How to build an Intranet with WordPress (using these 10 plugins and themes)

WordPress has some great plugins and themes that can help you build an Intranet. Below I have listed 10 WordPress plugins and themes that you should consider. I’ll be showing you ‘step by step’ how to build an Intranet with WordPress in the next month on the Pootlepress Academy.

#1 WordPress Multi-site

How to give each of your teams their own collaboration space

I recommend you use WordPress Multi-site to build your Intranet. WordPress multi-site will enable you to create separate zones for each of your departments, countries, teams etc.

Each zone (or WordPress website) can have a different design or can be incorporated into your overall corporate brand. WordPress multi-site websites can either run as a sub-directory e.g www.intranet.co.uk/bristol or as a sub-domain e.g bristol.intranet.co.uk.

#2 Wishlist member

How to restrict access to your employees

To restrict access to your Intranet you have 2 options.

You could use a membership plugin like wishlist member to tightly control who has access.

Or you could install WordPress on an internal server and give your WordPress install an internal IP address so it couldn’t be viewed outside of your corporate network. This will require help from you network administrator or IT department.

#3 The P2 Theme

How to improve engagement and communication

I love the P2 theme. It will create your very own micro-blogging website and really improve communication in your organisation. It allows employees to easily share information. It’s a bit like twitter for business. Check out this demo to see it in action. P2 + WordPress multisite is a great combination as it will let you give each department or team their own space to collaborate and share information.

[box type=”tick”]Update: WooThemes have released a really cool ‘child theme’ for P2 called Houston. Take a look at the short video demo below to see P2 and Houston in action.[/box]

#4 Buddypress

How to improve collaboration

If you want to super-charge the social aspect of your Intranet then take a look at Buddypress. Buddypress is a bit like Facebook but unlike Facebook you have ultimate control on how it is set up and managed. It has groups, members, forums, internal messaging, activity streams and simple document management (through plugins).

#5 Gravity Forms

How to create online forms

If you want to move away from paper forms on your Intranet then take a look at Gravity Forms. It will let you create forms and make them available on your Intranet. It’s very simple to use and any non-technical person can administer it.

#6 CollabPress

How to add project management

If you want to add simple project management to your WordPress Intranet then take a look at CollabPress. This now supports Buddypress and adds project and task management functionality to WordPress.

#7 Events Manager Pro

How to add events

If you need to add events management to your Intranet then check out Events Manager Pro.

#8 Booking Calendar

How to book meeting rooms

To add the ability to book meeting rooms to your Intranet take a look at the Pro version of Booking Calendar.

#9 BBPress

How to add a forum to your Intranet

Forums are still one of the best ways to share of knowledge and  information. BBPress is very simple to install and you can set up your own forums in 1o mins.

#10 VaultPress

How to make sure everything is backed up

It’s absolutely vital that all the data on your Intranet is fully backed up. Vaultpress is run by Automatic (the company behind WordPress) and will back up all your content to the cloud. They will also help to restore your content should anything go wrong on your servers.