Wikipedia.org has become one of the most popular information Web sites – despite the fact that it is a nonprofit, user-edited resource. Many people use the site for research and many companies are monitoring how they are represented on their respective entries on the site.
This week, we will take a closer look at the Wikipedia format -- and the role it might play in PR and/or advertising campaigns. Most mainstream companies already have a wiki page. Search for any brand on Google and see how high the wikipedia entry ranks -- it is usually among the top results!
To become familiar with the wiki format, register with the site so that you will have permission to edit and/or create an entry. There is a "Create Account" link at the upper right-hand side of the homepage or you can simply click here.
Once you are registered, you can use the search box to find an existing entry on your selected topic.
On that page, you will find an "edit" link that allows you to add your text or image to the existing page.
To create a new entry, there is a page that will help you establish a new entry topic here.
If you want to add an image, click here for information on uploading.
Ready to make an edit? Find a related theme or topic to your semester campaign and make a valuable contribution to that wiki entry.
Here is a great Wikipedia "cheat sheet" for formatting of your text.
Content Guidelines:
If you do edit or create any wikipedia entry, it is important to remember that each article is meant to document existing research -- it is not meant as a place for "original research" and/or opinions. The voice and tone should be neutral and all information presented should be verifiable with attribution.
Click here for a downloadable "best practices" guide for PR professionals using wikipedia (.pdf file)
Controversies:
There have been many controversies over use of wikipedia for PR and/or political purposes. Here are a few articles that documents some of these issues:
- Meet the Climate Change Denier Who Became the Voice of Hurricane Sandy on Wikipedia
- Corruption in Wikiland? Paid PR Scandal Erupts at Wikipedia
Additional resources:
- Looking for even more tips on "best practices" for wiki creation and campaigns? Click here.
- A complete online tutorial to creating your own wiki page is here.
- There are also some general tips to help you here.
Related Links:
- Making the Case for PR Pros Editing Wikipedia
- Facebook Group: Corporate Representatives for Ethical Wikipedia Engagement (requires login to Facebook)
