The Wikipedia is probably one of the most authoritative sources of unbiased, high quality information online. No wonder then, that no matter what you search for, at least one of the top 10 results will be from the Wikipedia site. Since Wikipedia enjoys such a top reputation with Google as well as other search engines, it makes sense to post a citation or article on Wikipedia to get your ecommerce store noticed.

The new thwarting policy

Last year during January, there was a new policy, which prevented potential spammers from obtaining inward links through Wikipedia. Thus, any site, which got referenced within Wikipedia was not followed into the site. This prevented any chances of such sites getting inward traffic from Wikipedia. This policy was implemented to prevent SEO competing sites from spamming Wikipedia and getting undue advantage from the site.

More credibility through Wikipedia

Even though you may no longer be able to get inward traffic through Wikipedia, a citation posted on the site or a link that references you, could lend undisputed credibility to your ecommerce store. People take Wikipedia very seriously and a reference of your company just reinforces the trust factor in your brand.

An alternative to keyword tactics

While the conventional method of gaining top SEO spot on search engines still remains keywords, it can be a difficult task, especially if the keywords are highly popular or in demand. In such an instance, posting an entry on Wikipedia or having the site reference your company would instantly up your SERPs online. It can also be a useful tactic to displace your direct competitors as well as those criticizing you.

Unbiased is crucial

One of the aspects about any Wikipedia is its unbiased approach towards the subject discussed. Thus, there should be no opinionated views or personal viewpoints discussed in the entry. If your SEO provider is editing the entry to slant it in your brand’s favor, it can backfire on your organization. The editor community of Wikipedia is very particular about this aspect and violating it in any way can reduce your credibility as well as get you banned from posting an entry again!

Third party edits

One of the things, which can get your entry permanently deleted from Wikipedia, is commissioning SEO consultants to edit entries. These edits are done to tilt the discussion in your organization’s favor or to make your company seem the best authority on the subject. There is zero tolerance from Wikipedia regarding such edits and doing so can get you banned.

How to involve yourself

On the one hand, you need some degree of publicity to get your ecommerce site noticed on Wikipedia. On the other hand, you cannot violate the tenet of being unbiased in your entries. The best way to strike a balance between the two is to establish your credibility as an editor. You can do this by building up a database of previous entries, which are not self-serving. You should also interact with Wikipedia members on a regular basis through their Talk pages. You can also interact with Talk pages of other entries, where you feel you can contribute. The key element is to have informative and useful content so that your social networking skills are boosted and you gain more credibility as well.

What happens if your entry is rejected

If you have sent an entry for review and it comes back without being accepted, you can ask the editor what was wrong with the entry. Chances are, there will be things you can do to improve the neutral tone of the article and thus stand a better chance for the entry to get posted.

Notability test

One of the things you need to ensure is that any entry posted by you is able to pass the notability testing. You must have genuine references, which are available easily online. If the references are from a publication, which has gone out of print, it reduces your credibility because a person cannot check the authenticity of the entry. If an article needs registration, it can still get accepted but it may not be the ideal choice for you as you will not get noticed this way.

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