How To Become World Famous This Week

If you’re a proofreader, editor, writer, photographer or artist you can boost your profile by becoming a Wikipedia volunteer. There are 40 million articles on Wikipedia – and they all need proofreading, editing, updating, illustrating, etc. Kiwi Mike Dickerson has been appointed Wikipedian-At-Large and he has established his base in Whanganui. He’s looking for help with his task of tidying up Wikipedia.

Here’s why you should become a volunteer

1. It’s a great way to increase and refine your knowledge in your field/s of special interest. Tip: Don’t dive into topics you know nothing about. If you’re into athletes’ health, stay clear of astrophysics. Get the idea?
2. When you’re promoting your commercial services it helps your credibility when you can add: “I’m an editor for Wikipedia”, etc. (My friend Dr John Waughman wrote articles for Encyclopaedia Britannica and he said that gave him huge credibility worldwide.)
3. You’ll meet other volunteers worldwide who can nominate you for paid gigs. Just as you will for them when you find potential collaborators.

Step 1: Listen to the 15 minutes radio interview with Mike Dickerson.

Step 2:  Check out his website.

Step 3:  Introduce yourself to Mike. Tell him your single BEST SKILL. Tell him FOUR TOPICS of which you have prior knowledge. Be very specific. Eg: Vegetable gardening in NZ; Trout fishing in NZ, etc. Having a NZ focus will be an advantage.

 Step 4:  Share your experience on the forum. Tell Principal Liza when you’ve completed your first Wikipedia gig.

Have fun. Make new friends. Put something back into the Wikipedia which fed you.