Wiki FAQs
Basics of Wikipedia
Explore the essentials of Wikipedia: why Wikipedia is considered one of the world's most important websites, who edits and approves content, what its main rules are, and what defines a reliable source. Get a foundational understanding to help you understand how it works and make decisions accordingly.
-
Wikipedia is one of the most important and popular websites in the world, consistently ranking among the top 10 most visited sites and receiving nearly 7 billion visits each month. For many internet users, it is the go-to source for basic fact-checking, and millions of students rely on it to supplement their formal education.
As a unique resource, Wikipedia provides free access to information on an almost limitless range of topics. It is the largest repository of human knowledge in history, with nearly 6.9 million articles in English alone and more than 300 language editions. Inspired by traditional encyclopedias like the Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia covers far more topics and updates much more frequently than was ever possible before.
What sets Wikipedia apart from other major websites is its volunteer-driven model of knowledge production. Unlike other top sites run by billion-dollar companies, Wikipedia is maintained by a global network of volunteers who write its articles and manage its governance. The nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation, which owns Wikipedia's servers, plays no role in its content.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
Wikipedia is maintained by a global, volunteer-driven community known as Wikipedians. There are no formal barriers to joining this group—anyone with a user account who makes meaningful contributions and believes in Wikipedia's mission of organizing the world's knowledge can become a Wikipedian.
Wikipedians contribute to the site for many reasons, and in many ways. Some are motivated to share their expertise, combat misinformation, or address perceived gaps in the platform’s content. Some edit infrequently, while others edit almost every day. Many focus on creating new content, while others prefer tasks like archiving or maintaining existing articles. Others write software to help manage the site or organize activities offline, rarely editing the site itself.
Demographic surveys show that Wikipedia editors are predominantly male, often based in North America and Western Europe, and many hold advanced degrees, frequently working in or around academia. Editors tend to be either younger or older than the general population, likely due to the availability of time—students and retirees may have more flexibility compared to early to mid-career adults, especially those with children.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
Wikipedia operates differently from traditional publications, with no formal approval process or publishing schedule. Anyone can click the edit button and make any change to almost any page at any time, but just the same, anyone can undo any change at any time. Getting edits to stick requires understanding Wikipedia’s rules on content, sources, and formatting.
Veteran editors actively monitor the site for changes that violate guidelines, and automated tools, like bots, help revert vandalism or other problematic edits. Filters are also in place to catch inappropriate content, such as offensive language, soon after it appears.
While nearly all pages are modifiable, some have restrictions. Some Wikipedians, known as administrators (or admins), have special powers to lock pages and block disruptive users. "Edit-protected" pages limit changes by unregistered or new users, and a small number of pages may be fully locked, often due to vandalism or "edit-warring". These protections are typically temporary and remain in place until disputes are resolved.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
Yes! Wikipedia is open to anyone who wants to contribute. However, it’s important for new contributors to understand Wikipedia's mission and familiarize themselves with its policies and guidelines around content and editor behavior. Failing to do so can result in being blocked from editing—which would change the answer, unfortunately, to no.
While a user account isn’t required to make edits, creating one provides access to additional tools, like the ability to create new articles. It also lets you choose a unique username, which may or may not be tied to your real-life identity. If you are new to Wikipedia, your account includes a "sandbox" for making test edits, and the Teahouse is a friendly place to get advice from more experienced editors.
Since you’re reading this on the website of a consultancy that offers paid editing services, it’s important to note that editing articles where you have a personal or professional interest should be avoided to prevent conflicts of interest. Every edit is permanently logged in the article's edit history, so be careful!
Last updated 10.23.24
-
At its core, Wikipedia is based on a set of fundamental principles known as the Five Pillars. These precepts establish that Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, committed to being a free resource, maintaining a neutral point of view, promoting respect and civility, and encouraging flexibility to improve the project.
Building on these pillars, Wikipedia has two basic types of rules: mandatory policies, which define the project’s scope and govern editor behavior, and widely-observed guidelines, which primarily focus on the specifics of editorial content.
Behavioral policies and guidelines include expectations that editors "assume good faith" in others' contributions, avoid disruptive editing, and disclose financial interests related to topics they edit. Since it is impossible to write rules about every possible situation, Wikipedia relies on consensus-building to address gaps in the rules.
Content policies clarify what Wikipedia is not: a dictionary, directory, blog, or "indiscriminate collection of information." Original research is prohibited—only previously published information is allowed. Topics must meet notability thresholds to merit standalone pages, reliable sources must verify all information, and special care is required when handling content that could affect the reputations of living people.
Last updated 7.7.25
-
To ensure Wikipedia's integrity and accuracy, all content must be independently verifiable, requiring editors to cite credible third-party sources. A related policy is that editors cannot contribute original research; all information must have been previously published in reputable, editor-reviewed publications.
Determining what counts as a reliable source is a complex and often contested matter. Since Wikipedia editors are not required to prove their personal expertise before editing in any given topic, they defer to the authority of experts and professionals whose job or vocation incentivizes accuracy.
As a result, reliable sources commonly include academic and peer-reviewed journals, books by reputable publishers, and established news organizations like major newspapers and magazines. While a publication need not be nonpartisan to be reliable, those focused on reporting rather than opinion are generally more trusted. In certain cases, government documents and work by recognized subject matter experts may also be used.
Even generally reliable sources may publish some material Wikipedia prefers not to use. For instance, newspaper opinion pieces may lack the fact-checking of staff articles, and some sources may be reliable in certain areas but not others. Many outlets now feature unpaid "contributors" whose writing is not afforded the same credibility as professional journalists. Sensationalist media like tabloids, and self-published sources such as blogs and social media, are generally not considered reliable.
Last updated 7.7.25
Paid Editing on Wikipedia
Gain a clear understanding of paid editing on Wikipedia, including eligibility for a page, rules for editing content about yourself, considerations in hiring a consultant, and avoiding common pitfalls. We cover key practices for ethical engagement and navigating Wikipedia's rules to help you be successful.
-
Wikipedia's scope is vast, covering individuals from all walks of life. There is a chance that its pages might include you. But it's important to understand that Wikipedia is not a marketing platform. Unlike creating a social media profile on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, not everyone meets Wikipedia’s threshold for a dedicated article.
This threshold is defined by a guideline called Notability (people), which requires significant, independent coverage in reliable sources such as news outlets, books, or academic publications. The reality is that very few people receive this level of coverage, and Wikipedia is well aware of that. The platform aims to focus on topics of clear public interest, which excludes most entities, including people and organizations.
Additionally, Wikipedia’s conflict of interest policy discourages individuals from creating articles about themselves. Even if an article is created, it must remain neutral, non-promotional, and rely solely on independent sources—self-published material is not acceptable.
If an article is published, be advised that you cannot control what it says. Anyone can edit the page, and there’s no guarantee that the initial content will remain. Wikipedia's standards may also change, and the article could be removed in the future.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
If Wikipedia already has a biographical article about you—or if one has just been created—it’s important to proceed carefully. Wikipedia has rules around conflict of interest, which discourage individuals from editing articles about themselves. This is because maintaining an objective perspective about yourself can be challenging, even with the best intentions. And it is not your entry; it’s merely an entry about you.
That said, if you find inaccuracies or wish to suggest updates, the best approach is to propose changes on the article's talk page, particularly if you can provide reliable sources to support the corrections or new information. Other editors will review your suggestions and decide if they align with Wikipedia’s mission and content guidelines.
While this process is considerably slower than editing the article yourself, attempting to make direct edits could lead to your changes being undone. In some cases, editors may even place a warning tag at the top of the page. Once added, these can be very difficult to make go away.
If you’d like assistance navigating this process, Beutler Ink has extensive experience helping individuals and organizations propose edits in compliance with Wikipedia's rules on neutrality, sourcing, and conflict of interest, greatly increasing the likelihood of community acceptance.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
While it might seem like a good idea to ask a friend to edit Wikipedia on your behalf to bypass conflict of interest (COI) rules, in reality this is unlikely to be an effective long-term solution. Even if your friend doesn’t have a direct financial stake in your company or personal brand, Wikipedia editors may still consider their connection to you to be an unacceptable conflict of interest.
Wikipedia is a unique platform with its own set of complex, often arcane rules that can be difficult to navigate. Even savvy web users in other domains may stumble over Wikipedia’s written rules and unwritten customs. If your friend's edits are flagged or reverted, it could bring unwanted scrutiny to both the article and their account.
What's more, what are the odds this is just a one-time situation? Going back to your friend for help again and again is neither sustainable nor respectful of their time. Attempting to bypass COI rules with quick fixes could lead to long-term complications for the article—and your relationship.
If you want to keep them as a friend, and get changes made on Wikipedia, it's best to work with a Wikipedia expert who can assess the situation, guide you through what’s possible, and ensure everything is done correctly.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
Hiring someone to edit or engage with Wikipedia must be approached with caution and care. Wikipedia’s rules around paid editing, especially its conflict of interest (COI) guideline and paid contributions disclosure policy, are strict and can be difficult to navigate successfully. Selecting the wrong vendor could set you back significantly.
Paid editors are required to disclose their client relationship and are strongly discouraged from making direct edits themselves. Additionally, hiring someone doesn’t guarantee that your changes will be accepted. Wikipedia’s rules about appropriate content and reliable sources are complex, and the community of volunteer editors who review changes may interpret these guidelines differently.
Unfortunately, some so-called experts try to evade the scrutiny that comes with disclosure by editing anonymously, hoping they won’t get caught. Some even mislead their clients about whether this approach is allowed—it's not. This approach is highly risky and unethical, often resulting in warning tags on the page and complicating efforts to fix things later. These editors, known as "black hats," should be avoided at all costs. A simple test for ruling them out is to ask for examples of their edit requests and conversations with editors. If they can’t do that, stay away.
Transparency is always the best approach. Beutler Ink was the first specialist firm to show that an ethical approach to Wikipedia can be successful, and we’ve built a strong reputation over the years.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
If your company’s Wikipedia page was deleted or nominated for deletion, it’s typically because editors determined that the article and its sources did not meet the site’s Notability requirements, most often through a process called Articles for Deletion (AfD).
In short, for a topic to qualify for its own Wikipedia article, it must have significant coverage in independent, reliable sources that demonstrate sustained public interest and make a clear claim to notability—essentially, why the topic is important for Wikipedia readers to know about.
The AfD process generally lasts about seven days, after which a volunteer editor makes the final decision. It’s important not to rally outside supporters to brigade the discussion, as this tactic is well-known to Wikipedia editors and can ultimately backfire. If no consensus is reached, the article may be re-listed for further discussion. If consensus still isn’t reached, the article will be kept by default.
If the article is deleted, you can request a deletion review, but these are only successful if there was a clear mistake in the initial discussion. In most cases, the better approach is to seek additional independent coverage before attempting to recreate the article. At Beutler Ink, we often partner with public relations firms that specialize in earned media campaigns.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
If you follow Wikipedia’s recommended approach for managing a conflict of interest by disclosing your connection and requesting changes on an article’s talk page, it’s reasonable to wonder if this might attract unwanted scrutiny from critics or the media.
In practice, this approach is highly unlikely to draw negative attention, as long as it’s handled transparently, ethically, and with respect for the Wikipedia community. Transparency is key to building trust, and Wikipedia values open discussions. Negative reactions are rare unless the requested changes are obviously inappropriate or the subject matter is already controversial or newsworthy.
In fact, what is more likely to attract unwanted attention is attempting to circumvent Wikipedia's guidelines and then getting caught—this kind of misstep makes the news with surprising regularity.
By disclosing your interest and following established processes, you’re adhering to Wikipedia’s best practices, minimizing the potential for backlash. This is a routine process managed daily by Wikipedia editors, although it's not always easy. At Beutler Ink, we have years of experience helping clients navigate these discussions.
Last updated 10.23.24
Working with BINK
Learn how Beutler Ink can support your Wikipedia goals via strategic expertise, ethical practices, and a collaborative process. From crafting content to guiding on-wiki discussions, we provide clear answers about working within community guidelines and managing expectations for an effective engagement.
-
Beutler Ink stands out in the Wikipedia consulting space by delivering high-quality work backed by an experienced team and a strong track record of success. Our approach is rooted in strategic expertise, professionalism, and a deep understanding of the Wikipedia community. Founded in 2010 as the first ethical Wikipedia consultancy, our team brings over 50 years of combined experience and is trusted by leading brands across a wide range of industries.
We pride ourselves on producing thoroughly researched, carefully crafted content that aligns your messaging with Wikipedia’s mission, and have a 90%+ success rate for edit requests and new article creation. Our client-focused approach ensures responsive service tailored to your needs, while always making Wikipedia a better resource for its global readership.
Not only do we follow Wikipedia’s rules of engagement for paid editors, we’ve also played a role in bringing them to wider awareness. Our founder, William Beutler, has been a Wikipedia editor since 2006 and led the 2014 pledge from top PR firms to follow Wikipedia’s rules. His insights on COI editing were published by MIT Press in 2020.
Beutler Ink’s combination of industry leadership, ethical practices, and deep expertise makes us the ideal partner for companies looking to strengthen their presence on Wikipedia. We’re the best choice for established brands seeking guidance through Wikipedia’s complex rules, ensuring both effective and ethical outcomes.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
At Beutler Ink, our process is designed to be collaborative and flexible, tailored to meet your specific needs. Whether you want to stay involved at every step or prefer a more hands-off approach, we can adapt our services to suit your requirements. Each Wikipedia project is led by a dedicated account manager and an experienced strategist who will guide you through the process, while our team leaders follow progress closely to ensure the highest standard of care.
For improving existing articles, we begin by learning about your goals, conducting thorough research, and drafting content that adheres to Wikipedia’s guidelines. We work transparently with the Wikipedia community, submitting new content for review and approval. This process includes goal-setting, research, drafting, outreach, and ongoing support until the project is complete.
When creating new articles, the process is similar but focused on building the page from scratch. After setting clear goals and conducting research, we draft the article for your review. Once approved, we submit it through Wikipedia’s Articles for Creation process, where it is reviewed by volunteer editors for final approval.
Both services emphasize collaboration, ethical standards, and research-driven content. Our aim is to deliver high-quality work that meet your needs while enhancing Wikipedia's value.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
We understand that clients sometimes want to provide a draft, but in most cases, working from a pre-written draft is more challenging than it may seem. While it might feel like this would save time, the reality is that Wikipedia requires content to follow a very specific style and structure, with strict adherence to sourcing guidelines—factors that can be difficult to navigate without in-depth knowledge of the platform.
Writing for Wikipedia is a form of technical writing that goes beyond just adopting an encyclopedic tone. It requires understanding which sources are deemed reliable, what information is appropriate for Wikipedia, and ensuring that content is neutral and fully compliant with the site’s policies. Even seemingly small details—like following complex citation templates—demand expertise. Often, fixing issues in an existing draft takes more time than starting from scratch.
Our team has developed a repeatable process that eliminates guesswork and ensures content aligns with Wikipedia's standards from the outset, leading to more efficient and successful outcomes. While we’re happy to review any materials you have, we recommend letting us handle the writing to ensure the highest quality and compliance with Wikipedia’s guidelines.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
Because paid editors are strongly discouraged from directly editing articles on Wikipedia, we must work through the community to propose changes in line with Wikipedia’s conflict of interest (COI) guidelines. This process involves submitting requests to volunteer editors, who review our proposals and, if they agree the content improves Wikipedia based on its standards of neutrality and verifiability, implement the updates. It’s important not to waste editors’ time with lengthy messages or unrealistic requests. We also save you time, by taking the guesswork out of this process, ensuring each proposal is likely to be well-received.
Once we’ve finished drafting content that meets your messaging goals and satisfies Wikipedia’s standards, we then post it on the related talk page for community review. We explain the rationale behind each change, provide reliable sources, and reference relevant Wikipedia guidelines. Since Wikipedia is community-driven, it can take time to receive an initial response, and making a significant impact on an article often takes several months. For this reason, we generally recommend a six-month effort to write, submit, and place all content.
This collaborative approach emphasizes transparency and respect for Wikipedia’s volunteer editors, who are more willing to work with us when they see that we respect their platform's aims. By maintaining open dialogue with the editor community and adhering to Wikipedia’s guidelines, we help ensure that changes are reviewed fairly and have the best chance of being accepted.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
No, we do not employ Wikipedia administrators—doing so would be highly unethical. Some shady operations may claim to have administrators on staff, but this is extremely unlikely. While it’s possible that a small number of the hundreds of administrators abuse their position, the vast majority are scrupulous and care greatly about upholding Wikipedia’s rules. Our effectiveness doesn’t come from insider status but from a deep understanding of how Wikipedia works and our ability to help it fulfill its principles of neutrality and verifiability.
Last updated 10.23.24
-
No, we do not offer guarantees of success, and any service that claims they can is misleading you. Wikipedia is a collaborative platform with a strong community of volunteer editors who are dedicated to upholding its rules. No one can guarantee changes will be made, especially if those changes don’t align with Wikipedia’s guidelines. Our approach is built on transparency and adherence to these rules, which is the only ethical way to work with Wikipedia.
Last updated 10.23.24