Wikipedia Edit Process Timeline

Overview

Below is an example of the monthly process Reputation X uses to improve Wikipedia pages. During the campaign’s life, careful consideration is made to every edit to reduce the probability of edit rollbacks. We request that editors be subject matter experts and that they follow Wikipedia’s guidelines. The editing process usually requires many months to complete. After the initial period, clients can pause or cease editing with a 30-day written notice to the assigned Project Manager. The 30-day notice enables our team to ramp the campaign down.

Month 01

Our intention is to improve Wikipedia. The steps we take are made to ensure that goal is met. During the first month of the Wikipedia editing process, we generally perform the following tasks:

• Assign Project Manager(s)
• Project management begins (recurring).
• Set up the campaign.
• Identify similar Wikipedia pages.
• Analyze the editing cadence (how often edits are made).
• Analyze Wikipedia editors with an interest. Check editing patterns.
• Set up Wikipedia monitoring.
• Outline the “ideal” Wikipedia page for eventual editors to use at their discretion.
• Check references for every proposed statement. Note strengths and weaknesses. 
• Execute initial peer-review of proposed changes with third-party Wikipedia editors.

Month 02

• Project management (recurring).
• Wikipedia page monitoring (recurring).
• Credibility reinforcement edits are suggested. 
• Creative Commons (CC) rights management of images. (Client’s responsibility).
• Peer-review of proposed changes presented to Client for discussion.
• Approval of peer-review proposed edits by the client.
• Level 1: Non-controversial edits suggested.
• Observe Wikipedia Editor reactions to non-controversial edits.
• Suggest factual updates as needed.

Month 03

More controversial Wikipedia edits are often made in the latter months of a campaign. Editors have ultimate control of their accounts and make all editing decisions.

• Project management (recurring).
• Wikipedia page monitoring (recurring).
• Credibility reinforcement edits suggested (recurring).
• Level 2 edits begin.
• Observation of edits and Editor behavior (recurring).
• Reporting (recurring).

Month 04

• Project management (recurring).
• Wikipedia page monitoring (recurring).
• Credibility reinforcement edits suggested (recurring).
• Level 3 edits begin.
• Observation of edits and Editor behavior (recurring).
• Reporting (recurring).

Month 05+

• Project management (recurring).
• Wikipedia page monitoring (recurring).
• Credibility reinforcement edits (recurring).
• Level 4 edits suggested. These are usually the most controversial. It is often the case that controversial edits are not made at all.
• Observation of edits and Editor behavior (recurring).
• Reporting (recurring).