Creating a Wikipedia Page for Your Company: Top Tips and Rules

Wikipedia is by far the world’s largest online encyclopedia to date. According to recent statistics, the site has close to 58 million pages. The site offers information on practically anything; as long as it’s talked about and is informative, you can find it on Wikipedia. From random animal facts to info on your favorite TV show, you name it.

Would you like to add one more page to its ever-growing library? Believe it or not, Wikipedia is considered a reliable source of information by the majority of users of the web, while Google itself. So, having your business page on the site can benefit your business.

But is creating your own Wikipedia page the right move? We’re here to answer that for you. We’ll delve into whether you can create a Wikipedia page while also discussing the policies and guidelines you should know before making one. Not only that, but we’ll also offer some tips that can help with your page creation journey. So, without further ado, here’s what you need to know about Wikipedia.

Can you Create your Business Wikipedia Page?

First, let’s get some facts straight about Wikipedia page creation. Yes, you can create a Wikipedia page. Wikipedia is a community-driven platform, meaning anyone can create, edit, and revise info on the site. However, they must ensure the information they contribute is objective and free from advertorial content.

Although Wikipedia doesn’t stop you from creating a page, its strict policies and guidelines can discourage you from creating your business page on your own. Why is that? Wikipedia doesn’t allow any form of promotional content on the site and only values information that aims to inform, so you must either depend on the voluntary editors that contribute to the site to do it involuntarily or hire them. However, you must adhere to the Wikipedia Conflict of Interest Policy (COI) for hiring a Wikipedia page creator.

More on COI:

The COI policy prevents editors from contributing to the site for any financial or personal interest. Let’s say someone paid them to have their page edited. In this scenario, any paid contribution they make can undermine page neutrality, which violates Wikipedia content policy, leading to user ban, page revert, or, worse, page deletion.

So, the question is, how do professional Wiki page creation services adhere to COI? One way is by keeping transparent to other editors that someone has paid for page creation. In this case, their contributions are heavily scrutinized to ensure the information presented is objective and doesn’t promote bias. However, these professionals have the skills and expertise to navigate the policy seamlessly.

Policies and Guidelines You Need to Know:

If you feel you can write objectively about your business and want to create a Wikipedia page independently, then we advise you to learn some basic guidelines before taking over the project. Here’s what you need to remember while writing for Wikipedia:

1.      Never Use Primary Sources:

Although you can contribute information to the online encyclopedia, it doesn’t allow info from primary sources. One of the reasons is that primary source linking presents itself as self-promotion, which is why the site only lets you use secondary sources for collecting information.

For instance, rather than linking with your company info from its site, you must consider using other published sources where your business was discussed, such as a newspaper, magazine, web page, etc.

2.      Self-Publication:

In addition to primary sources, you’re also not allowed to use self-published sources, meaning information sources you made yourself. Wikipedia considers it self-promotion, which could lead to a ban and page deletion. Instead, only cite third-party sources where your business was mentioned.

3.      Follow the Three Core Content Policies:

Wikipedia has strict guidelines on the information suitable for the site. Mainly, it can be summarized through three core content policies:

●       Neutral Point of View:

Information written is free from bias. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that aims to present information, not views.

●       Verifiability:

A reputable source should support any information offered. Although you can write on Wikipedia, it doesn’t mean you can make anything up.

●       No Original Research:

Ensure everything presented links to a reliable secondary source. You cannot use original thoughts or material for the site.

You need to ensure you follow all three policies while writing so it has a better chance of approval from the site.

The 6 Simple Steps of Creating a Wikipedia Page for Your Business:

Now that you’re aware of the kind of information you can present let’s discuss how you can make a Wikipedia page on your own:

1.      Create your Account:

First, make your account on Wikipedia by going to its homepage and clicking on “Create Account” in the top right of the page. Input the necessary information, including an email or password. Once you’re done, you must turn your account to an auto-confirmed one to make a page on the site. For that, you need to make at least ten edits and wait for four days.

2.      Create a Wikipedia Page:

After becoming an auto-confirmed user, you can create a Wikipedia page. First, go to the “Writing an Article” page on the site. A blue button is located at the bottom. It is the “Article Wizard,” which guides you with writing a page.

After clicking on the link, you’ll be redirected to the Article Wizard. Here, you can either learn page creation by practicing in the sandbox or click “Next” to start creating your page immediately.

Ensure your content follows the three core principles above and is structured properly. You can get a good idea of structuring by looking at other business pages on the site.

3.      Provide Citations:

After writing down all the page content, you need to cite it with various articles and third-party sources. That’s because Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, so its information must be valid.

Ensure you link your content with reliable published sources such as books, newspapers, magazines, and websites. It also helps page approval; the more information cited, the better the chance of editors to approve it.

4.      Review your Page for Neutrality:

After linking, it’s time for a final review before submitting it for approval. Carefully scan your Wikipedia page’s final draft with a fresh set of eyes. Ensure the information presented has a neutral tone, valid sources linked, and no grammatical or spelling errors.

5.      Submit it for Review:

Once you’re confident that you’ve cleared away any errors or mistakes from your Wikipedia page and it presents objective information, you can submit it for Review. Wikipedia page approval can take as long as three to four months, in which they are often rejected. It’s best to consult a professional Wikipedia page creator. Otherwise, revise it and send it back for approval.

6.      Make Page Updates Regularly:

If your Wikipedia page gets approved, congratulations, but it doesn’t stop there. You’ll need to regularly update it with the most up-to-date information to ensure it ranks on Google and other search engines.

Final Words

A Wikipedia page for your business can be a great way to boost your business. By taking the time to understand Wikipedia policy and guidelines and using the steps offered, you can create a Wikipedia page yourself. However, consider a Wiki page creation service to prevent the chances of page rejection.

FAQs

1.     Can Any Business Create a Wikipedia Page?

Yes! You can create a Wikipedia page for any type of business. Follow the policies and guidelines for better chances of page approval.

2.     Can I Hire a Professional Editor for Creating my Company Page?

Yes, you can, but be cautious! Not all Wikipedia page creators are professionals. So, research carefully before hiring a Wiki page creation service.

3.     What are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid when Creating a Wikipedia Page?

The common mistakes include using biased language, promoting a product or service, or linking content to primary sources. In these cases, your Wikipedia page may be rejected upon Review.

4.     How Long Does It Take for a Wikipedia Page to Get It Approved?

Wikipedia takes about 3-4 months for page approval.