7 Secrets to a Successful Intranet Project

Secrets to a Successful Intranet Project

1. Get buy-in from all departments

   Involve every department, not just HR, from the start. The biggest challenge for a new intranet is when departments act independently. Engage each team early, understand their needs, and tailor the solution to meet them. Conduct interviews with stakeholders and create personas to ensure you’re accommodating everyone. 

2. Give your Intranet a name

   Choose a friendly, non-technical name that fits your company’s culture. Once named, use it consistently in all communications and integrate it into the site design. Consider involving employees in the naming process to foster a sense of ownership. Ours is named R.I.C.K. (Resource for Internal Company Knowledge). 

3. Plan for a long lifecycle

   Intranets usually last longer than typical websites, so think about the Total Cost of Ownership over 4-6 years. Start with a flexible, scalable foundation that can be easily updated. Look for off-the-shelf software that integrates with existing systems for future-proofing 

4. Promote, educate, and engage employees

   Ensure employees know the intranet’s purpose and how to use it. Use all available communication channels—emails, announcements, meetings, and social media—to promote it. Highlight the intranet’s name and why it was chosen, and consider involving employees in the naming process to boost engagement.

5. Personalize the experience 

   Allow staff to flag and store favourites in their dashboard for easy access later on. They may want to access a document or a particular blog and using favourites within the intranet improves usability. Let them chose language preferences and keep them in their profile so they don't have to select each visit. 

6. Reward contributors

   Encourage participation by rewarding employees who engage with the intranet. Offer incentives like swag or digital badges for posting, commenting, and completing forms. Increased engagement will lead to long-term success. 

7. Involve executives

   Get senior executives to contribute by making it easy for them to participate. Provide a simple blogging plan and emphasize the value of their involvement. As executives lead by example, others will follow.  

8. Constantly evaluate and improve

   Regularly review analytics and gather feedback from stakeholders. Adjust the intranet based on data and insights. Use A/B testing to refine pages and calls to action, and take advantage of your CMS to make ongoing improvements easily. 

9. Bonus: Three keys to intranet success

   1. Ensure easy login and access from anywhere, with a mobile-optimized experience.

   2. Provide valuable content to keep employees engaged.

   3. Automate processes where possible, even if it’s part of a future phase.