Your Company Probably Doesn't Qualify for a Wikipedia Article
Whether you’re a small business owner or a marketing and communications professional at a mid-sized company, you might be wondering why your company, despite its success, doesn’t have a Wikipedia article. After all, you’ve put in countless hours, earned industry recognition, and maybe even generated some media buzz. So why isn't your company featured on one of the world's most-visited websites?
The answer lies in Wikipedia's strict standards for notability, which prioritize independent verification over self-promotion. It's not enough to simply be important; your company must meet Wikipedia’s notability criteria to qualify for inclusion. This concept is where many businesses fall short.
Notability: Wikipedia’s Gatekeeper for Inclusion
One of the most misunderstood aspects of Wikipedia is the concept of notability. This isn’t a measure of how important or successful your company is. Notability, as defined by Wikipedia, refers to the presence of significant coverage from reliable, independent, and secondary sources. This is Wikipedia's primary criterion for determining whether any topic—whether it's a business, a person, or an event—is worthy of a standalone article.
Simply put, if there isn't sufficient coverage of your company in these kinds of sources, it won't qualify for a Wikipedia article, regardless of how valuable or well-regarded it might be within your industry.
The General Notability Guideline (GNG)
The General Notability Guideline (GNG) is the overarching rule for deciding whether any subject—business or otherwise—deserves its own Wikipedia article. According to this guideline, a topic is considered notable if it has been covered significantly in reliable, independent, secondary sources.
Here’s what each of those terms means:
Significant coverage: This refers to in-depth articles or analyses about your company. Passing mentions, short blurbs, or listings in directories don’t count. The coverage needs to provide substantial information, not just name-drop your company.
Independent sources: These must come from outlets that are not directly connected to your company. This means no company blogs, press releases, or marketing materials. Even articles where a journalist interviews your CEO or republish your press releases are not considered independent.
Reliable sources: These are publications with established reputations for fact-checking and editorial oversight—think major newspapers, respected industry journals, and academic publications. Wikipedia does not consider social media posts, personal blogs, or self-published content to be reliable.
Secondary sources: Here’s where many companies trip up. Secondary sources are those that offer analysis or commentary about your company, based on. For example, a journalist’s review or analysis of your company’s performance qualifies as secondary. An interview with your founder or executive team is considered primary and doesn’t count toward establishing notability.
Again, to qualify for a Wikipedia article, your company must have significant coverage from multiple reliable, independent, and secondary sources. Many companies, particularly those that are still growing or niche-focused, may not yet meet this standard.
Notability for Organizations and Companies: An Even Higher Bar
Beyond the General Notability Guideline, Wikipedia applies additional scrutiny when it comes to organizations and businesses. The Notability for Organizations and Companies sub-guideline requires multiple references that are all independent, secondary, and reliable with significant coverage.
Multiple references: You’ll need more than just one or two articles about your company. Wikipedia requires a substantial number of sources to establish notability: think 10 or even 20.
Significant coverage—mere mentions or directory listings won’t meet the standard. Look for whole paragraphs or entire articles just about your company and its offerings.
Independent sources: It’s important to note that sources must be fully independent from the company, which means niche trade publications affiliated with your industry may not count. For example, an article about your company in a highly specialized trade journal that caters directly to your field is often not considered independent enough to establish corporate notability on Wikipedia.
Reliable coverage: Each source must be reliable, meaning it comes from a reputable media outlet or publication with a recognized reputation of fact-checking and accuracy. Industry blogs won’t cut it.
Secondary coverage: Your company must be covered in a way that offers independent, third-party analysis. An article that simply interviews your founder or promotes your latest product launch won't suffice because it’s considered a primary source.
For many mid-sized and regional companies, this presents a significant challenge. While you might have been featured in a few trade publications or local news outlets, Wikipedia requires high-quality coverage across multiple independent, reliable, and secondary sources. Without this, your company is unlikely to qualify.
The Pitfalls of Hiring Unethical Wikipedia Editors
In the face of these stringent requirements, some companies turn to paid Wikipedia editors who promise quick results. These editors often operate in secret, creating or editing articles without disclosing their conflicts of interest—something that violates Wikipedia’s guidelines. While it might seem like a convenient option, here’s why it’s a mistake:
Wasting Money: Wikipedia’s community is vigilant about rooting out undisclosed paid editing, which can result in your article being flagged, deleted, or scrutinized. Ultimately, this means you’ve wasted money on an effort that leads to no lasting results.
Reputation Risk: If it becomes public that your company engaged in unethical editing practices to create or manipulate its Wikipedia article, it can backfire. Editors often report undisclosed paid edits, and in extreme cases, these efforts have been exposed in the media.
No Guarantees: Even if the editor manages to get your article published, there’s no guarantee it will remain. Wikipedia articles are regularly reviewed, and if your company doesn't meet the notability standards, the article will be deleted.
The Ethical Alternative: Transparency and Quality Research
If your company truly deserves a Wikipedia article, there’s a better, ethical path to follow. Here’s how:
Gather Quality Sources: Before you even consider creating a Wikipedia article, make sure you have independent, secondary sources that provide significant coverage of your company. Feature articles in respected industry publications, national media coverage, or mentions in academic papers are all helpful.
Submit for Community Review: Instead of secretly paying for edits, you can submit a request for an article through Wikipedia’s Articles for Creation process. If you or someone connected to your company is involved in writing or requesting the article, you must disclose this conflict of interest. The community will review the sources you provide to determine whether your company meets the notability standards.
Hire Ethical Consultants not Paid Editors: If you're unsure about the process or want help navigating Wikipedia’s complex rules, you can hire a consultant who operates transparently. These experts always follow, or expect you to follow the disclosure rules. While ethical consultants can’t guarantee an article, they can help you determine whether your company is ready for one.
Conclusion
Getting a Wikipedia article for your company is not as simple as it might seem. Notability is a strict requirement, and without significant, independent, and secondary coverage from reliable sources, your company won’t qualify—no matter how important or profitable it is.
Instead of rushing to create an article that will likely be deleted, focus on building your company’s profile in the media and industry first. When you’ve amassed enough quality coverage, approach the Wikipedia process ethically and transparently.
In the world of Wikipedia, shortcuts don’t work. The best way to succeed is through patience, transparency, and a solid foundation of verifiable, independent information.
WikiBlueprint is an open knowledge, open access, and especially Wikipedia consultancy. Reach out at wikiblueprint.com.
