Difference between revisions of "Wikipedia Outreach"

OurWork (.5) Wikipedia Outreach / _ (Pete Forsyth)

People working on this

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, either by moving content to AboutUs and linking it from Wikipedia, or from adding external links to AboutUs instead of Wikipedia. For the latter case, AboutUs has a significant advantage: unlike Wikipedia, AboutUs does not apply "NOFOLLOW" tags to external links,[1] so search engines are able to index its links.

How does this build community?

Wikipedia's energy will be a lot move positive if Wikipedia admins have a place to move the content, instead of just "slapping down" these editors. And, AboutUs gets an infusion of new content and new contributors, who obviously need/want a place to write about themselves and their projects.

Done When

• We have examples of Wikipedia admins linking to an appropriate AboutUs landing page in their edit summaries or on talk apges

steps to get to DoneDone

• Do we need an affordance? Where Wikipedia admins can easily move the content to AboutUs and easily leave talk page messsages for the editor.

Useful Links

• Wikipedia:Talk:Crater Lake#Website addition: CraterLakeInstitute.com

Discussion

I'm flattered to be added as a Task Lead, but let me clarify…at this point, I'm only suggesting that a few of us try making some suggestions, in the course of "linkspam" fighting on Wikipedia. I don't really know how successful it will be, and I'm not comfortable evangelizing the project to other Wikipedia editors unless some kind of benefit has been demonstrated. (Of course if somebody else wants to do that, I have no problem with it.)

Also of note, I think that many people really do SPECIFICALLY want to have their site added to Wikipedia, which they regard as an "important site." Suggesting a site people have not heard of may often fall on deaf ears; which is another reason, I think, to take it one small step at a time, and see how things go. -Peteforsyth 15:45, 12 November 2007 (PST)

I think this is exactly right, Pete. This level of energy and soft-sell seems perfect right now. And when we have more examples, we can then decide on next steps. peace, TedErnst | talk 20:44, 12 November 2007 (PST)

• I was talking with Simon on IRC tonight and he brough up the licensing issue. He says that we have incompatible licenses, so cannot simply move content over, even after it's been deleted from Wikipedia. Something to keep in mind. TedErnst | talk 23:48, 14 November 2007 (PST)
  • Cool- sorry, I had missed these comments, I'd forgotten to add this to my watchlist. What is the difference between licenses? I doubt it would impact what I have in mind, which is mainly just lists of links on articles, not entire articles. But if you hve a link for the licensing difference, I'd be interested to see.
  • Also, here's a link to the relevant project on Wikipedia: wikipedia:Wikipedia:WikiProject_Spam -Peteforsyth 18:34, 25 November 2007 (PST)