Learning patterns/Every new page starts off unwatched

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Every new page starts off unwatched

problemEvery new wiki page, starts with 1 watchlister (the author). It is hard to attract collaboration at an unknown destination.

solutionIf possible, update an existing page, instead of creating a new page. For new pages, add incoming links from other pages, and mention it on talkpages.

creator• Quiddity

created on22:50, 18 October 2015 (UTC)

status:DRAFT

What problem does this solve?

At new pages, it is difficult to get watchlisters and incoming links, which are prerequisites for ongoing attention, interest, feedback, collaboration.

Editors are accustomed to starting new pages for each article, image, etc; but that isn't always the best practice for other page-types, such as documentation and notes.

What is the solution?

Don't start a new page, if an old page can be expanded/improved. Existing pages are more likely to have people actively watchlisting them, who might help out now or in the future. Mergism is good for documentation.

If you must start a new page:

• Summarize and Link to it from other relevant pages.
• Mention it on talkpages.
• Mark any old pages that it replaces as {{historical}}.
  • Check Special:WhatLinksHere (in the toolbox) at the historical page, and update whatever you can.

Things to consider

• If you're starting a new page because you're having trouble finding the information you want, then you should consider creating redirects from likely search terms, disambiguation pages, and lists of links instead of a new page (that nobody will be watching and nobody else will be able to find).

Endorsements

• Great similarity with ml.wikipedia community events. Thanks a lot --Adv.tksujith (talk) 17:33, 31 August 2016 (UTC)
• Definitely a way in which our community operates: we have a lot of research and documentation that gets built, because someone wants to make "new" the work, however, its quite hard for "new" materials to be functional for others, unless, it builds on expands the established materials. Sadads (talk) 18:10, 21 December 2016 (UTC)

See also

Related patterns

• Keeping documentation of discussions with team
• Planning existing structures for ease of future access
• Let the community know
• Feedback cycle