One of the biggest challenges for teams managing intranets is reducing the amount of redundant information bombarding employees. Finding ways to reduce the noise and serve employees relevant information keeps all communications professionals up at night. Employees are getting information from other teams, the enterprise, and their own units. Employees spend a good chunk of their time managing all the information coming their way.

This is where SEO can help. SEO can improve the employee’s experience (EX), increase engagement, improve visibility for teams and resources, and contribute to streamlining internal processes within your organization’s intranet.

Expectation: SEO for intranets is easy and straightforward.

Reality: SEO for intranets can be challenging, as there are many factors to consider.

Intranets are not visible to search engines like Google, which means that traditional SEO techniques like keyword optimization (in terms of ranking) and link building are not applicable. This can make it difficult to attract organic traffic to an intranet, as employees will typically access it directly rather than through a search engine.

Another challenge is that intranets can be complex, with a large number of pages and resources that need to be organized and indexed for search. This requires a well-structured information architecture and a comprehensive taxonomy to ensure that content is easy to find and navigate.

Expectation: SEO for intranets is not necessary, as employees will already know how to find what they are looking for.

Reality: While it’s true that employees may already be familiar with an intranet’s content and navigation, optimizing an intranet’s search functionality can still be beneficial.

Employees may not always know exactly what they are looking for, or they may not be aware of all the resources that are available to them. By providing a powerful search tool, organizations can help employees discover new content and resources that they might not have otherwise found.

Optimizing an intranet’s search functionality can improve efficiency and productivity. By making it easy for employees to find what they need, organizations can save time and reduce frustration.

Expectation: SEO for intranets is all about using the right keywords.

Reality: While keywords are certainly important for SEO, they are just one aspect of optimization. In addition to using relevant and targeted keywords, there are a number of other factors that can impact the effectiveness of an intranet’s search functionality.

One important factor is the quality of the content itself. In order for an intranet’s search tool to be effective, it must be able to accurately match queries with relevant content. This requires well-written and informative content that uses clear and concise language.

Another factor is the organization and structure of the content. By using headings, subheadings, and bullet points, organizations can make it easier for employees to scan and understand content. They can also use metadata, such as tags and titles, to help the search tool better understand the content and improve its accuracy.

Expectation: SEO for intranets is a one-time effort.

Reality: SEO for intranets is an ongoing process that requires regular attention and maintenance.

As organizations add new content and resources to their intranets, they will need to ensure that this content is properly indexed and organized for search. They will also need to monitor search activity and user feedback to identify any issues or areas for improvement.

It’s important to keep in mind that SEO best practices are constantly evolving. Organizations will need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in order to ensure that their intranets are optimized for search.

So, what can organizations do to optimize their intranets for search?

Here are a few practical tips:

• Use relevant and targeted keywords in your content. This will help employees find what they are looking for and also improve the accuracy of the search results.
• Organize your content in a logical and intuitive way.
• Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to make it easy for employees to scan and understand content.
• Utilize metadata, such as tags and titles, to help the search tool better understand your content.
• Regularly review and update your content to ensure that it is accurate and up-to-date.
• Monitor search activity and user feedback to identify any issues or areas for improvement.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest SEO best practices and techniques.

By following these tips, organizations can optimize their intranets for search and improve the efficiency and productivity of their employees. While SEO for intranets can be challenging, the benefits of a well-optimized intranet make it worth the effort.