Your intranet launch checklist

Admin Tips and Shortcuts
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Once your Origami web parts are installed and your pages are built, the next big step is launch.

A good launch is not only about turning the site on. It is about:

  • Making sure people know it is coming
  • Helping them understand what they can do there
  • Having owners and support in place for day two and beyond

You can use this list as a final check before you go live.

:check_box_with_check: Launch scope and date are agreed.
:check_box_with_check: Intranet owner and content owners are confirmed.
:check_box_with_check: Main-Top Navigation is reviewed and tested.
:check_box_with_check: Home page is ready with banner, news, and key links.
:check_box_with_check: Test pages and sample content are cleaned up or hidden.
:check_box_with_check: Launch communications are drafted and scheduled.
:check_box_with_check: “Start here” and “How to use this intranet” content is published.
:check_box_with_check: Support and feedback links are visible on the site.
:check_box_with_check: Optional training sessions are planned or recorded.

Decide what “launch” means for your organization

Before you pick a date, agree on the basics so everyone is aligned.

Questions to answer:

  • Who is included in the first launch

    • Everyone, or a specific region or department

  • Which sites and pages are “in scope” for day one

    • Home page
    • Key landing pages (for example HR, IT, company info)
    • Any department pages that are ready

  • How you want to launch

    • Big launch on one date
    • Phased rollout where pilot groups go first, then everyone else

You can keep this in a short launch note or one-page plan that you share with your project team.

Confirm owners and support

Users need to know that someone is looking after the intranet.

At minimum, define:

  • A primary intranet owner or small core team

  • Content owners for each key area

    • HR, IT, Communications, departments, locations

  • A simple support model

    • How people report issues or request changes

On your home page, you can:

  • Use Quick Links Plus for “Contact the intranet team” and “Request a change” links
  • Use People Directory or Org Chart for SharePoint to introduce the intranet team
Finalize navigation and key pages

A clean structure makes launch day easier for everyone.

Review your navigation:

  • Check your Main-Top Navigation labels

    • Keep labels short and clear
    • Group by topic where possible (“HR & Benefits” rather than internal team names)

  • Confirm key pages are ready

    • Home page
    • HR, IT, and “About the company” landing pages
    • Tools and systems pages

Clean up anything that might confuse users:

  • Hide or delete test pages and sample content you no longer need
  • Remove broken links from Quick Links and navigation menus
  • Use Main-Top Navigation (with targeting) to show different links to different audiences where needed
Prepare your launch home page

Think about what a typical user should see in the first few seconds.

A simple launch home page usually includes:

  • A clear welcome banner

    • Short headline
    • One or two sentences about what is new
    • Link to a “What changed” or “How to use the new intranet” page

  • Fresh news

    • A launch article
    • A couple of other relevant stories

  • Quick access to key tasks

    • HR information, benefits, IT help, key tools, vacation booking, etc.

Web parts that work well here:

  • News Center for launch news and ongoing stories
  • Carousel with Expanding Links as a visual hero banner with calls to action
  • Quick Links Plus for task-focused buttons like “Book vacation” or “Submit an IT ticket”
  • Social Corner and Kudos and Recognitions for culture highlights and shoutouts
Plan how and when you will notify users

Communication is key. Pros often recommend treating the launch like a small internal campaign, not just a single email.

Draft a simple launch message

Keep the message short and benefit focused:

  • What the new intranet is
  • When it goes live
  • Why it is helpful
  • Where to go for help

A simple structure:

  • Short welcome line
  • Link to the new home page
  • 3–5 bullets on what people can do there
  • Link to “How to use the new intranet”
  • Contact or support link

You can send this as:

  • An all-staff email
  • A News Center article
  • A pinned message in Teams
  • A banner or notice on your old site if you are replacing an intranet

Use certain web parts to highlight the launch

  • On your home page, you can:

    • Use Mandatory read – policy acknowledgement for critical launch items, for example “Please review how to use the new intranet”
    • Use Social Corner to share behind-the-scenes photos, stories, or mini interviews with project members
    • Use the Calendar web part to show “Intranet training” sessions or launch events
Help users on day one

Assume there will be users who have never seen or used modern SharePoint.

Add a “Start here” area on your home page that includes:

  • “How to use this intranet” page
  • “Where to find HR information”
  • “Where to find IT help”
  • “How to search for people and teams”
  • “How to give feedback or report an issue”

tips:

  • Use Quick Links Plus with clear labels and icons for “Start here” links
  • Use a small People Directory or Org Chart block on a “Who we are” page to help people put names to faces
  • Use Finder if you want a single entry point where users can search for tools, pages, and resources
Provide training and quick help

Training does not have to be complex. Short, focused help usually works better.

Ideas:

  • Create a short “Using the new intranet” page with:
    • 3–5 simple tips
    • Screenshots or short clips that show navigation, search, and key web parts
  • Run one or two optional live sessions or office hours where people can ask questions
  • Record a quick overview video and embed it on the home page or help page

Highlight these items with:

  • News Center for training announcements and recordings
  • Carousel with Expanding Links or a hero banner that points to training and help content
Gather feedback and keep improving

Launch is the start of the intranet’s life, not the end of the project.

Make feedback easy:

  • Add a “Send intranet feedback” link on the home page
    • You can point this to a Microsoft Form or another survey tool
  • Invite feedback in your launch communications
  • Ask managers and champions to collect common questions from their teams

Plan a couple of follow-ups:

  • After 1–2 weeks

    • What questions are coming in
    • Are there quick wins you can deliver

  • After 1–2 months

    • Which pages get the most use
    • Where do people get stuck
    • What content needs more work

You can:

  • Use News Center to share “What changed based on your feedback” posts
  • Use Kudos and Recognitions to highlight teams and individuals who helped improve the intranet
From the Origami blog
  1. Origami – Intranet Launch Check List and Activities
    Practical checklist that covers launch planning, content owners, support, and adoption tips.
    https://www.origamiconnect.com/blog/intranet-launch-check-list-and-activities Origami
  2. Origami – 34 Intranet Launch Ideas for the Best Adoption Results
    Creative launch ideas like videos, scavenger hunts, roadshows, and more.
    https://www.origamiconnect.com/blog/intranet-launch-ideas-for-the-best-adoption-results Origami
  3. Origami – SharePoint Implementation: Intranet Project Plan
    A practical project plan for SharePoint intranets, with a section on promotion and launch.
    https://www.origamiconnect.com/blog/sharepoint-project-plan Origami