SharePoint Look Book: How to Build a Modern Intranet Fast 

infographics with a text of SharePoint Look Book: How to Build a Modern Intranet Fast

A modern SharePoint intranet helps teams work together, share updates, and stay informed. With SharePoint, you can create a clean and useful intranet fast. You also do not need coding skills. Since SharePoint is part of Office 365, most companies can start without extra cost. In this blog, you will learn how to use SharePoint Look Book to build a sharepoint modern intranet. We will look at how to begin, which templates to pick, how to design pages, and how to make the intranet simple for everyone to use. By following these steps, your company can set up a working intranet quickly. 

Start with a Communication Site

First, create a Communication Site in SharePoint Online. This gives you a clean and modern layout for your homepage. You can name it something clear like “Company Hub” or “Team Portal,” so everyone knows where to go. 

After the site is ready, set up your homepage. Add a banner, a news area, quick links, and a small calendar. These parts help users find information fast. Communication Sites also work well on phones, tablets, and computers. This means employees can use the intranet anytime. 

Use SharePoint Look Book Templates

SharePoint Look Book has ready-made templates that make building your intranet easier and faster. You can pick templates for homepages, team sites, project hubs, and knowledge pages. These templates already include common sections like news, quick links, events, and documents. 

After choosing a template, you can change the logo, colors, and images to match your brand. For example, a homepage template may have a hero banner, a news block, and useful links. You can adjust all of these to fit your needs. This saves time and keeps your design clean. 

Using Look Book templates also helps you keep the same style across all pages. When layouts look similar, employees can move around the intranet more easily. 

Design a Simple Homepage for sharepoint online modern intranet

Your homepage is the first thing employees see, so keep it clean and easy to follow. You can add a hero banner at the top for important messages or announcements. Then add quick links for HR, IT help, or training pages. 

A news section keeps employees updated with the latest posts. An events area is also helpful because it shows upcoming meetings or training sessions. When your homepage looks simple and organized, people can find what they need without stress. 

Add Useful Pages

After the homepage is complete, start creating other pages. These can be for departments, teams, or projects. 

For example: 

  • HR page: Include forms, policies, and updates. 
  • Project page: Include tasks, documents, and schedules
  • Knowledge page: Include guides, templates, and FAQs

These pages make it easier for employees to find information in one place. 

Make Navigation Easy in your modern intranet sharepoint online

Navigation plays a big role in how employees use the intranet. Use clear menu names and group related pages together. Add a search bar so people can find files or pages quickly. 

You can also add a footer with links to company policies, IT support, or other important resources. Good navigation increases intranet usage because employees do not have to spend time searching. 

Use Web Parts Effectively

SharePoint web parts help you show content in a clean and simple way. Web parts include text blocks, images, document libraries, news sections, and calendars. 

For example: 

  • Document Library web part: Shows files in one place
  • News web part: Displays the latest updates
  • Quick Links web part: Helps users access important pages
  • Events web part: Shows upcoming activities

Arrange these web parts based on what your team needs the most. 

Test Your Intranet

An intranet should be tried by a small group before rolling out to everyone. Check how the pages work on phones, tablets, and computers. Request the users to provide their feedback and correct any minor bugs. The testing assists you in making minor adjustments to the layout and the navigation. 

After making these improvements, you will be able to use the intranet with the whole company. 

Share and Train Teams

Once the intranet is ready, share it with all employees. Give a short guide on how to use it. Explain where to find news, documents, and links. You can also run a quick training session or share short videos. 

Training helps employees feel comfortable with the intranet. This also increases the chances that they will use it regularly. 

Keep Updating the Intranet

A modern intranet should stay fresh. Keep adding new content such as news, documents, and events. Update pages when there are changes in the company. When employees see fresh content, they will visit the intranet more often. 

Why a Modern Intranet Matters

A modern intranet is not only for storing files. It helps teams communicate better and stay updated. Reports show that companies with a modern intranet often see a 25 to 30% improvement in internal communication. This helps teams make faster decisions and reduces delays. 

This is why setting up a simple and easy intranet is important. SharePoint Look Book templates help you build such an intranet quickly and with very little effort. 

Conclusion

To build your modern intranet with SharePoint in Office 365 is simple and fast. Start with a Communication Site, choose ready-made templates, design a clean homepage, add useful pages, and make navigation easy. Then test, share, and keep the intranet updated. 

By following these steps, your company can have a modern intranet that helps teams work better, find information fast, and stay connected. 

FAQs

1. What is a modern SharePoint intranet online?

A modern SharePoint intranet is an online space where employees can find documents, news, and links. It works on laptops, tablets, and phones. 

2. How can I build my modern intranet with SharePoint in Office 365?

Begin with a Communication Site. Choose a Look Book template. Produce pages and design menu. The following steps allow you to develop your intranet within a short time.

3. Do I need coding skills to use SharePoint Look Book templates?

No. The templates are ready to use. You can change colors, text, and images without coding. 

4. How can I make sure employees use the intranet?

Keep the homepage simple, add important links, update content often, and give a short guide or training session. 

5. Why choose Code Creators for SharePoint intranet services?

We help companies build modern SharePoint intranets fast. We customize templates, add branding, and offer support so your team can start using the intranet without delay.

Author

  • Sherry Rajani - Founder Code Creators
    Founder of Code Creators

    Sherry Rajani, is a tie-loathing adventurer and troublemaker who believes in turning ideas into reality. Even though his experience is primarily in Microsoft Cloud and On-Premise Solutions, Sherry has also lead teams building Custom ERPs, Mobile Applications, Data Management and other solutions.
    After working in the Toronto Technology Industry for a while, Sherry started his own Technology Consulting Firm, Code Creators Inc., specializing in the Office 365 Stack ranging from SharePoint Online, the Power Platform, PowerBI and Microsoft Teams.

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