Eight Important Wikipedia Notability Rules You Should Know
Any brand or personality wants to have a solid online presence. To get that done, you must have a strong presence on one of the most trusted platforms, ‘Wikipedia.’ You have to get your article approved over there, and it’s not simple. The chances of your page getting rejected are much higher than you think.
But do you know why that happens? The most common reason is that people fail to meet the guidelines given by Wikipedia. You must fulfill all notability guidelines before submitting your page. Since many people still think that having a website for your brand is enough proof, they end up getting rejected.
But don’t worry, because this blog will give you details on what notability guidelines are and eight important rules that you should always follow before creating an article.
What Is Wikipedia Notability?
Consider Wikipedia notability a minimum guideline you must follow if you expect success in publishing a page. It’s basically a standard that decides whether a topic deserves to have an article. The subject is only considered notable if it has enough coverage.
If you feel this is a lot of work, you can go with Wikipedia support services in the USA. Still, we say hang tight if you understand that you cannot meet notability based on popularity, promotion, or personal achievements. Moreover, know these eight rules before hiring any agency. This way, you will know what to expect and negotiate with the agency better.
The Eight Important Wikipedia Notability Rules
While there must be some other factors that play a role in the article approval, following these eight rules will ensure a 98% chance of success.
1. Significant Coverage Is Required
If you’re thinking that a brief online mention is enough for the article to be published, you’re wrong. No passing reference is allowed, but your subject must be discussed in detail. Besides the detail, the coverage must be from a reliable source. A scammy-looking site referring to you is a big no-no!
When we say that the coverage must be detailed, it means that the information provided in the reference must be meaningful, have a solid context, and be an explanation rather than a simple listing. A short or list-style brief mention is usually not enough to get the job done.
2. Sources Must Be Independent
The sources that you’re using have to be independent of the subject. This simply means that you cannot write, control, publish, or manage the source. Whether you’re a company, organization, or individual, you have to rely on credible references that are not created by you or your team.
If you’re relying on official websites, personal blogs, and self-published content, you won’t qualify for the submission or approval. The idea is to prove that your topic is backed by independent sources and recognized on its own. Only if it is valued without any effort is it then considered independent.
3. Secondary Sources Matter Most
Do you know that Wikipedia focuses more on secondary sources because they provide context and interpret the topic rather than just listing the facts? The sources must be written by independent authors, and they shouldn’t be involved with the subject in any case. The idea is to answer why it matters instead of just addressing what happened.
Newspaper features, magazine articles, books, and academic publications are considered reliable and authentic. Primary sources like press releases and company announcements surely confirm the fact, but on its own, it’s not strong.
4. Multiple Sources Are Better Than One
Having one solid source is surely good, but definitely not enough. To prove notability, you have to find multiple independent sources that cover the subject. Another thing that you must focus on is that the coverage is made over time and not altogether. When all your sources are referenced on the same day, it creates confusion and unreliability.
Wondering why that is important? Imagine all sources are referenced on the same day; it will come across as if the subject is short-term or a trendy one that will become irrelevant in some time. Once you address that, the risk of being deleted by the platform is significantly reduced.
5. Routine Announcements Don’t Count
Another rule that most people break unintentionally is using routine announcements as part of notability proof. Product launches, company openings, awards and milestones, or event promotions do not establish your notability.
Such content may update your audience about your brand or business, but it can’t be used to show the subject’s notability. Note that the content is often for the promotion of your business and isn’t covered by independent and reliable third parties.
6. Notability Is Not Inherited
Be clear about one thing: notability can not be transferred in any case. This means if your subject is associated with a quite well-known person, brand, or organization, it doesn’t make you notable.
Each topic must meet the Wikipedia notability guidelines independently without any connections. For instance, if there’s a discussion about the top ten trending fashion companies, you may rank in the list, but that doesn’t guarantee your subject meets the criteria.
7. Subject-Specific Guidelines Apply
While there are general rules that you must follow, you also have to take care of the subject-specific guidelines. These are mainly for topics such as people, companies, musicians, academics, and organizations.
Apart from the general criteria that you have to meet, you will get additional guidelines that must be met before submission. If you don’t want your article to be declined by the platform, never ignore it. Instead, all the guidelines have to be fulfilled timely manner.
8. Coverage Must Be Neutral
Last but not least, every coverage and detail has to be neutral. You cannot publish biased content that supports one idea. You have to gather sources that are not only original and third-party but also balanced.
But in any case where you present sources with biased views, you are sabotaging your reputation. Your page must have some irrelevant and biased content, and that should be removed by the USA’s best Wikipedia page editing services, because only a professional can do that. You need to work within factual reporting without any additional praise or your own viewpoints. Everything must be without exaggeration and persuasion.
What Counts vs What Doesn’t Count for Wikipedia Notability
| Counts Toward Notability | Does NOT Count |
| Independent news articles | Company websites |
| In-depth features or reviews | Press releases |
| Academic or industry publications | Social media posts |
| Multiple reliable sources | Paid promotions |
| Neutral third-party coverage | Marketing content |
Common Misunderstandings About Wikipedia Notability
Almost 80% of people believe:
- Having a fast website proves notability.
- A large following on social media can be helpful.
- Paying for article submission guarantees rapid approval.
But none of these are true! Wikipedia will never consider your paid services or self-promotion. Only the strong, credible, and independent coverage matters.
Final Thoughts
It’s clear as day that Wikipedia has some rules for notability, and everyone should abide by them. When you follow the given eight rules, you maximize your chances of article publishing without any hassle. Once you understand the rules, your expectations will become clearer, save you more time, and, most importantly, your chances of approval will spike drastically. Just try to follow the rules and see how you meet every guideline seamlessly and get a positive outcome.