1. If your intranet feels tired…
Consider UX design patterns in the outside world. How big is the text? What’s the contrast like? How big are the buttons? Look at popular websites outside the organisation and see how your intranet compares. Ask staff to tell you which websites they like and why.
2. If it’s hard to navigate…
Think about breadcrumbs and the page titles (do they match the links that people click on to get there?). Are there too many choices in the menus? Do the menus match your org-chart (bad) or match what users are looking for (good)?
3. If users are frustrated with content…
Are you giving them what they need? Is what they need up-front at the top of the page, served straight-up with no superfluous fluff? Have you used headings? Can users scan-read it your content quickly? Get straight to the point, and then put any additional background info lower down the page.
4. If users keep asking for quick-links, new homepage buttons or are creating favourites…
Then maybe your intranet isn’t structured correctly. Have you tried doing a card-sorting exercise? Is the Information Architecture right?
5. If the same issues keep recurring…
Think about training your authors. Teach them about usability, cognitive load, how to write for the web and the correct archiving processes etc (good governance).
Want help with your intranet?
I’ve helped clients refresh and reorganise their intranet and also helped them understand how it’s used. I also train authors on how to write for the web. With a background in Internal Comms, intranets and UX design, I can bridge the gap between users, the internal comms team and your IT department. Get in touch if I can help you.