Does your business have a Wikipedia entry? It’s probably not something you’ve considered doing…but it may be worthwhile to do so, and here’s why…
Google is soon to launch a new feature to help searchers get more information about a search result before clicking on the link.
The ‘about this result’ box – which will be triggered if a searcher taps on the three dots top right of a search result snipped – will help the searcher learn more about where the information is coming from, so that the searcher can understand better whether they can trust the site to give them the information they’re looking for.
Included in the information is whether the site is secure, whether it’s a paid or organic result, and crucially, whether or not Wikipedia has more information on that particular site or company.
Google says that the Wikipedia information is designed to guide a user “if it’s a site you haven’t heard of before [with] additional information giving you context or peace of mind especially if you’re looking for something important like health or financial information.”
Should the site not have a Wikipedia listing, then Google can show other additional information such as the first time the page was indexed.
While the functionality is nothing new – Google has had versions of this available in Beta since 2019 – the search engine giant has been user testing and gathering data to inform enhancements ahead of a formal roll-out.
Google says the information that appears on the descriptions is sourced from Knowledge Panels and that if there are any inaccuracies these can be registered, reviewed and amended in accordance with the Knowledge Panels policies.
Furthermore, Google adds that any inaccurate descriptions will not be edited by them as these are sourced from Wikipedia, which Google says was selected as the source ‘because we trust it, we know it is verified and regularly updated by hundreds and even thousands of global Wikipedia editors.’
What does this mean for you?
Rollout of this functionality has already started from 1 February 2021, so from your perspective the task is simple – you should seriously consider creating a Wikipedia entry for your business as this will be a primary source of information used in this feature.
You should also ensure you have a secure connection and that your information such as contact details, images and business description are up to date and accurate.
To find out more about how to create your Wikipedia business page click here <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_create_a_page>
To find out more about SEO, digital marketing and goal-orientated websites contact Realnet today on 01223 550800 or info@realnet.co.uk