What You Need To Know About Getting Your Business on Wikipedia (And Keeping It There)

What You Need To Know About Getting Your Business on Wikipedia (And Keeping It There) Depending on when you check, Wikipedia usually takes one of the top 10 places on Alexa Internet’s definitive ranking of the world’s most popular websites. And the free encyclopedia is held up as a paragon of website authority in Moz’s explanation of its Domain Authority ranking score, another definitive measure of website quality and algorithmic influence. Wikipedia is so heavily traffickedâ€"and highly ranked in Google’s search engine results pagesâ€"that a suspicious traffic drop in mid-2015 led some industry observers to wonder whether Google had adjusted its algorithm specifically to dilute Wikipedia’s dominant organic search position. Simply put, Wikipedia is impossible to ignore. A dedicated Wikipedia page quite literally puts your business on the digital map. Next to your corporate website and LinkedIn company page, it’s perhaps the single most important digital property in your lead generation arsenal. Unfortunately, though Wikipedia is crowd-sourced, it isn’t a pure democracy. Earning a dedicated Wikipedia entry isn’t quite as easy as purchasing a top domain and spinning up a new website with an out-of-the-box WordPress template. It takes skill, determination and a bit of luck. Here’s what you need to know about Wikipedia’s editorial standardsâ€"and what you need to do to get a legitimate Wikipedia entry for your growing company. Wikipedia: A Brief Overview Wikipedia officially launched in January 2001. Founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger borrowed heavily from Richard Stallman’s decentralized framework, which posited that no central authority should have the final say over editorial decisions. Crucially, that ethosâ€"with some modificationsâ€"persists today. Within two years, Wales and Sanger stepped aside from Wikipedia’s day-to-day. Wales remained involved behind the scenes for years, but “mostly restrict[ed] his own role to occasional input on serious matters, executive activity, advocacy of knowledge, and encouragement of similar reference projects,” according to Wikipedia. In other words, Wales let the platform develop organically. Today, Wikipedia remains open to (and funded by) the general public. Anyone can edit unprotected Wikipedia pages, and the process for doing so is easy to anyone familiar with basic text editing. Edits to some pages, typically those covering controversial topics and prominent public figures (among others), may be restricted. Wikipedia has several user access tiers, each conferring its own set of editing and review permissions: Unregistered users: Unregistered users are identified only by their IP addresses. They can edit unprotected pages and create talk pages, but can’t upload images or other file types. To prevent abuse, unregistered users have to answer CAPTCHAs when adding external links. If you’re concerned about traceability as an unregistered user, use an anonymizer. Registered new users: Registered new users can make minor edits without review by higher-ups and purge redundant or unsuitable pages without confirmation. If you’d like to create or edit your organization’s Wikipedia page, you should register right away. Confirmed/autoconfirmed users: Users are autoconfirmed after making at least 10 edits within four days. Under certain circumstances, Wikipedia admins can manually confirm users who haven’t reached this threshold. Autoconfirmed and confirmed users have more privileges, including creating and moving pages, editing semi-protected pages and uploading files. Extended confirmed users: This level requires at least 500 edits over 30 days. Extended confirmed users can edit pages with extended confirmed protection. Administrators: This privilege level is granted in response to formal requests for adminship. Administrators have access to a host of tools that collectively confer considerable discretion over Wikipedia’s content. Most notably, admins can edit fully protected pages. Bureaucrats: This privilege level is granted on a case-by-case basis following formal requests for bureaucratship. Bureaucrats are the only volunteer users who can make changes to other Wikipedia user accounts. For more information about exactly who can edit what, and when, on Wikipedia, check out the platform’s user access levels guide. Wikipedia’s Five Pillars All Wikipedians are expected to adhere to the five pillars of Wikipedia: Wikipedia is an encyclopedia. It is an encyclopedia modeled afterâ€"but distinct fromâ€"physical predecessors like Encyclopaedia Britannica. Wikipedia is written from a neutral point of view. Where conflicting points of view exist, Wikipedia strives to treat them equally and neutrally based on verifiable, legitimate sources. Wikipedia content is free to use, edit, and distribute. Wikipedia content is freely licensed, never owned by its creators or editors. Fair use, copyright and anti-plagiarism laws and best practices apply. Wikipedians must demonstrate respect and civility. Wikipedians are expected to approach disagreements civilly and to assume good faith on the part of other editors. Capricious or punitive actions against specific users or subjects are frowned upon and may result in being banned. Wikipedia has no firm rules. Aside from the above, Wikipedia has no ironclad rules. The spirit of published guidelines is more important than the letter, and Wikipedia’s management team is open to changes that benefit the community as a whole. Cautions: What Wikipedia Is Not The five pillars encapsulate what Wikipedia is. What about what Wikipedia is not? This wiki is an exhaustive overview of what Wikipedia isn’t. We’ll highlight what’s most important to know for your Wikipedia-listing campaign: No original thought or reporting. Wikipedia isn’t the place for editorializing. This is very important for businesses creating or editing their own Wikipedia pagesâ€"all claims must be well-sourced. Don’t base your Wikipedia strategy on privileged or internally held information that you’re not at liberty to disclose. No overt self-promotion. Likewise, Wikipedia isn’t the place for self-promotion. If your entry is essentially a press release disguised as an unbiased primer, it’s likely to be flagged for review and editedâ€"or possibly deleted. No link, file or image farming. Wikipedia is a great place to insert a high-authority link to your corporate website or blog, but it’s not meant to be a receptacle for links or images related to your company. Excessive linking and image-caching will trigger action from other editors or admins. No blogging or socializing. Wikipedia isn’t a social platform. Don’t reach out to other editors except to discuss entries you’ve created or edited. That means no lobbying effortsâ€"attempts to unduly influence fellow editors are off-limits. No unverifiable speculation. In the context of company pages, “unverifiable speculation” might include forward-looking statements about your company, opinionated statements about the quality of its products, and other claims for which you don’t have an unbiased source. No censorship. Wikipedia has a strict anti-censorship ethos. Every edit and deletion needs to have a legitimate impulse behind it. Wikipedia severely frowns upon sabotaging competitors’ pages. Standards for Dedicated Wikipedia Pages: What Do Subjects Need To Demonstrate? Now that we know what Wikipedia is and isn’t, we have to ask: How does a small or emerging business get its own Wikipedia page? First, it needs to meet Wikipedia’s article inclusion criteria. These include: Minimal substantiveness: The more information, the better. Stubs are permitted, but editors are encouraged to flesh them out as new information becomes available. Verifiable sourcing: As noted, entries need verifiable, objective, preferably independent sources. For instance, BetterWorks’ Wikipedia page includes citations from Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, and Inc. Meeting notability criteria: This is the single most important inclusion criterion. According to prominent Wikipedia administrator Mark Hetherington, you need at least three to five “solid references” to establish notability; otherwise, your subject isn’t notable enough to merit its own page. You can’t use self-published materials, such as press releases or blog posts, to establish notabilityâ€"though you can use self-published materials as citations once you’ve established notability. Following other Wikipedia policies: Wikipedia entries must follow all other policies outlined above, such as neutral point of view and avoidance of self-promotion. Articles that don’t meet these requirements may be quickly deleted. Attracting Coverage from Reliable Sources Well-written and -sourced articles can usually avoid self-promotion and other content-related risks. For small organizations, the highest hurdle cited here is notability. The easiest way to earn attention and clear Wikipedia’s notability threshold is to draw coverage or recognition from trusted third parties: media outlets, reputable bloggers with wide followings, municipal and public-private booster organizations, prominent institutions, etc. Well-placed national media stories and awards from government departments or institutions can dramatically raise your company’s profile, even without a corresponding explosion in sales or revenue. Consider these profile-raising strategies: Posting press releases touting major company events, such as key hires, sales milestones, new territories, successful fundraising rounds, and prominent partnerships or backers Establishing yourself or other key employees as industry thought leaders and earning open invitations to contribute to business and industry publications Pitching regional, national and trade media on stories relevant to your business or industry Cultivating high-visibility partnerships with major municipalities or institutions with national name recognition Publishing original content for your audience, such as in-depth guides or books Inking distribution or licensing partnerships with major partners (earning digital or physical shelf space for your products or services) Securing promotional partnerships and running campaigns with prominent endorsers or backers Can You Write Your Own Wikipedia Page? Clearing the notability threshold doesn’t automatically entitle you to a Wikipedia entry. Wikipedians are busy people; they lack the resources to monitor emerging companies for signs of notability, much less spring into action to create entries as companies edge across the threshold. So, should you jump the gun and write your own Wikipedia page? Probably not. “The DIY approach to Wikipedia is usually a bad idea,” writes CIO contributor James A. Martin. “Such DIY Wikipedia contributions also sometimes come from people with little or no prior Wikipedia editing experience, and that can raise red flags in the Wiki community.” The safest course of action is simply to wait until someone else creates your page. But that’s not always realistic. The next best approach, says Martin, is to hire an outside firm or independent editor with Wikipedia experience. Creating Your Own Wikipedia Page (Cautiously) And if you (or a subordinate) absolutely must create your own Wikipedia entry? Growtraffic outlines a step-by-step approach. Keep in mind that this process is in no way sanctioned by Wikipedia’s administrators. Conclusive evidence that you’ve created a Wikipedia article about your company without disclosing the clear conflict of interest may be enough to get you banned from the platform. At minimum, the entry is likely to be deleted, unless it clearly meets notability standards. Use an anonymizer to create your Wikipedia account. Establish a user history by editing multiple articles over the course of a week or two. Ideally, you want to unlock autoconfirmed or even extended confirmed status. Draft your company’s Wikipedia article using a competitor’s article as a guide. Write impartially and include plenty of third-party citations. Publish the article piecemeal, over at least an hour, so that the editing history appears more natural. Continue editing unrelated Wikipedia articlesâ€"and yours, as warranted. If editors do flag any issues with your company’s article, respond promptly and without emotion. Remember Wikipedia’s five pillars and treat fellow editors with respect. Citation Links: An Alternative to Full-Page Wikipedia Entries If your company doesn’t meet Wikipedia’s notability criteria, or you’re not comfortable with the idea of creating an entry yourself or hiring someone else to do it, aim your sights lower and consider an alternative to full-page Wikipedia entries: legitimate citation links. Follow these steps: Regularly publish industry-relevant content on your corporate blog. These might cover companies, people, processes, locations, trends and other topics pertaining to your company. Spin up microsites or content portals devoted to industry news, analysis, announcements and opinion. Look for “citation needed” flags on industry-relevant Wikipedia entries. Commission original, impartial studies or reports with defensible conclusions. Post them on your blog, microsites, or portals. Plug these studies or reports into appropriate “citation needed” slots. Avoid doing this yourself, if at all possible, and remember to disclose any conflicts of interest. If you must do this yourself, continue editing unrelated Wikipedia articles to avoid attracting undue attention. Your Business Belongs on Wikipedia Wikipedia is an objective online encyclopedia, not a venue for self-promotion. Once your company clears the notability threshold, you need to carefully, slowly put together your own page, or hire an expert editor to do the job for you. Alternatively, you can create objective, informative content outside the Wikipedia ecosystem, then opportunistically link to it from industry-relevant Wikipedia pages. Whatever you do, you need to adhere to Wikipedia’s quality standards and platform guidelines. You can’t do your company any good when you’re banned from the world’s most popular online encyclopedia.

The Importance of Presentation Skills in the Workplace - CareerMetis.com

The Importance of Presentation Skills in the Workplace The importance of presentation skills and communication in the workplace can’t be overstated.As published in the Forbesarticle, New Survey: 70% Say Presentation Skills Are Critical For Career Success, people polled confirmed their belief that presentation skills are key to achieving career success.Unfortunately, knowing what is necessary is easier than actually doing it since seventy-five percent of people admit they experience speech anxiety.evalThe good news is that anybody can improve their presentation skills. Practice can make all the difference.There is no justifiable reason for professionals to take a back seat forever to co-workers who benefit from the higher visibility and rewards reaped from enjoying superior communication and presentation skills.Why Presentation Skills Are Important?Company profits and individual contributors both benefit from utilizing improved communication skills. Corporate success correlates with how well corporate management communicates its mission with employees and customers.Not surprisingly, employees who contribute to this corporate success via superior presentation skills also benefit, earning the respect and notice of management and peers.When employees are considered to be good presenters, they become the “Go-to” person when it is time to make a presentation. This type of recognition elevates an employee’s standing in the organization.Effective public speaking leads to the adoption of important ideas necessary for progress. This type of power is valued by the management of any company and can easily catapult an employee’s career.Tips for Improved PresentationsAnyone who has ever been bored sitting through a poor presentation will admit that they did not feel connected to the speaker or what the speaker was discussing.evalAsking questions and reaching out to your audience in a relevant way to make them an active part of the presentation is a proven technique for keeping the audience engaged. Without audience par ticipation, nothing good happens.A speaker’s confidence wins the day.Practice will reap great benefits for any speaker. Over time, practicing a presentation and knowing the material will earn the respect of the audience.Getting rid of the “Ummms” when speaking will also bolster confidence and present a polished image.evalAnother important tool for elevating any presentation is to use visual aids. If it is true that “a picture paints a thousand words,” then incorporating memorable images into a group presentation makes good sense.Excellent speakers are known for using tools that the audience will remember.The Downfall of Poor Presentation SkillsPoor presentation skills can be blamed for problems at both personal and corporate levels. Companies that suffer from communication challenges experience higher turnover, higher employee absenteeism rates, and lower profits; while employees who don’t communicate well are less likely to be promoted or recognized as a leader.For the employee, poor communication skills also make it much harder to negotiate a raise or interview for a new job. When you take this same problem to the corporate level, corporate leadership suffers when they are incapable of attracting necessary funding, inspiring team players and selling products.There is no denying that companies and individuals who want to move forward with their agendas must make it a priority to improve communication and presentation skills.ConclusionOnce considered a soft skill, excellent communication skills are now viewed as a requirement for success. Considering the fear associated with public speaking by 75 percent of the population, there is no denying that it will take some work.Corporate and individual success in the future means making effective communication a top priority.Infographic Credit â€" presentationtraininginstitute.com

Back from Austria - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Back from Austria - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Im back from snowboarding in S?lden Austria and it absolutely rocked. I was very curious how my new Ride Snowboard + Burton boots would work out and they were excellent. I have never ridden so fast. In fact, I managed to seriously scare myself a couple of times :o) While I was gone Steve Roesler of the All Things Workplace blog did some excellent posts on change and happiness which I really enjoyed reading. My favorite has got to be the one on the backlash against happiness. Good grief! That post also inspired some great comments, especially Kevin Carsons on the unethical use of Fish and similar tools in the hospital where he works and Scott Nutters notion that its not about being happy but happier. Its interesting to notice that Steves style is more open and inquiring, where my blog posts tend to be more argumentative and heres what I think!-like. So thank you Steve for giving the blog a great peek into a very important topic and for introducing some great conversations. To thank Steve for his help, I sent him a small present: a copy of my very favorite book on change. This is one book that changed me. And if you want another look at what I was up to in Austria, heres a POV video of me snowboarding some fresh powder, ending with a major crash :o) Man, I love falling in powder! The video was taken with my new helmet-mounted video camera. Yes, I looove gadgets :o) Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

How to List Technical Skills on Resume

How to List Technical Skills on ResumeGetting back to the basics on how to list technical skills on resume is important especially if you are considering a career in technology. You may be thinking that if you have such skills that employers are going to hire you immediately without any special skills.Unfortunately, this is not how it works. Some people don't realize the importance of listing skills on resume, which is one of the reasons why they always seem to get hired in the end. When it comes to jobs, skills are important, but getting employers to see your potential is essential.Most employers don't care about the way you write your resume, but will definitely be impressed by the number of keywords and phrases that you used when listing technical skills on resume. You need to be able to write professionally and concisely.Many people would wonder why it's so important to list technical skills on resume. If you can get a second interview or better results from the first interview, then you will save money for the future.Your resume will show employers that you are qualified for the job, even if you know very little about the field. On the other hand, if you simply skim over the list of technical skills, you might get rejected on the spot.To list technical skills on resume, you need to provide a clear description about the skills that you have. For example, you should make sure that you will be able to solve any problems related to products or services that are offered by the company you are applying for.Your resume should also provide a certain standard of success in terms of your skills, experience, and goals. A word to the wise is that it would be better to read through the standards set by hiring managers in your company before writing.If you are planning to list technical skills on resume, then read a lot about the subject and prepare accordingly. Not only do you have to be able to write well, but you should also be capable of evaluating the skills of oth ers in order to become a leader.

Online Resume Writing Service - What is Included

Online Resume Writing Service - What is IncludedIf you are searching for the best online resume writing service, consider using a resume writing service that provides you with all the services that are essential to create a perfect resume. The services provided by these firms include email services that allow you to send an original resume and attach your CV or more than one CV along with it. Other services include searching through the available resume templates for you, outlining your personal qualities and preferences and helping you create a resume that looks extremely professional and it does not look unprofessional in the least.To ensure that you find a resume writing service that works wonders for you, make sure that you thoroughly read the resume writing service's terms and conditions. It is very important to make sure that you understand exactly what services are offered and what services are not offered before committing to any kind of service agreement.The internet has a p lethora of free resume writing service that can assist you with your resume. These resume writing services are able to help you effectively because they have the resources to create an original resume that will provide you with all the qualities and qualifications that are necessary for job interviews.Resume writing service providers are able to assist you with the resume writing process because they have the tools and software that allow them to create your resume in a matter of minutes. There are several other benefits of using a resume writing service that include the fact that you do not have to spend time on research. The resume writing service helps you with all the important questions that you need to know about a particular job such as what kind of skills and abilities you possess, the length of time you have been working in that job, etc.Another benefit that you get from a resume writing service is that it saves you time. By having the resume created by a professional resum e writer you only have to write the letter of application that is attached to the resume and then send it via mail or through the email facility of the resume writing service. This makes it possible for you to make use of a professional resume writer who will compose the letter of application with precision in accordance with the requirements of the company.You may also benefit from using a resume writing service because it will save you a lot of time in preparing your resume. The professionals hired by the resume writing service are well versed in the best resume styles that suit individual needs. They are able to craft a resume that includes a brief statement of essential information that makes the resume stand out from the rest of the resume materials being provided by the company.With the help of a resume writer you can present yourself in a way that will make you look more attractive as compared to those who hired a resume writer on their own. With the resume written by a profe ssional resume writer you will be able to make your resume stand out from the rest of the other resumes that are competing for the same position.

The Nuiances of Entry Level Software Engineer Resume

The Nuiances of Entry Level Software Engineer Resume Entry Level Software Engineer Resume Help! Resume examples by industry you have to create a resume that highlights the particular skills employers want. A associates degree in a computer science field will enable you to acquire your foot in the door for the least quantity of investment. For making a bright career in the area of engineering, one ought to have certain skills. If you've been working and are seeking to change jobs, you still will need to realize that entry level developers usually look about the exact same on paper. As the job is connected to technical work, it is essential to have technical skills. Computer science degree programs are the most often seen, because they have a tendency to cover a wide selection of topics. Computer Skills Many likely your employer utilizes various pcs to keep an eye on staff, their work alongside prospective candidates. Skills that have to show up in the Computer engineer resum e objective Skills mean the capability of the person of doing things efficiently. What to Expect From Entry Level Software Engineer Resume? In Silicon Valley, software engineer is the same as eye-watering reparation. In the area of software design and development, a software engineer plays an important function. Computer software engineers work with companies which vary in proportion and environment. They can earn multiple certificates that offer a great return on investment. Claiming you understand how to use a particular kind of software better than you do, as an example, is far more forgivable than claiming you graduate university once you really dropped out your very first semester. The large region of the advice about the company is going to be marketing hoopla and unsupported statements. Simply take a peek at job ads and see what sorts of skills are in demand. Attempt to obtain an idea what other job seekers have as skills and experience and be sure that your resume shows how you could be different from them. The Debate Over Entry Level Software Engineer Resume For instance, you could be tempted to leave out your work for a shift manager at a convenience shop. When you're compiling your software engineer resume, watch out for a few of the most frequent mistakes. 1 The ideal example of a software engineer resume is one which receives the interview. Worked with IT to guarantee analytical laboratory computer software systems met the maximum standard of information integrity. The Demise of Entry Level Software Engineer Resume Essentially, you've nailed work at a unicorn business. Primarily, you may possibly be fortunate enough to find and complete an application to find a job posting throughout your institution's career centre or an internet job board. It isn't necessary that if you're an excellent engineer then you will surely get a great job. If you believe you are not an entry level engineer then you ought to think again, especially of how efficient you're at your work and the way the company benefits from having you around.

4 (Silly) Myths About Employment Branding - Work It Daily

4 (Silly) Myths About Employment Branding - Work It Daily 5 (Ridiculously Simple) Steps To Creating Your Employment Brand (FREE Webinar) In 2016, I’ve decided to make it my mission in life to prove Employment Branding is not hard to do. I’m tired of all the hype. Information overload has made some companies cower in fear. Meanwhile, others have opted for the ‘ostrich approach’ and just buried their heads in the sand. Time to stop the insanity! I want you to clear your mind of everything you’ve been told about Employment Branding. I’m giving you a ‘do-over’ so you can start fresh. To do that, I need you to recognize and let go of the following four silly myths about Employment Branding. Are you ready? Okay, here we go! Myth #1 - You need a comprehensive strategy to properly launch your Employment Brand. FACT: Employment Brands aren’t created, they’re revealed. What I mean is that you need to just start doing Employment Branding so that you can learn what works and what doesn’t. Your brand already exists, but it’s up to you to find the best way to put it out there. All the planning in the world won’t help. Until you start sharing your story with candidates, you won’t really know what resonates best. Myth #2 - You need to produce a lot of content - all the time. FACT: Who has time to create content all day long? It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality and consistency. Determine how much time you can truly commit to your Employment Brand and then create a list and start to chip away at it. It’s better to post the time time each week then to post every day for a week, and then fail to post again for a month. The key is to set up a routine and stick to it. Which leads to... Myth #3 - You need to be on every social media platform consistently. FACT: It’s better to do one or two social media platforms well than to spread your time and resources too thin. Start with the most popular channels, like Glassdoor and LinkedIn. Then, as you get more savvy, branch out to Facebook and Twitter. Eventually, you’ll be ready to get creative and tackle some of the newer platforms, like Instagram or Snapchat. Myth #4 - You need to use an employment branding “expert” to do it right. FACT: Nobody knows what it’s like to work at your company better than YOU! Besides, our studies show 76% of job seekers want to hear about a company’s Employment Brand from recruiters and other employees. Employment Branding isn’t rocket science and doesn’t require a consultant. You can do this. Just take baby steps. And, here’s the first one you can take… 5 (Ridiculously Simple) Steps To Creating Your Employment Brand (FREE Webinar) I’m going to be presenting a webinar that is going to breakdown, step-by-step how any company, regardless of size, location, or industry, can share their Employment Brand with talent. I’m going to take all the guesswork out of it. I’m going to make it fun. (Not kidding, I said, “fun.”) It’s going to be like ‘paint by numbers’ - but, for your Employment Brand. It’s FREE to attend. If you can’t attend live, sign-up anyways and I’ll send you the recording. Come see how to finally remove your fears around Employment Branding so you can start attracting more qualified candidates. CLICK HERE to learn more and reserve your spot! This post was originally published at an earlier date. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!