Google has posted an announcement on its official blog about an upcoming knowledge portal called “Knol”. Something similar to wikipedia, users generate content on the site on topics they are familiar.

Google wants users write content who are authoritative on a subject. The users are called knols here, these knols can write on any topic.

Google will index these pages and show up in search results so one can expect these pages will rank high like wikipedia content in search results.

Knol is currently in beta and not open to public, but soon it will be available to public and any one can join. Google will provide you the tools for editing the text and allows you to monetize it.

“Knols will include strong community tools. People will be able to submit comments, questions, edits, additional content, and so on. Anyone will be able to rate a knol or write a review of it. Knols will also include references and links to additional information. At the discretion of the author, a knol may include ads. If an author chooses to include ads, Google will provide the author with substantial revenue share from the proceeds of those ads.”

It is interesting to see how this will impact Wikipedia, it may not kill at the first attempt but sure it will have an effect on wikipedia. If Google will allow to monetize wikipedia editors also can join knol and start creating the content, after all it pays.

Discussion at Techmeme, Image Credit: Google Blog

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