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In this article we will show you how to create a wiki. There are many web applications that may be used to build wiki pages. Some charge a fee for the service, while others allow you create a wiki for no cost. Wikipedia is the largest and most well-known wiki. More than one billion modifications have been made to 17.6 million articles on Wikipedia since it was founded by 27 million individuals.
Making your own Wikipedia page can sound intimidating, as it should, but you shouldn’t let that stop you from trying to establish your own online wiki niche. It can seem like a big task to make wiki-type website, and in all honesty, it is. To put oneself on the proper path, a lot of effort, planning, and research will be required.
Your team can create a wiki for a number of purposes. For example, engineering teams use wikis to collaborate on technical documents, HR teams can do the same to organize employee handbooks and onboarding materials, and customer service representatives can share prewritten responses to expedite the handling of requests. Here are a few websites you should visit right away if you’re wondering how to create wiki because they’ll make the process a lot simpler.
Choose what type of wiki you want to create (internal or external)
- Determine your goal.
- Goal: Share sensitive, internal information within your organization.
- Choose the appropriate wiki type.
- If your goal is to share sensitive, internal information within your organization, an internal wiki is what you should go with.
- But if you want to create a public-facing wiki that anyone can access, an external wiki is what you need.
Pick the platform you’re going to use
- There are many software’s available for creating a wiki online.
- To make your choice, consider whether you want an open-source or hosted solution and what functionality you need.
- If you’re a large, global company looking for open-source software, then you might opt for MediaWiki, the collaboration and documentation platform powering Wikipedia.
- But if you’re a smaller business or simply need less bells and whistles, then you might prefer more basic software like DokuWiki, WikiWikiWeb, or Google Sites.
- If you’re looking for software that’s easy to use and manage, then you might opt for a premium software like Tettra.
- With Tetra, you can connect other work management tools like Slack, put users in charge of particular sections of the wiki, and get enhanced search and analytics tools — all without coding.
- Even those just getting started with website development can use this tool to set up a wiki in no time.
Start adding content – use simple language, visuals, and hyperlinks
- Make a list of the broadest topics your wiki will cover (e.g., training, culture, product).
- Designate each of these topics as a category.
- Consider using department names (e.g., marketing, sales, product, HR) as additional categories.
- Organize your wiki posts under the appropriate categories.
- Enhance discoverability by adding relevant tags to your posts.
- Use internal links to guide readers to other related and helpful content.
- Ensure that the structure and navigation of your wiki are user-friendly and easy to understand.
Assign roles and permissions for editing access
- Establish rules of use and basic architecture.
- Invite people to add content to the wiki.
- Assign roles and access levels to prevent unauthorized content editing.
- For example, customer service reps can be given access to relevant pages only, while marketing team members might get more access.
- Identify the specific roles and access needed for each person.
- Assign roles and access levels accordingly in the software.
- Create a wiki by planning and showing diligence.
- Use the right software, implement security measures, and follow community guidelines.
- Perform regular maintenance to ensure a successful wiki.
Set security protocols and community guidelines
- Two major things to consider when starting a wiki: security and community.
- To ensure your wiki is secure, it’s recommended that you work with your IT department.
- Content you post should comply with company policies and national laws.
- The second step is setting up community guidelines.
- Wikis could devolve into irrelevant or incorrect information or editing wars.
- Lay down ground rules to prevent such issues.
- Define style guidelines for wiki authors to follow.
- Establish the process for editing other people’s posts.
- Appoint curators to ensure the right content is in the right place in front of the right people.
What is a wiki?
Wikis are online databases where information can be created, browsed, and searched for collectively. Wikis may tackle a wide range of problems in a variety of ways. Private wikis are used by teams and businesses to communicate confidential information, whereas public wikis, like Wikipedia and Fandom Wiki, are open to the general public online.
The word “wiki” originally meant “quick” in Hawaiian, where it first appeared. Ward Cunningham, a computer programmer who wanted to create a place where software professionals could describe and share portions of their code, was the first to start a wiki site. He referred to his program, WikiWikiWeb, as “the most straightforward online database that could possibly function.”