Wikipedia ’s Search Engine Optimized Article on Homepage
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Written By Mohammad Usman | July 2, 2007 | Share This
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Recently there has been much controversy over Wikipedia’s reinstituted policy regarding no follow attributes on most external links within the articles. Many critics have described this policy as a double standard, especially since attributions are not implemented across the board.
However, Wikipedia has responded to this controversy by including its Search Engine Optimization article on its homepage. This article explains the need for the policy, and answers many questions asked by site users regarding Wikipedia’s SEO.
This move follows recent debate in the search marketing community, in which marketers have been heavily critical of Wikipedia search engine. Two popular examples of this criticism include a Open Letter To Wikipedia Editors: Yes, Matt Cutts Is Notable and Search Engine Marketing (& Search Engine Land) Not Notable For Wikipedia?.
The question that remains now is: Will SEO’s article will be effective in quelling criticism?
Topics: Wikipedia |
“Up to 9 months ago we financially contributed funds to Wikipedia but no more, for we thought that it was a good idea and where its thinking was in unison with our own at that time - using knowledge for the good of humankind. When we as novices tried to place our Swiss charity within Wikipedia we were absolutely savaged by the editors. They in fact blocked our right of reply, which is documented by themselves.
Thereafter we even sent our registration documents via email to the then executive director of Wikimedia, the holding organization, to prove that our international group was registered as a Swiss charity. He did nothing at all. A few months later he resigned with another top Wikimedia executive, ‘Jimbo’s second in command. The greatest problem with Wikipedia that we now find is that they are highly selective in who should place information and where therefore they will never really have a web-based encyclopaedia that is unbiased and totally factual. It is ultimately at the whims of the few enlightened ones who control what should be a great reference. Unfortunately we now see that it is not.
For anyone interested further on how Wikipedia editors work, the full account including all emails will be part of our next web newsletter ‘Scientific Discovery’. It will be on-line by the end of July 2007. Overall, it is time we feel that Wikipedia looked internally at itself and that they concluded that they have major problems with the way they treat new entrants. This analysis should especially be directed towards the attitude of their editors, who remove the right of reply and delete super-quick for reasons not based on evidence but only hearsay. By the way also, the Wikipedian Editor Zoe who first blocked us and the initial instigator of all the basic trouble, fell out with ‘Jimbo’ and where she as well left a few months later. Apparently she had made a vendetta against a certain professor according to ‘Jimbo’s’ opinion. Thereafter she took her bat and ball home and has never been seen since. I believe she also threatened the embattled professor at the time.”
Dr. David Hill
Chief Executive
World Innovation Foundation Charity (reg. no. CH-035.7.035.277-9 - 11th July 2005)
Bern, Switzerland