The cornerstone of an effective social intranet is understanding and catering to users' needs. This article outlines key principles for structuring pages to ensure relevant, accessible content that fosters engagement.
Start with the "why": Define your page's purpose
Before adding a single element, clearly define the intended use case of your page. This will dictate the most effective structure and tools. Consider these common scenarios:
- News and Communication: If your main goal is to share timely updates and encourage communication, prioritize the immediate flow of information. Place a Timeline and/or Blog app prominently within a dedicated app group. Enhance this with easily accessible communication tools.
- Knowledge and Information: For pages serving as central repositories of information, focus on intuitive navigation. A Content app can serve as an excellent entry point and content hub, with links or Link Buttons to all related apps, articles, and resources within the page, streamlining user access. Apply a similar approach for home articles within Wiki apps.
- Mixed Use Cases: When a page serves multiple purposes, always prioritize the user's perspective: "Why are they visiting this specific page?" Structure the content to directly address this need, placing the most relevant information at the forefront and ensuring effortless access.
Explore Haiilo's pre-designed page templates to help you get started! These templates are designed to meet popular page use cases.
Practical tips for page optimization
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App Selection |
Choose the app that best aligns with the defined use case (e.g., Blog for announcements, Timeline for chronological updates, Content for curated information, Wiki for knowledge). Don't know which app to use? Check out these resources: |
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Simplified Structure |
Keep it short. Consider combining several content apps into a single, organized Wiki app with separate articles for each topic. Focus on providing clear access to information. |
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Strategic App Grouping |
Organize apps into groups to help users easily find related apps and navigate better. We recommend a maximum of 4-5 app groups per page. |
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Minimize Scrolling |
Limit the number of apps per page to 12-15 to prevent overwhelming users and excessive scrolling. |
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Leveraging Global Widgets |
Employ widgets outside of apps to highlight key elements directly on the page, such as contact information, linked documents, or integrations. Think in terms of Link Buttons, RTEs, Bookmarks, etc. |
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Consistent User Experience |
Keep a similar look and layout across all related pages (like all location pages). This helps users feel familiar, saves them time, and builds their confidence. |
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Visual Cues |
Use color or imagery in cover and profile images to visually link pages to broader categories or topics (e.g., all department pages using a specific color). This provides immediate visual context. |
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Data-Driven Iteration |
Leverage Haiilo Analytics to measure the impact of your adjustments. Empower page admins to continuously monitor performance and identify what resonates best with their specific audiences. |
Take a look at our example page below! Click on the image to see it in a larger view.
Focus on content
Ultimately, the success of any platform depends on how relevant and easy its content is to find. When users find valuable information quickly and easily, engagement naturally follows.
Even the most meticulously designed platform and its pages will fall short if these fundamental content requirements are not met:
- Relevance: Ensure the content directly addresses the needs and interests of the target audience. Prioritize the perspective of your users over that of your editors.
- Accessibility: Structure the page and present information in a way that is intuitive and easy to navigate.
- Dynamism: Regularly update content and introduce new information to keep users engaged and encourage repeat visits (the "fear of missing out" factor).
By focusing on user needs, employing strategic structuring, and prioritizing relevant, accessible, and dynamic content, you can create a platform consisting of pages and communities that truly engage and empower your audience.
Further tips & tricks
- Step-by-step: Explore our in-depth articles on popular page use cases! We offer a deep dive into the choices of apps and some great tips on creating an excellent page tailored to each specific use case: