Wikipedia:Search engine optimization

Wikipedia attracts many links and contains a large amount of content on a broad set of topics. As a result, Wikipedia pages tend to rank well in organic search, and to acquire high PageRank on Google, the most popular search engine as of 2018. These factors create a strong temptation for editors to add linkspam to promote their own sites, whitewash negative articles about themselves or their organizations, or astroturf articles to create a positive spin. Indeed, some search engine optimization (SEO) specialists have recommended tactics that violate Wikipedia's policies.

Before you think about clever ways to evade Wikipedia's policies, you should be aware that any trick you can think of has probably been tried before, and that sneaky editing leaves a trail an experienced wikisleuth can follow. Before you succumb to the dark side, know that the results may be unpleasant, public, and permanent.

If you are an SEO practitioner who has come to Wikipedia seeking to increase the link popularity of your site or manage your client's reputation, first of all, welcome! Second, we hope you will learn more about how Wikipedia works, because we want you to be a productive member of our community, rather than a source of linkspam and bias. Before you make any edits, please familiarize yourself with the Wikipedia conflict of interest guidelines. Also, be aware that page titles can have a "wikibombing" effect towards topics linked, so be sure to name articles neutrally.