How to Create a SharePoint Communication Site

A SharePoint communication site is designed for broadcasting information to a broad audience. A small group typically creates and maintains content while many more people read news, reports, status updates, and organizational information.

Choose a communication site or team site

Use a communication site when the priority is publishing information to a broad audience. Use a team site when most members need to contribute to shared work and the content is limited to a project or working group. Microsoft notes that creating a communication site does not create a Microsoft 365 group. [1]

1. Open SharePoint

1. Sign in to Microsoft 365.
2. Open the app launcher in the top-left corner.
3. Select SharePoint.
4. On the SharePoint home page, select Build in the app bar.
5. In the Start building section, select the Site card.

If site creation is disabled or the Site card is unavailable, ask the Microsoft 365 administrator to create the site or enable the appropriate self-service setting. [1]

2. Choose Communication site

1. In the site creation window, choose Communication site.
2. Browse the available templates.
3. Review each template’s preview and site capabilities.
4. Select Use template for the layout that best matches the audience.

Choose a template based on the information structure you need. A news-focused site may need prominent announcements, while a reporting site may need sections for dashboards, documents, and status updates.

3. Enter the site identity

1. Enter a clear Site name.
2. Add a Site description that explains the purpose and audience.
3. Select the site language.
4. Apply a sensitivity label when your organization uses them.

Choose the language carefully. Microsoft notes that the site language cannot be changed after the site is created. [1]

4. Associate the site with a hub when appropriate

If the site belongs within an existing SharePoint information architecture, first navigate to the hub site and select its Create site link. Microsoft says the new communication site can then be automatically associated with that hub. Use a hub structure when several related sites need shared navigation and discovery.

5. Create the site

1. Review the template, name, description, language, and sensitivity settings.
2. Select Create site.
3. When provisioning finishes, select Go to site.

The new site does not automatically inherit permissions or navigation from other sites. Share it with the intended audience and define who can edit content.

6. Define the publishing model

Keep the contributor group small enough to maintain quality and consistency. Decide who can publish news, who can edit pages, and who owns ongoing maintenance. A communication site works best when readers can quickly find current information and trust the content they see.

7. Add content and navigation

Start with a clear home page, a short introduction, the most important links, and a small set of current news or status items. Organize navigation around audience questions rather than internal department names. Remove links that lead to outdated or duplicate content.

Common mistakes

• Using a communication site for a project where everyone needs to collaborate on files and tasks.
• Choosing the site language without confirming the long-term audience.
• Assuming the site inherits permissions from another SharePoint site.
• Giving too many people publishing access.
• Launching with empty pages and no clear owner for updates.

Sources

1. Microsoft Support: Create a communication site in SharePoint
2. Microsoft Support: Create a site in SharePoint