On Monday 27 January 2003 04:00 am, Brion Vibber wrote:
You've followed a link to a page that doesn't exist yet. If you'd like to create a new page under this title, delete this message and get typing! Click the 'Help' link up top if you haven't used a Wiki before and aren't sure how to go about it. =20 If you didn't mean to create a new page, just click the 'back' button in your browser, or use the search box at the top of the screen to find existing articles.
Suggestions for more consice, professional, friendly, and informative wording are welcome.
Good start, but it is too long. My first reaction when I saw it was /not/ to read it but to think somebody had created an article right before I clicked on the edit link. Here is my suggested wording:
You've followed a link to a page that doesn't exist yet. To create a page delete this message and start typing!
If you are here by mistake click your browser's 'back' button.
Less is more since people will be more likely to read a shorter message before screwing around.
IMO using technical sounding and unfamiliar words like "wiki" will just scare people away and there is no reason why somebody needs to visit the help page /before/ they create their first article. All they need to know in is that they can start typing if they want to create a new article and how to back out if they don't. They will find the help page link easy enough since it is on each page already /and/ in the body text of the Main Page (at least for en.wiki).
--mav