How To Create a Knol

Before you start writing, get inspiration by searching the site or browsing through categories.

Create an account. Go to Knol’s homepage at knol.google.com, and click “Sign in” in the upper right corner. If you already have a Google account, type in your information. Otherwise, click “Create an account now” to choose a user name and password.

Get started by clicking “write a knol.” Choose between creating a blank knol and copying from a template. Click “Learn more about templates” for additional information.

Add a title and, if you have one, a subtitle. Search engines weight these fields heavily, so choose a title that accurately reflects your knol. Then, write a brief summary of your article. This will also help people find your knol.

Write your text in the box below the summary field. Editing tools are located at the top of the page, allowing you to format your text the way you would in a word-processing program. When you’re done with your knol, click “Save” at the top left.

Add information about yourself. Click “Edit my profile” under your name on the right-hand side of the page. Your profile can help increase your exposure on Knol, so include anything that highlights your expertise and boosts your credibility, such as your name, profession, alma mater, and interests.

Choose your level of collaboration by clicking “Change” next to “Moderated collaboration” on the right. Knol offers three levels: closed, meaning only you can edit your knol; open, where anyone can make modifications; and Knol’s unique moderated form of collaboration, which lets readers suggest edits that you can then accept or reject.

If you’d like to make more edits, click “Edit.” When you’ve completed your knol, hit “Publish” on the right side of the page.

Decide whether you want ads. Go back to Settings. Clicking “Show ads” will redirect you to another page with instructions on creating an AdSense account. If you’d prefer not to have ads appear alongside your knol, click “No ads.”

Choose how readers can interact with your knol. To increase the chances that someone will find your knol, check the “Categories” box and tag your knol with a subject. The more links and information you provide, and the more ways readers can interact with your knol, the more useful and engaging it will be.

Click “Save changes” at the bottom of the page to save your settings. You’re a published author! How easy was that?