7 Rules for creating a Wikipedia page

Slowly and gradually, Wikipedia is replacing the traditional encyclopedia in homes. But did you know that this collaborative site – whose content is written by Internet users – can also be of interest to professionals? A “Company” category allows you to put an article on your company online.

The interest is twofold. First, appearing on Wikipedia improves your ranking on Google (and therefore your visibility): in fact, the articles in the online encyclopedia systematically arrive in the very first positions on the results pages. Second, you will be able to control, as the author, what is published in your company.

However, the way that every Internet surfer can make his own Wikipedia page doesn’t imply that he can compose anything and regarding any matter. Wikipedia will surely cautiously look at the composed substance, besides the pertinence (or the reputation) of the subject. In this way, to keep your contribution from being erased, it is prudent to consider certain fundamental standards a long time before the composing stage.

How to proceed? In Wikipedia, an article is called a page. To publish yours, you must first register (it’s free). On the home page, click on “Create an account” (top right) and fill in the required fields. Go to the “Welcome for newcomers” page (left column under the “Contribute” tab), then go to the “Sandbox” section (at the bottom) and click on “How to create a page?”. Enter the name of your company in the dialog box that opens and validate. that’s it: you are on the future page dedicated to your company.

1. KEY INFORMATION

To complete it, you must respect certain programming rules. The easiest way is to use an article already published in the “Company” section. Choose one that is short but contains key information (company logo, turnover, link to website…). When you are on the page of the selected company, activate the “Edit” tab. The source code of the article is displayed: copy and paste it into your page. Then replace the text with your prose. You can see the rendering by clicking on “Preview” (at the bottom). When your article is complete, click “Publish”. It goes live instantly.

2. NO SELF-PROMOTION

From there it will be reviewed by the site moderators. If your text is deemed too promotional, it will be removed. To avoid this kind of inconvenience, read the “recommendations for brand awareness” (“Help”, then “Eligibility criteria”). Stay objective and sober. Do not say, for example, that you are the leader in your market without relying on a real ranking.

Do not copy your business site either: Wikipedia bots will detect it and you will be censored. If your company has been cited in newspapers or books, mention them in “Notes and references”. Otherwise, Wikipedia will put a pink banner at the top of your page entitled “This article does not cite its sources sufficiently”, without deleting your page.

3. USE THEMATIC PORTALS

If you are looking for a specific term, the Wikipedia search bar may be sufficient. But if you have to deal with a broader topic, thematic portals can be very useful. Portals will allow you to more easily identify Wikipedia through a combination of articles on the same topic. Links are usually at the bottom of articles.

You can also access it through the Wikipedia portals. More than 400 portals are available in Spanish! They often have a lot of information and bundle hundreds of articles. Look, for example, the portal of Ancient Rome to get an idea.

4. CREATE YOUR ENCYCLOPEDIA

Wikipedia has a very interesting feature. You can create your book by collecting all the items you want! To do this, go to the menu on the left and then go to the menu Print / Export> Create a book. Then you just have to activate the Start tool. Thus, for each article, a small window will open at the top of the page.

Next, you must click Add this page to embed this article in your book. You can also select all the elements you want. When you have finished your selection, you always click on the same box in the Show the book. A new page will open in which you can write a title, include a table of contents and define the number of columns. Once this is configured, you will be able to download your document in PDF format that will be automatically placed on the page. So you can read directly from your screen or print a copy for your reviews for example.

5. PRINT WITHOUT WASTING

Maybe you need to print a Wikipedia article. But, instead of printing the version visible on the screen, it is best to go to the menu on the left and then in the Print / Export part, click on Print. You will thus have a version optimized for printing. The article is the same, but it is easier to read and you will save paper and ink.

6. MAKE YOUR SEARCH EASIER

Not sure of the spelling of a word? Use the ~ symbol (the “tilde” of the ñ) at the end of the word and Wikipedia will search for all articles that approximate the written expression in the search bar. You can also use the advanced search page that specifies the type of document you are looking for.

7. COMMON SENSE TIPS

Do not forget that it is a collaborative encyclopedia, which means that what is written is not necessarily 100% accurate, although, much progress has been made by the Wikipedia community. The information is worth checking if you have doubts.

You have to be careful when using Wikipedia in school work. If you do work full of phrases taken from the encyclopedia, your teacher will notice immediately! It is always better to cite your sources.

CONCLUSION

For creating an impressive page on Wikipedia, always do proper research and maintain relevancy and repute.Avoid copying from other sources, even from your own company site.

Avoid self-promotion and stay true to the topic.

Provide value for your readers by creating well-researched and informative content.