Getting your very own Wikipedia page isn’t easy. A page may be made on your behalf if you’re a public figure. Or someone can submit a page, which the online encyclopedia editors will review before it’s published to decide if it’s a fit for the site.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re interested in getting a Wikipedia page…
Content matters
Wikipedia will look at your life’s history to determine if your page will be approved. You need a certain amount of media coverage in order to be eligible. The coverage should be from reliable sources showing you are (somewhat of) a public figure.
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Start by doing a Google search of yourself or the person or item in question. Has the subject received coverage before, and if so, from what outlets? Do they seem like credible secondary sources independent of the subject?
Format is important
Editors will look at tone, language and format before approving the page. Look at other Wikipedia pages and see how they’re written. Follow a similar format when drafting.
Sources are key
In order to be published, you need to have a source for every fact on your page. That means you will need to limit information that is not substantiated by a source.
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Approving the page
Lastly, the page is sent to Wikipedia to review and they will decide if it should be published.
The page needs to be submitted through a process called Articles for Creation (AfC), where it will then go to an editor.
Finally, they will publish it if it’s approved. If they decide to not publish it, your page could stay on the site as a draft for up to six months and can be resubmitted.