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.
55 Questions To Ask A CEO
High engagement levels across organizations have made CEOs more accessible than ever—appearing in town halls, online Q&As, and casual hallway chats. This increased visibility means employees now have rare face-to-face time with top leadership. To make the most of such moments, the blog emphasizes the importance of preparation: thoughtful, well-targeted questions help you stand out, build rapport, and even elevate your career.
The post categorizes 55 insightful questions into key themes: corporate culture, company goals, operations, CEO career path, personal interests, and ways to make the right impression. From probing culture with “What three words best describe our company?” to gaining personal insight via “What motivates you when things get tough?”, each question is framed for specific formats—town halls, small group settings, or one-on-one conversations.
To round it out, the article offers top tips to guide your approach: be prepared with a few select questions, match the tone to the forum, offer your own thoughts when it’s intimate, and above all, remain genuinely enthusiastic. Done right, this isn’t just a chat—it’s an opportunity to connect, learn, and make a positive, lasting impression.
Collaborative Communication: Why It Matters
In today’s dynamic business environment, traditional hierarchical structures are giving way to more collaborative and flexible models. With the rise of remote work and diverse teams, effective communication has become the cornerstone of successful collaboration. By uniting individuals across various departments and locations, organizations can harness a wealth of ideas and perspectives, leading to innovative solutions and enhanced problem-solving capabilities.
Central to this collaborative effort is the role of communication. It’s not just about sharing information but about fostering an environment of openness, trust, and mutual respect. Providing diverse communication channels—such as instant messaging, video conferencing, and collaborative platforms—ensures that all team members are aligned and engaged, regardless of their physical location. This approach not only facilitates seamless information flow but also strengthens team cohesion and morale.
Moreover, investing in robust communication strategies has tangible business benefits. Organizations that prioritize collaborative communication experience increased productivity, faster decision-making, and a more agile response to market changes. As businesses continue to adapt to evolving work dynamics, embracing collaborative communication is essential for sustained growth and competitive advantage.
How To Build Trust In A Team: 10 Proven Strategies That Work
Building trust within teams isn’t a one-time event—it’s a continuous process rooted in consistent behaviors. The blog outlines ten proven strategies to cultivate trust: clear communication, giving autonomy, celebrating successes, and more. These insights draw on best practices that create an environment where team members feel safe to take risks and contribute authentically.
Key strategies include fostering transparency by sharing both successes and challenges openly, and embracing accountability by ensuring commitments are honored. Leaders play a pivotal role by modeling reliability and integrity—walking the talk—and by establishing clear processes that remove ambiguity and reduce micromanagement
The post also emphasizes the importance of social connection and shared experiences. Whether through informal gatherings or team-building exercises, these moments build rapport and reinforce mutual support. Recognizing individual and collective achievements further cements bonds, elevating team morale and performance .
CSR and Corporate Citizenship: What Every SME Needs To Know
Corporate citizenship, or CSR, is no longer a mere checkbox—it’s a powerful strategy that strengthens brand reputation, attracts socially conscious consumers, and enhances employee retention. Far from being exclusive to large corporations, SMEs can embrace impactful initiatives that contribute meaningfully to society and the environment.
The article outlines five accessible CSR areas every SME can explore: environmental projects like cutting energy use and reducing waste; philanthropic efforts such as donations and volunteering; ethical labor practices, including inclusivity, fair pay, and accessibility; community volunteering; and employee well-being programs like flexible working and health-focused perks. These diverse initiatives allow businesses of any scale to demonstrate genuine social responsibility.
A forward-thinking CSR strategy also aligns with broader trends—greater supply chain scrutiny, transparency to avoid greenwashing, mandated CSR reporting, and alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals. By tracking and sharing concrete progress—such as emissions, volunteering hours, or donations—SMEs can build trust and credibility. Even small, consistent steps can position a business as a valued and responsible corporate citizen.
Employee Experience Management: The HR Guide
Employee experience (EX) encompasses every interaction an employee has with the organization—from hiring and onboarding to day-to-day workflows and eventual departure. It’s not just about policies; it’s about shaping a cohesive, supportive environment that acknowledges employees as the heart of the enterprise. A well-crafted EX strategy centers on creating meaningful journeys, leveraging technology, and listening actively to employee needs
Modern digital tools—like social intranets, internal communication platforms, and employee experience suites—serve as the backbone of a positive EX. These platforms integrate communication feeds, document hubs, recognition tools, training modules, and community features to provide a seamless and engaging employee journey. The result is better collaboration, faster information flow, and a more inclusive workplace for all staff, including desk-based, frontline, and hybrid workers .
Ultimately, organizations that prioritize employee experience see dividends in engagement, productivity, and retention. Enabling employees with the right digital tools, continuous development opportunities, and channels for feedback not only boosts morale but also drives tangible business outcomes. The digital workplace becomes more than a technology stack—it becomes a vibrant, living ecosystem that supports people and performance alike .
Intranet Development: Making Life Easier For An Intranet Developer
The blog emphasizes the transformative benefits of cloud-hosted intranet development over traditional or bespoke systems. By leveraging managed platforms like MyHub, organizations eliminate the complexity of server setup and maintenance, enabling teams to focus on creating impactful user experiences and branded intranet sites.
MyHub brings over 20 years of experience to the table, offering a streamlined development lifecycle that includes planning, design, launch, training, and ongoing support. Their proven process allows for fully branded intranet solutions in under 40 days—dramatically reducing time-to-launch and accelerating business value for agencies and internal IT departments.
Security is treated as a first-class priority: from SOC 2-compliant AWS hosting and SSL encryption to firewall protection and granular access controls. Compared to platforms like SharePoint, which often require patchwork integrations and complex customization, MyHub delivers core functionality right out of the box—enhancing usability, minimizing costs, and maximizing return on investment.
No-Call No-Show Policy In Four Easy Steps
The article highlights how unplanned absences—especially when employees neither call nor show up—pose significant challenges for organizations, disrupting schedules and putting pressure on teams. It stresses the necessity for businesses to adopt proactive strategies that not only discourage no-calls but also treat employees fairly, maintaining morale and trust.
Central to the proposed framework is crafting a clear and comprehensive attendance policy that defines what constitutes a no-call, no-show incident, outlines acceptable reporting methods, and communicates consequences transparently. Ensuring employees are well-informed through induction training and accessible handbooks is essential, as is offering multiple channels—such as phone lines, email, or intranet forms—for reporting absences, which helps accommodate emergencies or sudden situations.
Consistent enforcement of the policy is equally vital, with organizations expected to document incidents, apply disciplinary measures when warranted, and approach each case with empathy when genuine circumstances arise. By blending accountability with understanding and leveraging digital tools to streamline reporting, companies create a balanced and supportive attendance culture that benefits both employees and operational continuity.
Corporate Communication – Examples and Best Practices
Modern corporate communication bridges the gap between leadership and employees, ensuring a unified vision across all levels of the organization. By structuring internal messaging—whether through leadership announcements, policy updates, or team feedback—companies can foster transparency, alignment, and trust.
An intranet serves as the backbone for this process, offering centralized news feeds, staff directories, document storage, forums, and calendars—all accessible across devices. These features help break down silos, simplify information access, and support two-way communication.
Successful corporate communication strategies powered by intranets yield tangible benefits: faster and more consistent messaging (even from CEOs or managers), better collaboration across departments, secure handling of sensitive data, and deeper employee engagement backed by data-driven insights. Additionally, platforms like MyHub streamline the process—enabling alerts, forums, automations, mobile access, and feedback tools—all contributing to enhanced productivity and morale.
What Is A Digital Workplace: The Ultimate Definition
The concept of a digital workplace refers to a centralized, technology-driven environment where employees can access all necessary tools, information, and services remotely—from any device or location. It builds on the traditional intranet, integrating communication platforms, content management, KPI tracking, and more into a seamless employee experience.
Organizations adopting digital workplaces report significant advantages: improved internal communication and collaboration across distributed teams, higher productivity through streamlined workflows and automation, cost savings on office overhead, and enhanced employee satisfaction thanks to flexibility and inclusivity. The shift reflects evolving workforce expectations and technological advances accelerated by the pandemic .
Beyond immediate efficiencies, digital workplaces foster long-term cultural benefits like agility, innovation, and knowledge sharing. Centralized platforms simplify onboarding, training, and remote collaboration while empowering employees with intuitive self-service capabilities. Successfully implementing them requires choosing the right tools, securing buy-in, and maintaining proactive governance and support.
Ethics In The Workplace: All You Need To Know
In today’s business landscape, workplace ethics have become a cornerstone of organizational success. The article delves into the concept of workplace ethics, defining them as the moral guidelines that shape a company’s culture and influence employee behavior. These ethics are molded by various factors, including legislation, industry regulations, and societal expectations, emphasizing values like fairness, accountability, and integrity.
The blog highlights practical examples of ethical practices within organizations, such as compliance with health and safety regulations, anti-discrimination policies, anti-harassment procedures, and guidelines on corporate gifts and fraud prevention. It also points out that many companies engage in ethical sourcing, implement green workplace practices, and contribute to charitable causes, even if these efforts aren’t formally recognized or labeled as ethical initiatives.
Emphasizing the significance of ethics, the article notes that organizations with strong ethical foundations benefit from motivated workforces, increased productivity, and enhanced reputations. Employees in such environments feel respected and aligned with the company’s purpose, leading to superior customer service and smoother operations. Ultimately, fostering a culture of ethics not only boosts morale but also contributes to the organization’s bottom line.
15 Top Tips To Improve Information Cascade In Your Organization
Effective communication is the backbone of any successful organization. The concept of information cascade refers to the structured dissemination of critical information from top-level management down through various levels of the organization. This process ensures that all employees receive consistent and accurate messages, fostering trust and alignment across teams.
The blog post outlines 15 practical tips to enhance the information cascade process. These include developing a clear communication plan, identifying the cascade process, utilizing multiple communication channels, and ensuring managers are well-equipped to convey messages effectively. Emphasis is placed on the role of line managers, who serve as vital links between leadership and frontline employees, interpreting and relaying information in a relatable manner.
By implementing these strategies, organizations can minimize misunderstandings, reduce misinformation, and promote a culture of transparency. A well-executed information cascade not only keeps employees informed but also engages them in the organization’s mission and goals, leading to improved morale and productivity.
5 Employee Life Cycle Stages And Why They Matter
In today’s competitive job market, understanding the employee life cycle is crucial for organizations aiming to attract and retain top talent. The life cycle encompasses five stages: Attraction, Onboarding, Development, Retention, and Exit. Each phase plays a significant role in shaping the employee experience and, by extension, the overall health of the organization.
The Attraction stage involves building a strong employer brand to draw in potential candidates. Onboarding ensures new hires are integrated smoothly, setting the tone for their journey within the company. Development focuses on providing growth opportunities, while Retention emphasizes keeping employees engaged and satisfied. Finally, the Exit stage, when managed effectively, can offer valuable insights for organizational improvement.
Optimizing each stage of the employee life cycle not only enhances employee satisfaction but also contributes to better team cohesion and customer experiences. By proactively managing these phases, organizations can foster a more engaged workforce, leading to increased productivity and long-term success.
Employee Profiles: How To Improve Your Employer Brand
In today’s competitive job market, a strong employer brand is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent. The blog post emphasizes the role of employee profiles in showcasing company culture and humanizing the workplace. By highlighting individual stories and achievements, organizations can create a more relatable and appealing image to potential candidates.
Employee profiles serve as more than just introductions; they are tools for fostering internal connections and collaboration. By providing insights into colleagues’ backgrounds, skills, and interests, these profiles break down silos and encourage cross-departmental communication. This interconnectedness leads to a more cohesive and productive work environment.
Implementing comprehensive employee profiles also supports remote and hybrid work models by maintaining a sense of community and visibility. The blog provides practical tips for creating effective profiles, such as including personal anecdotes, professional milestones, and multimedia elements. By investing in well-crafted employee profiles, companies can enhance engagement, collaboration, and their overall employer brand.
Sharing Knowledge In The Workplace: Unlock Your Team’s Potential
In today’s dynamic work environment, the adage “knowledge is power” holds true, but only when that knowledge is shared. The blog post emphasizes the significance of cultivating a knowledge-sharing culture within organizations, especially in the wake of challenges like the Great Resignation. By encouraging the exchange of information, ideas, and experiences among employees, companies can unlock their workforce’s full potential.
The article distinguishes between explicit knowledge—documented information like policies and manuals—and tacit knowledge, which encompasses the hands-on experience and insights employees gain through their roles. While explicit knowledge is easier to capture, tacit knowledge requires deliberate efforts to share, often through mentorship and collaborative practices.
Implementing a knowledge-sharing culture offers numerous benefits: it boosts productivity by reducing repeated mistakes, preserves institutional knowledge amid employee turnover, enhances customer experiences through informed service, and bridges gaps for remote workers by keeping them connected to organizational insights. The blog provides actionable strategies to foster such a culture, ensuring that valuable knowledge remains within the organization and is effectively utilized.
Employee Offboarding: How To Ensure An Effortless Exit
Employee offboarding is a critical yet often overlooked phase in the employee lifecycle. While organizations typically invest heavily in onboarding, the departure process can be inconsistent, leading to potential risks such as security breaches, loss of institutional knowledge, and negative impacts on company reputation. The MyHub blog post emphasizes the importance of a structured offboarding process to mitigate these challenges.
The article outlines key components of effective offboarding, including the return of company assets, deactivation of system access, knowledge transfer, and conducting exit interviews. It highlights how a well-executed offboarding strategy not only safeguards the organization but also leaves a positive impression on departing employees, who may become brand ambassadors or even return as “boomerang” employees in the future.
To assist organizations in implementing a seamless offboarding process, the blog provides a customizable checklist covering all essential steps. By following these guidelines, companies can ensure compliance, maintain security, and uphold their employer brand during transitions.