Academy 365/SharePoint Intranet Site Build Master Class V2

SharePoint Intranet Site Build Master Class V2

Learn how to quickly create beautiful and functional SharePoint Communication Intranet Sites

⏱️ 4h 45min | 66 lessons

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9/5

$249 $124

BLACK FRIDAY DISCOUNT

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After completing this course, you 'll have...

Gained a solid understanding of the core principles and functionalities which underpin every SharePoint Online site.

Built a fully functioning department site based on the most common real-world Intranet site requirements.

Mastered how to combine site features to create solutions to requirements which provide a rich and engaging user experience.

Obtained a new skill set that will enable you to tackle future site requirements with confidence and success.

If we haven't met before - hi, I'm Dan 👋

...and I build Intranets and have been doing this since 2010 (It's been a long road!)

“SharePoint Sucks!” …is something I hear all the time.

The truth?... SharePoint can be frustrating—not because it’s bad, but because it can do so much.

I constantly hear the same struggles:

🙁 I’m now the owner of my department’s SharePoint site… and I have no idea what I’m doing!

😣 I’ve watched a million YouTube videos, but none of them answer my specific problem!

😔 What the hell is metadata, and how do I actually use it?!

🥺 I have great ideas, but I’m afraid I’ll break something if I try… better not risk it!

😩 My site is just a document graveyard—nothing more!

😢 My site is as interesting as a wet carrot. How do I make it engaging?!

😭 Nobody visits my site. Zero adoption. What am I doing wrong?!

🤯 My site looks NOTHING like the amazing examples I’ve seen. What am I missing?!

😡 This is too hard. I give up!

I get it... I've been there...

But here’s the good news:

SharePoint has evolved into an incredibly powerful, flexible, and user-friendly platform. It’s easier than ever to create stunning, functional, and engaging sites—if you know how to do it right.

And that's exactly what I'm going to teach you!

This course will shortcut your learning curve by taking you step by step through building a SharePoint site that is not only functional but also designed for maximum user engagement.

🤔 What makes this course different?

  • No IT skills needed - This is built for non-technical users. You’ll go from zero to expert without the jargon.

  • Focus on amazing user experiences - Learn exactly how to structure content so people actually want use your site.

  • Step-by-step site build - We don’t just talk theory. We build an entire, fully-featured SharePoint site together.

  • Best practices & real-world use cases - Get insider tips on how SharePoint pros create high-impact sites that teams love.

👀 What you'll learn...

  • How to create a visually stunning homepageThe key to engagement starts here.

  • How to build a Meet the Team pageShowcase your department and team members professionally.

  • How to design a dynamic FAQ sectionReduce repetitive questions and empower users with self-service answers.

  • How to create a digital employee handbookSay goodbye to outdated PDFs—make policies easy to update and access.

  • How to build a training & development hubOrganize learning resources effectively and drive adoption.

  • News & announcements done rightKeep employees informed with structured, categorized news feeds.

  • How to brand your site like a proMake your SharePoint site look and feel like a polished corporate platform.

🤷‍♀️ Who is this course for?

  • You’re responsible for your department’s SharePoint site… and you don’t know where to start.

  • You’ve tried learning SharePoint but keep hitting dead ends.

  • You want to create an engaging, structured, and beautifully designed intranet site.

  • You need to build a site that people will actually use.

This course is for YOU! 🫵

🏁 By the end of this course, you'll have...

  • A fully functional SharePoint site that looks incredible

  • The confidence to manage and grow your site without fear

  • A deep understanding of how to create user-friendly SharePoint experiences

  • The skills to build future sites for any business need

💡 Course Structure & Content

Explore what's in the course...

0. Introduction

0.0 Course Introduction
Preview

1. Create your first site page - Meet the Team

In this module, we’ll create a “Meet the Team” page to introduce your department to the rest of the company.

You’ll learn how to build team member profiles and showcase your department’s role and purpose. From a SharePoint perspective, we’ll explore site pages—how they’re structured, how to apply layouts, and how to add and organize content.

By the end, you’ll be confident in designing and structuring SharePoint pages that effectively communicate your team’s identity and mission.

💡Lessons in this module:

1.0 Module introduction
1.1 Create your first site page
1.2 How to structure and add content to a site page
1.3 How to configure the default page header
1.4 How to create a custom page header
1.5 How to create a custom people profile layout
1.6 How to duplicate and resuse page content
1.7 How to show and hide content on a page
1.8 How to publishing a site page

2. Create an Employee Handbook Section

In this module, we’ll transform a traditional employee handbook into a dynamic, easily updatable digital resource using SharePoint.

Instead of dealing with outdated PDFs or printed copies, you’ll learn how to structure the handbook across multiple site pages, use metadata to connect content, and create an intuitive navigation experience.

We’ll cover how to organize documentation, place relevant forms where employees need them, and optimize site navigation for seamless access.

By the end, you’ll have a well-structured, user-friendly digital handbook that’s always up to date.

💡Lessons in this module:

2.0 Module introduction
2.1 Create your employee handbook landing page
2.2 Create your handbook landing page structure
2.3 Create the custom page header
2.4 Create the employee handbook section links
2.5 Final updates and publish the landing page
2.6 Copy a page to create your first chapter section page
2.7 Building out page content with collapsible sections
2.8 Learn how to create and use page metadata
2.9 Link your landing page to your policy/chapter page
2.10 Create your second chapter secion page with embedded documents

3. Create a Training Resource Catalogue User Experience

In this module, we’ll create a user-friendly training and development resource catalog within SharePoint.

This section of your HR site will allow employees to browse available training materials, access courses via direct links, and find key information about the learning platform.

You’ll learn how to structure and manage content using SharePoint lists, create custom views, and embed them into site pages for a seamless experience.

This approach isn’t just for training—it’s a powerful SharePoint design pattern you can apply in many scenarios. By the end, you’ll have a well-structured, engaging training hub.

💡Lessons in this module:

3.0 Module introduction
3.2 Create your first SharePoint list
3.3 Learn how to structure your list
3.4 Learn how to add items to your list
3.5 Create a custome grouped view of training resources
3.6 Create a training & development page experience
3.7 Embedd your training catalogue on your new page and publish

4. Create a Frequently Asked Questions User Experience

In this module, we’ll build a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section to help users find answers quickly—reducing repetitive queries and saving your team time.

We’ll explore two different approaches: a list-based FAQ for managing large volumes of questions across multiple pages and a page-based FAQ with collapsible sections for a more customized display.

You’ll also learn how to add “mailto” links with pre-filled subjects, making it easy for users to submit new questions. By the end, you’ll have a structured, user-friendly FAQ solution tailored to your needs.

💡Lessons in this module:

4.1 Module introduction
4.2 Create an your second SharePoint list as an FAQ
4.3 Learn how to quickly populate a list from excel
4.4 Learn how to create a grouped list view of questions & answers
4.5 Create a FAQ user experience using a new site page
4.6 How to create dynamic filters for FAQ categories & publish
4.7 How to create a page-only FAQ experience

5. Create an Initiative or Event User Experience

In this module, we’ll build an engaging page to showcase an initiative or event—like a social committee.

You’ll learn how to promote your committee, highlight its benefits, display upcoming events, and create an interactive image gallery.

From a SharePoint perspective, we’ll break away from standard layouts, exploring alternative headers, sidebars, and design elements.

You’ll also learn how to integrate a custom event calendar, automate an image gallery, and even create custom icons in PowerPoint. Whether for a committee, event, or special initiative, this module will help you build a dynamic, resource-rich page.

💡Lessons in this module:

5.1 Module introduction
5.2 Create a welcome banner welcoming your users
5.3 Create a sign up form and mini process to track membership
5.4 Learn how to configure and create categorised events
5.5 Create custom icons for showcasing benefits
5.6 Create and manage an image gallery on your site
5.7 Publish your page and add it to the site navigation

6. Create a Targeted Site User Experience for New Joiners

In this module, we’ll create a dedicated space for new employees, helping them get up to speed quickly.

We’ll build an induction page featuring an event feed for onboarding sessions, a tailored FAQ page with filtered content for new joiners, and a useful links page using different web parts for easy navigation.

You’ll also learn how to reuse existing content, making the most of what’s already available on your site.

From a SharePoint perspective, this module reinforces key skills while demonstrating how to structure and personalize content effectively.

By the end, you’ll have a seamless onboarding experience.

💡Lessons in this module:

6.1 Module introduction
6.2 Create your new joiners landing page user experience
6.3 Create an induction calendar page experience
6.4 Update your FAQ list with a new joiners category and custom view
6.5 Create a useful links page user experience for new joiners

7. Create Multiple News Categories and Feeds

In this module, we’ll explore how to publish and manage news within your department’s SharePoint site.

You’ll learn how to create and categorize news posts—covering general updates, job opportunities, and actionable items—so they appear in separate feeds on your homepage.

We’ll also introduce metadata to control job post visibility based on open and close dates. Additionally, we’ll cover how to create a news digest for email distribution and how to promote external news, like social media articles.

By the end, you’ll have a structured, dynamic news experience that keeps your team informed.

💡Lessons in this module:

7.1 Module introduction
7.2 How to create site news categories with metadata
7.3 Create your first custom news article type
7.4 Create a job opportunity news post
7.5 Create a countdown to-know-to-do news article
7.6 How to create news links for external news articles
7.7 Learn how to efficiently manage news on your site
7.8 How to create multiple news feed for your news article types
7.9 How to create an email news digest

8. Create a User Experience Optimised Site Homepage

n this module, we’ll bring everything together by designing a homepage that serves as the central hub for your SharePoint site.

You’ve put in the hard work creating self-service content, news, events, and key resources—now it’s time to showcase them effectively. We’ll focus on structuring the page to highlight priority content, making navigation intuitive, and ensuring key updates stand out.

From a SharePoint perspective, this module covers best practices for creating an engaging, well-organized landing page that enhances the user experience. By the end, your site will be polished, functional, and easy to explore.

💡Lessons in this module:

8.1 Module introduction
8.2 What to put in the top section of your homepage
8.3 Create a communications hub for your homepage
8.4 Explore additional common homepage content
8.5 Final changes to optimise your site navigation

9. Learn How to Apply Branding to Your Site

In this module, we’ll focus on branding your SharePoint site to align with your company’s identity. Using branding assets, imagery, and guidelines, we’ll explore how to apply a cohesive look and feel across your site.

SharePoint now offers more customization options than ever, so we’ll cover how to add custom fonts, themes, headers, and footers. We’ll also discuss subtle branding enhancements through page content to create a visually engaging experience.

By the end, your site will not only function well but also reflect your organization’s unique style. Let’s get started!

💡Lessons in this module:

9.1 Module introduction
9.2 How to create and applying a custom color theme
9.3 How to apply a custom font to our site
9.4 Configuring our site header and logo
9.5 Final thoughts on site branding & user experience

What past students say about the course...

David Browne

"As a relative newcomer to SharePoint, I found this course incredibly valuable. The course has taken me from a beginner to confidently building professional intranet sites. Kudos to Dan!"

Chris Headrick

"I rolled out department sites using what I learned in this course and everyone is very impressed!"

Emily Patel

"This course is a gem for anyone wanting to create a SharePoint online intranet site. The emphasis on meeting real-world requirements without the need for customization was impressive."