The number one reason Wikipedia pages get deleted is that the subject does not meet Wikipedia's notability requirements. We see this constantly. Someone creates a page, it looks great, and within days a Wikipedia editor tags it for deletion because the subject has not been covered by enough independent, reliable sources. Understanding notability before you invest time or money into a Wikipedia page is essential.
Here is how notability actually works on Wikipedia, what the specific criteria are, and how to build toward meeting them if you are not there yet.
The General Notability Guideline
Wikipedia's General Notability Guideline, known as GNG, is the baseline standard that applies to every topic. A subject is considered notable if it has received significant coverage in reliable, independent sources. Let us break down what each of those words means in Wikipedia's context.
"Significant coverage" means the sources discuss the subject in depth, not just a passing mention. A news article that is primarily about your subject qualifies. A brief mention of your company in a list of companies that received funding probably does not. The coverage needs to be substantive enough that someone could use those sources to write a meaningful encyclopedia article.
"Reliable sources" means established publications with editorial oversight. Major newspapers, trade publications, peer-reviewed journals, and established online media outlets generally qualify. Your own website, press releases, social media, and self-published sources do not count. Neither do promotional pieces that your company paid for, even if they appear on otherwise reliable websites.
"Independent" means the source has no relationship with the subject. Coverage in your own company blog does not count. Neither does a story written by your PR firm and placed in a pay-for-play outlet. The sources need to be genuinely independent journalists or publications that chose to cover the subject on their own editorial judgment.
How Many Sources Do You Need?
There is no magic number, but as a practical matter, we find that three to five strong independent sources are the minimum to build a defensible article. More is always better. The sources should ideally come from different publications and cover different aspects of the subject. Five articles from the same local newspaper about the same event is weaker than five articles from different national publications covering different facets of a person's career or a company's work.
Subject-Specific Notability Criteria
Beyond the GNG, Wikipedia has specific notability guidelines for different types of subjects. For people, Wikipedia looks at whether the person has achieved something notable in their field, whether they have received sustained coverage from multiple independent sources, and whether their contributions have had a lasting impact.
For companies, the bar is generally higher. Wikipedia wants to see that the company has been the subject of independent journalistic coverage, not just press release pickups. A company that has been profiled in The Wall Street Journal, covered by industry trade publications, or written about extensively in connection with significant industry developments is much more likely to meet notability than a company that has only appeared in paid placements and press releases.
For academics and scientists, publication record and citation counts matter, but what Wikipedia really wants is media coverage of their work beyond academic journals. A scientist whose research was covered by major news outlets has a stronger notability case than one with an extensive but uncovered publication history.
How to Build Notability
If you or your company does not currently meet Wikipedia's notability requirements, the path forward is not to create a page anyway and hope for the best. It is to build genuine notability over time through activities that result in real media coverage.
This means doing newsworthy things and making sure journalists know about them. Launching a genuinely innovative product. Publishing original research. Taking a public position on an industry issue. Speaking at major conferences. Winning recognized industry awards. All of these create opportunities for the kind of independent coverage that Wikipedia requires.
We help clients build notability through strategic press placement campaigns that generate real editorial coverage in legitimate publications. This is not about gaming Wikipedia. It is about doing the work to become genuinely notable, which benefits you far beyond just Wikipedia.
Common Notability Misconceptions
Being successful in business does not automatically make you notable by Wikipedia's standards. We have worked with CEOs of large companies who do not have enough independent media coverage to support a Wikipedia page. Revenue, employee count, and market share are not sufficient on their own. You need the independent coverage to back it up.
Having a large social media following also does not establish notability. Wikipedia editors are very clear about this. Follower counts on Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube are not considered reliable indicators of notability because they can be inflated and do not represent independent editorial judgment.
Finally, having been mentioned in news articles is not the same as having been the subject of news articles. If your name appears in a list or is briefly referenced in a story about something else, that is not significant coverage. The articles need to be primarily about you or your company.
Next steps: If you meet Wikipedia's notability requirements, see our complete guide to getting a Wikipedia page created for the full process. If you're not quite there yet, our guide on getting press coverage shows how to build the independent media coverage you need to become notable.
If you are wondering whether you or your company meets Wikipedia's notability requirements, we can do an honest assessment. Our Wikipedia service starts with a notability evaluation before any work begins, because there is no point creating a page that is going to be deleted. You may also find our guides on getting a Wikipedia page for your company and Wikipedia page costs helpful as you think about the full picture.
Related Resources
- Wikipedia page creation — How to turn notability into a live Wikipedia article
- Wikipedia link insertion — Build authority without needing a full Wikipedia page
- Getting press coverage — Build the media coverage you need to establish notability
- Wikipedia pages for companies — Company-specific notability strategies