How to Get a Wikipedia Page Approved Without Rejection
Let’s give you a scenario to imagine. You spent hours, days, or maybe weeks to complete your Wikipedia article. You dedicated your time to researching, writing, editing, and proofreading to ensure your content is flawless.
But once you click that Publish button on Wikipedia, you receive a notification saying that your article has been rejected, or even worse, has gone into the Deletion log. Sounds heartbreaking, right? But this is not the time to let your spirit down. This is the moment to analyze where you may have gone wrong and how to successfully submit your Wikipedia page.
If you want to turn a failed attempt at publishing your Wikipedia article into a successful one, then keep reading to get more clarity about approvals and rejection on this platform.
Wikipedia Is Not Just Another Website
To work on Wikipedia, you need to first understand what the website is all about. Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that contains content that is informative, unbiased, and free of marketing lingo.
The content can either be written by volunteers or editors with the help of a Wikipedia page creation service. It allows users to browse information on diverse topics such as history, art, entertainment, and more in multiple languages. In short, it is a hub of knowledge.
Furthermore, Wikipedia has three non-negotiable content policies which the editors swear by: Neutral Point of View (NPOV), Verifiability, and No Original Research.
In NPOV, editors must ensure that the content is free from bias and has a neutral tone. It should not be marketing or praising the subject. Instead, any claim or fact should be backed by reliable, third-party sources like magazines, newspapers, books, or academic papers. This also conforms to the second policy, which is verifiability.
Lastly, in No Original Research, editors refrain from using new data or analysis. Instead, it is strongly recommended to stick to established sources to avoid article rejection in Wikipedia.
While these guidelines may sound overwhelming at first, they will also aid in writing content that gets approved. It will also help you avoid common errors while writing your article.
Common Reasons Why Wikipedia Pages Get Rejected
At times, even if you stick to Wikipedia’s content guidelines, your page could still be rejected or deleted. There are many reasons why your article cannot get past the scrutiny of Wikipedia’s editors.
Your Subject Is Not Notable Enough
Even if the subject you are writing about has many followers on social media or has a credible website, that still does not make that subject eligible for a Wikipedia article. The platform does not compromise on the notability of the topic.
Your topic should have credible sources, like being mentioned in national or international newspapers, books, research papers, magazines, or acknowledged by notable journalists.
Whether you are writing about a business, entrepreneur, artist, sportsperson, or anybody famous, your subject must have significant coverage in independent articles and third-party sources to secure your article on Wikipedia.
You Turned Your Content into A Marketing Brochure
One of the biggest mistakes writers can make is confusing Wikipedia with a marketing brochure. Claims or facts that are too positive or promotional get rejected immediately.
Additionally, Wikipedia is perhaps the only platform where a dry and straightforward tone is more appreciated than an engaging one. So remember, you are writing to persuade the Wikipedia community, not your target audience.
Therefore, one effective trick is that you can either print your draft before its publication and cross out any promotional language in it, or you can seek help from a wiki editor online, as they know how to turn promotional content into informational content.
Conflict of Interest (COI) – The Silent Page Killer
Conflict of interest (COI) refers to a situation where the editor has a personal or professional link to the article’s subject or topic. This also includes writing about your company, clients, family, or even yourself.
While COI is not strictly forbidden, you should disclose that you are paid to edit the content. If you fail to do so, then that counts as a community breach in Wikipedia’s landscape, and all your work and contributions may get deleted.
Citations Done Wrong
You wrote on a notable subject, verified its sources, and ensured that you added no new or unfamiliar data in your writing. However, it is the small details that can either make your article go live or into the trash.
We are talking about citations. Now, there is no specific number of citations that you should or should not include. However, it is best to prefer quality over quantity.
For instance, using only 3-5 credible citations that extensively discuss your topic is better than using 10-20 citations in which your topic is merely briefly mentioned. Hence, choose your citations wisely and place them wisely.
The Art of Structuring a Wikipedia Page
There are three ways to perfectly articulate your Wikipedia page. You can either hire online reputation management UAE firms, pay an editor who has expertise in writing Wikipedia pages, or do it on your own.
Though keep in mind, there are many cons of DIY Wikipedia page writing. Firstly, the risk of rejection is very high, especially if you are writing for the first time or do not have enough knowledge about Wikipedia’s guidelines.
Secondly, no matter how much you use the promotional tone in your content, there may be a few areas where you miss, which will ultimately lead to your page being rejected.
So, to save yourself from such horror, adhere to the following tips to craft a successful Wikipedia page:
Create A Wikipedia Account
To become a true member of the Wikipedia community, first create your account. This will allow you to participate in discussions, create drafts, and oversee changes made to your work.
You will also be able to interact with other volunteers around the world and learn deeply regarding a Wikipedia editor’s point of view when they edit content adhering to the platform’s guidelines.
Research, Research, And More Research.
It is fair to say that you will be dedicating more time to researching your subject than writing about it. Therefore, ensure that your topic is mentioned in at least 5-10 significant national or international sources.
Keep in mind that content from social media posts, websites directly linked to the subject, and press releases is not allowed. Your sources should be secondary, which should assess your subject, not promote it.
Maintain A Neutral Tone Through and Through
Whether you have a positive or negative opinion about the topic, it should not be reflected in your writing. Avoid overly criticizing or praising the subject. Steer clear of sounding promotional. Ensure that the information you are adding is fact-based and encyclopedic.
Follow Wikipedia’s Format Religiously
Wikipedia’s format for articles is quite simple. It includes the introduction, early life or history, career, notable works, accolades, references, and external links.
There are many instances where a writer’s page is rejected simply because it does not align with Wikipedia’s format. Therefore, stick to the format and write for the platform, not yourself.
Submit Through Articles for Creation (AFC)
Finally, once you are done writing, submit your work through AFC so that a volunteer can review your page correctly. They will ensure that your content aligns perfectly with Wikipedia’s guidelines and format and will make changes where needed.
Once they approve your work, it is time to get that page published without any stress or anxiety of rejection.
Do It Right, And It Will Actually Work
If you made it this far, you would know by now that writing a Wikipedia page is not as easy as it looks. It requires patience and precision to make your article worthy of being published in Wikipedia’s community.
Hence, we suggest you start your research today and follow the rules to ensure your publishing process is a rewarding success.