Learn what Zoho Connect is, why organisations use it, how it differs from Zoho Cliq, and how to create posts. This article is for anyone in an organisation that uses Zoho One.
Applies to: Zoho Connect – All clients
What is Zoho Connect?
Zoho Connect is a team collaboration platform and enterprise social network. It works as a modern digital intranet, bringing your people, internal resources and daily applications together in one place. As part of the Zoho One suite, Connect is the central hub for company-wide communication, department discussions and knowledge sharing.
Why use Zoho Connect?
Connect helps break down communication silos and build a transparent, inclusive workplace culture. Instead of relying on scattered email chains and documents, you can:
- Centralise information: keep company announcements, policies and resources in one easy-to-find place.
- Boost engagement: encourage interaction across departments and office locations. This is especially useful for remote and hybrid teams.
- Keep organisational knowledge: build searchable guides and discussions, so answers aren't lost when someone leaves the business.
- Streamline feedback: give staff a place to share ideas, answer polls and join open discussions with leadership.
How is Connect different from Zoho Cliq?
Think of it as email versus a phone call.
- Zoho Cliq (real time): like a phone call or text message. Use Cliq for quick questions, urgent updates and instant back-and-forth. If you need an answer right now, use Cliq.
- Zoho Connect (in your own time): like an email, forum or noticeboard. Use Connect for detailed announcements, policy updates and in-depth discussions that people can read and reply to at their own pace. Connect posts are indexed, searchable and stay as permanent knowledge for the organisation.
What's included in Connect?
Connect has several built-in modules. Depending on how your network administrator has set up your Zoho One environment, some of them may not be turned on for your organisation.
- Feeds: the central timeline of updates, announcements and activity from your colleagues and groups.
- Groups: workspaces for departments, project teams or social interests (for example, "Marketing Team" or "Social Club"). See Create and manage groups in Zoho Connect.
- Manuals: a structured knowledge base for employee handbooks, SOPs and how-to guides.
- Town Halls: interactive Q&A sessions or AMAs (Ask Me Anything) with management or subject matter experts.
- Tasks & Boards: task management with Kanban boards to track internal work and project progress. See Create and manage task boards in Zoho Connect.
- Files: a central place to store, share and collaborate on internal documents.
- Events: a shared calendar to schedule, manage and RSVP to company-wide or group events.
- Forums: discussion boards for longer, categorised conversations on specific topics.
Types of posts
You can post from your main Feed or from a group's wall. Click the text box at the top of the feed (it usually says "Share your thoughts...") to see the post types:
- General post: a standard update or message. You can tag colleagues with @, format your text, and attach files or images.
- Announcement: a high-priority message for important updates. Network or group administrators can pin announcements to the top of the feed so everyone sees them.
- Question: highlighted differently so colleagues can submit answers. One answer can be marked as the "Best Answer" for future reference.
- Poll: a multiple-choice question for colleagues to vote on (for example, "Where should we host the Christmas party?").
- Idea: a suggestion for the organisation. Other members can upvote or downvote it, so management can see how popular or viable it is.
Create a post
- Go to your Feed (for network-wide posts) or open a Group.
- Click in the box at the top of the page.
- Select the icon for the type of post you want (Post, Question, Poll, Announcement or Idea).
- Add your content, attachments and tags, then click Share.
New to Connect? See Accept a Zoho Connect invitation and sign in.