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Processes and Productivity

Overcoming the “so what” of intranet analytics

Having trouble understanding the value of intranet analytics? Here’s a breakdown of what to measure on your intranet, what it means, and why you should care.

4 minute read
KWL

Measuring intranet performance can feel exciting initially—especially if you’re new to it or your previous intranet didn’t allow for it. 

But after a while, you’ll probably find yourself wondering what to do with all this data.

500 people viewed your last post. So what? What does this mean?

Here’s a breakdown of what to measure on your intranet, what it means, and why you should care.

Tracking intranet usage

Tracking intranet usage involves watching and measuring how employees use the intranet, including which pages they visit and what content they view.

So what? Tracking intranet usage is crucial. It helps you see how well your intranet is succeeding and how much employees like it. By analyzing the most-used pages and features, you can improve the content and make it more useful. It also shows if employees need more help or training with certain parts.

Measuring content performance

Measuring content performance involves tracking how employees interact with intranet content. This includes metrics like page views, time spent on pages, search effectiveness, engagement rates, and user feedback.

So what? These metrics reveal which content is useful and engaging, highlight gaps or issues, and can help improve the overall user experience. For example, tracking views, comments, and shares of a news article about a major company reorganization can help gauge employee interest, engagement, and any concerns about the changes. Hot tip: For content ideas employees love, check out our blog post “30 Intranet Content Ideas.”

Analyzing user engagement patterns

Analyzing user engagement patterns is crucial for understanding how employees interact with the intranet and which features or content they find most valuable. This analysis can reveal trends such as peak usage times, frequently accessed pages, and popular content types.

So what? These patterns provide insights that can inform the design and management of your intranet, ensuring it meets user needs. By tailoring the intranet to align with user preferences and behaviors, you can ensure it remains the central hub for collaboration and information sharing.

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In ThoughtFarmer Analytics you can explore data over time, to see how needs and tastes shift.

Monitoring popular search terms involves identifying the most searched pages or words on your intranet site.

So what? Measuring popular search terms is important because it helps you understand what information employees are looking for most. This can improve content and navigation, making it easier to find essential information. For example, if a credit union’s top searched term is “Current interest rates,” it might be beneficial to include this information in the top navigation, reducing the need for employees to search for it and saving time. Monitoring search terms may also help you uncover any content gaps, identifying types of content you worth creating. 

Curious how top-performing intranets look and function?

Download the ThoughtFarmer Lookbook for inspiration from some of the best intranet designs.

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Segmenting data by team, project, company

Segmenting intranet data by team, project, or company helps gain detailed insights into how different groups within an organization use the intranet.

So what? Segmentation allows administrators to identify specific needs, preferences, and usage patterns of various departments or project teams. For example, a marketing team might access different resources compared to a product development team. Understanding and addressing these distinct needs enhances targeted communication, improves collaboration, and ensures the intranet serves everyone effectively.

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ThoughtFarmer Analytics makes it easy to see how different departments, teams, or groups engage with content

Monitoring trends involves exploring page views and section data over time, comparing statistics for different periods.

So what? Monitoring intranet trends over time helps identify patterns in employee behavior, allowing for continuous improvements and better alignment with user needs. For example, if March was a great month for intranet visits but other months were not as good, you can learn from this trend. Was something specific posted during March that engaged readers?

A final word of advice

A deep dive into your intranet data can be a useful tool for diagnosing potential problems. However, you won’t get far if that’s the only time you analyze your intranet meaningfully. In other words, don’t only sift through data when you need to understand what’s on fire and why.

As an intranet manager, you’re better served by being proactive rather than reactive. Don’t be afraid to find what’s working well and replicate that success. Remember, data tells us a story, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Data can be subjective and nuanced, and you don’t want to be trapped in a “it’s never good enough” mindset. Consider this your invitation to celebrate even the smallest intranet wins.