Paid editing on Wikipedia
Gain a clear understanding of paid editing on Wikipedia, including eligibility for a page, rules for editing content about yourself, considerations in hiring a consultant, and avoiding common pitfalls. We cover key practices for ethical engagement and navigating Wikipedia's rules to help you be successful.
Can I have an article about me?
Wikipedia's scope is vast, covering individuals from all walks of life. There is a chance that its pages might include you. But it's important to understand that Wikipedia is not a marketing platform. Unlike creating a social media profile on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, not everyone meets Wikipedia’s threshold for a dedicated article.
This threshold is defined by a guideline called Notability (people), which requires significant, independent coverage in reliable sources such as news outlets, books, or academic publications. The reality is that very few people receive this level of coverage, and Wikipedia is well aware of that. The platform aims to focus on topics of clear public interest, which excludes most entities, including people and organizations.
Additionally, Wikipedia’s conflict of interest policy discourages individuals from creating articles about themselves. Even if an article is created, it must remain neutral, non-promotional, and rely solely on independent sources—self-published material is not acceptable.
If an article is published, be advised that you cannot control what it says. Anyone can edit the page, and there’s no guarantee that the initial content will remain. Wikipedia's standards may also change, and the article could be removed in the future.
Last updated 10.23.24
Can I edit the article about me?
If Wikipedia already has a biographical article about you—or if one has just been created—it’s important to proceed carefully. Wikipedia has rules around conflict of interest, which discourage individuals from editing articles about themselves. This is because maintaining an objective perspective about yourself can be challenging, even with the best intentions. And it is not your entry; it’s merely an entry about you.
That said, if you find inaccuracies or wish to suggest updates, the best approach is to propose changes on the article's talk page, particularly if you can provide reliable sources to support the corrections or new information. Other editors will review your suggestions and decide if they align with Wikipedia’s mission and content guidelines.
While this process is considerably slower than editing the article yourself, attempting to make direct edits could lead to your changes being undone. In some cases, editors may even place a warning tag at the top of the page. Once added, these can be very difficult to make go away.
If you’d like assistance navigating this process, Beutler Ink has extensive experience helping individuals and organizations propose edits in compliance with Wikipedia's rules on neutrality, sourcing, and conflict of interest, greatly increasing the likelihood of community acceptance.
Last updated 10.23.24
Can I ask a friend to do it for me?
While it might seem like a good idea to ask a friend to edit Wikipedia on your behalf to bypass conflict of interest (COI) rules, in reality this is unlikely to be an effective long-term solution. Even if your friend doesn’t have a direct financial stake in your company or personal brand, Wikipedia editors may still consider their connection to you to be an unacceptable conflict of interest.
Wikipedia is a unique platform with its own set of complex, often arcane rules that can be difficult to navigate. Even savvy web users in other domains may stumble over Wikipedia’s written rules and unwritten customs. If your friend's edits are flagged or reverted, it could bring unwanted scrutiny to both the article and their account.
What's more, what are the odds this is just a one-time situation? Going back to your friend for help again and again is neither sustainable nor respectful of their time. Attempting to bypass COI rules with quick fixes could lead to long-term complications for the article—and your relationship.
If you want to keep them as a friend, and get changes made on Wikipedia, it's best to work with a Wikipedia expert who can assess the situation, guide you through what’s possible, and ensure everything is done correctly.
Last updated 10.23.24
What are my options for hiring someone?
Hiring someone to edit or engage with Wikipedia must be approached with caution and care. Wikipedia’s rules around paid editing, especially its conflict of interest (COI) guideline and paid contributions disclosure policy, are strict and can be difficult to navigate successfully. Selecting the wrong vendor could set you back significantly.
Paid editors are required to disclose their client relationship and are strongly discouraged from making direct edits themselves. Additionally, hiring someone doesn’t guarantee that your changes will be accepted. Wikipedia’s rules about appropriate content and reliable sources are complex, and the community of volunteer editors who review changes may interpret these guidelines differently.
Unfortunately, some so-called experts try to evade the scrutiny that comes with disclosure by editing anonymously, hoping they won’t get caught. Some even mislead their clients about whether this approach is allowed—it's not. This approach is highly risky and unethical, often resulting in warning tags on the page and complicating efforts to fix things later. These editors, known as "black hats," should be avoided at all costs. A simple test for ruling them out is to ask for examples of their edit requests and conversations with editors. If they can’t do that, stay away.
Transparency is always the best approach. Beutler Ink was the first specialist firm to show that an ethical approach to Wikipedia can be successful, and we’ve built a strong reputation over the years.
Last updated 10.23.24
Why was my page deleted?
If your company’s Wikipedia page was deleted or nominated for deletion, it’s typically because editors determined that the article and its sources did not meet the site’s Notability requirements, most often through a process called Articles for Deletion (AfD).
In short, for a topic to qualify for its own Wikipedia article, it must have significant coverage in independent, reliable sources that demonstrate sustained public interest and make a clear claim to notability—essentially, why the topic is important for Wikipedia readers to know about.
The AfD process generally lasts about seven days, after which a volunteer editor makes the final decision. It’s important not to rally outside supporters to brigade the discussion, as this tactic is well-known to Wikipedia editors and can ultimately backfire. If no consensus is reached, the article may be re-listed for further discussion. If consensus still isn’t reached, the article will be kept by default.
If the article is deleted, you can request a deletion review, but these are only successful if there was a clear mistake in the initial discussion. In most cases, the better approach is to seek additional independent coverage before attempting to recreate the article. At Beutler Ink, we often partner with public relations firms that specialize in earned media campaigns.
Last updated 10.23.24
Will transparency attract unwanted attention?
If you follow Wikipedia’s recommended approach for managing a conflict of interest by disclosing your connection and requesting changes on an article’s talk page, it’s reasonable to wonder if this might attract unwanted scrutiny from critics or the media.
In practice, this approach is highly unlikely to draw negative attention, as long as it’s handled transparently, ethically, and with respect for the Wikipedia community. Transparency is key to building trust, and Wikipedia values open discussions. Negative reactions are rare unless the requested changes are obviously inappropriate or the subject matter is already controversial or newsworthy.
In fact, what is more likely to attract unwanted attention is attempting to circumvent Wikipedia's guidelines and then getting caught—this kind of misstep makes the news with surprising regularity.
By disclosing your interest and following established processes, you’re adhering to Wikipedia’s best practices, minimizing the potential for backlash. This is a routine process managed daily by Wikipedia editors, although it's not always easy. At Beutler Ink, we have years of experience helping clients navigate these discussions.
Last updated 10.23.24
Need help with your Wikipedia strategy?
Have additional questions? Feel free to reach out to us using this form, and we’ll help guide you in the right direction.