Looking to transform your team’s collaboration but unsure what a great SharePoint website looks like? You’re not alone—many people want to see real, inspiring examples before building their own SharePoint site.
Knowing what’s possible helps spark creativity and makes planning easier. That’s why understanding SharePoint website examples is so valuable.
In this article, you’ll discover standout examples, key features, and creative tips to guide your own SharePoint project from idea to implementation.
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SharePoint Website Examples: Inspiring Ideas and Practical Guidance
Understanding SharePoint Websites
A SharePoint website is more than just an ordinary webpage—it’s a powerful tool for collaboration, communication, document management, and workflow automation within organizations. Companies use SharePoint to create digital workplaces that connect employees, streamline information sharing, and boost productivity. Whether you need a central hub for your team, a company intranet, or a custom project site, SharePoint offers flexible options to suit your needs.
What Makes a Great SharePoint Site?
The best SharePoint sites have a few things in common:
- Clear structure: Easy navigation helps users find information quickly.
- Engaging design: Visually appealing layouts engage users and encourage participation.
- Relevant content: Up-to-date, targeted information keeps the site valuable.
- Efficient organization: Logical grouping of documents, lists, and features improves usability.
- Seamless collaboration: Integrated tools make sharing and teamwork effortless.
Different types of SharePoint sites serve specific functions, such as team collaboration, project tracking, HR information, or internal communications.
Popular SharePoint Website Examples
Let’s look at some successful ways organizations use SharePoint sites. These practical examples can serve as inspiration for your next site design.
1. Company Intranet Portals
A company intranet is the central hub for employee communication and resources. Key features often include:
- Announcements and news
- Employee directories
- Quick links to tools and resources
- Company policies and procedures
- Event calendars
Benefits: Improved communication, single source of truth, and easy access to company information.
2. Department Sites
Each department—HR, IT, Marketing, Finance—can have its own dedicated SharePoint site featuring:
- Department news and updates
- Project or team-specific documents
- Collaboration spaces
- Workflows for requests (like IT tickets or HR forms)
Why this works: Streamlines communication within departments and keeps resources organized.
3. Project Management Sites
Ideal for teams working on specific initiatives. These sites frequently include:
- Task lists with deadlines
- Gantt charts or Kanban boards (using SharePoint lists or third-party integrations)
- Document libraries for project files
- Milestone tracking
Benefit: Centralizes all project information, improving team alignment and progress tracking.
4. Knowledge Base and FAQ Sites
A SharePoint site can be designed as a searchable knowledge base to house:
- How-to guides
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Troubleshooting tips
- Video tutorials
Result: Reduces support tickets and empowers employees to find answers independently.
5. Employee Onboarding Portals
Help new hires get started with:
- Step-by-step onboarding checklists
- Company orientation videos
- Forms and HR documents
- Contacts for key team members
Advantage: Speeds up the onboarding process and ensures a consistent experience.
6. Corporate Resource Libraries
Centralize important documents such as:
- Branding assets
- Templates (presentations, letterheads)
- Legal and compliance files
- Policy documents
Outcome: Ensures everyone accesses the most current and approved resources.
7. Social and Community Sites
Foster employee engagement with:
- Discussion forums
- Interest groups (sports, hobbies)
- Recognition boards (“Employee of the Month”)
- Polls and surveys
Impact: Strengthens company culture and encourages social connections.
8. Executive Dashboards
Leadership teams can use visually-rich dashboards for:
- Key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Financial summaries
- Project status updates
- Interactive reports
Benefit: Provides quick, data-driven insights for decision-makers.
9. HR Self-Service Sites
Automate HR requests, policies, and documentation with:
- Leave request forms
- Benefits enrollment information
- Update personal details
- Policy acknowledgments
Perk: Lets employees handle routine HR tasks without emails or paper forms.
10. IT Service Portals
Offer IT support with:
- Ticket submission and tracking
- System status updates
- Knowledge base articles
- Software request forms
Value: Improves transparency and speeds up tech support workflows.
Common Features in Effective SharePoint Sites
When designing your SharePoint site, consider including:
- Quick links to important resources
- Mega menus for advanced navigation
- Branded themes matching your company’s identity
- Integrated calendars for events and deadlines
- Document libraries with version control
- News feeds and updates
- Search bars for easy information retrieval
- Web parts for dynamic content (charts, countdowns, weather, etc.)
Best Practices for Designing Your SharePoint Website
Strong SharePoint sites are intentional and user-focused. Here are some key tips:
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Know Your Audience
- Identify who will use the site and what their needs are.
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Gather feedback from potential users during planning.
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Plan Your Structure
- Organize the site with clear menus and logical navigation.
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Use site maps or diagrams before building.
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Keep Design Clean and Consistent
- Use your brand colors, logo, and fonts.
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Avoid clutter—less is often more.
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Prioritize Mobile Responsiveness
- Many users access SharePoint from phones or tablets.
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Test layouts and navigation on multiple devices.
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Leverage Templates and Web Parts
- Use pre-built SharePoint templates for common use cases.
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Add web parts for interactive elements like charts, calendars, and forms.
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Set Permissions Wisely
- Define access levels carefully—protect sensitive info.
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Review permissions regularly as team members change.
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Keep Content Fresh
- Schedule regular updates for news, announcements, and documents.
- Archive outdated content to prevent clutter.
Overcoming Common SharePoint Challenges
While SharePoint is powerful, it can present a few hurdles:
- Overcomplexity: Avoid creating overly complicated sites. Focus on what’s truly needed.
- Poor adoption: Involve users early and offer training to encourage regular use.
- Content sprawl: Assign content owners to keep information organized.
- Performance issues: Regularly review site speed and optimize images or files.
Practical Solutions
- Set up a governance plan detailing site usage, content rules, and maintenance responsibilities.
- Use analytics to monitor popular areas and improve navigation accordingly.
Cost Tips for SharePoint Websites
SharePoint itself is part of Microsoft’s subscription plans (such as Microsoft 365 Business or enterprise suites). Here are some cost-savvy strategies:
- Use out-of-the-box features and templates to avoid custom development fees.
- Leverage existing licenses. Many organizations already have SharePoint covered in their Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
- Train “power users” in-house to reduce expensive consultancy needs.
- Avoid unnecessary third-party add-ons unless they prove immediate value.
- Manage storage wisely by archiving old files, which can help avoid additional storage fees.
Remember, thoughtful planning and leveraging built-in tools can keep your SharePoint site both robust and budget-friendly.
Practical Tips for Getting Started
Ready to build or refresh your SharePoint website? Follow these practical steps:
- Define the site’s purpose (e.g., intranet, project management, HR hub).
- Gather stakeholder requirements—ask teams what features they need.
- Choose a modern, responsive template as your starting point.
- Map out your site structure—create navigation menus and page hierarchy.
- Populate with initial content (documents, news posts, tasks).
- Test with a small user group and collect feedback.
- Launch, then iterate. Treat your site as a living resource—improve over time.
Inspiring Design Ideas
You don’t have to start from scratch with your SharePoint site. Modern design trends that work especially well in SharePoint include:
- Hero images: Large, engaging banners on the homepage.
- Icon-based navigation: Visual shortcuts improve user experience.
- Interactive dashboards: At-a-glance updates for key metrics or deadlines.
- Social feeds: Embed Yammer or Teams conversations for real-time discussion.
- Personalized content: Show users what’s relevant to them, such as department news or outstanding tasks.
Summary
SharePoint sites have transformed the way organizations share information, collaborate, and manage projects. With smart planning and attention to user needs, your company can build a SharePoint website that is attractive, effective, and easy to use. Start with proven site examples for inspiration, stay true to best practices, and keep evolving your site based on feedback and analytics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What types of SharePoint sites can I create?
You can create communication sites (for broad, company-wide sharing), team sites (for collaboration among a small group), project management sites, department portals, knowledge bases, onboarding hubs, and much more. Each site type has specialized features to support its function.
How can I make my SharePoint site engaging and user-friendly?
Focus on clean design, easy navigation, relevant content, and interactive features like news feeds and quick links. Regularly update the content and involve users in the creation process for better adoption and satisfaction.
Is SharePoint suitable for small businesses?
Absolutely. SharePoint is scalable and works well for businesses of all sizes. Small teams can use SharePoint for document management, collaborative workspaces, or as a lightweight intranet without extensive IT resources.
Do I need to know how to code to build a SharePoint website?
No coding is required for most SharePoint site creation. Modern SharePoint offers intuitive, drag-and-drop web parts, templates, and built-in customization tools. However, coding skills can help unlock advanced customization if needed.
How do I keep my SharePoint site secure?
Set up clear permissions and access controls. Use Microsoft’s built-in security features like multi-factor authentication and data encryption. Regularly review who has access and update permissions as teams evolve to ensure only authorized users can view sensitive information.
With these insights and practical examples, you’re ready to start building a SharePoint website that will inspire and empower your team!