Do You Earn Writing at wikiHow?

Writing at wikiHow is a rewarding and altruistic endeavor, albeit not a monetary one. This article delves into the motivations and realities behind contributing to wikiHow's extensive how-to directory.

The Non-Profit Mission and Model

wikiHow is a non-profit how-to directory that operates on a similar model to Wikipedia. Anyone can start or update articles, with volunteer editors and administrators ensuring quality and accuracy. Interestingly, the majority of its writing and editing is done by volunteers, who are not paid for their contributions.

The Paid Staff and Their Role

While the vast majority of articles are created and maintained by volunteers, the organization does have a small paid staff. According to the information available, only 24 people earn a salary at wikiHow Inc., and they are primarily software developers located in Palo Alto. This detachment from direct compensation for content creation is a unique feature of wikiHow, designed to maintain its volunteer-driven ethos.

Earning Potential and Contributions

Despite the lack of direct payment, contributing to wikiHow carries intrinsic benefits. Volunteers write and update articles on a variety of topics, sharing their knowledge and expertise with the community. The sense of accomplishment and the joy of helping others is a powerful motivator. Additionally, the extensive reach of wikiHow’s content can indirectly lead to personal and professional networking opportunities.

Revenue and Advertising

Furthermore, it's important to note that wikiHow generates revenue through Google AdSense on its posts. While this income does not directly go to contributors, it helps sustain the platform and support its non-profit mission. However, this is not a monetary benefit for individual contributors; the site uses this revenue to keep the business and back-end operations running and to fund other important tasks such as hiring contract photographers, illustrators, and translators.

Community and Collaboration

Contributors to wikiHow are part of a vibrant community of volunteers who collaborate and refine content. The environment fosters learning, creativity, and mutual support. The collaboration is not just between writers but also between editors, photographers, and other content creators who work together to ensure the quality and accessibility of wikiHow’s content.

Conclusion

In essence, while writing at wikiHow does not yield direct financial rewards, the opportunity to contribute to a valuable and widely-used resource is its own form of compensation. The non-profit structure and the collaborative nature of the platform align with a strong sense of mission and purpose among its contributors.

Thank you for your interest in wikiHow and its contributors. Please let us know if you have any more questions!