User blog:BachLynn23/How to Get the Most Out of Wikia



So there you are, sitting at home with some friends, and suddenly an argument erupts about who played Professor Slughorn in the Harry Potter films. When it’s clear no one can agree, you hit up Google, and it leads you to a site called the Harry Potter Wiki. Maybe you get the information you need and leave, never to return, but I suspect as you’re reading this blog, you’ve stuck around. The question is, why did you stick around? What should you do now?

Getting the most out of your Wikia experience can be a bit daunting when you first find a community you like. I still remember the first time I found the Harry Potter Wiki while googling around. It took me a few weeks to learn my way around, learn the rules and all the areas where I could help improve the wiki. Over the course of the last few years, I’ve learned a lot about Wikia, and it’s gone far beyond a single wiki that keeps me coming back here day after day.

Wikia is so much more than meets the eye, and to get the most out of your Wikia experience, you should first ask yourself, just what it is you love to do and what things interest you. There is a community for nearly everything out there, and if you can’t find a community you want, you can create one. There are the encyclopaedia wikis that everyone expects to find, then the game guide wikis, and as you dig a bit deeper there are communities where you can write fanfics and original stories, look up recipes, support great causes and even play real-time roleplay games. Try the search tool or go to the Wikia home page and click “Mix It Up” a few times until you see something that grabs your interest. If you’re looking to start a new community, Wikia offers how-to videos and a lot of information for founders and admins.

Another thing I urge everyone to do is get involved. Maybe you aren’t someone who wants to be a heavy editor, but Wikia isn’t just about editing, every active wiki has a community at its core. These communities are great places to make new friends, talk about common interests or even collaborate on new projects. Jump in the conversation, make an edit or reach out to an admin. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can make a new friend.

Bottom line, no matter who you are, or what your interests are, there’s guaranteed to be something for you on Wikia, you just have to have the desire and will to find out. Remember, the more proactive you are and the more you put into Wikia, the more you will get out and the more enriched your experience here will be.

Got advice or a story about how you got involved? Please share it below!