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(What's this?) What is the EasyEdit button? This website gets better when people like you add to it. Just click the EasyEdit button to start. (help)
How will people find this site?

The three major ways that people find new sites are:

  • Search Engines - The number one way for people to discover this wiki is through search engines like Google, MSN or Yahoo. When someone types a keyword into a search engine that is related to the wiki, they may find the site. By populating the wiki with many pages of original content, as well as popular keyword terms, search engines will be more likely to bring in visitors. This process is known as search engine optimization (SEO).

  • Other Sites - If you offer quality content and make yourself known on other online communities, people will begin to link to the wiki. Online networking, such as contacting bloggers about link exchanges, can really help to boost traffic.

  • Word of Mouth - There are plenty of offline opportunities for marketing the wiki. Telling your friends and coworkers to check it out, for example, can encourage visitors. They, in turn, can recommend the site to people and so on.
Naturally, there will be more word-of-mouth buzz generated about the wiki if the content is quality and if a sense of community participation is fostered.

How can I promote the site?

You can help the wiki community grow by actively networking with people, both online and offline. A steady amount of promotion, coupled with quality wiki content, can greatly increase the site's popularity. Below are some recommended methods of promotion.

  • Social Bookmarking Sites - Unlike saving the links (URLs) of your favorite Web sites by using your Web browser window, social bookmarking sites add them to a website database for easy access by other service members or the general public. Moderators can increase traffic by explaining what social bookmarking is to wiki members and encouraging them to mark the site; the more frequently the wiki is bookmarked by a large number of people, the more likely it is to get greater exposure. Likewise, you can also bookmark the wiki on popular social bookmarking sites.

  • Email and Message Board Signatures - Placing a banner or link that advertises the wiki in the signature of your outgoing emails is an easy way to market your site. Becoming involved in online message boards can also draw attention to a personalized, hyperlinked signature. By visiting message boards that are related to the wiki's topic, you will avoid being accused of "spam."

  • Business Cards - Although it may seem old fashioned to use a business card to promote a Web 2.0 site like a wiki, they really can work. Business cards come in handy when you are talking to people offline about the wiki. It is better to hand someone a card with the site's URL on it, rather than expecting them to remember the site's address by the time they get home.

  • Blogs - The modern-day "blogosphere" is a subculture in itself and can really help you promote a wiki. Like email and message board signatures, you can leave behind a personalized link to your site on various blogs. It is also good to make friends with bloggers who write about a subject related to the wiki. Those people may be willing to exchange links. Most blogs will allow you to hyperlink your name to any site when you leave a comment on a blog entry. By finding popular blogs that are related to your site and leaving an interesting comment, you will pique the interest of others, thus encouraging them to click on your hyperlinked name.

  • Link Building - One of the most important part of getting your site noticed is getting other sites to link to you. Bad sites don't tend to get links, whereas good sites do. When people link to your site, they are telling search engines like Google and Yahoo that your site is a good site. In the same notion, links from good sites around the web will help your site, and bad links could hurt it. An example of a good link is a site that is related to the wiki's topic. Having many links from sites that have nothing to do with the wiki can hurt you in the long run, as search engines will regard those links as "spam."

How can I create valuable content?

Creating valuable, unique content for the wiki is the best way to help the community grow. Not only will it encourage visitors to return to the site and participate, unique content helps the wiki to rank higher in search engine results. Below are several types of content that help to draw in visitors.

  • Top 10 Lists - People love reading lists and this type of content helps to generate a lot of traffic. If the wiki is about handbags, for example, you could create an article called "Top 10 Handbags for Fall." These lists don't have to be limited to 10 items, however. A "Top 100..." article is even more enticing.
  • Exhaustive Resources - You can make the site completely unique by compiling an exhaustive resource related to the wiki. If the wiki is dedicated to NASCAR, for example, a database of every current NASCAR driver could be invaluable to fans.
  • Tips and Tricks - From simple tips to detailed how-to guides, visitors really respond well to helpful advice. Titles like "10 Easy Tips for..." or "How to..." can help to create repeat visitors. If the wiki becomes a trusted source of advice, the community will grow at a faster rate.

How should I organize the wiki's content?

It is important that the wiki remains organized and easy to read. Organizing will help people find what they are looking for and encourage them to contribute to the site. Below are several tips for organizing the wiki.

  • Organize the pages on your site logically, by topic and subtopic.
  • Use direct, clear page names, with popular and relevant keywords wherever possible. 3. Use links to allow a user to navigate around the site with ease.

How can I encourage others to contribute to the wiki?

A wiki is only as good as its community. With only one person contributing to a wiki, the site will not flourish. It is important to encourage others to add and edit content, as that is the whole point of a wiki. Unfortunately, it isn't uncommon for a user to register with a wiki, then remain inactive in the community. Below are a few techniques to draw people out and encourage them to participate.

  • Promote users to moderator status. This isn't advisable for every user on the site, but promoting your most trusted members can help to encourage them to participate even more.
  • Welcome all new members. It is possible that new users do not know how to use the wiki and they may be a bit apprehensive about making edits. A private message to each new wiki member, welcoming him or her to the site, can encourage instant participation.
  • Hold site contests. An interactive site is one of interest to others. Everyone loves to partake in contests, which is exactly why they make great promotional tools for the wiki.
  • Keep the wiki organized. Not only is it important to keep the wiki tidy and attractive, the content should formatted so that it is be easy to read. Keep paragraphs short, as people tend to skim when reading online.
  • Use calls to action. A call to action on each page, encouraging people to contribute, can give confidence to users who feel uneasy about making page edits.
  • Start discussions and reply to each discussion. The wiki doubles as a message board and when people aren't making page edits, they can be engaging in conversations on discussion threads. Always keep the conversation going by starting new topics and by responding to other people's dialogue.

Last update: Sep 24 2008, 3:06 AM EDT by wetpaintmod (content history | content tools) (help)
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