The Wikipedia Test: Does your website answer these questions?
As a Wikipedia author, I've scoured countless websites in search of key facts. Here are the basics I'm always looking for.
I’ve been a Wikipedia editor for years. Over that time, I’ve written lots of Wikipedia articles, including all sorts of biographies and organization overviews. To do this, I have to quickly find and assess the basic facts about each article’s subject.
So I feel uniquely qualified to tell you what your website might be missing — because your website should be the place where these facts can be found.
Does your website answer these questions?
Though these might seem like no-brainers, you’d be amazed how many sites don’t really answer these questions.
In the most extreme cases, if I can’t find these answers… I don’t write the article. And if I can’t find the answers, it’s likely that journalists, potential fans, and Google can’t either. Don’t let this happen to you!
A special note to creative people: Use nouns
When I write about creative people — say a painter, or a musician, or a fiber artist — I often struggle to find the what on their website. Sometimes, I can find a lot of text about vision, identity, and personal philosophy. But I can’t find the nouns.
Tell me all about how you’re pushing boundaries, engaging the community, or “exploring new approaches to visual atmosphere,” yes! Just don’t forget to also tell me:
- What exactly you do or make. “He writes novels and short stories about personal identity and America’s Midwest.”
- Your specific tools and medium. “She works in a variety of media, including oil on canvas, miniature gouache and graphite compositions on card, and watercolor.”
- Why in particular you’re so impressive. “They are a trailblazer expanding horizons” isn’t enough — give me that list of exhibitions, or links to those external feature articles, or that published works CV.
You are the primary source
Remember that you are the primary source for yourself! So give website visitors, journalists, and even friendly Wikipedia editors what they need to learn the facts. Your answers to these questions also help search engines like Google and Bing know what you’re all about.
Even if you’re not notable enough for Wikipedia (yet), having this information available and easy to access on your site will help you spread your message more effectively.
