You may already know what you want to accomplish by hosting a writing or editing contest. This section will help you identify and clarify your goals, as well as explain the different kinds of contests. You will also find tools that may help you identify topics exciting to your community:
• Set contest goals: Ask the community what they want to do, and what they think is important.
Identifying contest goals may sound more challenging than it actually is. If you are starting a new contest, create a space where interested participants can discuss ideas about what they want to improve on the Wiki or in the community. Common goals include: filling content gaps, engaging new editors, motivating long-term editors, improving content quality, or getting more volunteers involved in project planning.
"The idea was to find a way to get more people who know about physics involved in WP. The main goal was not just how many pages were created, but to grow the number of people in the physics community on Wikipedia, so that administrators have experts they can ask to review content. We did that by asking experts to spend 30 minutes judging and leaving feedback on article discussion pages." - PhysiWiki
• Choose a contest model: Different kinds of contests do different kinds of things.
The Wikiverse is full of different kinds of contests. Each one is unique. This section breaks down writing and editing contests into a few categories. Use these planning templates to choose a contest model that your community will love, and that works with the resources you have available.
High-Volume, Action Oriented: [JARGON, but that could be because these don't have definitions]
Content Gap:
Long-Term, General Wiki Work:
Cross-Wiki or Regional Collaboration:
Short-Term, Specific Topic:
• Topic selection:Tools and resources for choosing a topic that will excite participants.
Everyone has a different strategy for coming up with contest topics and work lists.
"Content gaps are identified naturally, when people search for something and notice a gap. For example, the recent German Wings accident spurred a contest on air disasters.”
"Sometimes when making a list of articles, we make a few that are easy to do and then some that are harder. There is a balance, people can take the low hanging fruit, and others can go for the high ones. So there is fruit for everyone." - User:Kippleboy
What kind of resources you need to be successful? This an important step, whether you are planning a contest for the first time or have planned a contest before. In this section you will find guidance on how to build a team of volunteers, and links to research on budgets and timelines used in successful contests.
• Build a team: Determine how much help you need and find volunteers and partners to support you.
Some contests are very simple or are so routine [IDIOM?] that they do not require significant time to plan and run. First time contests and those that are longer or more complex may need support from volunteers, partners or Wikimedia organizations to assist with planning, outreach and judging. This section will help you identify what kind of support your contest needs and will offer suggestions for how to build a contest planning dream team.
"The least amount of time an organizer might spend is 10 to 15 minutes to set up the event page, which updates the scoring bot. This kind of means that it is a low threshold for the competition. So you can end up running a contest on something like subway stations in Mexico City, which was not a resounding success. But it does mean you can go with really weird, small topics." - Lars
Plan project roles: Your team might include someone to coordinate prizes, judging, promotion and to manage the event page.
• Timelines and Budget: Learn when to launch your contest and what costs to plan for.
The timing, length, and budget of your contest will depend on many variables. In this section you will find links to analysis of previous contests that should help with these questions. You can also help current and future contests by following links to the contest discussion forum, to share your insights about costs and timelines.
"'Do I have any quotes about time and money?" - Kacie Harold
How long should my contest be and when should I start planning?: [CALL TO ACTION]
People who participate in contests are often driven by a desire to win a prize or gain recognition from the community. This section will help you determine what kind of prizes may motivate contest participants, and will provide guidance on how to pay for and deliver those prizes.
• Pick a prize: Choose a prize that participants will value, and that you can deliver.
Prizes can be very simple, such as a book or a trophy posted on the winner’s user page. Some contests offer more significant prizes, such as money, electronics, or vouchers for travel. Once you have figured out what kind of prize will motivate contest participants, you can get to work finding funding or donations to pay for them.
"Before starting your contest, know that money is not everything, it’s not going to make your contest successful. Prizes won’t motivate them if they don’t want to edit, but can help them contribute more." - Samir WikiWomen Contest
• Find resources to provide prizes: Learn how find grants, partnerships and donations to pay for prizes.
By now you know that prizes do not need to be large or impressive to have a successful editing contest. Still, you may need to secure funding or have partners provide prizes. It is important to begin the process of asking for grants or sponsorship several months before a large competition.
"It is very easy to get funding from people in the scientific community because they recognize the value of Wikipedia and because they want the prestige of being associated with the competition. We are mostly targeting undergraduate students, 1st prize is 1,200 USD, so that is a lot of money for them. For a physics department, this is not a lot of money, but for a student it is very motivating.” - Yoni
WMF Grants can be used to pay for prizes and other contest related expenses.
Wikimedia organizations or individuals: Apply for a Project and Event Grant (PEG) from WMF to pay for prizes and prize delivery. Do this a few months before the contest begins to ensure the funding arrives in time.
Part of the Wikimedia Resource Center<translate> Back to Learning and Evaluation →</translate>
