In this episode of Beyond the Feature, I break down what separates a SharePoint intranet that people actually use from one that quietly fades into the digital background. Starting with the research (up to 40% of intranets fail to achieve sustained adoption within their first year, and nearly 60% of intranet managers aren't sure what their intranet's purpose is) the episode walks through why intranets fail, how to start with strategy before a single site is created, the architecture decisions that determine long-term usability (Home Site, Hub Sites, the two-click rule, site type selection), the SharePoint web parts and features that bring a great intranet to life (Hero, News, audience targeting, Viva Connections, Quick Links, People Directory), the content governance practices that keep it relevant, the things that consistently undermine intranet success, and how to measure whether it's actually working.

Key takeaway: A great SharePoint intranet is an employee experience achievement. Design it around what employees need to do, not around how the organization is structured. Govern it with real ownership and a content cadence. Measure it against outcomes, not page views.

Resources mentioned:

SharePoint governance and intranet design consulting — AuditSolv.com

Microsoft 365 and SharePoint books — olympusacademypress.com

Online courses — learn.OlympusAcademy.net

Podcast and app — beyondthefeature.com

About the host — drpjj21.com

#Intranet #SharePoint #EmployeeExperience #ContentStrategy #IntranetDesign #OrganizationalCommunication #beyondthefeature