User:Upload manual/Paid editors

Paid editing is editing Wikipedia in return for payment. Although there may be some forms of compensation which are generally acceptable, such as the Wikipedia reward board, there are other forms which are considered unacceptable. Paid editing on Wikipedia is defined as writing or editing on Wikipedia in return for money, or similar consideration. This includes inserting or deleting content to the advantage of the editor's employer or client into or from an article, talk page, or policy. Many, but not all, types of paid editing are forbidden. Verified editors are allowed to edit for payment as long as they work according to required increments, disclosure of their paid status, and avoid conflict of interest (COI). Paid editors must follow the guidelines on COI carefully.

Background

Paid editing, broadly defined, is any editing where an editor is being compensated in some way, e.g. employees of a firm, outsourced contractors, barter or trade compensation, etc. The issues of paid editing tend to focus on the problems rather than the benefits. If someone makes constructive contributions, the edits will likely be kept regardless of whether or not the editor is seen as being "paid." Edits which introduce bias, unverifiable claims, or remove notable and sourced critical content will likely be reverted.

There is stated opposition to Wikipedians setting up an "editing service" unless they are operating within the Wikipediaer platform. Likewise there have traditionally been similar concerns about companies who advertise for someone to write an article about them on Wikipedia.

How to contact the Wikipediaer Organization

The Wikipediaer platform is currently closed to individuals/entities seeking editing assistance on Wikipedia. This policy was created in 2009, and has yet to change. However, the Wikipediaer Organization can contact individuals/entities who adhere to the Wikipedia:Notability guidelines and encourage them to contribute to Wikipedia, whether on their own (without pay) or using Wikipediaer's paid editors.

Types of paid editors

The Wikipediaer platform allows for three types of paid editors:

Consultants - provide advisory service to individuals/entities
Collaborators - provide assistance and co-editing services to individuals/entities
Writers - provide writing and upload services to individuals/entities

All paid editors, whether consultants, collaborators or writers, must adhere to the Wikipediaer's policies, charge clients according to the recommended pricing criteria (see: The Seven Increments), and provide transparent service. Paid editors are still obligated to follow all the content and behavior policies, primarily WP:PROMO and WP:NPOV.

Consultants

Wikipediaers serving as consultants, provide advisory services to individuals/entities. As such, consultants give experienced advice about the ins and outs of Wikipedia. Consultants are not allowed to edit texts for the client, nor upload anything in the client's name onto the Wiki platform. Consultancy is strictly confined to advice only.

Collaborators

Wikipediaers serving as collaborators serve as a sounding board as well as provide general technical assistance to individuals/entities. As such, collaborators are allowed to edit texts put together by the client. While collaborators are allowed to co-write articles with their clients, collaborators are not allowed to upload anything in the client's name onto the Wiki platform.

Writers

Wikipediaers serving as writers provide both content writing skills as well as general technical know-how for individuals/entities. As such, writers are encouraged to edit, write and upload texts, using their expertise and allowing the clients to rely on their know-how. Uploading is permitted for writers, given their strict adherence to Wiki rules and guidelines.

The Seven Increments

Individuals/entities contacted by Wikipediaer may not fully understand how Wikipedia works. Past experience had shown that even if the client is briefed on the process, and even after signing a mutual agreement detailing the procedure, that clients still tend to misunderstand the Wiki habitat. This may result in questions such as: "What does it mean that we do not own the article? We paid for it!" or, "The article includes a less-than-flattering reference to our organization. Why can't you erase it for us?"

To avoid mutual frustration and misunderstanding, Wikipediaer designed the Seven Increments working procedure. This method enables both the editor and the client to remain aware of the current mutual expectations of each stage. If an article fails to win approval along the process, the client has only paid for the stages completed rather than for the entire process, and has a greater chance of succeeding in the future given the preparation and references embedded in Wikipedia during the initial stages.

If an article succeeds in winning approval, the client is aware of the possibilities for enhancing the article, and the recommended order in which to go about these enhancements. Overall, feedback from both clients and editors have been extremely positive, which is why Wikipediaer is enforcing the Seven Increments for all editors without exception.

Increment 1 - Conducting proper research

All Wikipediaers, whether serving as consultants, collaborators or writers, must perform extensive research at this stage. This includes surveying primary sources such as original documents, manuscripts, letters, interviews, records, autobiographies, research articles, clinical reports, case studies, dissertations, etc.; as well as secondary sources such as newspapers, magazine articles, general publications, textbooks, book reviews, commentaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, etc..

Wikipediaers must be wary of any one single source (in any medium—web, print, television or radio), or of multiple works that derive from a single source. Wikipediaers must use multiple independent sources, while constantly assessing sources’ neutrality. Wikipediaers must keep in mind that proper research done early will, in turn, help them defend the notability of the subject of the article in case of a future editorial dispute. This stage may also reveal that the client or subject matter of the article is currently unworthy of proceeding to successive increments.

Recommended price for increment: 100 USD for ALL editors (consultants, collaborators and writers)

Increment 2 - Adding internal references / anchors and targets

Wikipedia is based on hypertext, and aims to "build the web" to enable readers to access relevant information on other pages easily. The page from which the hyperlink is activated is called the anchor; the page the link points to is called the target. In adding or removing links, consider an article's place in the knowledge tree. Internal links can add to the cohesion and utility of Wikipedia, allowing readers to deepen their understanding of a topic by conveniently accessing other articles. Editors should consider including links where readers might want to use them; for example, in article leads, at the openings of new sections, in the cells of tables, and in image captions. Creating internal links can help the future article to avoid the “orphan” status.

An orphan is defined as "an article with no links from other pages in the main article namespace". These pages can still be found by searching Wikipedia, but it is preferable that they can also be reachable by links from related pages; it is therefore helpful to add links from other suitable pages with similar and/or related information. De-orphaning articles is an important aspect of building the web. It is recommended, prior to the establishment of a stub draft, to have at least two Wikipedia internal references / anchors and targets. These references must not by hyperlinked until increment 7 is performed successfully.

Recommended price for increment: Consultants: 550 USD | Collaborators: 1950 USD | Writers: 4150 USD

Increment 3 - Creating a stub draft

A stub is a short draft article. A stub should contain enough information for other editors to expand upon it, while providing adequate context—articles with little or no context usually end up being speedily deleted. Editors’ initial research may be done either through media or reliable websites. Editors may also contribute knowledge acquired from other sources, but must conduct proper research beforehand to ensure that facts are accurate and unbiased. Editors must use original words and avoid plagiarism, while making sure to avoid any violation of copyright.

While creating the stub draft, editors must define and describe the article’s topic and avoid fallacies of definition. Editors should internally link relevant words, while avoiding linking words needlessly. Editors should add sources for the information put into the stub according to the citing sources manual. Please note: This increment is defined a sandbox stage. Stubs must not be submitted to mainspace at this stage. This increment is designed for building the basic wiki syntax using the VisualEditor, among other tools. Proper draft stubs are two paragraphs long (150 words).

Recommended price for increment: Consultants: 1100 USD | Collaborators: 3900 USD | Writers: 8300 USD

Increment 4 - Uploading for review / applying required changes

Increment 4
4 / 7

Articles for Creation (AfC) is Wikipedia’s article submission process is a peer review process where peer editors who have a minimum of 500 undeleted edits either accept or decline an article submitted. AfC submissions must be reviewed in accordance with Wikipedia's established content policies and guidelines. Note: AfC submissions can be declined based on failing to provide sufficient context, not asserting notability, and most often for not being properly sourced.

The AfC review process often requires further changes and resubmissions. The reviewing instructions cover reviews of article drafts, redirects and categories, and file requests.

Recommended price for increment: Consultants: 1100 USD | Collaborators: 3900 USD | Writers: 8300 USD

Increment 5 - Expanding article’s text to four paragraphs

Increment 5
5 / 7

Once an article has been accepted and is “on the air” (moved from namespace to mainspace, Category:Articles), it should be expanded and improved upon, to bring it from a stub-level to at least four paragraphs (300 words). At this stage editors should use peer help by placing Template:Expand section.

While expanding the article, remember the expansion guidelines (see Wikipedia:Article size). Consider further linking using Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Linking. Make sure when expanding that you stick to WP:BECONCISE guidelines. Photos or logos may not be uploaded at this increment. Warning: At this increment, often editors tend to forget the use of reliable sources and references. The fact the article has been approved does not condone non-encyclopedic citations; on the contrary, once the article is “public” it requires further scrutiny and attention.

Recommended price for increment: Consultants: 1100 USD | Collaborators: 3900 USD | Writers: 8300 USD

Increment 6 - Adding an image / logo

Increment 6
6 / 7

Using an image or logo is a good way to expand on an article and give it more credibility, as well as enhance reader experience. Images may be photos, drawings, logos, or graphs. All images used must be legal in the United States, where Wikimedia's servers are located. Images are stored on the Wikipedia website or the partner Wikimedia Commons website. All free content is stored on "Commons" and images that have more onerous copyright restrictions are stored on Wikipedia, under a fair use rationale.

This increment is strictly limited to only one image or logo per article, adhering to Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images, as well as to Wikipedia:Image use policy. Make sure you comply with current Wikipedia:Wikimedia Commons regulations – embedding a Wikimedia Commons image into an article, and moving an image from Wikipedia to Wikimedia Commons.

Recommended price for increment: Consultants: 350 USD | Collaborators: 1950 USD | Writers: 4150 USD

Increment 7 - Further expansion / adding further images / translation to other languages / maintenance

Increment 7
7 / 7

At this final increment editors are invited to incorporate principles of increment 5 and 6: Consider using Template:Expand section. As before, bear in mind the expansion guidelines (see Wikipedia:Article size). Constantly look into ways to add further links using Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Linking. Add more Wikimedia Commons relevant photographs under the fair use rationale. Remember Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Images, as well as Wikipedia:Image use policy. At this stage Wikipediaers may translate the article into additional, relevant languages. Clients should be aware that other languages may change the text and content of the article to align with interest of speakers of the specific language of translation. Also, at this stage regular maintenance of article is recommended, including ongoing surveillance of the article you created. Make sure to protect from external link spamming: contact a sysop on the Meta-Wiki; any Meta sysop can edit the Wikimedia-wide spam blacklist. Make sure to follow both Wikipedia:Spam and Wikipedia:Vandalism guidelines when dealing with suspicious changes to article.

Recommended price for increment: Consultants: 1100 USD | Collaborators: 3900 USD | Writers: 8300 USD

Advice for proposed clients

Adherence to the Seven Increments

Clients must make sure Wikipediaers work according to the Seven Increments. Clients should avoid paying all increments at once, understanding that each stage depends on the successful application of the previous stage, and, if one stage repeatedly fails to pass, further increments should not be charged. Successful completion of all increments should cost clients:

	Consultants	Collaborators	Writers
Increment 1	100	100	100
Increment 2	1,100	3,900	8,300
Increment 3	1,100	3,900	8,300
Increment 4	1,100	3,900	8,300
Increment 5	1,100	3,900	8,300
Increment 6	550	1,950	4,150
Increment 7	1,100	3,900	8,300
Total	6,150 USD	21,550 USD	45,750 USD

Advocacy

Any form of advocacy (that is, any contribution or edit to Wikipedia content that advocates a point of view) is forbidden by WP:NPOV. Significant information and widely held opinions that are documented in reliable sources which are contrary to your point of view or business interests must be included.

Conflict of interest

The guideline on conflicts of interest (COI) must be observed at all times. An editor stand in a conflict of interest when advancing outside interests is more important to said editor than advancing the aims of Wikipedia

Policies relevant to paid editing that are most likely to lead to problems include:

Articles are not owned: No editor has more rights to determine the content of an article than any other. Other editors will edit the content mercilessly and are encouraged to do so. The paid Wikipediaer has the same rights and obligations as any other editor in such cases.
Neutral point of view: Wikipedia aims to establish a neutral point of view. For example, a Wikipediaer is paid to write an article which is favorable about the commissioner. Other editors add notable criticism and remove WP:PUFFERY to ensure we present the subject neutrally.

Advice for Verified Wikipediaers

If you are engaging in paid editing or dealing with what might be considered a paid editing situation, please keep the following advice in mind:

All content is edited mercilessly, and sometimes very quickly. Make sure your employer(s) understand this in advance. If you create an article that is not in compliance with Wikipedia's policies on notability and reliable sourcing it will likely be deleted.
Do not copy material verbatim from an employer's website or publications, unless they have donated the material as described at Wikipedia:Donating copyrighted materials. Simply telling you that you can use it is not sufficient to comply with Wikipedia's legal requirements.
You can use written material as self-published sources if you attribute them accurately.
Do not submit to Wikipedia any newly written materials that are a work for hire with copyright owned by the person or company paying you, unless that copyright owner has specifically granted permission for the material under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License guideline, and that grant is confirmed through the OTRS process. This issue can apply to independent contractors, as well as to employees, and the legal issue will also vary by jurisdiction.