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Understanding Wikipedia's principles is important to avoiding a conflict of interest, because the principles define what improves, and does not improve, Wikipedia.
In terms of close connections, the most important principle is:
Wikipedia is an encyclopedia.
So what does that mean?
It means that Wikipedia should provide unbiased and accurate information.
In more detail:
"Unbiased" means that promotion is not allowed. Promotion on Wikipedia means promoting any particular viewpoint. This includes:
Advertising (which promotes a positive viewpoint about a certain organization's goods/services)
Advocacy (which promotes a viewpoint by definition)
Attacks (which promote a negative viewpoint about something)
If your goal is to do any of the above, then Wikipedia is not for you. You should consider other places where promotion is acceptable.
"Accurate" means that all information must come from reliable sources. Common examples of reliable sources are newspapers, books, magazines, and some websites.[1]
This means: If your subject is not well-known enough to have been discussed in outside sources, then it cannot be on Wikipedia. This requirement is called notability. Check if your subject meets this requirement before writing about it.
We'll return to the rules about sources later in this guide.
^Websites are considered reliable sources if they have a reputation for providing accurate information. Blogs and wikis (including Wikipedia!) are usually not reliable sources.
