How To Write A Quality Wikipedia Article?

Writing a Wikipedia short article is not child’s play, especially if you are doing it for the first time. But, no matter how difficult it seems, the efforts to write a short article for Wikipedia are all worth it.

Having an article on Wikipedia about a brand or product has many advantages. First, you are going to improve the credibility of a brand in addition to attracting traffic to it.

So, how do you write a short article for a Wikipedia page? 

Here are 8 simple steps you can follow when writing your wiki article;

1. Conduct a Research

Before writing an article for a Wikipedia page, you need to research more on the guidelines for writing an article for Wikipedia. For instance, you will need to ensure that the subject of the topic is a notable person or brand. The subject must have received attention from other independent sources to be considered.

Learn the ropes of being a good Wikipedia citizen so that your Wikipedia page will not be deleted or rejected once you submit it.

2. Create an Account

To write or edit any article on Wikipedia you must have an account with Wikipedia. So consider creating one if you don't have one. Keep in mind though that having an account is just the first step to having a Wikipedia page.

3. Start Small

It doesn’t kill to test the waters by starting small. Consider editing other existing articles on Wikipedia to test your skills. You can start by editing a biography of a person you are familiar with while linking back to one of their independent sources.

The advantage of this is that Wikipedia records everything you do on your user profile. With enough editing and updating, you are allowed to perform certain restricted functions. Such functions may include uploading images and moving some Wikipedia pages to the public.

4. Gather Your Sources

Wikipedia is a stickler for the right sources of information so you need to be cautious about finding your sources. Take your time to find credible sources because Wikipedia also takes time to verify every source.

Such third-party informational pieces can be sourced from magazines, videos, books, and any other printed sources. Be sure to gather the sources you will need to save time. Also, remember to gather photos keeping in mind that they have to be your photos - not subject to copyright.

5. Write Your Copy (Short Wikipedia article)

Now that you have all the right sources, you can start penning down your Wikipedia article. You can write it on another platform but you will have to use the article wizard on Wikipedia to ensure it meets Wikipedia’s requirements.

To format your article, you can decide to use the Wiki code. The process of formatting using Wiki code can be a long tedious one so be sure to give it time.

6. Submit your Wikipedia article for Review

After you write and ensure that your short article is error-free you need to submit it for review. The process can take from a few days to a few weeks or longer. However, if you have built a good reputation with Wikipedia already you can move the article to the public. An editor will look at it then they can edit some parts. If your content does not meet Wikipedia’s requirements, the article can be deleted without a warning.

7. Always Update your Wikipedia article

If your content was accepted, do not just leave it at that, you can keep checking on it and updating it as much as needed. Updating your content keeps the information relevant and valid for the readers.

To Conclude

Writing a short article for Wikipedia for the first time might be difficult but as you get used to it, it gets easier. The most difficult part is finding verifiable sources and formatting your article. Once you get past this, you can have your content approved easily.