Writing a Wikipedia page is challenging, and submitting it for approval can be even more complicated. You can take specific steps to give yourself the best chance of getting your page approved.
From adequately formatting the text and properly citing sources to following submission guidelines, this guide provides tips on how to get your Wikipedia page approved.
Can I Make a Wikipedia Page About Myself?
This is a question many individuals ponder, especially those with notable achievements or public profiles. The short answer is yes, you can create a Wikipedia page about yourself, but it's more complex than it sounds. Wikipedia has strict guidelines and a community of editors scrutinizing contributions for neutrality, verifiability, and notability.
Are You or Your Brand Notable?
Reliable sources must have written your information before creating a Wikipedia page. The article could be a biography or an interview with a reputable author.
Besides, you must be the topic of rather than a mention in it. The article must be remarkable, worthy of notice, and interesting enough to deserve attention.
Therefore, you cannot just create a page about yourself and refer to it when creating a Wikipedia page.
Notable Guidelines for a Wikipedia Article
Wikipedia has a notability guideline, meaning the article's subject must meet specific criteria to warrant a dedicated Wikipedia page. While notability is somewhat subjective, there are some generally accepted principles:
- Significant Coverage: There should be substantial independent coverage in reliable, third-party sources, such as newspapers, books, or magazines.
- Verifiability: Claims made in the article must be supported by reliable sources, and all content should be verifiable and accurately referenced.
- Encyclopedic Tone: Wikipedia articles should maintain a neutral point of view and adopt an encyclopedic tone, avoiding promotional or biased language.
- Sufficient Content: The subject should have enough material to warrant a standalone page.
- Relevance: The subject should interest a broad audience, not just a niche group.
There Must Be Several References To You
Wikipedia looks at the number of your references as much as it looks at the quality. Several authorities should share similar information about you. These references are from sources where readers can find reliable facts about you.
Here is an example: Elon Reeve Musk is the founder and CEO of SpaceX. This statement must have at least two verifiable sources that allude to these facts.
The references may be a government website, a respected publication, or a reliable review page.
Good vs. Bad Wikipedia References
When gathering references for your Wikipedia article, focus on credible, independent sources. Good connections are reliable, from reputable publications or experts in the field, and directly related to the subject. Bad references include self-published sources, such as personal blogs or social media posts, and biased sources with an apparent conflict of interest.
For example, a while back, a team of Wikipedia administrators decried that Fox News was no longer a reliable source for its skewed reporting of scientific and political news. If such is used as a reference, the information must be found elsewhere on the internet.
Some of the bad Wikipedia references include the following:
- Self-published materials
- Self-publishing sites such as blogging sites, Medium.com, and social media pages
- PR Newswire
- Amazon reviews (and most product review sites)
- ResearchGate
- Tabloid journalism
What are Reliable Sources?
According to Wikipedia, a primary source only constitutes a reliable source. Primary sources are pages by the subject of the Wiki page, such as a press release, patents, own website, or social media page. Wikipedia does not consider itself a reliable reference source.
Reliable sources are third-party articles that are known to check facts for accuracy. They are referred to as secondary sources. They may include reputable news sites, scholarly articles, and articles that reference various reliable sources.
Steps to Create a New Wikipedia Page
Creating a Wikipedia page, whether for yourself or another subject, involves a series of steps:
- Account Setup: To edit Wikipedia, you need an account. Sign up and choose a username.
- Research: Before creating your article, research similar pages and review Wikipedia's guidelines to understand the formatting and citation standards.
- Drafting: Write the article's content, ensuring it follows the notability and verifiability guidelines. Be sure to adhere to Wikipedia's neutral point of view.
- References: Gather reliable sources that support the claims in your article. These include books, newspapers, magazines, academic journals, and reputable websites.
- Citations: Reference your sources appropriately, using Wikipedia's citation style. In-text citations and a list of references at the end of the article are essential.
- Submission: Once your article is ready, you can submit it for review. Wikipedia has a system for creating draft articles, which can be submitted for publication when they meet the required standards.
- Editor Review: After submission, your article will be reviewed by experienced Wikipedia editors. They may provide feedback or request additional citations or changes.
- Publication: If your article meets Wikipedia's standards and is accepted by the community, it will be published and available for all to see.
Creating an Article When There's Not Enough Notability
Sometimes, individuals or subjects may need to meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines. Creating a separate Wikipedia article may not be possible. However, you can still contribute to existing reports by adding well-sourced information about your achievements or your subject's importance within a broader context.
Should You Create Your Own Wikipedia Article?
The decision to create your own Wikipedia article should not be taken lightly. While it can be a valuable asset for online reputation management, it's essential to do so with utmost transparency and objectivity. Creating your article can be worthwhile if you genuinely believe you meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines and have substantial, well-sourced information to share.
However, remember that Wikipedia is a community-driven platform, and your article will be subject to review and potential revisions by other editors. It's crucial to approach the process with humility, a commitment to neutrality, and a dedication to providing verifiable, reliable information.
Conclusion
Creating a Wikipedia page is an excellent way to enhance your online presence. Still, it's a process that demands attention to Wikipedia's guidelines and a commitment to verifiable, neutral content. Whether you create your article or contribute to existing ones, Wikipedia offers a unique opportunity to share knowledge and shape online information for the benefit of all.
