Do I Need a Wikipedia Page?
Am I notable enough to warrant a Wikipedia page? Is this event necessary?
By Jennifer R. Farmer
If you are in a leadership role where you are charged with raising funds, you may routinely think about ways to get on the radar of funders as well as the public. If this is you, there are a variety of public relations tools you might consider. From publicity campaigns to social media marketing to email marketing to SEO optimization to public positioning, there is a lot you can do to boost public awareness and get the spotlight you deserve. One thing you may want to consider is Wikipedia page creation.
Why Does This Matter?
There are several major search engines that consumers select to learn more about a given topic or leader. Top search engines in 2024 include Google, Microsoft Bing, Yahoo!, YouTube and many others. When readers and leaders want to learn more or take a deeper dive on an issue or person, they often use Wikipedia. In fact, Wikipedia is translated in over 300 languages, and there are over 1 billion Wikipedia page writers in the world. It is a trusted platform for information collection. If you want to influence what people learn about you and your work, consider hiring an expert to create a Wikipedia page.
Why Invest in This Now?
I’m a big proponent of defining yourself before others have the chance to do so. It is also imperative for leaders to diligently manage their public perception. But often, those of us who are passionate about the work we do, spend our time investing in the work versus promoting the work. For these reasons and more, I recommend grassroots and nonprofit leaders pursue Wikipedia page creation.
How Much Does It Cost?
There are a host of companies that create Wikipedia pages. The trick is to vet companies and ensure they would be a good fit. To do this, you’ll want to understand what they need in order to create the page and the likelihood of the page being created in the first place. You’ll want to ask about the refund policy as well. In terms of cost, expect to spend anywhere from $500 to $1,500 for Wikipedia page creation if you proactively request a page. In situations where you have a viral moment or you do something noteworthy, which is heavily covered in the media, a Wikipedia author may create a page for you without your knowledge or consent.
What Else Should I Know?
To boost the likelihood of having a page created, you will need independent media coverage. Media coverage signals to Wikipedia that you are notable and reputable. Wikipedia will often link to news stories which allows readers to verify the information about you or simply learn more about you.
If you would like a Wikipedia page, I recommend investing in earned media first. When you hire a Wikipedia page creation firm, they’ll want you to submit news stories from reputable and large media platforms, as well as photos. If you focus on securing earned media, or organize the highest profile media you’ve received to date, it will be easy to hand over this information to the firm or Wikipedia writer you ultimately hire.
How Long Does It Take?
Wikipedia page creation can take anywhere from 2 to 4 months. You can learn more here.
Jennifer R. Farmer is the principal of Spotlight PR LLC. Check out our other blogs and subscribe for regular communications updates.