Is Wikidata the solution to your Wikipedia problems?
Not Eligible for Wikipedia? What About Wikidata?
If your company has tried (and failed) to qualify for a Wikipedia article, you’re not alone. Wikipedia has strict rules, and most companies simply don’t meet them.
So now you’re hearing about Wikidata as an alternative. But is it actually easier to get listed there?
Short answer: Yes, but it doesn’t achieve the same goals as a Wikipedia article.
Wikidata isn’t a backdoor to Wikipedia. Having a Wikidata entry does not help you become eligible for a Wikipedia article.
Wikidata is structured data that provides a back-end signal for matching topics to names, descriptions, and key details like founding date. It helps reduce confusion by providing search engines with consistent, verifiable information about topics (people, organizations, events, etc.), but it does not directly increase visibility in the same way that Wikipedia does. Think of it as a background contributor to your digital identity. There’s not the same level of evidence that Wikidata is heavily weighted in search and AI, but anecdotally, we have seen it be helpful when two topics share the same name, as creating accurate Wikidata entries can help to differentiate the two.
What Is Wikidata?
Wikidata is the structured-data sibling of Wikipedia. It stores facts in a machine-readable format. For example:
“instance of → company”
“founded → 2013”
“headquarters location → Raleigh, North Carolina”
Why Some Companies Are Exploring Wikidata
Let’s say your brand doesn’t qualify for a Wikipedia article (no national press, no in-depth independent sources). You might hear:
“Just make a Wikidata page instead!”
But here’s the nuance: Wikidata isn’t a loophole.
While it’s more flexible than Wikipedia, it still requires:
A real, verifiable entity
Independent sources—not just your website or press release
A structured reason for inclusion (what Wikidata calls “notability”)
Common Misconceptions About Wikidata
❌ “Anyone can make a Wikidata entry.”
Technically yes, but moderators will delete it if it doesn’t meet the inclusion guidelines.
❌ “You can just cite your company website.”
Your website may be used for some basic facts like your address or founding date, but you’ll still need third-party references elsewhere.
❌ “Wikidata is a workaround for getting rejected on Wikipedia.”
Unfortunately, no. While some topics that aren’t eligible for their own Wikipedia entry may be eligible for a Wikidata entry, the two sites don’t solve the same problem. If your goal is to increase AI visibility, we haven't seen any data showing that Wikidata is nearly as impactful as Wikipedia as a source for LLMs.
What to Do Instead
If your company doesn’t meet the notability threshold for either platform (yet), don’t waste time trying to game the system.
Instead:
Focus on building a public record: third-party coverage, industry award listings, government directories, or partner mentions.
Strengthen your citations: Self-published content (including LinkedIn posts and press releases) won’t cut it.
Work with experts who know how to assess eligibility before you spend time and resources on WIkipedia and Wikidata.
Need Help Determining Whether You Qualify?
Our team has worked with brands of all sizes to:
Assess eligibility for both Wikipedia and Wikidata
Map out sourcing and structured data gaps
Work within both sites’ guidelines to propose new content
