If you’re anything like me, you probably mostly view Wikipedia as a reliable resource for an inside look into the making of Game of Thrones or a list of unrelated information about zebras. In other words, you probably haven’t given it any attention as a brand awareness medium. But if you stop to think about it, Wikipedia is one of the finest outside sources for being on Google’s first page. Usually, when you search for a certain keyword, the Wikipedia article that corresponds to it may be found without having to scroll too far. Furthermore, it’s a well-known website, so it’s frequently one of the first places people click on to discover more about what your company does.

Do you or your company really require a Wikipedia page?

Wikipedia’s primary goal is dependability. Are there publications about you or your company? A person must be famous in order for there to be a Wikipedia article on them. Many people and businesses mistakenly think they are well-known enough (Tip: you can take a quick notability test to get a rough idea). A simple mention or quote in an article typically isn’t sufficient. Articles about you must have you as the primary focus. This kind of article may be an interview, a biography, or a piece written by an author who is comparatively well-known.

Moreover, there are two types of Wikipedia pages that we describe as Primary sources or Reliable Sources.
A third-party, published source with a solid track record for accuracy and fact-checking is considered a reputable Wikipedia source. These are typically referred to as “secondary sources.” Some examples of trustworthy news websites are well-known and trustworthy Wikipedia sources. Scholarly publications are valuable, but frequently the best articles are those that cite other scholarly works. New Wikipedia articles cannot utilise primary sources (usually). A primary source, as defined by Wikipedia, is authentic content that is close to an event and frequently consists of an account written by persons who were directly involved with the issue. You cannot use a self-published website about you or your company as a reference.

Step by Step guide to creating a Wikipedia page

1. Create a Wikipedia account: Go to Wikipedia’s homepage and click “Create account” in the top right. Enter the necessary information, including username and password, then click “Create your account”.

2. Become an autoconfirmed user: When you initially sign up for Wikipedia, a popup with the words “Help improve Wikipedia” and a link to begin editing an article will appear. Most English Wikipedia user accounts that are more than four days old and have made at least 10 edits (including deleted ones) are considered autoconfirmed.” You must become an autoconfirmed user before building your page. You’ll need to exercise patience in this situation; after creating an account, spend the first several days modifying other people’s pages.

3. Create your page: The hardest phase is here – building the page. It’s vital to realise that you may enter as much or as little information as you like because your firm probably doesn’t have a Wikipedia page yet. Additionally, you should organise the page so that it is simple to read by placing some of the most crucial and fundamental details first (such as what your organisation does). While readers may scroll down further for additional product-specific details, it’s crucial that Wikipedia be utilised primarily as a platform for broad brand awareness.

4. Citations: Since Wikipedia is essentially an encyclopaedia, you must cite other articles and other sources to support your claim that the issue is accurate. Wikipedia alerts you to this before you start writing your page, noting — “An article’s subject must already be covered by trustworthy sources that are unrelated to the issue. These include fact-checking-friendly journals, books, newspapers, magazines, and websites. Press releases, business or professional biographies, or social media do not qualify.”

5. All set: Send your completed page for evaluation once you’re done. It will be added to Wikipedia as an official page after it has been determined to be a reliable source.