Hello Intranet Connectors! As the newest addition to the Intranet Connections team, I had a thirst and desire to ramp up my intranet knowledge quickly. Probing my stellar and informative Intranet Connections teammates on who and what they read to stay informed on intranet trends, ideas, research and thought leadership, they provided me with a wealth of knowledge that you may also find valuable to you.

Here is the quick list of intranet blogs to follow that have come highly recommended by our Intranet Connections Team:

• Worldwide Intranet Challenge (@roojwright)
• Wheat & Chaff (@Peter_Richards)
• Intranetizen (@Intranetizen)
• Column Two (@StepTwoDesigns)
• Prescient Digital Media  (@Intranet2)
• Kilobox Communique (@wedge)
• Two Hives (@Bynghall)
• Intranet Focus (@IntranetFocus)
• Intranet Pioneer (@MarkMorrell)
• SocMedSean (@SocMedSean)
• All Things IC (@AllThingsIC)
• J. Boye (@Jboye)
• IntraTeam (@IntraTeam) (@KurtKragh)
• Dana Leeson (@Danaleeson)

While all these intranet blogs are great resources for industry information, there are three posts in particular that I found helpful and informative as a newcomer to the intranet industry.

Beginner: 3 Compelling Business Reasons for an Intranet

This is a great beginner post written by Andrew Wright (@roojwright) that outlines the three primary reasons organizations have an intranet. These include:

• Innovation
• Operations
• Engagement

For those of you who are newer to the industry like me, this post is very helpful in deciding why you need an intranet and what an intranet can do for your organization. Check out the WIC post for more details on the 3 Primary Reasons for an Intranet.

Intermediate: Characteristics of a Great Intranet

This informative post from Jonathon Phillips (@DigitalJonathon) at Intranetizen in my mind is written for a more intermediate intranet reader. It shares 10 Characteristics that Make an Intranet GREAT. Some of these characteristics include:

• Communications Tool
• Facilitator of Collaboration
• Positive Impact on the Organization
• Reflection of Company Values

Whether you have an established intranet or you’re just starting out, including Jonathon’s excellent tips outline in his post will ensure your intranet isn’t just good, but great!

Advanced: Develop an Intranet Strategy

Lastly, I’d rank this blog as an advanced level, for those that already have formed their business case for an intranet or potentially have an intranet and are now creating the strategy around their intranet.

This terrific post from Mark Morrell (@MarkMorrell) discusses best practices for Developing an Intranet Strategy. He writes that your intranet strategies can vary depending on the type of organization and will be different based on these variables:

• Size
• Type
• Purpose
• Complexity
• Culture

In his blog he links to an excellent PDF file that breaks down this process for readers so they get a really detailed understanding on what is takes to develop an intranet strategy.

Intranet Blog Recommendations?

While I have also found our own blog authors at Intranet Connections to be informative for me, which is why you should SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG, I would love to hear about where you draw your inspiration and direction for your intranet.

What intranet blogs and resources sites would you recommend to this intranet newbie? The Intranet Connections Team is always hungry to learn more from great thought leaders and industry experts, please share your recommendations in the comments below.

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