Tips and Best Practices

Designing an Intranet for Small Businesses

As businesses grow, so does the need for efficient communication and collaboration among employees. Small businesses are no exception, and an intranet can be a powerful tool to achieve this.

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Intro

In today's digital age, small businesses require robust communication and collaboration tools to help them stay connected, efficient, and productive. 

An intranet is a private network that allows businesses to share information, communicate, and collaborate within their organization. By creating an intranet, small businesses can create a centralized hub for their internal operations, making it easier to share important updates, documents, and collaborate with team members across different departments and locations.

In this guide, we will discuss the benefits of having a small business intranet and provide a step-by-step process to build one. From understanding the needs of your business to selecting the right tools and features, this guide will provide a comprehensive roadmap to help you create an intranet that supports your organization's growth and success. So, let's dive in and explore why having a small business intranet is crucial in today's fast-paced business environment.

Why a Small Business Intranet is Important

As small businesses grow, so does their need for efficient communication and collaboration tools. A small business intranet can be an essential tool for any organization looking to streamline internal operations and enhance communication. 

Here are some of the key benefits of having a small business intranet:

Tips on Building a Small Business Intranet

Building a small business intranet can be a complex task that requires careful planning, coordination, and implementation. However, by following some key tips and guidelines, businesses can create an intranet that meets their needs and helps them achieve their goals.

Businesswoman navigating Steelge.One intranet

Best Practices on Building a Small Business Intranet

1. Identify the Needs of Your Business

The first step in building a small business intranet is to identify the needs of your business. This involves understanding the goals of your organization, the challenges you face, and the features you require from an intranet. It is important to involve stakeholders from across the organization in this process to ensure that all departments and teams have a say in the intranet's development.

One way to identify the needs of your business is to conduct a survey or focus group with employees. Ask them about their current pain points, what they would like to see in an intranet, and what features would help them be more productive. This information will provide valuable insights into the type of intranet your business needs.

Once you have identified your business needs, the next step is to choose the right intranet platform. There are various options available, from open-source solutions to cloud-based platforms. The right platform will depend on your budget, the size of your business, and the features you require.

Some popular intranet platforms for small businesses include Happeo, SharePoint, and Google Workspace. These platforms offer a range of features, from document management to project collaboration and communication tools.

A successful intranet requires a well-planned content strategy. This involves creating a plan for the types of content that will be published on the intranet, who will create it, and how it will be organized.

The content plan should consider the needs of different departments and teams, as well as the overall goals of the intranet. It should also include guidelines for creating and publishing content, such as style guides, approval processes, and content calendars.

The design and customization of the intranet are crucial to its success. The intranet should be visually appealing, easy to navigate and reflect the brand and culture of the organization.

When designing the intranet, consider the needs of different personas within the organization. This involves creating user personas and using them to inform design decisions. For example, the intranet design for the marketing department may differ from that of the IT department.

After the intranet has been designed and customized, it is time to launch and promote it. This involves communicating the benefits of the intranet to employees and encouraging them to use it.

Launch the intranet with a kick-off event or training session that provides an overview of its features and benefits. Consider offering incentives for employees who use the intranet, such as gamification or rewards programs.

Once the intranet is launched, it is important to monitor its usage and performance. This involves tracking metrics such as user engagement, content views, and feedback.

Use the data collected to make improvements and updates to the intranet. Regularly update content, features, and design elements to keep the intranet fresh and relevant.

Conclusion

A small business intranet is a powerful tool that can improve communication, collaboration, and productivity within an organization. By following the steps outlined in this guide, businesses can build an intranet that meets their specific needs and supports their growth. Remember to involve stakeholders, choose the right platform, create a content plan, design and customize the intranet, launch and promote it, and monitor and update it regularly. With the right strategy and execution, a small business intranet can be a game-changer for your organization.