Help:Start a new Wikia

Screenshot of Wiki creation form

You can start a new Wikia wiki by filling out the creation form.

Before you start

1. Create a user account (and set your preferred language in Special:Preferences, if desired)
2. Check if your idea is already covered by an existing Wikia wiki - it's better to work with others than alone
3. Read Wikia's terms of use - wikis must contain no hate, no porn, no copyright infringement, and more
4. Read Wiki creation policy - wikis must be freely licensed, publicly editable, and free of abuse

Fill out the creation form

1. Decide on a name for the wiki. To help users find you in search engines, it's best to use the most common keywords for your topic. (Hint: don't use -pedia, or obscure names only diehard fans would know). The word "Wiki" will be added to the end, because this is also important to help your rankings: people who want to know if there's an interactive site on the web about Neil Gaiman are most likely to type "neil gaiman wiki" into their search engines, and you want to rank highly for those search terms!
2. Choose the URL or address for your site. Similar to the name, the URL or web address you choose for your site will affect how easy it is for people to find your site and understand what it is about.
3. Choose a category for the wiki (Sports, Entertainment, Lifestyle etc.), and an interface language.

Plan your project

Decide what the aims of your wiki will be. Draft a mission statement, and place it on your wiki's Project:About page.

You should also find interested participants who will be able to help with the creation of content on the wiki. Invite a few friends to help you meet a modest goal -- 20 to 50 simple pages in your first few weeks. You'll be amazed at how quickly an hour or two of work every day or two can start to build on itself!

Create your home page

The default location of your home page is at "Main Page" (or a translation of this for wikis where the default language is not English) and is automatically moved to the name of the wiki to improve search engine optimization. For these reasons, it is recommended that leave it like that, but at any time you may move (i.e. rename) it. When you have renamed your home page, you also have to change the page title MediaWiki:Mainpage. You can do this only when you have sysop rights at that wiki. This change is important because it defines where users go when they type "yourwiki.wikia.com" or when they click on your logo.

Improving your Wikia

Please see Help:Improving your Wikia for details beyond these first steps. Improving your Wikia wiki includes changing your logo and favicon.

See also Advice:Wiki tips and Help:Attracting contributors.