Difference between revisions of "Wikipedia Outreach"

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<noinclude><big>{{CommunityHeader}}</noinclude>{{CommunityTaskRecurring
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{{TOCRight}}
|project_name                = Wikipedia Outreach
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<noinclude>
|task_name_for_this_iteration = Wikipedia Outreach
 
|task_display_name            = _
 
|pairdays                    = .5
 
|lead                        = Pete Forsyth}}<noinclude></big>
 
 
 
 
== People working on this ==
 
== People working on this ==
* [[User:TedErnst]]
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* [[Pete Forsyth]], [[TedErnst]], and you
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
A significant amount of energy at [[Wikipedia]] goes into removing non-notable articles and linkspam.  We know Wikipedia editors already. Let's invite them to use [[AboutUs]] when removing content that's inappropriate for Wikipedia, by either moving content to from Wikipedia to AboutUs, or adding AboutUs external links to Wikipedia articles.
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[[AboutUs]] seeks more contributors, a robust sense of community, and more human-generated content about the worldwide web and the organizations that populate it. (This is a crude attempt to capture the spirit of the draft at [[WhoWeAre]].)
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[[Wikipedia]] already has lots of that going on: an enormous community of editors, continual collaboration, and continually growing and improving content. There is currently some crossover between AboutUs and Wikipedia editors, but this network can be improved, hopefully to the benefit of all parties.
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On this page, we will explore ways in which AboutUs can learn from the evolution of Wikipedia, and strategies for soliciting help from existing Wikipedia editors. Of course, we would not try to take anyone "away" from Wikipedia, but we might be able to provide space for content or collaboration that is beyond Wikipedia's mission.
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== Wikipedia spam as nourishment for AboutUs? ==
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A significant amount of energy at Wikipedia goes into removing non-notable articles, and removing extraneous external links from acceptable articles. Let's invite them to use AboutUs when removing content that's inappropriate for Wikipedia, by either moving content to from Wikipedia to AboutUs, adding AboutUs external links to Wikipedia articles, or redirecting new Wikipedia editors to AboutUs.org.
  
== Benefits… ==
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=== Benefits for web site owners ===
=== …for web site owners ===
 
 
* [[Search engine optimization]]: unlike Wikipedia, AboutUs does not apply "NOFOLLOW" tags to external links,[http://www.itworldcanada.com/Pages/Docbase/ViewArticle.aspx?id=idgml-b3fff19f-0479-4a4f-b409-f4c85d04d2e0] so search engines will index sites linked from AboutUs articles. Adding external links to a Wikipedia article affords no SEO benefits (although many web site owners do not know this.)
 
* [[Search engine optimization]]: unlike Wikipedia, AboutUs does not apply "NOFOLLOW" tags to external links,[http://www.itworldcanada.com/Pages/Docbase/ViewArticle.aspx?id=idgml-b3fff19f-0479-4a4f-b409-f4c85d04d2e0] so search engines will index sites linked from AboutUs articles. Adding external links to a Wikipedia article affords no SEO benefits (although many web site owners do not know this.)
 
* AboutUs does not have a [[wikipedia:WP:NOTE|notability]] standard for its articles, nor does it require that they be written from a [[wikipedia:WP:NPOV|neutral point of view]]. Web site owners should have more flexibility in presenting their sites how they like at AboutUs than they would at Wikipedia.
 
* AboutUs does not have a [[wikipedia:WP:NOTE|notability]] standard for its articles, nor does it require that they be written from a [[wikipedia:WP:NPOV|neutral point of view]]. Web site owners should have more flexibility in presenting their sites how they like at AboutUs than they would at Wikipedia.
  
=== …for Wikipedia ===
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=== Benefits for Wikipedia ===
 
[[Wikipedia]] likes to welcome new editors to its community, but its restrictive policies are often off-putting to newcomers. The option of redirecting newcomers to AboutUs will be helpful to Wikipedia editors looking to promote and model genuine collaboration while keeping Wikipedia true to its ideals. Might be good to collaborate with the folks at [[wikipedia:Wikipedia:WikiProject Spam]].
 
[[Wikipedia]] likes to welcome new editors to its community, but its restrictive policies are often off-putting to newcomers. The option of redirecting newcomers to AboutUs will be helpful to Wikipedia editors looking to promote and model genuine collaboration while keeping Wikipedia true to its ideals. Might be good to collaborate with the folks at [[wikipedia:Wikipedia:WikiProject Spam]].
  
=== …for AboutUs community ===
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=== Benefits for AboutUs community ===
 
[[AboutUs]] gets exposure, and an infusion of new content and new contributors, who obviously need/want a place to write about themselves and their projects.
 
[[AboutUs]] gets exposure, and an infusion of new content and new contributors, who obviously need/want a place to write about themselves and their projects.
  
==Done when==
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=== Concerns ===
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Caution should be exercised when moving Wikipedia content to AboutUs. WP uses the [[GFDL]] license, while AU uses both [[GFDL]] and [[Creative Commons]]. (See discussion archive, below, for more detail.)
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=== Results ===
 
* We have here examples of Wikipedia admins linking to an appropriate [[AboutUs]] landing page in their edit summaries or on talk pages
 
* We have here examples of Wikipedia admins linking to an appropriate [[AboutUs]] landing page in their edit summaries or on talk pages
** [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk%3AOmarortizmercado&diff=175675751&oldid=175573338 pppm.uoregon.edu]
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:* [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk%3AOmarortizmercado&diff=175676237&oldid=175573338 pppm.uoregon.edu]
::: Page created, initial WP contributor vanished from WP and does not seem interested in AU. -[[User:Peteforsyth|Peteforsyth]] 01:47, 20 December 2007 (PST)
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::: [[pppm.uoregon.edu|AboutUs page]] created, [[wikipedia:User talk:Omarortizmercado|initial WP contributor]] vanished from WP and does not seem interested in AU.
** [[Wikipedia:Talk:Crater Lake#Website addition: CraterLakeInstitute.com|Crater Lake Institute]]
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:* [[Wikipedia:Talk:Crater Lake#Website addition: CraterLakeInstitute.com|Crater Lake Institute]]
::: Page created, initial WP contributor remains engaged at WP, but does not seem interested in AU. -[[User:Peteforsyth|Peteforsyth]] 01:47, 20 December 2007 (PST)
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::: [[CraterLakeInstitute.com|AboutUs page created]], [[wikipedia:User talk:Pkrnger|initial WP contributor]] remains engaged at WP, but does not seem interested in AU.
 
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:* [[wikipedia:User_talk:Sharicn|Council on Court Procedures]]
== steps to get to [[DoneDone]] ==
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::: [[CouncilOnCourtProcedures.org|AboutUs page created]] 12/26/07. [[User:Sharicn]] made an account here, and built a darn nice lookin' page.
* <s>Do we need an affordance?  Where Wikipedia admins can easily move the content to AboutUs and easily leave talk page messsages for the editor.</s>
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:* [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk%3AColumbiaSoft&diff=183111573&oldid=170212400 ColumbiaSoft], a Portland-based tech company.
** ''Ted, what's an affordance? I don't understand this question.'' -[[User:Peteforsyth|Peteforsyth]] 01:47, 20 December 2007 (PST)
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::: Suggested creating a page here. Might be a good candidate for [[PortlandTech]] portal.
*** Even if we need one, we can't get one in the near-term due to other [[AboutUs]] development priorities. What you're doing by hand is perfect, Pete. I'm not clear on the definition of affordance myself, but maybe I can describe it? [[Mediawiki]] has [[UploadFile]] as a feature, yes?  [[AboutUs]] then built an affordance [[UploadPortrait]] which is a special case, and makes it easier for the user in the specific situation of a person's photo for their [[PersonalPage]]. Things have shifted since this was written, so we can just remove this whole section, methinks. [[User:TedErnst|TedErnst]] <small>([[User talk:TedErnst|talk]])</small> 07:59, 20 December 2007 (PST)
 
  
 
== Discussion ==
 
== Discussion ==
 
[[Wikipedia Outreach/archive]]
 
[[Wikipedia Outreach/archive]]
* There is some concern about licensing, that the Wikipedia and AboutUs licenses are not compatible or do not allow wholesale copying from WP to AU.(?) Simon and Ted were discussing. Seems to me that since WP content is available under the [[GFDL]], and AU content is available under GFDL "and/or" CC, it should be OK. Can somebody clarify this? I am most definitely not a lawyer!! -[[User:Peteforsyth|Peteforsyth]] 01:47, 20 December 2007 (PST)
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Is it possible to determine whether a page exists on AboutUs, without having the [[bot]] do its thing? I'd like to be as informed as possible about what's already been done when reaching out to company representatives, but also save the "fun" of running the bot for them. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk%3AColumbiaSoft&diff=183111573&oldid=170212400 For instance, ColumbiaSoft] presented this dilemma. -[[User:Peteforsyth|Pete]] 20:18, 8 January 2008 (PST)
** My limited understanding of the problem is that WP GFDL requires any use of the content to be GFDL as well, while content on AU is also GFDL, people are allowed to take AU content and release it elsewhere under CC-only, due to the "or"If that was an "and", maybe this wouldn't be an issue. Hopefully CC and Free Software Foundation will fix this incompatibility in our lifetimes. :-) [[User:TedErnst|TedErnst]] <small>([[User talk:TedErnst|talk]])</small> 08:02, 20 December 2007 (PST)
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: I love this idea, Pete.  The bot ''is'' fun!  I don't think we'd want something like this widely publicized because we get more than 10,000 pages added per day by people searching or clicking a redlinkFor the use of this WikiPedia project, maybe something can be worked out? I know dev is swamped right now getting a release out, but maybe mention it at the next WikiWednesday or ask again in a week or two? [[User:TedErnst|TedErnst]] <small>([[User talk:TedErnst|talk]])</small> 20:48, 8 January 2008 (PST)
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:: Yeah, I suspected there was a reason like that. Makes sense. Well, maybe we've found our need for an "affordance," after all! Not a pressing need of course, but it sure would be handy. I'll ask around like you suggest. -[[User:Peteforsyth|Pete]] 23:36, 8 January 2008 (PST)
  
 
[[Category:CurrentCommunityTasks]]
 
[[Category:CurrentCommunityTasks]]
 
</noinclude>
 
</noinclude>

Latest revision as of 18:27, 17 February 2008

People working on this

Description

AboutUs seeks more contributors, a robust sense of community, and more human-generated content about the worldwide web and the organizations that populate it. (This is a crude attempt to capture the spirit of the draft at WhoWeAre.)

Wikipedia already has lots of that going on: an enormous community of editors, continual collaboration, and continually growing and improving content. There is currently some crossover between AboutUs and Wikipedia editors, but this network can be improved, hopefully to the benefit of all parties.

On this page, we will explore ways in which AboutUs can learn from the evolution of Wikipedia, and strategies for soliciting help from existing Wikipedia editors. Of course, we would not try to take anyone "away" from Wikipedia, but we might be able to provide space for content or collaboration that is beyond Wikipedia's mission.

Wikipedia spam as nourishment for AboutUs?

A significant amount of energy at Wikipedia goes into removing non-notable articles, and removing extraneous external links from acceptable articles. Let's invite them to use AboutUs when removing content that's inappropriate for Wikipedia, by either moving content to from Wikipedia to AboutUs, adding AboutUs external links to Wikipedia articles, or redirecting new Wikipedia editors to AboutUs.org.

Benefits for web site owners

  • Search engine optimization: unlike Wikipedia, AboutUs does not apply "NOFOLLOW" tags to external links,[1] so search engines will index sites linked from AboutUs articles. Adding external links to a Wikipedia article affords no SEO benefits (although many web site owners do not know this.)
  • AboutUs does not have a notability standard for its articles, nor does it require that they be written from a neutral point of view. Web site owners should have more flexibility in presenting their sites how they like at AboutUs than they would at Wikipedia.

Benefits for Wikipedia

Wikipedia likes to welcome new editors to its community, but its restrictive policies are often off-putting to newcomers. The option of redirecting newcomers to AboutUs will be helpful to Wikipedia editors looking to promote and model genuine collaboration while keeping Wikipedia true to its ideals. Might be good to collaborate with the folks at wikipedia:Wikipedia:WikiProject Spam.

Benefits for AboutUs community

AboutUs gets exposure, and an infusion of new content and new contributors, who obviously need/want a place to write about themselves and their projects.

Concerns

Caution should be exercised when moving Wikipedia content to AboutUs. WP uses the GFDL license, while AU uses both GFDL and Creative Commons. (See discussion archive, below, for more detail.)

Results

  • We have here examples of Wikipedia admins linking to an appropriate AboutUs landing page in their edit summaries or on talk pages
AboutUs page created, initial WP contributor vanished from WP and does not seem interested in AU.
AboutUs page created, initial WP contributor remains engaged at WP, but does not seem interested in AU.
AboutUs page created 12/26/07. User:Sharicn made an account here, and built a darn nice lookin' page.
Suggested creating a page here. Might be a good candidate for PortlandTech portal.

Discussion

Wikipedia Outreach/archive Is it possible to determine whether a page exists on AboutUs, without having the bot do its thing? I'd like to be as informed as possible about what's already been done when reaching out to company representatives, but also save the "fun" of running the bot for them. For instance, ColumbiaSoft presented this dilemma. -Pete 20:18, 8 January 2008 (PST)

I love this idea, Pete. The bot is fun! I don't think we'd want something like this widely publicized because we get more than 10,000 pages added per day by people searching or clicking a redlink. For the use of this WikiPedia project, maybe something can be worked out? I know dev is swamped right now getting a release out, but maybe mention it at the next WikiWednesday or ask again in a week or two? TedErnst (talk) 20:48, 8 January 2008 (PST)
Yeah, I suspected there was a reason like that. Makes sense. Well, maybe we've found our need for an "affordance," after all! Not a pressing need of course, but it sure would be handy. I'll ask around like you suggest. -Pete 23:36, 8 January 2008 (PST)


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