As one of the largest information-sharing nonprofit organizations in the world, Wikipedia is a useful website for millions of internet users every day. If you specialized in a particular area of knowledge, you may be interested in creating a Wikipedia page to share that information with others. In that case, consider these tips to help you start.
1. Search for Existing Articles
Before writing a significant amount of content, it is good to search for existing articles on the subject you intend to cover. Start with Wikipedia content itself. On each page, dig further into external links on Wikipedia to see what kind of content is already on the web. You want your page to be both useful and unique.
2. Use Solid Resources
Whenever you write any kind of content, it is smart to use current, valid and verifiable resources to back up your data, facts or opinions. The same is true when it comes to publishing on Wikipedia. If you are able to provide links to your resources, that is even better. Sometimes, first-hand knowledge is the only information available; however, be careful to avoid exaggerations or false information sharing.
3. Avoid Personal Content
Many people enjoy talking about themselves, but doing so is probably not the best idea when working on your Wikipedia page. When writing your article and thinking about what to include, it is also necessary to avoid certain types of content. For example, the top of the “To Avoid” list should be personal content. This includes anything about yourself, family, friends, occupation, business or a story that you wrote.
4. Do Not Advertise
Speaking of things to avoid, another item to add to the list is avoiding advertisements for your product or business. Even if the article is in the same industry as your company, it is best not to try promoting yourself through external links back to your own website if it does not contain resources relevant to your page content.
5. Do Not Share Essays or Original Research
Writing a personal essay or conducting original research can feel like an accomplishment in many ways, and sometimes people want to publish their work on Wikipedia. While the subject matter may overlap with article information, it is best not to share essays or original research directly on your Wikipedia page.
6. Connect With Other Wikipedia Contributors
Writing an article on Wikipedia is more than just publishing words to a website and sending an article into cyberspace. In a way, it is a step to becoming part of a larger community of contributors. Other Wikipedians will see your page and will have the ability to judge your edits as they wish. Connecting with other contributors can give you a broader perspective and identify areas for growth.
7. Allow Submissions From Multiple Users
If you want to have a page with solid content, it is a wise move to allow submissions from multiple users. When you do this, the site will allow multiple registered users to have the ability to contribute to your page. There are a couple of benefits to doing this. One, it will lessen the likelihood that Wikipedia will flag a history-less page for deletion; two, it keeps your information current and accurate.
8. Encourage Talk Page Discussions
Talking about something with others who share an interest is one of the best ways to come up with new ideas and ignite passions. When you create a Wikipedia page, there is also the talk page functionality to consider. Through this website feature, readers can engage with one another about the content of various articles via comments and questions. In turn, this active participation further encourages people to care about whatever topic you are writing about.
Creating a Wikipedia page can be a fun and interesting writing endeavor that anyone with specialized knowledge could benefit from trying. Use these tips for guidance as you brainstorm ideas to write about.
