What are the steps for creating a Wikipedia page?
Creating a Wikipedia page might seem like a daunting task if you don’t know where to start. To begin, you must either login or make an account through Wikipedia. From there you can find the ‘Search Wikipedia’ bar in the top right hand corner to search the key term of the article you are looking to create.
If it already exists, you may take liberties to edit that page. If it does not exist, you will see the term shown as a red link, indicating that no current page exists for that topic. By clicking the red link, you indicate to Wikipedia that you would like to begin writing a new, blank page with the red term as the title.
Once you are on the blank page you may begin writing the article. If it is your first submission, be sure to check out Wikipedia’s articles on writing as a contributor and their style guide.
Can I create a Wikipedia page for myself?
The answer is…it depends. The truth is, any registered user can create a page on any topic they desire. However, Wikipedia states in its terms of service that it prefers people not to create individual pages for themselves.
While there is plenty of online space for individuals to write about themselves, Wikipedia is not a social media platform like Facebook. It is meant for sharing knowledge, and for individuals, sharing achievements, scientific discoveries, award nominations, technological advancements, and more.
The biggest question you’ll need to ask before writing a Wikipedia page about yourself is: “Has enough been written about me online to be used for citations?” This is important because as an encyclopedia, Wikipedia is focused on reference material. If there is not enough published information online to back up claims you’d like to make on your Wikipedia page, there is a good chance Wikipedia will take it down.
If you’re unsure, then the answer is likely no.
Can I create a Wikipedia page for another individual?
Registered users can create Wiki pages on any topic they’d like. First, use the search bar function to type the individual’s name to see if there is already an existing page or reference to them. If this is the case, you can feel free to edit and add information to their page as necessary.
If there is no content written about the individual, you’ll see a red box with their name or the search term you used to find them, and you’ll have the option to click on it and create a new Wiki page for them.
Like mentioned before, there needs to be enough publicly available information on the individual for the page to be approved by Wikipedia. News stories, editorial interviews, and organic mentions should be enough credible sources for a wiki page. Paid or sponsored content and press releases are not sufficient, unfortunately.
How notable or famous do you need to be listed on Wiki?
You do not need to be an A-list celebrity to have a Wikipedia page. You should, however, have credulous work that is published online whether it be in a medical journal, mentioned in a news headline, or an award nomination.
A good way to test whether you have enough information available online to use as citation for a wiki page is to search your name, brand, or key terms related to your accomplishments to see if there has been any mention of you or your work online. On Google, you may see the “people also search for” feature which can be very telling if you are notable enough for your own Wikipedia page or not.
How to create a Wikipedia page for a company or business
The process for creating a company or business Wikipedia page is the same as creating a wiki page for an individual. Register an account, search your business name, and create a new page if no content already exists for your business.
You’re going to want to gather all the information about your business that the public should know. The year it was founded, who the founders are, current leadership team, a description of the products or services sold, any notable testimonials or public acclaim/awards would be worth sharing.
Think of your Wikipedia page as a historical timeline of your company or business. As your business grows, so will the information on your wiki page.
How long does it take for a Wiki page to be approved and published?
Unfortunately, there is no set-in-stone timeline for how long it may take Wikipedia page edits to be approved. Some sources say edit approvals may take only a day or so, but others say 3-6 months is more likely. Luckily, anyone is able to make edits to an existing wiki page and have the changes visible as soon as you republish it. The only difference is that there will be a note saying your changes haven’t been approved by an admin yet.
This is why you might want to consider hiring an expert Wikipedia writing and editing service that knows the ins-and-outs of this process to ensure it goes as smoothly and as fast as possible.