Wikipedia:Plain and simple conflict of interest guide

This is an explanatory essay about the Wikipedia:Conflict of interest page.

This page provides additional information about concepts in the page(s) it supplements. This page is not one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community.

Shortcuts

If you have a close association with the subject of a Wikipedia article, and you wish to edit the article, you are bound by some restrictions. The short version:

Be transparent about your conflict of interest.
Do not edit or create articles about yourself, your family or friends, your organization, your clients, or your competitors.
Post suggestions and sources on the article's talk page, or in your user space.
The role of editors is to summarize, inform, and reference; not promote, whitewash, or sell.
Article subjects require significant coverage in independent reliable sources.
State facts and statistics; don't be vague or general.
Take time to get sources and policy right.
Get neutral, uninvolved, disinterested editors to review your suggestions.
Respect the volunteer community's time; avoid making protracted or repeated requests.