Video is how you connect with your audience. But managing those videos is overwhelming. Storage is a mess, finding the right clip takes forever, and you worry about using the wrong footage.
A video asset management (VAM) system solves these problems.
What is VAM?
VAM systems (or DAM systems with robust video capabilities) store, organize, and protect your video assets. Think of it as a super-powered library for your videos.
VAM functionalities lets you:
- Find any video instantly by tagging videos with details like subject, location, and even the emotions they convey in a centralized location.
- Protect your work with copyright and usage rights tracking.
- Secure and manage your assets like videos that you spend precious marketing dollars to create.
- Maintain your brand’s image by ensuring videos align with your brand guidelines for colors, logos, and style.
Challenges Managing Company Video Assets
Massive file sizes. Video files are huge, especially raw footage and high-resolution content. Without the right storage, you’ll quickly run out of space and slow down your workflow.
Complex details. Videos aren’t just a single image. They contain visuals, audio, and themes that change over time. Finding the right clip means remembering a lot of details.
Compliance. Copyright laws are complex, especially for videos combining different elements (music, stock footage, etc.). Using the wrong asset puts your brand at risk.
Best Practices for Organizing and Tagging Video Content
Establish clear and consistent taxonomy. Decide on a tagging system upfront (objects, locations, themes, etc.) and stick to it. [Example: A retailer might consistently tag by product line, clothing type, and model]
Utilize facial recognition. If your videos feature people, facial recognition software makes it easy to find everyone in an instant.
Automate metadata entry. When you upload a video, your VAM system should prompt you for key details in your digital content like date, location, and project. This saves time and prevents mistakes later.
Include brand-related words. Include mood words (“inspiring”, “funny”) for even more ways to find the perfect clip.
Must-Have VAM Features to Protect Brand Assets
Version control and change history. You need to know who changed what, and when those changes were made. VAM systems also let you control which team members have permissions to different videos. And access control reduces risk.
Automatic compliance checks. Your VAM should warn you about potential copyright issues like unlicensed music or outdated stock footage.
Brand guidelines and formatting. Upload your brand guide and your VAM should flag videos that use the wrong colors, fonts, or outdated logos.
Watermarking. Make it easy to protect your work by embedding watermarks directly within the videos.
AI and Machine Learning Enhance VAM Systems
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) make VAM even more powerful.
Here’s how:
- AI-powered transcription. Generates text versions of your videos, making them easily searchable. [Example: Find all videos where a specific product is mentioned]
- Object & scene recognition. Identify objects (products, brands) and scene types (beach, office) within your videos.
- Mood and sentiment analysis. AI understands the emotional impact of your videos, so you can find the right clip for the right message.
- Automated content summarization. Extract key topics and themes, giving you a quick overview.
How VAM Upholds Brand Consistency and Compliance
Simplified brand asset sharing. VAM gives teams a single place to find the latest, approved videos, so your brand always looks its best.
Rights management. Your VAM tracks what rights you have for each video, when they expire, and who can use them.
Automated brand violation checks. Your VAM flags videos that use the wrong colors, fonts, or outdated logos, catching mistakes before they damage your brand.
Leverage a digital asset management system for video today! Take a tour of PhotoShelter.