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Five Ways to Boost Intranet Traffic

If you aren't familiar with intranets, they are essentially an organization's online network (a private Web site) that can be accessed only by employees or authorized users. Intranets can be a great way to communicate with employees, but getting everyone excited about logging in can be a challenge. If you're having trouble building buzz for your intranet, or are still in the planning stages, Shama Hyder of the After the Launch blog offers this advice:

Feature intranet-only content. Would you visit a site that rehashed information you had already read in memos and newsletters? Probably not. So offer worthwhile content available exclusively on the intranet.

Make the login process easy. Don't let a labyrinthine login process convince your employees that it isn't worth the trouble.

Solicit user input. The most effective question to ask users might be, "Why aren't you using the intranet on a regular basis now?"

Implement a rewards program. "[R]eward your members for using the intranet," writes Hyder. "It's a great way to increase participation and cultivate a healthy competitive spirit within the organization."

Results won't happen overnight. Even the best intranet offerings might take a while to catch on, so don't get discouraged if it takes a few months to build enthusiasm.

The Po!nt: "We often think about marketing as an external practice, but it is just as important to market within the organization," writes Hyder. "Once employees are on board, the entire operation runs easier."