How to create a SharePoint site-A Step-by-Step Guide

A well-structured intranet is essential for organizations to enhance communication, foster collaboration among users, and efficiently manage important documents. Microsoft offers a powerful and flexible platform called SharePoint, which enables the creation of exclusive intranets tailored to an organization's needs using both built-in and customizable web parts. This guide will walk you through building a simple intranet using only the out-of-the-box components available in SharePoint Online.

Step 1: Site Creation

Follow these steps to create your SharePoint intranet:

1. Navigate to the SharePoint Admin Center:

• Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center (admin.microsoft.com).
• Select SharePoint from the left-hand menu.
• Click on Active Sites --> Create to start creating a new site.

2. Choose the Type of Site:

You can select from Team Site or Communication Site based on your needs:

• Team Site: Ideal for collaboration within smaller groups or teams working on projects.
• Communication Site: Best for sharing news, reports, and information with a wider audience.

3. Select a Template:

SharePoint offers predefined templates like:

• Human Resources Template
• Learning Template
• Volunteer Template

Choose any of these templates to get started quickly or select the Blank Template to design your intranet from scratch.

4. Configure Site Details:

• Click on Use Template after selecting the template.
• Provide a Site Name that reflects the purpose of the intranet.
• Add the Site Owner who will manage permissions and content.
• Click Next to proceed.

5. Set Language and Timezone:

• Select the preferred Language and Timezone for your organization.
• Click on Create Site to finalize the site creation.

Step 2: Modifying Site Appearance in SharePoint

• Once the site is created, open it.
• SharePoint allows customization of the Theme, Font, Header, Navigation, and Footer.
• Click on the gear icon in the top-right corner and select "Change the look."

• In this section, you can modify various elements, including Navigation, Header, Theme, and more to personalize the site's appearance.

Step 3: Adding Web Parts in SharePoint

SharePoint provides the flexibility to add both Out-of-the-Box (OOTB) Web Parts and custom web parts to enhance site functionality.

• OOTB Web Parts: These include built-in components like Banner,  Image Gallery,  Button,  Media, Weather, Events, Quick Links, Stream, etc.
• Custom Web Parts: If the available web parts do not meet specific requirements, custom web parts can be developed and deployed on SharePoint pages.

Now, let's explore a customized web part template sample to understand how we can build and integrate a tailored solution.

This SharePoint design template includes various components to enhance user experience and streamline organizational communication. Below is the purpose of each component:

1. Customized Suite Bar

• Displays the company logo with a custom suite bar color for branding.

2. Top Navigation

• Provides quick access to essential sections for better navigation.

3. Welcome Banner

• Displays the current date and time along with a custom message before the logged-in user’s name.
• Includes a multiple time zone clock that updates based on the selected location.

4. Let’s Wish

• A scrolling carousel showcasing employees with birthdays.
• Users can send customized birthday wishes via the “Let’s Wish” button.

5. Quick Links

• Displays frequently accessed links.
• Supports external links, customized icons, and allows opening links in a new or same window.

6. News

• Displays news posts created by users.
• Allows tagging news as Company News or Technology News.
• Users can sort and filter news posts.

7. New Employees

• Lists newly joined employees.
• Users can send greetings via a "Send Greetings" button.

8. Holiday

• Displays a list of company holidays.
• Users can filter holidays based on location.

9. Calendar

• Shows upcoming events within the organization.
• Users can add events to their Outlook calendar.

10. Footer

• Displays company copyright information for branding and legal purposes.

To learn more about this template or explore different SharePoint design templates, Click Here.

Implement Intranet for your Company in just 2 Days!!!

Conclusion

Building an intranet in SharePoint Online is a strategic move for organizations looking to enhance collaboration, communication, and document management. By leveraging out-of-the-box webparts, companies can quickly create a functional and engaging intranet tailored to their needs.

From site creation and customization to adding essential components like news, quick links, and employee engagement features, SharePoint provides a flexible and scalable solution. Whether using a predefined template or designing from scratch, businesses can optimize their intranet to improve productivity and connectivity across teams.

With the right setup, your SharePoint intranet can be come a central hub for information sharing and workplace engagement.

Ready to transform your organization’s digital workspace?

Additional Resources
Howto create a document library in SharePoint
Howto create SharePoint list
SharePoint webparts for modern intranet