Wikis are among the most popular software tools to be found on the web. Why? Because they allow multiple users to collaboratively create, edit and link sites with ease, building strong internet communities that are focused on sharing knowledge.

The impact wikis have had on the web is enormous. They allow information to grow exponentially online rather than remaining static. Perhaps the most well-known wiki is Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that allows users from around the world to edit and create articles in dozens of different languages.

Wikis are usually open to the public for commentary and published pages can be updated almost instantly online. This is because all text can be edited in an internet browser using one markup language (usually in plain text which is easier to read than traditional HTML). For security against abuses of this open-ended system, many wikis have user accounts that require signatures and log-ins to track who is editing what and when.

The amount of information on any wiki page can be massive and so using wikis can be daunting. In attempts to offset this challenge, programmers develop helpful tools when making wikis to ease both readers and editors of its text. For starters, many include within the wikis themselves search tools that go through article titles or even key words. Also, to track changes and additions, a “Recent Changes” page can be used to number edits within a certain time frame.

The benefits of including a wiki page on your site are remarkable, as it promotes a collective learning environment that can easily take shape according to changes in public consciousness and the marketplace. An example of an appropriate wiki page could be an online manual for software where registered users share codes or report bugs.

At Apollo Media, we are intensely interested in the potential that Wikis hold for businesses online. Contact us for consultation on whether wikis are appropriate for your online venture. Be sure to come back to Apollo’s Blog for future articles detailing the benefits, strategies and tools relevant to successful internet marketing.