
    {
    	"@context": "http://data-pipeline-schema/.org",
    	"@type": "NewsArticle",
    	"headline": "Best pizza in town",
    	"url": "https://www.example.com/post/best-pizza-in-town",
    	"thumbnailUrl": "https://www.example.com/tumblr-pizza-logo.png",
    	"datePublished": "2024-01-24T16:00:00Z",
    	"articleSection": "Reviews",
    	"creator": ["Donnie", "Leo", "Mikey", "Raph"],
    	"keywords": ["editor: April", "city guide", "reviews: pizza"]
    }
    </script>
    ```

## Update metadata

If you noticed anything wrong, please work with your development team to update 
the on-page metadata. Once your team is finished making changes to metadata, you
will not see the changes reflected in your Dashboard without a recrawl. Further,
you will not see changes to your historical data without a rebuild.

 * [Recrawl](https://docs.parse.ly/whats-a-recrawl/): this is the process of dispatching
   our crawler to retrieve the latest metadata from the affected URL(s).
 * [Rebuild](https://docs.parse.ly/whats-a-rebuild/): this process updates historic
   page views and any associated metadata.

## Additional Resources

Please take a look at these other articles. If you need consultative advice, please
contact your account manager. For technical support, or if you would like us to 
check your metadata, write to support@parsely.com.

 * [How to track multiple authors](https://docs.parse.ly/track-multiple-authors/)
 * [Tagging: best practices](https://www.parse.ly/5-tagging-best-practices-content-strategy/)

Last updated: November 21, 2025