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The wiki is one of the most beloved resident documents on the Web. I have written enumerable articles about the various forms and startups for wikis, but Wetpaint it perhaps the most feature filled wiki creator I have tested. Wetpaint has added so many tools and features that it is almost impossible to list them all. However the strength of this wiki creation innovation is that is allows anyone to create quality wiki pages with point and click ease.

From OpenID support and customized navigation to private community instant messaging – this service has left no stone unturned. The UI at Wetpaint is nearly flawless in its fucntion and simplicity as are the navigation and other essential features. I created a wiki page in about one minute using this fast platform, so anyone no one should have trouble beating my time, but best of all it is a free website.

I do not really know why I have not tested Wetpaint before. Out of 350 startups it is a little unimaginable to have missed such a refined wiki tool. This is especially true given my association with Wikia and Mindtouch among others. I must say I am impressed with what the folks at this development have done.

Screen of Wiki settings UI

Wikia is one of my favorite communities as I have said before, but I am not wiki markup expert, so my efforts there have been rather limited. Wetpaint by comparison is a far simpler interface, especially for the first time or novice wiki publisher. Let’s take a look at some of the things any user can do with Wetpaint.

• Easy site creation – Templates and drop-dead-simple editor make building a snap
• Public or private sites – User privacy and choice are fundamental aspects
• Pre-populated Templates – Templates for: classrooms, groups, gamers, sports, book clubs..
• Private onsite IM – Instant messaging for the on-site community
• Navigation tools – Dynamic page organization, clickable tags, site search …
• Build tools – Click and type editing, media integration, templates, widgets, tables, spelling..
• Monitoring tools – Lockable pages, revert pages, statistics, watchlist, move/delete…
• Wiki notifications – RSS updates, email notifications…

The list of features is honestly to extensive to list, but the bottom line is that Wetpaint users (especially those new to wikis) will feel much more comfortable creating wikis there. The community aspect is a big plus already as are other resident features like profiles and customization of a variety of aspects.

Screen of wiki text editor in newly created wiki

Wetpaint is an excellent innovation and one great way for people to get into and utilize the power and fun of wikis. Social aspects, creativity, discoverability and ultimately ease of use are what every community user is looking for in a Web home. I still cannot believe that I let this one slip through my fingers when it came out. Now even an overworked blogger has time to create a wiki.