Launching a SharePoint site is exciting. It promises to centralize communication, streamline document sharing, and bring your digital workplace together.
But here’s the hard truth: the way you roll out your new site often determines whether it succeeds or fails. Too many organizations invest time into building their intranet but treat launch day as an afterthought — and adoption fizzles fast.
So what’s the best way to roll out a new SharePoint site to your organization? Let’s break it down step by step.
1. Start With a Clear Purpose
Before launch, employees should know why the intranet matters.
What problems will it solve?
How will it make their workday easier?
What’s in it for them?
If your team doesn’t see the benefit, they won’t change old habits.
2. Get Leadership Buy-In
Adoption trickles down from the top. If managers and leaders are using the site daily, employees will follow.
Ask leaders to post updates or share files exclusively through the new site.
Feature leadership messages on the homepage.
Recognize leaders who model the behavior you want.
3. Build Excitement Before Launch
Don’t just drop a link in an email and hope for the best. Treat the rollout like a campaign.
Tease features in advance (“Soon you’ll be able to find policies in one click”).
Share screenshots or short demo videos.
Talk about the launch in team meetings.
A little buzz goes a long way.
4. Provide Training (Without Overwhelm)
Employees don’t need to know every feature on day one — they just need to know how to use the essentials.
Offer a short demo or quick reference guide.
Create 2–3 minute videos on top tasks (finding files, posting news, submitting forms).
Host Q&A sessions after launch week.
The goal: make the site feel approachable, not intimidating.
5. Roll Out in Phases
You don’t need to launch every feature at once. Start with core functionality (documents, policies, news) and expand later.
Phase 1: Essential resources and communication.
Phase 2: Collaboration tools and workflow automation.
Phase 3: Advanced integrations and custom solutions.
This phased approach avoids overwhelm and keeps interest alive.
6. Celebrate Wins and Gather Feedback
Once employees start using the site, highlight adoption milestones.
Share stats (“200 logins this week!”).
Recognize teams that are leading the way.
Ask for feedback and adjust navigation or features.
Celebrating progress builds momentum and makes employees feel ownership.
Fast-Track Your Rollout
Rolling out a SharePoint site doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right plan, you can launch quickly, get employees on board, and avoid the “ghost town intranet” problem.
That’s why I created the Fast-Track Intranet Setup Kit. It gives you:
Step-by-step setup and rollout instructions
30+ ready-to-use templates (communications, policies, training, migration)
A proven adoption checklist to ensure employees actually use the site
👉 Click here to check it out and make your rollout a success.
Final Thought
The best rollout is intentional, phased, and people-focused. If you build anticipation, provide support, and show quick wins, employees won’t just visit your SharePoint site — they’ll rely on it.
