If you or your brand has a Knowledge Panel you're suddenly "somebody". It's a bit like a Wikipedia article for you or your company, but it doesn't need to be clicked on for searchers to see it. And if you have one with the wrong information being displayed, how do you correct it? Well, here's how you get a Google Knowledge Panel.
Two different types of Knowledge Panel
There are basically two kinds of Google knowledge panels.
- Local panels
- Brand panels
Local Knowledge Panels tend to show up for local businesses, but they won't normally show up outside of the businesses' geographic area. But a brand panel will. Brand Knowledge Panels tend to show up in search results globally (or at least nationally). What's the difference? Wikipedia. Companies that have a Wikipedia article often have brand panels. This isn't always the case, though because sometimes Google pulls the information from other places, especially for larger brands that do not yet have a Wikipedia article but could probably earn one.
Indirectly edit a Knowledge Panel
How do you encourage Google to include the right information in its knowledge panel? The Knowledge Panel is an important part of search engine reputation management.
First introduced in May 2012 it provides information about a topic pulled from diverse data sources. Information in the Knowledge Panel is derived from Wikipedia, the CIA Factbook, Wikidata, Google My Business, website schema, and a giant map called Knowledge Graph (similar name) Google uses to map human knowledge, as well as other sources.
Googles Knowledge Panel was a departure from simply providing search result links, instead it provides actual information without necessarily needing to click. Knowledge Panel summaries are often used for verbal responses to Google Now inquiries.
Google Knowledge Panel is used in about 20% of all search results. It represents a move by Google to apply artificial intelligence to search results to improve results that are returned for a given search. It uses source material discussed in this article, and the accumulated human wisdom gained from actual searches people have done over time.
Where does the info for a Knowledge Panel come from?
Wikipedia
One of the main places Knowledge Graph looks for content is Wikipedia - especially for branded Knowledge Panels.
A fully formed Wikipedia article that has 
been peer reviewed and contains images, references, and citations is very helpful in every brand's effort to engineer its Knowledge Graph data. Essentially, you'll need a Wikipedia article before you can have a branded Knowledge Graph (but not always, just most of the time).
Before you can have Wikipedia bless you with a article you'll need trusted reference-able information online that can be cited.
So the first thing to do is get online publications to write great things about you. Then build a Wikipedia article. Then do the rest of the things you'll need to do to reach that golden apex of internet notoriety - the Knowledge Graph.
WikiData
WikiData is a structured data repository that people and machines can update. WikiData uses structured markup so that machines can easily read the information contained therein. It is a highly organized language structure readable by search engine algorithms. Wikidata articles are often created by machines but improved by people. Anyone can update Wikidata. Wikidata succeeded the now defunct Freebase.
Local business results are different
The example of a Google Panel graphic using Steve Jobs describes how sources are used for a famous person. But business results are different - especially local ones. For this Google seems to use Google Plus business articles as a primary source of information for the contents of the graph.
Schema markup
Schema markup is a kind of micro data language originally developed by Google, Bing and Yahoo. Schema markup helps search engines understand content better.
By adding schema markup to web articles you control it is possible to positively affect how your brand is seen in search results (online reputation management). Schema.org is the first place to visit to learn more about it, specifically their article on Organization of Schemas. For brands, one of the most important types of microdata formatting includes the "Organization" schema. It includes address, brand, founder information, legal name, location, and much more.
Here is an example of how a company might use microdata for their organization. This data would be placed in the HTML of a website to tell search engines more about the description of the company and the address:
A site like Schema Creator can help with the creation of micro data.
Enterprise search results and Knowledge Panel
Large companies don't just have more people (and money) than most small businesses, they also have different 
data sources. Many large companies are public and that means they have stock, and stock means financial results. In this case Google uses Google Finance results.
Other factors affecting Knowledge Panel results
- Location: The IP address a searcher is using. This gives away their probable location and flavors results, especially those of local businesses.
- Social media profiles of subject entities. Twitter and Facebook account information could show up.
- Actual queries of people over time craft the information contained in the graph.
