Do you want to create a Wikipedia page for yourself? Perhaps the page you drafted is bumping into Wikipedia’s notoriously opaque and unforgiving submission process? Maybe you’re mired in an edit war?
You’ve come to the right place.
I’ve been writing and editing Wikipedia pages for 20 years, both professionally and personally. Not only am I thoroughly conversant with the encyclopedia’s policies; I can also translate this esoterica into English.
For example, every claim you make needs to be footnotable — with a link. So, let’s say you were named one of America’s top neurosurgeons in 2015. Yet the only evidence online comes from bios you’ve written. For these reasons, we can’t cite this award; we need documentation from a high-authority third party.
Those two descriptors — “high authority” and “third party” — are critical; each link we use must come from a website that’s independent from you and which has a reputation for accuracy. Such sources are almost always major media outlets, though in certain cases we can cite government agencies, academic publishers, and industry-leading research outlets.
Why such stringency? Wikipedia’s rules are a big reason the website maintains its reputation as everyone’s go-to for unbiased facts.
Process
I follow a four-part process:
1. Hold a Kick-Off Call
We’ll discuss Wikipedia’s requirements and your vision for the page, then agree on an outline.
2. Conduct Research
You know the material best, so please share any links that bolster your case for notability. The more info I have, the more effective I’ll be. I’ll combine your links with my own research.
3. Develop Your Page
I’ll translate the above info into a proposed page. If you have edits, we can discuss them on the phone; you can mark up the Word doc using Track Changes; you can email me — whatever’s easiest.
4. Publish Your Page
Upon your approval, I’ll work with the Wikipedia community to submit your requests. To minimize pushback, I’ll proceed on a piecemeal basis.
Cost
Question: “How Much Does This Cost?”
Because each page is unique — different levels of research, different lengths of text, different potential for pushback — I don’t use set rates. Nor do I bill hourly. Instead, after evaluating your media coverage (if you want to create a page) or your list of changes (if you want to edit a page), I offer a custom quote.
Question: “Can You at Least Give Me a Range?”
I hesitate to do so. Let’s say I quote you $50 – $100. Well, most people focus on the $50. Some people assume $75. But no one thinks $100. As a result, if the actual cost is anything above $75, you feel you’re getting squeezed.
That said, I know price is important, so here’s what I can tell you: Wikipedia work is expensive. It requires specialized expertise and is an investment in your digital reputation.
Also worth considering: A third of my clients try to tackle Wikipedia by hiring someone through a website like Upwork. Invariably, their submission gets rejected or flagged, because the knowledge required to navigate Wikipedia is so esoteric.
Question: “If I Provide the First Draft, Will This Lower the Price?”
That’s certainly helpful, but it won’t appreciably cut my workload. I still need to conduct my own (extensive) research to grok your media coverage, and I still need to footnote every single claim.
Let me put the point this way: I pride myself on quality, so I don’t take shortcuts when it comes to understanding and positioning your brand.
Ongoing Protection
After their pages are live, many clients want to ensure that they stay that way — specifically, that the text remains CAP (current, accurate, and positive). To these ends, I offer two plans:
1. A Monthly Retainer
If you’d like your reputation to be protected on a continuing basis, I can take this responsibility off your plate. This way, you won’t need to monitor your page every day. Instead, whenever a change is made, I’ll alert you in real time, recommend a solution, and then work with the Wikipedia community to implement it. Similarly, if you’d like to make a change yourself, I’ll do so (again, within the encyclopedia’s rules).
2. À-La-Carte Pricing
Alternatively, your team can monitor your page on their own. When you spot a problem or want to make an update, I can address the given issue on an à-la-carte basis.
Browse My Work
Here’s my white paper on what everyone needs to know about Wikipedia. I hope you you’ll read this explainer, since with Wikipedia, what may seem obvious or commonsensical often turns out to violate one of the site’s myriad rules.
Testimonials
“Jonathan is among the most reliable and responsive professionals with whom I’ve ever worked. His recommendations are spot-on and his follow-through is thorough and effective. I recommend his services to anyone seeking creative solutions that make a real difference in the bottom line.” —Gene Grabowski, kglobal
“You gave us so much to work with, and our work is so much better thanks to your skills and research! You really captured the essence of the client, its ethos, and its future. We are beyond grateful for your expertise and clever and insightful writing.” —Grace Leong, HUNTER
“Jonathan is a master marketer. He possesses that rare combination of being able to create a compelling message and leverage technology for widespread impact. Jonathan is a true leader in his field, respected by his peers and extremely knowledgeable about the latest trends, strategies, and tactics.” —Greg Galdabini, HudsonLake Strategic Communications
Intrigued?
I offer all prospective clients a free, no-strings-attached consultation.
Let’s chat!