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UN-DAM IT: A Guide to Cleaning Up Your Brand’s Digital Files Once and for All
Explore these best practices from various brands and digital asset management pros to establish sustainable DAM workflows.
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Feeling overwhelmed by your messy digital life in the cloud? You’re not alone.
While spring is for cleaning closets, experts suggest auditing and clearing out digital content libraries every three months. Seasonal cleanups help prevent frustration from duplicate assets, inactive users, and poor documentation.
“Just like deep cleaning your home, your digital asset management (DAM) system needs regular upkeep,” says Ben Owen, Stacks Sales and Marketing Manager. Daily maintenance is key, but seasonal deep cleans are essential to catch outdated or misplaced assets.
Empower your DAM manager to create a plan for keeping your content library organized. Here are some tips from the Stacks team:
- Pre-DAM Selection: Help photographers choose the best photos to tag and share in real-time. Use efficient photo editing tools to streamline this process.
- Strategic Cleaning: Tackle large backlogs with a strategic plan. Stacks suggests simple strategies to make sorting and auditing easier.
- User-Friendly Organization: Organize your DAM to make searching and finding assets easier for content creators and social media managers.
- Keyword List: Create a brand-specific keyword list to help everyone find what they need quickly. Analyze commonly used search terms and context relevant to your business.
- File Naming: Develop and regularly update file naming best practices to keep assets organized and easily discoverable.
- SMART Goals: Set clear goals so everyone knows their role and how their contributions impact the DAM’s success. Track usage and other important metrics.
- Measure Success: Calculate the ROI of your DAM by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and analyzing data reports.
A well-maintained DAM strengthens brand guidelines, ensures branding consistency, and acts as a secure, organized archive for your creative content.
How do you choose the DAM that’s right for your team? Download our DAM Buyer’s Guide to help narrow down your selection.