Launching a new intranet is an exciting time for your business. Getting the launch right is really important for a number of reasons; generating an initial buzz about the software, getting employees involved and encouraging them to adopt your new intranet. This blog lists 5 different intranet strategies that you can use to implement your new software. For more information, check out our free guide for managing your new intranet.
- Launch at inception
This option might be too late for some of you, but launching at inception involves launching before you even have your intranet business specification. Getting support and working collaboratively can really help with your new intranet’s adoption. It’s also a great way to boost engagement.
- Launch with a bang
The big bang theory goes all out with design, budget, communications and promotions to ensure that no one can escape the fact that your new intranet is launching. I’ve seen intranet launch parties, countdowns, cakes, videos and more. All with the aim of building awareness and educating everyone on your new arrival and what it’s all about.
You may already have a date in mind or the project may have been initiated to tie in with a business anniversary or major event. If no date has been set, think about a creating a significant launch date. Can you create a story around the date itself? Is there a date that means something to you?
- The no launch, intranet launch
Under the radar, blink and you miss it launch. An email to all users the week before highlighting that the intranet is launching and the launch date. Simple as that. This approach is seeking natural adoption from end users and assumes that everyone is on board and has been engaged throughout the planning and content generation process.
- Secret Squirrel launch
This method is intentionally trying to generate interest by teasing everyone about the launch of something amazing, without giving the game away. Keeping the final design, name and look and feel secret might be quite a job in itself if you have worked collaboratively up to this point. It’s a great way to generate an office buzz but it sets high expectations.
- Chinese Whisper Launch
Launch your new intranet but don’t tell anyone. Run it alongside your old one and leak links to your new intranet and let your end users discover it for themselves for the first week before you then announce it and switch everyone to the new site.
Which intranet launch plan is right for you? This will very much depend upon your organisation’s culture. At the end of the day, your goal is to promote the arrival of your new intranet and get as many colleagues as possible to adopt it and start to engage and use it.
Whatever method you choose to adopt, you will need to schedule the launch and draft launch communications. When communicating to everyone, it’s important to think about your tone of voice as this can create a perception of what your new intranet will be like. If being on brand is a priority, you may want to engage with your marketing department for their advice and support.
I hope this has got you thinking and generated some launch ideas. Check out our free guide on how to manage your intranet, for more information. Here at Sorce we’ve experienced hundreds of intranets of all shapes and sizes and are skilled at helping uncover opportunities to improve engagement and business processes.
