How to Hire an Ethical Wikipedia Consultant

Hiring a Wikipedia consultant can be a complex task, especially given the ethical concerns and the presence of many unreliable service providers. Here are 20 points to consider that can help you make a well-informed decision:

1. Experience and Expertise: Look for consultants with a proven track record in Wikipedia editing and a deep understanding of its guidelines.

2. Reputation: Research their reputation in the industry. Read reviews, testimonials, and ask for references.

3. Ethical Practices: Ensure they follow Wikipedia's ethical guidelines, including transparency about paid contributions.

4. Knowledge of Wikipedia’s Policies: The consultant should be well-versed with Wikipedia's policies such as neutrality, verifiability, and notability.

5. Transparency: They should be transparent about their methods and strategies for creating or editing Wikipedia pages.

6. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Check if they openly disclose any conflict of interest, as required by Wikipedia.

7. Editing Skills: They should have strong writing and editing skills, adhering to Wikipedia’s style and tone.

8. Communication Skills: Good communication is key to understanding your needs and conveying Wikipedia’s complex guidelines.

9. Reliability and Responsiveness: They should be reliable and quick to respond to your queries and concerns.

10. Portfolio and Past Work: Review their past work to assess their quality and adherence to Wikipedia standards.

11. Pricing and Fees: Understand their fee structure and ensure there are no hidden costs.

12. Confidentiality: Make sure they respect the confidentiality of any sensitive information you provide.

13. Customized Services: Each Wikipedia page is unique, so they should offer tailored services rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

14. Monitoring and Maintenance: Check if they offer services to monitor and update the page post-publication.

15. Understanding of Your Subject: They should have a good grasp of your field or subject matter to accurately represent it on Wikipedia.

16. Strategy for Dealing with Deletion and Challenges: They should have a plan to handle potential challenges like page deletion or disputes.

17. Ability to Manage Controversies: If your subject is potentially controversial, the consultant should be skilled in handling such issues delicately.

18. Training and Resources: See if they offer additional resources or training on how you can manage your Wikipedia presence.

19. Clientele and Industry Focus: Prefer consultants who have experience in your industry or with similar types of clients.

20. Post-Service Support: Ensure they offer support even after the page goes live, for edits or updates that may be needed.

Remember, a good Wikipedia consultant should not only be adept at creating and editing Wikipedia pages but should also be committed to maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the information in line with Wikipedia's core principles.

WikiBlueprint is an open knowledge, open access, and especially Wikipedia consultancy. Reach out at wikiblueprint.com.