The modern digital landscape demands a strong online presence from every business. Out of all the channels that set online visibility, a Wikipedia page is a must-have.
The first site that ranks on Google, with plenty of information all around the globe, is Wikipedia. Business pages or individual personalities seek to create a Wikipedia page but struggle to meet the publication requirements.
Despite the high-level content, Wikipedia’s publishing and notability rules make it difficult for businesses to meet the criteria.
This article explains Wikipedia’s publishing and notability rules and how you can meet these guidelines for building a strong online presence.
Wikipedia: How It Determines Credibility?
Wikipedia pages are highly optimized for search engines. Just one search, and they appear at the top of the results. Their high ranking and verified status contribute significantly to their visibility.
A Wikipedia page is a free tool that is used globally. It indicates credibility and reliability regarding any information shared. The page is surrounded by millions of visitors from multiple backgrounds.
Whether for a place, an individual, or any information on someone, a Wikipedia page provides authentic and authorized information. The free encyclopedia is available in different languages with a wide variety of articles.
The power it holds to indicate the legitimacy of content makes Wikipedia a web page with strict publishing requirements.
Wikipedia’s Publishing and Notability Rules:
As easy as it seems, publishing on Wikipedia is a challenging task. The high value it holds encourages people to choose a Wikipedia notability assessment service. Anyone who plans to publish on Wikipedia faces one common hurdle and which is the notability criteria.
The notability criteria of Wikipedia demand that the subject of the article should be recognized and covered by reputable third-party resources. This is quite a different approach from the popularity concept.
If a subject is popular, it might bring a short-term spotlight that fades away with time. However, a notable subject promises long-term significance based on reputable sources.
What Sources Are Included In The Notability Criteria?
Wikipedia has set the notability criterion to determine whether some subjects deserve to have published articles or not. This criterion is analyzed based on the content verification and discussion from third-party sources.
Wikipedia requires the sources to be completely external and have no association with the subject. For instance, these sources can be written by a journalist or a scholar who has no connection with the subject.
Wikipedia page Editors commonly accept information from these sources, including:
- News Papers ( From The New York Times, BBC)
- Industry Reports from sources such as Forbes, Harvard Business Review.
- Magazines
- TV documentaries
- Academic Journals
- Books from Verified Publishers.
Coverage from any of these resources doesn’t guarantee a Wikipedia page. This is because Wikipedia has strict requirements for assessing the verification and notability of your subject.
To become eligible for approval, the subject of your article should be mentioned in a considerable number of sources. 1-2 mentions from any reputable and trustworthy resource are not enough to help you gain approval from Wikipedia’s editorial team.
Experts suggest that a minimum of five credible and independent resources are necessary to elevate your approval chances.
One of the key reasons people fail to publish their articles despite fulfilling the source requirement is the lack of details.
Any source that briefly mentions the name of your subject or highlights the role in a small discussion. It is never enough for the editors. They search for something more than this.
Here is what editors look for:
- A recognized peer-reviewed publication that has a study on the subject.
- Any reputable media source that discusses the background and details of your subject.
- An authoritative book that has dedicated significant attention to the subject.
Why does Wikipedia Delete Pages After They Are Published?
People are often successful in creating Wikipedia pages without meeting the requirements. However, Wikipedia takes down their pages, which results in disappointment. Let’s take a deeper look at why this happens.
Wikipedia and Promotional Content: A BIG NO:
Wikipedia strictly inhibits promotional and marketing-related content. The free encyclopedia aims to serve as an informative tool without integrating marketing strategies into its articles.
Brands that integrate content marketing into their articles or leverage self-promotional content often get their pages deleted by Wikipedia.
This is why the notability criteria strictly decline the use of sources. This includes press releases and content from self-publishing channels such as personal blog posts or other media.
Biased Content:
Wikipedia provides factual content that is informative and free of bias. However, articles with a promotional purpose or advertising tone are usually rejected.
Recent Articles:
The approval of these articles depends on the notable guidelines of editors. Although the information in these articles tells the current state, Wikipedia has another opinion.
Wikipedia states that it is an encyclopedic platform that focuses on long-term information. Instead of providing news with temporary attention, Wikipedia editors figure out the information’s future aspect and then decide.
Effective Ways to Meet the Notability Standards:
If your business is currently struggling to meet the Wikipedia page requirements, here is what you can do:
- Instead of focusing on a subject that brings temporary hype, find the one that promises long-term impact. This is what Wikipedia looks for in its notability criteria.
- Don’t involve yourself as the source of coverage for your subject, else it will sound promotional. Find an independent third-party source, such as reports, studies, and journal articles.
- Get recognized in your field of interest. Actively participate in any events associated with your industry.
Wrapping Up:
A neutral tone, credibility, and notability are some of the foundational aspects you need to build your Wikipedia presence on.
Remember, the process isn’t easy, and the requirements are strict. However, a subject supported by independent sources, which is free of a promotional tone, is your key to a Wikipedia page.