Creating Interest In An Intranet Service
Generating interest and enthusiasm for a new intranet service is vital to its success. Many mistakes can be made during the launch and promotional stages, weakening support for a new service, and in turn, reducing the long-term effectiveness of the project. So, how do you generate interest for the intranet throughout an organisation?
To successfully establish an intranet service, a new culture of information collaboration and communication must be formed within a business. The intranet should be marketed as a positive step forward, providing the tools to revolutionise an organisation. Make staff aware that the intranet service will be a permanent feature within the business, provide stability and encourage trust in the intranet.
Enthusiasm should not be underestimated, interest in a product is crucial to its survival long-term. Without interest, staff are unlikely to utilise the intranet service fully, missing out on its many advantages. Encourage staff to form a personal connection with the intranet, involve them with the project from the very start. A personal attachment to a product can create a sense of pride, and a desire to make the service a success.
A project leader is the first point of call for the promotion and generating of interest for the new intranet service. This role is vital, both in the early stages of the project, to generate initial investment interest, and later in the process to maintain enthusiasm. A project leader should ensure that the service is promoted across the organisation, throughout all staff. Management may play a crucial part in the initial development of the intranet service, but generally speaking, later emphasis should be placed on the actual end users i.e. content managers, administration staff and any other staff using the intranet on a daily basis.
Following are a few ideas to encourage interest in an intranet service;
Familiarity
To maintain interest in an intranet service, it must be mentioned frequently and updated on a regular basis. The saying 'out of sight, out of mind' can apply to intranet promotion, keep the product visible at all times to maintain an interest. Start by creating a basic system with effective functionality, and build on this, adding applications and functions on an ongoing basis. Ensure that all updates to the system are publicized in the form of press releases, via email, leaflets and newsletters.
Responsibility
Identify the key members of staff responsible for the ongoing updates of intranet software, and create awareness of their new roles and responsibilities. Create staff profiles on internal communications, and announce any changes to roles as and when necessary.
Knowledge
A waning interest may be due to a lack of accessible information about an intranet service. Ensure that all staff have continuous access to training literature and help desk options, such as a FAQ (frequently asked questions) database. Ask for feedback on training literature by holding periodical reviews in each department. Update documentation frequently, out-of-date literature can be off-putting and may discourage use of an intranet system.
Trust
Build trust in an intranet service. Users need to know that the service is easy to use, will provide the functions and information they need, and that the information is current and up-to-date. Trust will help to build solid relationships throughout an organisation, and will encourage continuous use of the intranet software.
To successfully establish an intranet service, a new culture of information collaboration and communication must be formed within a business. The intranet should be marketed as a positive step forward, providing the tools to revolutionise an organisation. Make staff aware that the intranet service will be a permanent feature within the business, provide stability and encourage trust in the intranet.
Enthusiasm should not be underestimated, interest in a product is crucial to its survival long-term. Without interest, staff are unlikely to utilise the intranet service fully, missing out on its many advantages. Encourage staff to form a personal connection with the intranet, involve them with the project from the very start. A personal attachment to a product can create a sense of pride, and a desire to make the service a success.
A project leader is the first point of call for the promotion and generating of interest for the new intranet service. This role is vital, both in the early stages of the project, to generate initial investment interest, and later in the process to maintain enthusiasm. A project leader should ensure that the service is promoted across the organisation, throughout all staff. Management may play a crucial part in the initial development of the intranet service, but generally speaking, later emphasis should be placed on the actual end users i.e. content managers, administration staff and any other staff using the intranet on a daily basis.
Following are a few ideas to encourage interest in an intranet service;
Familiarity
To maintain interest in an intranet service, it must be mentioned frequently and updated on a regular basis. The saying 'out of sight, out of mind' can apply to intranet promotion, keep the product visible at all times to maintain an interest. Start by creating a basic system with effective functionality, and build on this, adding applications and functions on an ongoing basis. Ensure that all updates to the system are publicized in the form of press releases, via email, leaflets and newsletters.
Responsibility
Identify the key members of staff responsible for the ongoing updates of intranet software, and create awareness of their new roles and responsibilities. Create staff profiles on internal communications, and announce any changes to roles as and when necessary.
Knowledge
A waning interest may be due to a lack of accessible information about an intranet service. Ensure that all staff have continuous access to training literature and help desk options, such as a FAQ (frequently asked questions) database. Ask for feedback on training literature by holding periodical reviews in each department. Update documentation frequently, out-of-date literature can be off-putting and may discourage use of an intranet system.
Trust
Build trust in an intranet service. Users need to know that the service is easy to use, will provide the functions and information they need, and that the information is current and up-to-date. Trust will help to build solid relationships throughout an organisation, and will encourage continuous use of the intranet software.
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