Wikipedia Guide
How to Create a Wikipedia Page: The Complete 2026 Guide
Everything you need to know about creating a Wikipedia page, from checking if you qualify to getting your article approved and keeping it live.
Reality Check: Can You Get a Wikipedia Page?
The honest answer: Most people and businesses do not qualify for a Wikipedia page. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a directory. Subjects must be notable enough to have received significant independent coverage in reliable sources.
I'm starting with this because the internet is full of guides that skip the most important question: Should you even try? Creating a Wikipedia page that gets deleted wastes your time and can make future attempts harder.
Wikipedia isn't about who deserves a page or who wants one. It's about what subjects have been documented in independent, reliable sources. A Fortune 500 CEO might not qualify if they've avoided press coverage. A small business owner might qualify if they've been profiled extensively in major publications.
Before you invest any time in the creation process, you need to understand Wikipedia's notability requirements and honestly assess whether you meet them.
Understanding Notability Requirements
Wikipedia's general notability guideline is straightforward: subjects must have received significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject.
Let's break down what each word means:
Significant Coverage
The source must address the subject directly and in detail. A passing mention ("Company X also attended the conference") doesn't count. You need substantial coverage: profiles, features, in-depth articles.
Counts: A 1,500-word profile in Forbes discussing your career and impact
Doesn't count: Being mentioned in a list of "50 entrepreneurs to watch"
Reliable Sources
Wikipedia has specific standards for what constitutes a reliable source. Generally, this means established publications with editorial oversight and fact-checking processes.
Reliable: Major newspapers, established magazines, academic journals, mainstream business press
Not reliable: Blogs, press releases, self-published content, company websites, social media, most podcasts
Independent Sources
The source must have no connection to the subject. This is where many people fail. Coverage you paid for, arranged, or influenced doesn't count.
Independent: A journalist decided to write about you without your involvement
Not independent: Sponsored content, paid placements, interviews you requested, press releases
Subject-Specific Guidelines
Beyond general notability, Wikipedia has specific guidelines for different types of subjects:
People
Must have significant coverage in multiple independent sources. Being accomplished isn't enough. Being documented is what matters.
Companies
Coverage in mainstream business press (WSJ, Bloomberg, etc.) or significant presence in industry publications. Revenue or employee count alone doesn't establish notability.
Authors
Having published books isn't sufficient. Need independent reviews or coverage in major publications. Self-published authors rarely qualify.
Musicians/Artists
Chart success, major label deals, or substantial coverage in music publications. Local fame typically isn't enough.
Self-Assessment: Do You Qualify?
Answer these questions honestly. If you can't answer "yes" to most of them, you probably don't qualify yet.
Have you been profiled in major mainstream publications?
Not mentioned. Profiled. Articles primarily about you or your company.
Are these profiles independent of your PR efforts?
Journalists approached you, not the other way around. No sponsored or paid content.
Do you have multiple such sources (at least 3-5)?
One article isn't enough. You need a pattern of coverage.
Are these sources accessible online with stable links?
Sources behind paywalls work, but broken links cause problems.
Would an impartial Wikipedia editor find these sources convincing?
Put yourself in a skeptic's shoes. Do the sources really establish notability?
Not Sure If You Qualify?
We offer free notability assessments. Send us your name or company and we'll honestly tell you whether you're ready for Wikipedia. Request a free check.
Creating Your Wikipedia Account
If you've determined you likely qualify, the next step is creating a Wikipedia account. While you can edit Wikipedia without an account, creating articles requires one.
Go to Wikipedia's account creation page
Visit en.wikipedia.org and click "Create account" in the top right corner.
Choose a username
Use something neutral. Usernames that look promotional ("JohnSmithCEO") can trigger scrutiny.
Consider building a track record first
New accounts face more scrutiny. Making constructive edits to unrelated articles establishes credibility.
Important: Don't create multiple accounts to game the system. Wikipedia can detect this, and it will get you banned.
Wikipedia's Conflict of Interest Policy
This is where many people go wrong. Wikipedia has a strong policy against conflicts of interest (COI). If you're writing about yourself, your company, or a client, you have a COI.
Wikipedia doesn't ban COI editing, but it strongly discourages it and requires disclosure. Here's what you need to know:
You Must Disclose
If you're being paid to edit or have any financial connection to the subject, you must disclose this on your user page and on talk pages where you participate.
Request Edits, Don't Make Them
The recommended approach for COI situations is to propose changes on the article's talk page and let independent editors implement them. Direct editing of articles about yourself or clients is frowned upon.
Expect Extra Scrutiny
Disclosed COI editors face more scrutiny. Your proposed edits will be examined carefully for promotional language or bias. This is normal and expected.
Many people find the COI policy frustrating. But it exists for good reason: Wikipedia's credibility depends on neutral content. The policy is why professional Wikipedia services exist. Experienced editors can navigate these waters while staying compliant.
The Article Creation Process
Assuming you've verified notability and set up your account, here's the actual process for creating a Wikipedia article:
Compile Your Sources
Before writing anything, gather all your reliable, independent sources. Create a list with URLs and note what information each source supports. You'll need to cite everything.
Draft in Your Sandbox
Every Wikipedia user has a sandbox at User:YourUsername/sandbox. Draft your article here. This is private until you move it to the main space or submit for review.
Follow Wikipedia's Manual of Style
Wikipedia has detailed formatting guidelines. Study existing articles on similar subjects. Notice the tone, structure, and citation format. Mirror those patterns.
Write in Neutral Tone
This is critical. No promotional language. No superlatives. No marketing speak. Write like you're describing the subject for an encyclopedia reader who has no stake in whether the subject looks good or bad.
Submit Through Articles for Creation (AfC)
For new editors, the recommended path is submitting through AfC. This puts your article in a review queue where experienced editors evaluate it before it goes live. Add the template at the top: {{subst:submit}}
Wait for Review
AfC queues can be long. Wait times of 2-8 weeks are common. Don't spam the talk page asking for faster review. Be patient.
Respond to Feedback
Reviewers often return drafts with requests for improvement. Respond constructively. Make the requested changes. Multiple revision rounds are normal for first-time article creators.
Common Mistakes That Get Pages Deleted
Learn from others' failures. These are the most common reasons Wikipedia pages get rejected or deleted:
Promotional Tone
Words like "leading," "innovative," "world-class," and "award-winning" flag your article as promotional. Even if these things are true, describe them neutrally: "The company received the X Award in 2024" instead of "the award-winning company."
Weak Sources
Press releases, company blogs, social media, and most podcast interviews don't count as reliable sources. Neither do pay-to-publish outlets or "contributor" posts on Forbes, Entrepreneur, etc.
Undisclosed Conflict of Interest
If you're writing about yourself or a client and don't disclose it, you risk being banned when discovered. Always disclose.
Overclaiming Notability
Don't stretch. If you have one solid source and three weak ones, you don't have "multiple reliable sources." Be honest about your source quality.
Copying Text
Don't copy text from your website, press releases, or other sources. This creates copyright issues and is easily detected. Write original content.
Arguing with Editors
If editors reject your article or request changes, don't argue. Wikipedia is a collaborative project. Work with them, not against them.
When to Hire Professional Help
Creating a Wikipedia page is technically free. But there are situations where professional help makes sense:
You don't have time to learn the system
Wikipedia has complex policies and unwritten norms. Learning them takes significant time. Professional editors already know them.
You need to navigate complex situations
Controversial subjects, deletion disputes, or situations requiring careful COI management benefit from experienced handling.
You need to build notability first
If you don't yet have sufficient media coverage, you may need PR support to build the foundation before the Wikipedia work can begin.
Previous attempts failed
If you've tried before and been rejected, a fresh approach with experienced guidance may help. But be honest about why previous attempts failed.
Professional Wikipedia Services
Our team has created and maintained hundreds of Wikipedia pages. We handle notability assessment, article writing, community engagement, and long-term maintenance. 90-day guarantee on all work.