Async communication proved to be a tough nut to crack? You're racking your brain over how to balance your team's workplace expectations and a smooth exchange of knowledge and information, even with the help of Confluence? And on top of that, you find it difficult to strengthen the bonds among your hybrid team members?

As a business owner (or a Confluence admin), you're always searching for the latest apps and productivity boosters to increase teamwork and efficiency. And for years, company intranets have been a go-to solution. However, the reality is that many teams have given up on them and haven't looked back. Why? Because they couldn't keep up with modern workplace trends and became obsolete rabbit holes that teams much rather avoid.

The intranet is an essential part of the modern workplace. But, to build a successful one, you must focus on creating a modern, engaging, and user-friendly intranet your team will want to use. So, how can you achieve this?

In this blog, we'll crack the code to a successful company intranet and provide valuable tips and tricks to help you create an engaging hub in Confluence that your employees will actually love to use! From flawless structuring to useful design tricks, these top tips guarantee a maximum communication and collaboration boost. Plus, find out how intranet dashboards can make or break its adoption.

If you're planning to build a new one or have previously experienced the disappointment of a failed intranet launch, this post is a must-read.

Intranets (Stats) Matter, and Here’s Why

The intranet is the superhero of the modern workplace, connecting teams and saving the day no matter where they are. It has come a long way from being a boring content-only repository and has transformed into a lively hub that helps get things done.
When used to its full potential, the intranet has the power to work wonders. It can enhance communication, streamline workflow, boost productivity, and turn teams into superstars. Now, let's take a look at some stats to see why having successful intranet matters:

• According to the findings of the study on the benefits of intranets, faster access to information was identified as the topmost benefit, with 85% of respondents acknowledging it. Additionally, 65% of those surveyed reported experiencing better quality and relevance of information, 50% reported an improvement in productivity, and 34% felt that the intranet fostered a more collaborative work environment.
• The average interaction worker spends nearly 20 percent of the workweek looking for internal information or tracking down colleagues who can help with specific tasks.
• Improved communication and collaboration through social technologies could raise the productivity of interaction workers by 20 to 25 percent.
• With more than half (54.5%) of employees saying that company information significantly impacted how they contributed to the overall performance of the organization they worked for, data transparency clearly has a great link to productivity and efficiency.

Yet, simply having an intranet is so last year and, let's be honest, not exactly efficient. To really unleash its power and keep your team engaged, you need to make it user-friendly and visually appealing. That means prioritizing the user experience and continuously improving the platform to meet your team's ever-changing needs. Ready to take your intranet game to the next level? Keep reading!

How to Create a Successful Intranet in Confluence

Let's turn your Confluence intranet into a success. Here are 7 practical tips and tricks on how to make it a place your employees will genuinely like to visit:

1. Brand your intranet

Add a pop of color and give your intranet a visual identity that screams your company's personality. Use your brand's logo and colors across the platform to create a strong connection and a sense of belonging among employees. Remember, more is more, and it totally works!

2. Add employee profiles

Your employees are the stars of the show, so let them shine by creating personal profiles on the intranet. Encourage them to share their job title, skills, and interests. This will help coworkers get to know each other better, bond, and form meaningful connections. Plus, it will do wonders for collaboration.

3. Experiment

Don't be afraid to try new things. Adding features, tools, and app integrations can keep your intranet fresh and engaging. Plus, it's the perfect opportunity to discover what works best for your team.

4. Use images

A picture is worth a thousand words! Incorporate images and graphics to make your intranet news more visually appealing and engaging. This can help break up text-heavy pages and make information easier to digest. Add your own headers and cover photos to different intranet sections and make it feel like home.

5. Celebrate the wins

It's all about the vibe! Share the good news and announce company successes on the intranet. This is a great way to keep employees informed, engaged, and motivated. Plus, it helps build a sense of pride and unity within the company.

6. Use humor

Who says work can't be fun? Inject some humor into your intranet to make it more enjoyable and memorable. Share funny stories or add witty and warm welcome messages. A good laugh can go a long way!

7. Make tools and information easily accessible

Time is precious, so make sure the most frequently used tools (Jira, Trello, Figma, Miro, etc.), information, and resources are easy to find on the intranet. This can help employees save time and reduce frustration. Play with the info and news panels, enable easy access to everything important with quick links and a navigation menu, and don't let your team play detectives. Instead, let them do their job as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Remember, your intranet is not just a tool, it's a reflection of your company's culture and values. So have fun with it, and make it a space your employees will love to use every day!

Have Them at hello the Intranet Dashboard

Your intranet dashboard/homepage is like the front door to your digital workplace. It's the first thing your team sees when they log in. Also, it sets the tone for the rest of their user experience and can make or break its adoption.

And you wouldn't invite someone into your home if your front door was shabby and hard to access, right? Well, the same goes for your intranet homepage. It's crucial to get it right and easily accessible if you want your team to engage with it. After all, no one wants to spend time navigating a confusing and cluttered dashboard to get the information they need. So, make your intranet homepage's first impression count. Give your team a personalized and engaging experience that they'll be excited to come back to, and watch your adoption rates soar.

Launch Your Universe of Teamwork and Knowledge with Cosmos - Intranet for Confluence

It takes a lot of work and time to create an intranet that your teams actually love to use. Or does it? Newsflash! Instead of starting from scratch, using an all-in-one, free intranet solution like Cosmos - Intranet for Confluence lets you quickly get it up and running.

As a matter of fact, Cosmos checks all the boxes and provides a ready-made solution to every one of the tips and tricks mentioned above. The cool and sleek design comes with engaging and useful features, such as Dashboard, User Profiles, Newsroom, People Network, Database, and more. Additionally, it offers a variety of branding, customization, and theming options so you can showcase your corporate identity and maintain your brand's consistency throughout the entire app.

But, of course, that's not nearly all. Other benefits include how easy and quick it is to install and set up (no technical knowledge or expertise needed), how easy and seamlessly you can embed Cosmos dashboard to any Confluence page (thus making it accessible to everyone in no time), how user-friendly and intuitive it is, and as a cherry on top - it's FREE.

So why settle for anything else but the best? Go to the Atlassian Marketplace, install Cosmos today, and create your own universe of teamwork and knowledge.