Organizing dozens or even hundreds of SharePoint sites can feel overwhelming. In this video, Allison Gonzalez explains how SharePoint Hub Sites can bring order to the chaos. She covers what a hub site is, how to set one up, and when it makes sense to use one.
What is a SharePoint Hub Site?
A hub site is a top-level site in SharePoint that connects related sites together. It unifies branding, navigation, and search across all associated sites. Think of it as a single front door that leads to multiple rooms—each room representing a related site.
When Should You Use a Hub Site?
- Small Teams: If you only have a few sites, a hub site is unnecessary.
- Larger Organizations: Ideal for departments or regions with multiple related sites.
- Common Themes: Use hubs for sites that share a theme, such as marketing, regions, or business units.
Steps to Create a Hub Site
- Be a SharePoint Admin: Only admins can create hub sites.
- Select the Parent Site: Choose a communication or team site to serve as the hub.
- Register as Hub: In the admin center, select the site and click Register as a hub site.
- Name the Hub: Assign a clear name like “Marketing Hub.”
- Set Permissions: Decide who can associate other sites with this hub.
Associating Sites with the Hub
Once the hub is registered, connect other sites:
- Open the site you want to associate.
- Click the hub dropdown and select Associate with hub.
- Alternatively, use the right-hand pane under Hub Association.
After association, all connected sites inherit the hub’s branding and navigation.
Benefits of Hub Sites
- Unified Branding: Change colors, logos, and themes in one place.
- Centralized Navigation: Add links at the hub level to appear across all associated sites.
- Enhanced Search: Search results span all connected sites, improving content discovery.
Best Practices for Hub Sites
- Do not create a hub for every team or project—stick to thematic groupings.
- If multiple hubs are needed, consider a home site that links to all hubs for easy access.
- Avoid frequent hub changes; a site can only belong to one hub at a time, and constant changes confuse users.
Final Thoughts
Hub sites are a powerful way to unify the SharePoint experience without restructuring content. They simplify branding, navigation, and search across related sites. For organizations managing multiple sites, hub sites provide a streamlined and user-friendly solution.
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