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.
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.
Employee Onboarding – The Best Practice Guide
Effective employee onboarding is crucial for integrating new hires into an organization, ensuring they feel welcomed, informed, and prepared to contribute. A well-structured onboarding process goes beyond mere orientation, encompassing comprehensive training, clear communication of roles and expectations, and fostering connections within the team.
The blog post emphasizes the significant impact of onboarding on employee retention and performance. Citing studies that show structured onboarding leads to higher retention rates and faster achievement of performance milestones, it underscores the importance of investing time and resources into this process.
To optimize onboarding, organizations should focus on clear communication, provide necessary resources and training, and create opportunities for new employees to build relationships within the company. By doing so, businesses can enhance employee satisfaction, reduce turnover costs, and build a more cohesive and productive workforce.
Connected Workplaces: How To Connect Your Hybrid Workplace
In today’s evolving work landscape, hybrid models have become the norm, blending remote and in-office work. The blog post delves into the concept of connected workplaces, emphasizing the importance of integrating technology and fostering personal connections to ensure seamless collaboration and communication among distributed teams.
Connected work isn’t solely about digital tools; it’s about creating an environment where employees feel engaged and part of a cohesive team, regardless of their physical location. The article highlights the challenges remote workers face, such as feelings of isolation, and offers solutions to bridge these gaps through effective communication channels and inclusive practices.
To build a truly connected workplace, organizations must prioritize two-way communication, leverage digital platforms for collaboration, and nurture a culture that values every team member’s contribution. By doing so, businesses can enhance productivity, foster innovation, and ensure employee well-being in a hybrid work setting.
Water Cooler Talk: Meaning, Benefits, Topics
Water cooler talk—those casual, spontaneous conversations between colleagues—has long been a staple of office life. But beyond friendly small talk, these informal chats deliver serious workplace benefits. From improving employee wellbeing to boosting collaboration and retention, the value of water cooler moments is undeniable. And in the age of hybrid work, keeping this cultural element alive has become both a challenge and a necessity.
This comprehensive guide by MyHub dives deep into the power of water cooler conversations, outlining their positive impact on company culture, innovation, and employee engagement. It covers everything from suitable discussion topics to what to avoid, and explains how light, social chats help build trust, reduce stress, and even enhance productivity.
For remote and hybrid teams, the post offers six actionable strategies to recreate the magic of water cooler talk in virtual spaces. From informal Slack channels and team video calls to random meetups and virtual coffee breaks, companies can use digital tools to foster connection—no matter where employees are based.
100 Smart Performance Review Questions To Ask
Performance reviews are more than just formal check-ins — they’re pivotal moments to inspire growth, provide direction, and foster stronger employee-manager relationships. When done right, appraisals improve morale, engagement, and performance. But a successful review starts with asking the right questions. This blog post offers 100 smart, well-structured performance review questions tailored for both managers and employees.
The questions are grouped into meaningful categories like strengths, areas for improvement, teamwork, motivation, and professional development. Managers can use these to guide productive conversations, while employees can reflect and prepare meaningful input. The goal? Create a two-way dialogue that promotes trust, self-awareness, and actionable next steps.
From behavioral feedback to career aspirations, this comprehensive list ensures that every review becomes a strategic opportunity for development. You’ll also find helpful tips for managers, examples of performance review phrases, and a reminder that follow-up matters just as much as the meeting itself.
Top 10 HR Networking Groups for Professionals
Human Resources (HR) networking groups are essential platforms that help professionals stay informed and connected in an ever-evolving industry. These communities provide valuable opportunities for peer support, continuous learning, and professional growth. Whether you are a seasoned HR expert or new to the field, joining the right HR network can offer access to cutting-edge insights, practical resources, and career development opportunities.
This blog post highlights the top 10 HR networking groups that every professional should consider. From large organizations like the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and HR.com to niche communities such as the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR), these networks offer a variety of resources, certifications, and events designed to enhance your HR skills. Many groups provide free memberships or affordable plans, ensuring access for professionals at all career stages.
Ultimately, active participation in HR networks allows professionals to navigate complex workplace challenges, share innovative ideas, and grow their careers. While membership fees and time commitment can be considerations, the benefits of networking—such as gaining peer insights, exploring new HR technologies, and advancing professional development—make these communities invaluable. Choosing the right networks aligned with your goals is key to maximizing their value.
11 Employee Needs Work Should Satisfy
Employees are the backbone of every successful organization, and meeting their workplace needs is crucial for fostering motivation, engagement, and retention. This blog post identifies 11 essential needs that work must satisfy — ranging from fair pay and job security to mental wellbeing and a sense of purpose. Addressing these needs helps create a positive culture where employees feel valued and supported.
The post explores how fundamental human needs, like safety, belonging, recognition, and growth, translate directly into workplace expectations. It highlights practical ways employers can support staff, such as providing secure working conditions, investing in professional development, and promoting work-life balance. These efforts not only improve employee satisfaction but also lead to tangible business benefits, including increased productivity and lower turnover.
By aligning employee needs with company goals, organizations can build a thriving, people-centered workplace. The article also ties these concepts back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, demonstrating how basic human motivations remain relevant in modern work environments. Ultimately, prioritizing employee needs is a strategic investment in long-term business success.
Is An Enterprise Social Network Right For Your Business?
In today’s hybrid work environments, traditional communication methods often fall short in fostering effective collaboration. Enterprise Social Networks (ESNs) offer a solution by providing a secure, internal platform for employees to connect, share information, and collaborate in real-time. These platforms combine elements from popular social media sites, such as messaging, content sharing, and community building, tailored specifically for organizational use.
The blog post delves into the advantages of adopting an ESN, including improved internal communication, enhanced knowledge sharing, and the ability to break down departmental silos. By centralizing communication and collaboration tools, ESNs enable employees to access information and engage with colleagues more efficiently, regardless of their location. This leads to faster decision-making, increased productivity, and a more cohesive organizational culture.
However, the implementation of an ESN is not without challenges. The article also addresses potential drawbacks, such as the risk of information overload, the need for proper training, and the importance of establishing clear guidelines to ensure the platform is used effectively. By weighing these factors, organizations can make informed decisions about whether an ESN aligns with their communication and collaboration needs.
10 Ways To Build A Strong Work Community
A strong workplace community is essential for employee engagement and organizational success. It goes beyond company culture, focusing on creating a shared sense of purpose and mutual trust among employees. Such communities are characterized by open communication, collaboration, and a supportive environment where team members feel valued and connected.
The blog outlines ten practical and cost-effective strategies to build a robust work community. These include prioritizing effective onboarding to ensure new hires feel welcomed, encouraging open communication to foster transparency, and celebrating achievements to recognize contributions. Additionally, establishing regular team rituals and providing opportunities for social interactions can strengthen bonds among colleagues.
Implementing these strategies can lead to increased productivity, reduced turnover, and a more positive work environment. By focusing on building relationships and trust, organizations can create a workplace where employees are motivated, engaged, and committed to shared goals.
Destructive Criticism at Work: Examples and How to Deal With It
Criticism is an integral part of professional development, but not all feedback is beneficial. Constructive criticism aims to guide and improve performance, offering specific, actionable suggestions delivered respectfully. In contrast, destructive criticism is harmful, often manifesting as personal attacks or vague, non-specific comments that undermine confidence and morale.
The blog post emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs of destructive criticism, such as a focus on personal attributes rather than actions, a lack of helpful suggestions, and a tone that is more accusatory than supportive. It highlights the detrimental effects this type of feedback can have on individuals and teams, including decreased morale, increased conflict, and hindered collaboration.
To address destructive criticism, the article provides practical strategies for both recipients and deliverers of feedback. These include fostering a culture of open communication, setting clear expectations for feedback delivery, and implementing training programs to enhance emotional intelligence and constructive communication skills within teams.