It's a Wiki World!

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- What's a Wiki world? Read the November/December issue of Selling Power to discover how the free, online encyclopedia "for every person on the planet" known as Wikipedia was created and launched. Selling Power looks in-depth at this nonprofit site used by 36 percent of adults in America. This empire was built by Jimmy Wales, who -- with the help of 75,000 active volunteers -- created a universe in which ordinary people can contribute to the vast Wikipedia encyclopedia. The Web page allows visitors complete access to content, including the ability to edit, delete, and add information.

Wikipedia is entirely free. The site runs totally on donations from individuals (mostly between $50 and $100), which brings in $1 to $2 million annually. Wikipedia has never run advertisements or staged publicity campaigns. This is precisely the vision Wales had in mind when he founded Wikipedia in January 2001.

Today, Wikepedia volunteers constantly monitor and update 1.8 million entries in more than 200 languages. "Our big-picture vision is to share knowledge with all of humanity," Wales said in an interview. The site, devoid of pop-ups and spam, seeks to create open communities where everyone can contribute.

And then there are Wales' other ventures: Wiktionary, Wikiquote, Wikibooks, and Wikinews. With his sights set on for-profit ventures that include more online communities and a search engine to rival Google, Wales may be the next king of the Web.

Selling Power has added a sidebar that shows how large companies are using the Wikipedia software and model to bring customers and sales teams together in an easy, open space where knowledge and needs combine to offer resources and solutions.

Elsewhere in the November/December issue of Selling Power, founder and publisher Gerhard Gschwandtner continues his dialog with readers on the "print is dead" issue. His feedback from last month's editorial is resoundingly positive about the continued importance of print media.

Selling Power magazine is available in print by subscription, at 2,200 newsstands, and Barnes and Noble bookstores. Selling Power also publishes a digital online version. For details, go to www.sellingpower.com.