What does a flag on a Wikipedia article mean?
Below is what an article flag looks like on Wikipedia. Notice the bright orange exclamation mark (not good!), the numerous warnings about content violations, the invitation for editors to make changes. If your brand’s article has a flag like this, then you’ve got a big liability with one of the top search results for your business or organization.
Flags basically mean that one or more Wikipedia editors have decided the article’s content doesn’t align with the site’s guidelines. This can be because of several specific problems. Here are some of the most common:
The article contains content that is written like an advertisement, meaning that information is not presented in an encyclopedic style (e.g., formal, objective, and impartial)
The article may be created or edited in return for undisclosed payments, which is a big no-no
The article relies too much on references to primary sources (like your website or press releases)
The article seems too promotional (meaning language seems indistinguishable from your marketing messaging)
Flags immediately signal to readers that content in the article can’t be trusted.
Because of this, flagged articles are very vulnerable to major changes as editors will seek to bring content into alignment with Wikipedia guidelines. This process typically ends in much of the article being removed or replaced.
So what can you do about flags?
If you’ve been making direct edits to an article in which you have a conflict of interest, or COI, (meaning an article about your employer or key personnel like your CEO), then you need to stop. Wikipedia highly discourages COI editing, and if you have an “undisclosed payments” tag, then editors are already suspicious of your edits to date.
Whether you’ve edited in the past or not, here’s the best approach for engaging with your page:
Set up an account for you to use as a representative of your organization
Use that account to disclose your affiliation with your brand or business
Use Wikipedia’s Talk pages to suggest content changes and additions
This hands-off approach is much slower than just making edits yourself, but it also helps you avoid backlash from editors and ultimately leads to better articles that are less likely to be significantly revised by others. It’s a long-term investment for a long-term solution.
