The Intranet Design Guide
Not sure where to get started in designing your intranet?
Check out our easy step-by-step guide below.
Let us guide you through the process.
Intranet Design Made Simple
Deciding to go ahead with an intranet was the easy part, right? After all, whether it’s improved communications, more streamlined processes, or easier access to information, the intranet ticks all the boxes.
However, designing your intranet can be a daunting task.
There are many decisions to be made around the type of intranet, hosting options, organization, structure, plus content, and design. With so much to think about, it can be tough to get started.
And if technology isn’t really your thing, it can be even harder to kick-start your intranet. That’s where this intranet design guide comes into play.
So, if widget, cache, and malware sound like another language, then this guide is for you! Written in simple-to-understand and jargon-free terms, the design guide is non-technical. And where technical language is unavoidable, we clearly define what we mean.
This guide will show you that designing an intranet is a simple task. In fact, it’s so easy, you won’t need IT backup or a college degree in computers!
Click here to download this guide in PDF format
Step-By-Step Intranet Design Support
The guide is a comprehensive resource, covering everything you need to know about intranets. We provide helpful insights at every stage, from different intranet types and hosting options to security and training.
And we also look at all the latest intranet design best practices. This resource includes lots of practical examples and visuals that will excite and inspire you.
What’s Included In This Intranet Design Guide
Who Should Read This Guide
The design guide is an essential resource for anyone planning to implement a new intranet. It’s also required reading if you are looking to revitalize, revamp, or refresh an existing intranet.
Perhaps you are in the market for an intranet provider to help you realize your vision. The design guide can help you make a winning selection.
Written for the non-technical person, this resource will also support HR or Marketing staff tasked with implementing an intranet.
Why Intranet Design Is So Important
Before we move on, it’s essential to understand why intranet design is so important.
Your intranet’s overall look and feel has the power to grab users’ attention and draw them in. It can spark creativity and foster collaboration. It can connect employees and turn the everyday task into something engaging and fun.
However, the stakes are high. A poorly designed intranet will have the opposite effect. A confusing, overloaded, and ugly intranet will see staff switch off. It’s a wasted opportunity as well as investment.
With so much to lose, getting your intranet design right has to be a priority.
No Two Intranets Are Alike
When it comes to design, there is no one-size-fits-all intranet solution. Sure, there will be similarities. It could be layout, functionality, or scope. However, every organization is different, and so too is their intranet.
Furthermore, staff members will use the intranet differently depending on their job roles and team functions.
Employees use the intranet mainly to source information or collaborate with colleagues. Managers, however, use the intranet to engage workers with targeted communications.
Your intranet design needs to satisfy all the varying needs of employees.
And it also needs to meet the challenges of the modern digital workplace.
The global Covid-19 pandemic has fast-tracked the shift towards remote working. Companies have to pivot and rethink how they engage with their workforce in today’s rapidly changing environment.
And they need to ensure employees have the tools available to remain productive even when working from home.
A mobile intranet is a minimum requirement. In fact, it’s not so much a requirement as an expectation. Whether staff are on the go or working from home, they expect to continue working.
Versatile and flexible, the intranet is capable of meeting these competing demands. And your intranet design should make this vision a reality.
Intranet Templates Make Design Easy
And if you are pushed for time, then intranet design templates could be the perfect solution. This guide takes you through all you need to know.
In short, intranet templates come with in-built coding plus a basic design and graphics. The setup wizard makes it quick and easy to implement your customized intranet. Upload your logo, branding, and corporate colors to really put your company stamp on the intranet. And the good news is the intranet provider has already extensively tested the functionality. And that’s one less major headache for you to worry about.
Therefore, design templates are a popular choice if you need to get your intranet up and running quickly.
Let Us Guide You
Use this guide to make your intranet deployment a smoother and quicker process.
Essential reading for those starting to deploy an intranet, this resource will also help businesses looking to revamp an existing intranet.
Either way, we understand the challenges that are involved. And you get the benefit of our experience as we guide you through the process from beginning to end.
So, let’s get started.
Intranet Design Infographic
If you would like an overview of our intranet design guide, we have created a PDF infographic file summarizing the main points available here.
Further Reading
This further reading list will be an invaluable resource as it takes you through everything you need to know. We give you the benefit of our considerable experience in developing intranets and provide simple, easy-to-follow explanations, insights and advice.
Use this list to explore the latest intranet design best practice principles. Find out how pre-built intranet templates could well be the solution every time-pressed business owner is looking for. Discover how to ensure your intranet design is mobile friendly and optimized for use on smartphones and tablets. And learn about how to make your intranet interactive and fun so that users readily engage with the platform making for a more efficient and effective workplace.
These are just some of the insights available in this category so why not have a browse or use the search functionality to explore more about intranet design. With our comprehensive knowledge bank, you’ll soon discover that designing an intranet isn’t the mammoth task that perhaps you first thought it was.
20 Tips To Improve Communi-
cations In The Workplace
Effective workplace communication remains one of the most important—and most challenging—aspects of organizational success. While technology continues to offer new tools, the human element, such as active listening and face-to-face meetings, still plays a crucial role. The article begins by highlighting how businesses can benefit from a communication audit to understand what channels are currently used and where improvements can be made.
The post dives into 20 practical tips that cover every angle of internal communication—from using mobile-friendly intranet software to establishing regular one-on-one meetings. It also emphasizes the importance of two-way communication, where employee feedback is valued and encouraged. Organizations are encouraged to develop a communications strategy, train managers in essential communication skills, and design office layouts that promote collaboration.
Throughout the article, real-world case studies from companies like Kenect Recruitment and Idaho State Lottery demonstrate how implementing the right tools and strategies can drastically improve communication across all levels of the business. Whether you’re leading a remote team or trying to break down silos between departments, these tips provide a comprehensive roadmap for turning communication challenges into opportunities for growth.
10 Powerful Leadership Skills to Keep You Sharp
Are leaders born or made? While some individuals naturally embody leadership traits like courage, empathy, and decisiveness, leadership is also a skill that can—and should—be continuously developed. Even the most experienced leaders must evolve in order to stay effective in today’s dynamic work environments. This blog post begins by outlining five core leadership competencies: honesty and integrity, effective communication, leading by example, decisiveness with flexibility, and empowering through delegation.
Building on this foundation, the post presents ten actionable tips to help leaders of all levels grow. From finding a mentor and enhancing project management abilities to prioritizing employee engagement and encouraging team-wide contributions, these strategies promote personal and organizational success. Leaders are also encouraged to seek feedback, stay visible, and not shy away from asking for help—reminders that even strong leadership can be humble and collaborative.
The article concludes with a strong call to action: to embrace leadership as a continuous journey. It highlights how tools like MyHub’s intranet platform can support leadership efforts by enhancing communication, collaboration, and engagement. Ultimately, staying sharp as a leader is less about perfection and more about consistent, intentional growth.
The Essential Ingredient For Fast Food Franchise Intranets
Managing a fast food franchise network requires more than great food — it demands clear communication, brand consistency, and efficient processes across every location. From Nebraska to New Delhi, customers expect the same experience. A modern franchise intranet helps make that possible by centralizing tools, information, and updates in one easy-to-access platform.
Franchise intranets empower head offices to oversee operations at scale without micromanaging. Policies, training resources, and compliance documents are all stored in a secure hub, ensuring every staff member is aligned. Built-in tools like read-tracking, onboarding modules, and digital workflows further enhance visibility and standardization.
The intranet also fosters engagement across your network with features like news feeds, recognition programs, and shared spaces for collaboration. It’s not just a communication tool — it’s the foundation for scalable growth, stronger franchisee relationships, and better customer experiences across your entire brand.
Wholesalers & Distributors Intranet: Communication Made Easy
For wholesalers and distributors, maintaining clear communication across all channels — internal teams, resellers, and partners — is mission-critical. Relying on outdated methods like email chains or printed brochures often leads to inconsistent messaging and missed sales opportunities. A modern cloud intranet centralizes communication, keeps resellers informed, and ensures your brand is represented accurately across every touchpoint.
With an intranet, businesses gain complete control over how product updates, marketing materials, and brand guidelines are distributed. From dynamic news feeds to reseller-specific content hubs, you can personalize and manage access at scale. Integrated leaderboards, reward programs, and gamified engagement tools also help keep your sales partners motivated and aligned with your goals.
What’s more, cloud intranets offer automation and self-service capabilities that improve responsiveness and reduce admin time. Whether it’s submitting a display request or downloading campaign assets, resellers can act fast — while your internal team stays focused and productive. It’s a win-win for every level of your distribution network.
13 Tips for Creating a Positive Work Culture
Perks like unlimited time off or free lunches might grab attention, but they aren’t what truly retain top talent. Instead, people seek workplaces that foster trust, open communication, and genuine support for personal and professional growth. A truly positive work culture is built on shared values, mutual respect, and a clear mission—qualities that drive connection, motivation, and long-term success more than surface-level benefits ever could.
A strong company culture directly impacts performance and well-being. When employees feel recognized, included, and aligned with their company’s goals, they’re more engaged, productive, and loyal. Practices such as transparent leadership, mental health support, clear career paths, and diversity initiatives create a safe, inspiring environment that fuels both individual fulfillment and business growth.
To build such a culture, leadership must embody core values and involve employees at all levels. This means actively listening, encouraging feedback, rewarding contributions, and staying adaptable in times of change. From defining a clear mission to organizing team-building activities, every effort should reinforce the workplace as a space where people feel seen, heard, and motivated to thrive together.
Global Intranets: Meeting The Challenges Of Economic Globalization
In today’s globalized economy, multinational companies face serious challenges in managing communication across countries, time zones, and languages. A centralized global intranet offers a solution by providing a unified platform for both corporate-level and local information needs. Through customizable sub-portals, companies can ensure seamless communication, maintain brand consistency, and securely manage sensitive documents across all offices.
Beyond communication, a global intranet also helps automate and optimize business processes. Traditional methods like endless email chains and paper requests are replaced with efficient online forms, automated workflows, and integrated access to key resources. This not only improves operational efficiency but also ensures that both headquarters and regional offices maintain high standards and effective service delivery.
Finally, a global intranet strengthens employee engagement and corporate identity across dispersed workforces. It fosters collaboration through blogs, forums, and leaderboards, while also supporting localized engagement strategies to boost morale. By balancing global cohesion with local personalization, companies can create a vibrant and connected workforce ready to excel on the international stage.
Avoid The Chaos – Introduce Employee Intranet Forum Terms of Use
Clear terms of use are essential for maintaining order and professionalism in internal intranet forums. Without them, discussions can quickly become confusing, disruptive, or even unsafe. This post introduces a downloadable template that organizations can use to establish guidelines for appropriate forum behavior.
The terms cover everything from respectful communication and banned content to moderation rules and how to report issues. Users are expected to avoid things like advertising, personal info sharing, and offensive or illegal content. Moderators have the final say on disputes, and all users must follow their decisions without public challenges.
Having clear forum guidelines not only prevents chaos but also supports digital transformation efforts. It helps create a secure and engaging space for collaboration, reduces misunderstandings, and encourages positive participation across the company.
Knowledge Transfer Process In Six Simple Steps
The blog introduces a straightforward six-step knowledge transfer process designed to help organizations capture, share, and retain both explicit and tacit expertise. Given the risk of valuable knowledge walking out the door—especially with retiring baby boomers—the guide emphasizes using structured templates and intranet tools to save time, reduce errors, and improve compliance.
Each step builds on the last: Identify and prioritize critical knowledge, collect and organize it via forms and templates, share through intranet forums and newsfeeds, update regularly with workflows, apply through mentoring and quizzes, and finally, create new knowledge to perpetuate the cycle. Throughout, MyHub tools are showcased—surveys, feedback modules, document hubs, approval workflows—to make each phase seamless and scalable
These practices lead to better continuity (protecting operations when staff depart), efficiency, reduced errors, and a more innovative, collaborative culture. The included knowledge transfer template makes it easy to get started and promote a more resilient, knowledge-rich workplace.
Department Intranet: Personalized Content For Every Department
Implementing a department-specific intranet within a centralized platform offers a tailored approach to meet the unique needs of each team while maintaining cohesive organizational communication. This hybrid model allows departments to access specialized tools and resources pertinent to their functions, enhancing efficiency and collaboration.
For instance, the HR department can manage employee records and policies securely, while the IT team can streamline support requests and system updates. At the same time, all employees retain access to company-wide announcements, policies, and resources, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
This structure not only improves internal communication and productivity but also fosters a sense of ownership and accountability within departments. By providing personalized content and tools, organizations can empower teams to operate more effectively and contribute to the overall success of the company.
Employee Engagement Action Plan: Time to Drive Real Change
Employee engagement isn’t just a feel-good HR initiative—it’s a vital business driver tied directly to productivity, retention, and profitability. With less than one-third of U.S. workers feeling truly engaged at work, companies need to act now. This blog post provides a detailed roadmap for building and implementing a powerful employee engagement action plan that makes real change happen.
From identifying key engagement drivers like purpose, communication, and development, to gathering employee feedback and setting SMART goals, the post breaks the process down into simple, actionable steps. You’ll find expert tips on onboarding, recognition, wellbeing, and creating collaborative strategies that empower managers and involve your entire team. Plus, there’s a free downloadable action plan template to guide your journey.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining your current strategy, this guide is a must-read. It ensures your efforts are targeted, measurable, and sustainable—turning employee engagement from a buzzword into a business asset.
20 Fun Ways To Welcome New Employees
Starting a new job can be overwhelming, even for seasoned professionals. MyHub highlights that a friendly and thoughtful welcome calms first-day jitters and accelerates employee integration—strengthening employee retention by up to 82% and improving productivity by 70%. The article introduces 20 creative ideas to make onboarding memorable and team-oriented from day one, whether in-office or remote.
Among the ideas for in-person experiences are sending a warm welcome email ahead of time, preparing the workspace with fun decorations, assembling a personalized welcome package with company swag, and having managers greet new hires at the entrance. Additional ideas include hosting a casual first-day party, organizing an interactive scavenger hunt, using a buddy or mentor system, and assigning the new hire a meaningful first project to boost confidence and ownership.
Recognizing the rise of remote and hybrid work, MyHub also offers seven digital-friendly onboarding ideas. These include sending a shout-out announcement via IM, ordering a lunch delivery, offering virtual tours, hosting an online scavenger hunt, using fun Zoom backgrounds, organizing a virtual happy hour, and arranging meet-and-greet sessions across departments. These ideas help remote employees feel connected and included right from the start.
50 Intranet Benefits You Need To Know About
In today’s digital workplace, effective communication and streamlined processes are paramount. The blog post from MyHub Intranet outlines 50 significant benefits of implementing an intranet, emphasizing its role in enhancing internal communication, fostering collaboration, and improving overall productivity.
Key advantages include stronger internal communication through centralized newsfeeds and multimedia capabilities, facilitating two-way communication via blogs and surveys, and personalized content delivery to keep employees engaged. Additionally, intranets serve as a single source of truth, aiding in quick information retrieval and efficient knowledge management.
By breaking down departmental silos and promoting teamwork through dedicated forums and project spaces, intranets not only streamline operations but also cultivate a cohesive organizational culture. Implementing an intranet like MyHub can lead to measurable improvements in employee engagement and operational efficiency.
10 Employee Appreciation Ideas On A Budget
Employee appreciation is a powerful tool for boosting morale, increasing engagement, and reducing turnover. However, many organizations believe that meaningful recognition requires a significant financial investment. In reality, small, thoughtful gestures can have a profound impact on employee satisfaction.
Implementing budget-friendly appreciation strategies, such as personalized thank-you notes, shout-outs during team meetings, or organizing casual lunch gatherings, can make employees feel valued without straining the company’s finances. These actions not only acknowledge individual contributions but also foster a culture of recognition within the organization.
By integrating regular appreciation practices into the workplace, companies can cultivate an environment where employees feel respected and motivated. This approach leads to improved performance, higher retention rates, and a more positive organizational culture.
Cultural Audits: How To Assess Your Workplace Culture
Workplace culture plays a crucial role in shaping employee engagement, organizational behavior, and long-term business success. Yet many leaders struggle to define or evaluate their company’s culture in a structured way. This blog post introduces the concept of cultural audits—systematic evaluations that help identify whether a company’s culture aligns with its values and strategic goals.
The article breaks down the audit process into three stages: assessment, analysis, and recommendations. It outlines practical tools like focus groups, staff surveys, and document reviews, which help uncover both visible and hidden aspects of company culture. It also provides sample audit questions to guide internal reviews and elicit honest feedback from employees and stakeholders.
By conducting regular cultural audits, organizations gain actionable insights that can drive positive change. Whether performed internally or with the help of external consultants, cultural audits offer a clear roadmap to building a healthier, more inclusive, and performance-driven workplace. The post concludes with a call to action encouraging businesses to embrace cultural audits as part of their ongoing development strategy.
Onboarding LMS: Simplify Employee Onboarding with MyHub
Effective onboarding is a pivotal moment for new employees — shaping their experience, productivity and likelihood to stay. The blog argues that traditional onboarding methods (paper forms, disconnected tools, manual check-lists) often fail because they don’t align with how employees actually work. Embedding an onboarding Learning Management System (LMS) inside your intranet fixes this by placing training, resources and workflows where teams already spend time.
With an onboarding LMS built into your intranet, organizations can centralize learning content, automate key tasks (form completions, policy acknowledgements, role-based training), and track progress with real-time reporting. This ensures new hires can find what they need, complete required modules, and engage with the company culture—all without bouncing between systems. The blog highlights key features like personalized learning paths, automated assignments, seamless access to documents and team communication as essential for new-hire success.
The result is two-fold: first, a smoother, faster ramp-up for newcomers (less confusion, better clarity, stronger integration); second, reduced administrative load for HR and team leads (fewer follow-ups, better visibility, stronger metrics). The blog emphasises that onboarding isn’t just a one-time event but the beginning of ongoing development—so choosing the right LMS strategy inside the intranet sets the stage for long-term engagement and growth.