Almost everyone has heard of or used Wikipedia before. It offers a wealth of knowledge that is user-generated. Users can add articles on a range of topics, covering everything from gardening to Prometheus and absolutely everything in between. Many businesses have their own Wikipedia page to share additional information about the company and its background. However, getting a page onto Wikipedia can be notoriously challenging.
Wikipedia has a slew of rules to determine what content will go live on the site. Thus, writing a highly detailed page can be difficult. However, it is not impossible to create a Wikipedia page from scratch.
Wikipedia has several pillars to determine what ends up on the platform. To fit into the requirements articles must;
Users are able to edit any current article and make updates or additions. While doing this users must be respectful and civil to the original editors. Once an article is published on the platform, there will be deputized editors who check the validity of any changes for the lifetime of its existence.
This may seem daunting, however, businesses with a page on Wikipedia can expect to see significant benefits. Some of these benefits include brand credibility and more traffic to your website. Below are the 10 steps for how to create a Wikipedia page.
The first step to creating your own Wikipedia page is to create an account on the platform. Starting an account is the only way you are able to submit new pages. You will also get access to a permanent user profile page and a community page to interact with other users. This will also allow you to build a reputation as a Wikipedia author if you create more pages. Finally, registered users can customize the way their pages appear to the public.
To build your reputation, you should review and edit other articles before submitting a new page. This is crucial as Wikipedia will almost never accept a brand new page from new users. Therefore, spend some time editing and improving content on the site to build your account presence.
This is a key step in creating a Wikipedia page, after all, you can’t create something that already exists. So, do a search for your business, topic, or niche first. If the page does already exist, you can edit and add additional information as needed.
For a topic, business, or niche to get its own unique page on Wikipedia, it must first be deemed notable. To earn this notable rating, your topic must use independent and reliable sources within it. Luckily, Wikipedia shares a guide on how to meet the requirements for notability. If your topic can meet these requirements, you are one step closer to publishing that Wikipedia page.
Now it is time to start researching and gathering the resources for your Wikipedia page. You must find reliable resources to link to that also contain relevant information about your topic or business. Be sure to include both internal and external sources to boost credibility.
Once you have all your sources, it’s time to create an outline. This is where you will break down your information into digestible chunks, separated by the table of contents. Every article on Wikipedia has a table of contents, so ensure your article content can be separated.
You want to take your time as you write your Wikipedia article. It should be thorough, helpful, and thoughtful while providing factual information. Your article should provide searchers with the information they need or want to know about the topic. Remember while writing that the intent of Wikipedia is to be a digital encyclopedia.
Including citations and sources is crucial to your Wikipedia page’s success. These help readers to verify and trust the information on the page. These citations and sources should come from independent sources like journals, newspapers, magazines, and other reputable websites. Social media, professional profiles, and press release documents do not class as reputable sources.
Once you have double-checked your article and proofed the layout, it’s time to submit it for review. This process can take as little as a few days or several weeks. Wikipedia may reject your page or article a few times throughout the review process. Continue to update and improve the information as requested and resubmit.
Now that your page is live on Wikipedia, you should ensure it is always up-to-date. Regularly review your page, adding in new achievements or notable changes. This will help increase the article reach and boost your online presence.
There you have it, 10 steps to create a Wikipedia page. Now, this isn’t a quick or easy process, however, the end result can be extremely beneficial for your business.
