The Intranet?

What's in a name? When launching your new intranet, have you thought what it will be called? Will the simplicity of "The Intranet" be OK, or is a bespoke alter-ego for the Intranet a possibility?

Naming the Intranet can be a way to involve users, particularly if they can suggest ideas and then vote on the suggestions, to name 'their' intranet. This approach works equally well for an update - as the new name will support the idea of new content.

In my experience many clients are happy with the name Intranet, and if it works, and users understand then why change? After all there is nothing wrong with the name Intranet and if users are using it and finding what they want then a name isn't going to make any real difference. However for every 'Intranet' there is probably a client that has gone down the alternate route of being creative and naming their Intranet something else. These names tend to have some relationship to the company and fall into two broad categories; those that are acronyms, and those that are straight names.

So there are Intranets out there called C.O.L.I.N and T.R.E.V.O.R and E.R.N.I.E as well as Hub, Grapevine, and Reptile. Imagine asking a question of your colleague to hear the answer "Look on Ernie" or "Have you checked the Grapevine" - it does have a more 'personalised' touch to what otherwise some users might think is a bland and boring concept. Many end users as well as intranet managers and content editors are very proud of their unique creations.

You can see that some of these names have clear links the purpose of an intranet. "Grapevine" - suggests that this is where users will be bought up-to-date with all the latest company communications. In this case a reader will read it on the grapevine, rather than hear it; but the implication is of modernity and freshness. "Hub" - an apt name for a information database that lies at the heart of a company's information system.

Some clients make a clear link between the company name and the intranet name, the O-zone being the name of the intranet whose company name itself starts with O. Two of the three acronyms above include the company's name in the intranet name. C.O.L.I.N. is derived from Chevin OnLine Information Network. E.R.N.I.E. from Eden Resource Network and Information Exchange. T.R.E.V.O.R represents the intranet that is The Reliable Empowering Valuable Online Resource. All of these are great names as they brilliantly summarise what their intranet does.

So I would recommend that when thinking about the content and structure of your intranet-to-be that you also consider what 'it' is to be called. Issue the creative challenge to all potential users, include 'Intranet' on the list of options but don't close your mind to other possibilities. I'd be very interested in finding out what other intranets are called, please add your nominations via the comments.

In my next blog I will give some thought to the alternatives you have when it comes to branding your Intranet.