Building Notability of an Individual For their Wikipedia Page

Introduction

When creating your own Wikipedia article or editing for someone, you want to ensure that the page's subject is notable. This means that the subject has achieved something notable in their field or has had significant coverage in reliable sources independent of the person. Notability is one of Wikipedia's policies, and it is essential to adhere to this policy when creating or editing pages.

So, how do you build notability for a person on their Wikipedia page?

While it can be challenging to create notability from scratch, there are a few things that you can do to help build notability for your Wikipedia page. In this article, we will discuss tips on building notability for a person on their Wikipedia page. Let's get started!

What is Notability?

Notability is a term used to describe whether or not a subject is suitable for inclusion on Wikipedia. This term is important because it helps to maintain the quality and accuracy of the information on Wikipedia. A subject is considered notable if it has obtained significant coverage in reliable sources independent of the subject. This coverage must be verifiable and not simply an assertion by someone involved with the subject. Notability is not a guarantee of inclusion on Wikipedia. However, it is one of the main criteria our editors on the talk page use to determine if a subject should be included on the site.

What is the Relevance of Notability for a Wikipedia Page?

Notability is an important concept when creating or editing a Wikipedia page. A page must first meet the site's notability guidelines to be included in Wikipedia. Below are four reasons why notability is important for a Wikipedia page.

1. Helps to ensure that a page is stable and does not change frequently:

If a page is not notable, it is more likely to be subject to change and deletion. This is because there is insufficient information about the subject to maintain a solid page. Also, if a page is not notable, it is more likely to be considered unimportant and uninteresting, which means that people are less likely to want to edit it.

2. Ensures that a page meets Wikipedia's high standards for quality:

Notability helps to ensure that only significant and noteworthy topics are given their own page on the site. This ensures that Wikipedia remains a reliable and trustworthy source of information for its users.

3. Notability helps to ensure that a page is well-written and informative:

Since anyone can edit Wikipedia, it is vital to have a way to ensure that the information on Wikipedia is accurate and well-written. Notability is one way to help ensure this. When a topic is notable, it means that there is significant reliable information about it from independent sources.

4. Helps to ensure that a page contains accurate, reliable information:

If a page is about a highly notable subject, there is likely to be more reliable information available about that subject. This means that the page can be more comprehensive and accurate.

What Criteria Makes Someone notable for Wikipedia?

There are a few different criteria that can make someone notable enough for Wikipedia inclusion. These include:

1. Being widely recognized as an expert in their field or profession:

A person who is widely recognized as an expert in their field or profession is likely to be notable enough for Wikipedia inclusion. This is because experts are often quoted or consulted on topics related to their field, and other experts in the field often reference their work. For example, scientists who have made groundbreaking discoveries or artists who have achieved critical acclaim. Here's a guide to help get your business get listed on Wikipedia.

2. Having had a significant impact on society or culture:

Some people become notable simply because they have significantly impacted society or culture. This could be through their work in the arts, sciences, politics, or other fields. For example, someone who creates a new style of music or invents a new type of technology could be considered notable. Also, someone who is the first to do something significant could be considered notable. For example, the first woman elected to a country's parliament could be considered notable.

3. Significant media coverage

This could include but is not limited to being featured in major news outlets, having a significant online presence, or have been the subject of controversy. For example, someone who has a large social media following can be considered notable.

4. Other factors

There are other potential factors that could make someone notable enough for Wikipedia inclusion. These may vary depending on the context and situation. For example, people who have been convicted of a crime may be included if their case received significant media coverage or if they are considered to be a prominent figure in the crime.

Read: How to Make a Wikipedia Page for an Artist

Wikipedia Notability Guidelines

The Wikipedia notability guidelines are rules that determine whether or not a given topic is suitable for inclusion in the encyclopedia. These guidelines help to ensure that Wikipedia remains an accurate and reliable source of information by ensuring that only notable topics are included.

There are two main types of notability guidelines: general notability guidelines (GNG) and subject-specific notability guidelines (SNGs).

1. General notability guideline

The GNG is the primary notability guideline used on Wikipedia. It states that a topic must be notable enough to warrant its own article and must be verifiable through independent, reliable sources.

Some examples of topics that would generally be considered notable under the GNG include:

-People who have been the subject of multiple independent, reliable sources

-Places that have been the subject of multiple independent, reliable sources

-Events that have been the subject of multiple independent, reliable sources

2. Subject-specific notability guidelines

In addition to the GNG, there are several subject-specific notability guidelines (SNGs). These SNGs establish notability criteria for specific types of topics.

Some examples of SNGs include:

-Wikipedia: Notability (academics)

-Wikipedia: Notability (books)

-Wikipedia: Notability (events)

-Wikipedia: Notability (films)

-Wikipedia: Notability (music)

-Wikipedia: Notability (people)

-Wikipedia: Notability (television)

-Wikipedia: Notability (web)

The notability guidelines are important because they help ensure that Wikipedia is an accurate and reliable source of information. They also help prevent articles from being created about topics that are not notable enough to warrant their own article.

Essential Notability Tips to Consider Before You Can Create a Wikipedia Page

If you're thinking about creating a new Wikipedia page for an individual, there are some essential things to keep in mind.

1. There are some exceptions to Wikipedia's notability guidelines.

For instance, subjects crucial to a particular region or locality may be included even if they have not received significant coverage in national or international sources. In addition, subjects that are not yet notable may be included if they are likely to become notable in the future. However, these exceptions are rare and should only be used in cases with a clear and compelling reason to do so.

2. An article's content cannot define notability

An article's content can only be used to help establish notability. For example, an article about a living person that is primarily negative in tone is still considered notable if it meets Wikipedia's other guidelines.

3. There are three main types of sources that can be used to establish notability for Wikipedia articles

These include:

-News sources: newspapers, television news programs, and radio news programs.

-scholarly sources: books and journal articles written by experts in the field.

-secondary sources: blog posts, websites, and encyclopedias that synthesize or analyze information from primary and scholarly sources.

4. After receiving significant coverage, a subject does not have to receive ongoing coverage to remain notable.

However, if a subject stops receiving significant coverage for an extended period, it may no longer be considered notable and may be removed from Wikipedia.

There are a few exceptions to significant coverage, including press releases, trivial mentions, and rehashing of already-published material.

This is because press releases are not considered independent, reliable sources of information. In addition, trivial mentions are too brief to provide enough information to establish notability. Lastly, rehashing already-published material is not considered significant enough since it does not provide new information about the subject.

The Takeaway

To sum up, remember that building notability is a process that takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a strong reputation. Be patient, consistent, and relentless in your quest for greatness. And always remember to document your accomplishments along the way - you'll thank yourself later. If you keep these things in mind, you'll be on your way to Wikipedia success in no time.

Do you need help writing content for your own Wikipedia page? Our Wikipedia editors are here to help! We specialize in creating and improving Wikipedia pages for individuals, businesses, and organizations of all shapes and sizes. Contact us today to get started!

Wikipedia Notability FAQs

Q: Who is eligible for a Wikipedia page?

A: Anyone can create and edit a Wikipedia page, but specific guidelines must be followed to ensure that the page meets the site's standards. A subject must meet the site's notability requirements to be eligible for inclusion on Wikipedia. There are several ways to demonstrate notability, including being profiled in a major publication, winning a significant award, or having made a significant impact in one's field.

Q: How famous do you need to be to have a Wikipedia page?

A: No set "level" of fame is required to have a Wikipedia page. However, the page's subject must be notable enough to warrant its own dedicated article.

Q: What is the Wikipedia notability criteria?

A: The notability of a given topic is determined by whether the topic can sustain its own article on Wikipedia. This means that the topic must be notable enough to warrant its own dedicated space on Wikipedia, separate from any other article.