A Complete Guide on the Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Your Wikipedia Page

Introduction

Creating a Wikipedia page can cause a rewarding experience. It allows you to share your knowledge with the world and makes it easier for others to learn about your chosen topic.

In most cases, most of the mistakes people make when creating a Wikipedia page are easily avoidable. Wikipedia newcomers have often found themselves on the wrong side of the law, so to speak, by not reading Wikipedia's policies and guidelines.

It can be frustrating when your hard work is deleted, but it's important to remember that Wikipedia is a collaborative encyclopedia; hence there are rules to be followed.

For such reasons, I've compiled a list of the most common mistakes people make when creating their first Wikipedia page. Read on to find out what they are and how to avoid them.

Top Blunders People Make When Creating Wikipedia Pages

1. Beginning with content instead of references

Many people mistake including information on their Wikipedia pages before they have any references to back it up. This mistake can lead to your page being deleted or flagged for deletion. When creating a Wikipedia page, make sure to include all of your references first, and then fill in the content later.

If you're not sure how to find references, there are a few resources that can help you out:

• The Wikipedia Reference Desk is a great place to start.
• The Wikipedia citing sources page also has a lot of helpful information.
• If you're still having trouble, you can always ask for help at the Help Desk.

Remember, if you don't have references, your content won't stay on Wikipedia for long.

2. Including information that contradicts the references

If the references you're using to support your content contradict each other, it will be tough for your page to stay up. To avoid this, make sure only to use reliable sources that agree with each other.

For example, one may state that they graduated from a particular college in 2015, while their reference materials say they graduated in 2016. Such information may be misleading and could be grounds for deletion.

Including contradictory information on your Wikipedia page will make it harder to keep your content up. Ensure to only use reliable, agreed-upon sources to avoid any problems.

3. Using unreliable sources

When creating a Wikipedia page, it's essential to use reliable sources. Unreliable sources can include personal websites, blogs, and articles from unknown or untrustworthy sources.

If you use an unreliable source, your page is more likely to be deleted.

There are a few ways to determine whether or not a source is reliable:

• Are the sources published by a reputable publisher?
• Do they have an ISSN or ISBN?
• Are they peer-reviewed?
• Are the sources primary or secondary?

If you're not sure whether or not a source is reliable, you can ask at the Reference Desk.

4. Adding plagiarized content

Plagiarism is a severe issue on Wikipedia, which can result in your page being deleted. If caught plagiarizing, you could also get banned from editing Wikipedia. To avoid this, ensure only to use correctly cited original content.

5. Including promotional content on your page

Wikipedia is not a place to promote your product, service, or company. When caught doing this, you are likely to face disciplinary action.

Moreover, avoid adding biased or skewed content in favour of your company or product. Wikipedia pages are supposed to be neutral and provide accurate information.

If you're looking to promote your company or product, there are other avenues you can take. You can create a page on another website or blog about your company or product. You can also use social media to get the word out.

6. copyright-related issues

By adding copyrighted material to your Wikipedia page, you're opening yourself up to a lot of potential legal trouble. Such content could either comprise images, videos, or text.

Wikipedia will take legal action against you if you're discovered infringing their regulations. So, before you add any copyrighted material to your page, make sure you have the proper permissions from the copyright holder.

7. Failure to meet Wikipedia's notability standards

For a Wikipedia page to be created, the page's subject must meet specific notability standards. These standards exist to ensure that only notable topics have their own Wikipedia page.

If your subject does not meet these standards, you will lose your page. There are a few ways to establish notability:

• Has the subject been written about in reliable sources independent of the subject?
• Has the subject been the focus of non-trivial coverage by reliable sources independent of the subject?
• Is the subject a key figure in a significant event or movement?

Hence, before creating a Wikipedia page, ensure that your subject is notable enough to warrant its page.

8. Creating your page yourself

Creating a Wikipedia page is not as easy as it seems. That is why Wikipedia recommends that you seek help from experienced editors before starting.

If you're not familiar with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines, you could end up including inaccurate or inappropriate information on your page.

There are plenty of available resources if you're unsure how to create a page. You can find tutorials, ask for help on the help desk, or seek a mentor.

RELATED ARTICLE: Looking Forward to Hiring a Professional Wikipedia Editor? Read This Guide

In a Nutshell

Creating a Wikipedia page is not as simple as it may seem. There are several potential pitfalls you could fall into if you're not careful. To avoid making mistakes, be sure to familiarize yourself with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. You can also seek help from experienced editors if you're unsure how to get started. By following the tips in this article, you'll be on your way to creating a successful Wikipedia page. For assistance in creating your Wikipedia page, don't hesitate to contact us. Our team of experts would be happy to help you get started.

FAQs Section

Q: What are some of the mistakes that can be made when creating a Wikipedia page?

A: Some common mistakes include not providing enough sources, not being neutral, and not following Wikipedia's policies.

Q: How can I avoid making these mistakes?

A: By reading the policies and guidelines of Wikipedia and by using reliable sources, you can avoid making these mistakes.

Q: What are some of the consequences of making these mistakes?

A: Making these mistakes can result in your page being deleted, or it could be

flagged for not being neutral. If you continue to make these mistakes, you could be blocked from editing Wikipedia.