The intranet manager’s life is anything but simple.
Aside from juggling the many demands of users, the C-suite and other stakeholders, you have to stay on top of ever-changing technology. You need to manage intranet content, making sure it’s relevant and findable. You have to motivate staff to actively use the intranet and keep things running smoothly.
In celebration of Simplify Your Life Week (August 1-7 every year), I’d like to explore ways to make the intranet manager’s and/or intranet administrator’s life easier.
3 Ways to Intranet Manager Zen
1. Use a Content Calendar
One of the first things you’ll discover is that an intranet is a content machine. You need to constantly feed it with fresh and useful content to keep users interested, engaged and happy.
You can simplify this task by creating a content calendar. Schedule when you will publish news, user-generated content, intranet-based special events, etc – and who is in charge of each. Have clear deadlines for drafts and approvals (if necessary), and you won’t be overwhelmed by the content demands of an intranet.
2. Set Time-Bound Routines
Simplify your long list of intranet to-dos by breaking down which tasks and activities should be carried out weekly, monthly, bi-annually, and annually.
For example, you can gather and analyze intranet statistics weekly, schedule a monthly promotional activity, and conduct user research every 6 months.
3. Keep Your Eye On the Goal
Your company’s intranet goal, that is. You will have a long list of activities, improvements, and projects related to the intranet. How do you prioritize them? Go back to what your company wants to achieve with its intranet, and let those goals be your guide when deciding what needs to get done first or need to get done at all.
There you have it, three simple ways to make intranet management easier and simpler.
How About You?
How do you manage to get your job done as an intranet manager? How do you keep things simple and doable? Or is simple a myth when it comes to managing an intranet?
Share your thoughts below.