How To Create a SharePoint Site: Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever faced challenges while communicating with your teammates? Are you tired of keeping track of all the tools you need for team collaboration? Thanks to SharePoint, a robust platform for team collaboration brought to you by Microsoft, as part of the Office 365 suite. So, if you are wondering how to create a SharePoint site, you have come to the right place. It has over 100 million monthly commercial active users. Collaborating digitally has become a critical success factor for many organizations. including those offering mobile app development services.

There has to be a centralized system that allows team members to communicate, share information, and work collaboratively on different projects. SharePoint has become a savior for seasoned IT professionals and business users to solve this critical issue. For businesses looking to enhance their digital presence, integrating SharePoint with mobile app development for business can streamline operations even further.

SharePoint is used by over 200,000 organisations worldwide, including 85% of Fortune 500 companies, highlighting its widespread adoption and reliability. In this blog post, we’ll show how you can set up your own SharePoint Site following a step-by-step process. We’ll also touch on considerations like app development cost to help you plan your project effectively. So, without any further delay, let’s straightaway dive in to understand this amazing technology that is used by countless organizations.

What is SharePoint?

In a nutshell, SharePoint is a great tool to consolidate information, streamline processes and enhance productivity. It develops a collaborative approach within the organization by allowing teams to create, manage, and share files and data seamlessly. Enriched with an integrated suite of tools, SharePoint helps facilitate real-time interaction and collaboration, ensuring that the team members can work together effortlessly, no matter whether they work remotely or not. For those looking to get started, learning how to develop a SharePoint site is a fundamental step to leverage its capabilities effectively.

How to Create a SharePoint Site: Step-by-Step Guide?

Step 1: Sign Up for SharePoint

To know how to develop a sharepoint site the first step is to sign up for an account. If you are part of an organisation, you might already have access to SharePoint through your Microsoft 365 subscription. If not, you can sign up for a free trial of Microsoft 365, which includes SharePoint Online.

Step 2: Access the SharePoint Admin Center

Once you have set up your SharePoint account, navigate to the SharePoint Admin Center. This is where you will manage your SharePoint sites and settings. The admin center can be accessed by logging into your Microsoft 365 account and selecting SharePoint from the app launcher.

Step 3: Create a New Site

In the SharePoint Admin Center, the process of creating a new site is straightforward. Start by clicking on the “Create” button, which initiates the site creation process. You will then be prompted to make a choice between creating a team site or a communication site. A team site is designed for collaboration within a group, while a communication site is intended for sharing news and information with a broader audience.

Step 4: Choose a Site Template

After selecting the type of site you want to create, you will need to choose a template. SharePoint offers various templates that are designed for different purposes, such as document library, project management, and team collaboration. Choose a template that best fits your requirements.

Step 5: Configure Site Settings

Once you have chosen a template, you will need to configure the site settings. This includes specifying the site name, site description, site address, and permissions. You can also add site members and assign roles to manage access to the site.

Step 6: Customize Your Site

After configuring the site settings, you can start customising your site. SharePoint provides various tools and features for site customisation, including web parts, page layouts, and design templates. Web parts can be added to your pages to display content, like images, texts, videos, and documents.

Step 7: Add Content

With your site customised, you can begin adding content. This includes creating pages, uploading documents, and adding web parts to display information. SharePoint’s document library and lists make organising and managing your content accessible.

Step 8: Publish Your Site

Once you have added all your content, review your site to ensure everything is set up correctly. When you are satisfied with your site, you can publish it to make it accessible to your intended audience. SharePoint allows you to manage permissions and control who can view and edit your site, providing a sense of security and control over your online presence.

SharePoint Server Versus Online – What’s the Difference?

Table showing the major differences between SharePoint Server and SharePoint Online:

In a nutshell, SharePoint Server is a locally hosted platform that provides greater flexibility and more customization options but requires significant maintenance and upfront costs. On the other hand, SharePoint Online is a cloud-based service introduced and managed by Microsoft, that comes with limited customization options but is highly scalable, update-friendly, and easily accessible.

12 Features of SharePoint

SharePoint has proved to be a powerful platform for website creation because it offers a wide range of features. Here are some of its key features to guide you on how to create a SharePoint site:

1. Collaboration

SharePoint allows teams to work together on documents, projects, and tasks. Users can co-author documents, share information, and manage projects efficiently.

2. Document Management

SharePoint provides strong capabilities for managing documents, including version control, metadata, check-in/check-out, and document library. This helps in organising, storing, and retrieving documents.

3. Content Management

SharePoint supports web content management, allowing users to create, organise, and release content on the intranet or public-facing websites. It includes workflows for content approval and publishing.

4. Intranet and Portals

SharePoint can be used to create intranet portals, providing a central location for employees to access company information, news, announcements, and resources.

5. Search Functionality

SharePoint includes powerful search capabilities that allow users to find documents, people, and other information quickly. The search can be customised and extended with metadata.

6. Integration with Microsoft Office

SharePoint seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Office applications, enabling users to open, edit, and save documents directly from Office programs like Word, Excel, and Outlook.

7. Workflow Automation

SharePoint includes built-in workflows for automating business processes, such as document approvals, feedback collection, and task assignments. Custom workflows can also be created using SharePoint Designer or Power Automate.

8. Security and Compliance

SharePoint provides robust security features, including user and group permissions, access control, and audit trails. It also promotes compliance with regulations and industry guidelines.

9. Customisable and Extensible

As SharePoint is highly customisable, it allows organisations to tailor it to their specific needs. Custom web parts, apps, and site templates can be created and integrated.

10. Business Intelligence

SharePoint includes tools for business intelligence, such as dashboards, scorecards, and integration with Power BI Application. This enables users to analyse data and make informed decisions.

11. Social Features

SharePoint offers social networking features, including user profiles, newsfeeds, and communities, fostering communication and knowledge sharing within the organisation.

12. Mobile Access

SharePoint supports mobile access, allowing users to access documents, collaborate, and stay connected from their mobile devices.

This approach will guide you in understanding how to develop a sharepoint site effectively by making it versatile platform for enhancing productivity, collaboration, and information management within organisations.

Advantages and Disadvantages of SharePoint

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of SharePoint:

How to Customise a SharePoint Site?

Customising a SharePoint site can significantly enhance its functionality and appearance to meet your specific needs. Here are the steps to help you customise your SharePoint site online.

1. Understand Your Requirements

Before diving into customisation, it’s crucial to understand your needs and requirements. Try to understand:

• What is the purpose of the site?
• Who are the users?
• What features and functionalities are needed?
• How should the site look and feel?

2. Access Site Settings

To start customising your SharePoint site, navigate to the site you want to customise and access the site settings:

• Click on the icon (Settings) in the upper-right corner.
• Select “Site Information” or “Site Settings” from the drop-down menu.

3. Customize the Look

Change the Theme

• Go to “Settings” > “Change the look.”
• Select a theme from the available options or click on “View classic themes” for more options.
• Customise the colours, fonts, and layout as per your preference.
• Click “Save” to apply the changes.

Add a Logo

• Go to “Settings” > “Site Information.”
• Click “Change” next to the logo.
• Upload your desired logo and click “Save.”

4. Modify the Site Navigation

Edit the Quick Launch Menu

• Go to “Settings” > “Site Contents.”
• Click on “Quick Launch” under “Look and Feel.”
• Add, edit, or remove links to customise the navigation pane.

Edit the Top Navigation Bar

• Go to “Settings” > “Site Contents.”
• Click on “Top Link Bar” under “Look and Feel.”
• Add, edit, or remove links to customise the top navigation bar.

5. Customize Pages

Edit a Page

• Navigate to the page you want to edit.
• Click “Edit” in the top right corner.
• Add or remove web parts (e.g., text, images, lists, libraries) using the “+” button.
• Drag and drop web parts to rearrange them.
• Click “Save” and then “Publish” to make the changes live.

Create a New Page

• Go to “Site Contents.”
• Click on “Site Pages.”
• Click “New” and select “Page.”
• Choose a template and customise it as needed.
• Click “Save” and then “Publish.”

6. Add and Customize Web Parts

In a SharePoint page, the web parts are the building blocks, allowing you to add various types of content and functionality.

Add a Web Part

• Edit the page where you want to add a web part.
• Click the “+” button in the section where you want to add a web part.
• Select the web part of your choice from the list.

Customise a Web Part

• Click on the web part to open its settings.
• Configure the settings as per your requirements.
• Click “Apply” to save the changes.

7. Configure Site Permissions

Manage Site Permissions

• Go to “Settings” > “Site Permissions.”
• Click “Invite people” to add users and assign them appropriate permissions.
• Use the “Advanced permissions settings” to fine-tune access control.

8. Enable and Configure Site Features

Enable Features

• Go to “Settings” > “Site Contents.”
• Click on “Site settings” under “Site Administration.”
• Click on “Manage site features” under “Site Actions.”
• Activate or deactivate features as needed.

Configure Features

• Once a feature is enabled, configure it by navigating to its settings under “Site Administration.”

Conclusion: How To Create a SharePoint Site

To develop a sharepoint site is a straightforward process that offers numerous benefits for organisations looking to improve collaboration, management of documents, and communication. With its powerful features and customisation options, SharePoint can be changed as per the specific needs of any organisation. Whether you are building a team site for internal collaboration or a communication site for sharing information with a broader audience, SharePoint provides the tools you need to create a professional and functional website.

FAQ’s: How to Develop SharePoint Site

Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding SharePoint. Let us discuss them:

Q1. Can I Create a Website with SharePoint?

Yes, you can create a website with SharePoint. SharePoint is a flexible platform that allows you to build intranet sites, team sites, and public-facing websites. With its robust set of features, SharePoint can be used to create websites that are interactive, collaborative, and content-rich. You can utilise SharePoint’s built-in templates and customise them to suit your specific needs.

Q2. How Do I Create a Public SharePoint Site?

Creating a public SharePoint site involves several steps:

• Login to SharePoint: Access your SharePoint account.
• Create a New Site: Click on “Create site” from the home page of SharePoint
• Choose the Site Type: Select whether you want a Team site or a Communication site.
• Configure the Site: Enter the site name, description, and other details.
• Set Permissions: Define who can access the site and what permissions they have.
• Make it Public: Adjust the site’s sharing settings to make it public.

Public-facing sites are not available in SharePoint Online (Office 365) but can be set up on SharePoint on-premises versions.

Q3. Is SharePoint Good for a Website?

SharePoint is a strong platform for certain types of websites, particularly intranets, collaboration portals, and document management systems. It is well-suited for organisations that need to integrate with Microsoft Office products and require robust collaboration tools. However, for traditional public-facing websites, other content management systems (CMS) like WordPress or Joomla might be more suitable due to their flexibility and ease of use.

Q4. Can I Create a Personal Site on SharePoint?

Yes, you can create a personal site on SharePoint, known as “My Site.” My Sites are personal SharePoint sites that provide individuals with a space to manage documents, links, and information. These sites are typically used to store personal documents, share information with colleagues, and manage tasks.

Q5. What are the Two Types of SharePoint Sites?

The two primary types of SharePoint sites are:

• Team Sites: Designed for collaboration among team members. They include features like document libraries, task lists, calendars, and discussion boards.
• Communication Sites: Intended for sharing information with a broader audience. They are typically used for company-wide announcements, news, and reports and focus more on broadcasting information than collaboration.

Q6. Who Can Create Sites in SharePoint?

Site creation in SharePoint can be restricted based on your organisation’s policies. Typically, site creation permissions are granted to:

• Admins: SharePoint or Office 365 admins have the highest level of permissions and can create and manage all aspects of SharePoint sites.
• Designated Users: Specific users or groups can be granted permission to create sites. This can be controlled through SharePoint’s site settings and policies.

Permissions can be customised to ensure that only authorised personnel can create new sites, helping maintain organisational structure and governance.