Wiki pages are an often underutilized type of website, and completely different from that of a traditional corporate website and/or blog — both in terms of design and content.
We’ve all heard of Wikipedia, but what exactly is a wiki? In layman’s terms, it’s basically an online technology that provides users with the ability to create and collaboratively share information pertaining to a specific topic with others on that website, like an interactive encyclopedia. Wikis were originally intended to bring people with shared interests together, and the topics these days range from business-related issues to hobbies to baking recipes. The key theme around all wikis is that they can be extremely useful if you need to share and disseminate information to a wide audience.
With the right software, anyone can create a wiki. Before launching a wiki, keep in mind that it needs to be designed professionally, regardless of the amount of content (which will continue to grow as more and more users share in the collaboration). It also must be simple enough so that even the most novice user can navigate within it easily. Most importantly, the wiki must allow access to everyone so that anyone can edit and participate in its ongoing dialogue, not just a handful of administrators.
Cutting-edge website design software with built-in online text editors can dramatically simplify the creation and ongoing support of a wiki (or any other website for that matter). Keep an eye out for those products that incorporate a “drag-and-drop” approach that can appeal to the least technically inclined individual with its ease-of-use and intuitiveness. Many leading providers these days can even transform your site into a mobile-friendly one so you can access it with your smartphone or iPad.
To encourage collaboration and active participation, all users can edit and improve the existing content, and add new content. Possible uses for this include:
- Calendars to schedule events (think Evite.com)
- Publicizing corporate news
- Online help manuals and FAQs so that better solutions can be shared
- Knowledge database/shared documentation
- And much more…
Once a site (or wiki) is built, Ephox’s EditLive! online text editor allows content authors to write and edit content very quickly — without needing to know a thing about writing HTML code.
EditLive! allows users to:
- Edit images within the software, easily and quickly
- Manipulate tables and lists without having to reformat them first
- Double-check hyperlinks and spelling so pages are error-free
- Create personalized and corporate branded templates
- Cut and paste text from third-party software without needing to reformat
- Make the content accessible for those with disabilities
- Incorporate social media content to increase visual appeal (videos, music, imagery)
- Track all changes and comments
These days, you don’t need to be a HTML guru to make a great-looking wiki or website. Click here for a free 30-day trial to see for yourself!
Your Turn
Do you have any experience with, or advice on, creating wikis? What other ways can you think of that online text editors help content authors to produce great-looking websites and wiki pages?
