Benefits of updating your Wikipedia page

When Larry Beckett contacted To the Point Collaborative in 2020 seeking help with Wikipedia’s article about him, he tapped into our network of communications and marketing experts.

Now, his works as a poet and lyricist are reaching new audiences at a time in life when most artists’ careers have long since wound down.

A prolific career left undocumented

Beckett is a highly respected writer of poetry and song lyrics who traces his roots to a teenage collaboration with his high school pal, singer Tim Buckley. Their partnership, with Beckett writing lyrics and Buckley the music, ended with Buckley’s death at the age of 28 in 1975.

Beckett, however, was just getting started as a poet and lyricist. Over the years he has produced a vast library of works of poetry — much of it epic — and of lyrics, both for his own songs and in collaboration with others.

His notoriety led to his inclusion in Wikipedia in 2006. But over time, Beckett and his wife, Laura, saw that the article failed to keep pace with his active career. Finally, in 2020, Laura reached out to her friend, Kendall Leeper, a Wikipedia editing expert.

Wikipedia page brings new opportunities

As a member of To the Point Collaborative, Kendall has been guiding clients through the Wikipedia article editing process for more than a decade. Her initial engagement with the couple led to the successful updating of Larry’s entry. But when he expressed an interest in receiving marketing support for his poetry and other aspects of his work, we were able to assist him again.

We connected Larry with our colleague and friend Lou Bank, who brought his expertise in publications to Larry’s aid. Their collaboration has led to more public appearances, and more media coverage, for Larry.

What does Larry have to say about his experience with To the Point Collaborative?

Recently he sent this over:

“So, I was told I had a Wikipedia page. Wow. Of course, a lot was wrong, and it was way incomplete. That was before To the Point Collaborative worked on it. After that, this guy’s in his swimming pool, hears a song on the radio, googles it, finds out that he used to know me, one of the songwriters, checks out my Wikipedia page and, on the strength of that, contacts me and sets up a business arrangement where the poetry I’ve written and recorded over the last 50 years, in my book “American Cycle,” is on all streaming services.

“Thanks, To the Point Collaborative!”

You’re welcome, Larry!