Digital Asset Management for Video: Tips & Best Practices

When most people think about digital asset management (DAM), they think about managing images, such as logos and other brand assets, stock photos, product photography, and the like. But failing to recognize the power of digital asset management for video means ignoring a crucial component of your digital content. Think about it: Much of the online world today is driven by video. YouTube has more than one billion users, and more than 500 million hours of video are watched on YouTube every single day.

The popularity of video isn’t limited to YouTube, either. More than half a billion people watch videos on Facebook every day, for instance, and more than 82% of Twitter users watch videos on Twitter. Overall, over 85% of the internet audience in the U.S. consumes video content online. And as far back as 2012, nearly 9 out of 10 (87%) of online marketers were already using video content. If you’re one of them (or intend to be soon), DAM for video should be a top priority. Follow these best practices to do it right.

Include Important Specifications in Your Video Metadata 

A video’s resolution (width and height in pixels) determines the size a video will display on a screen. Audiences are viewing video content across a range of screen sizes, and depending on where you plan to distribute a video, you’ll need to comply with the platform’s guidelines on video resolution, length, and other specifications. In other words, size matters. By including important specifications like resolution, length, and frame rate in your video metadata, your team can quickly and easily determine what videos are suitable for a specific channel, helping your team meet deadlines more efficiently.

Standardize Your Video Format

If you’ve been working with videos for several years, you’ve probably amassed quite the collection of video files in a variety of container formats, such as .avi, .mov, and .flv. Make your life easier by standardizing your video files into an accessible format to avoid issues later on when you need to view or distribute your videos to other channels.

Use Proxy Clips (or Preview Clips)

Proxy clips, otherwise known as preview clips, can make your video database more user-friendly by providing a brief snippet so users can quickly determine whether a particular video is relevant for their needs. Preview clips save time by eliminating the need to wait for an entire video file to download to view it and determine relevance. Ideally, a DAM solution will automatically generate preview clips when you catalog your videos.

Choose a DAM Solution with Built-in Multi-Channel Distribution Capabilities

Today’s audiences are consuming video content across an array of channels, from websites to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and even Instagram and Snapchat. With so many platforms to keep tabs on, it makes sense to select a DAM solution with built-in distribution capabilities. Not only does it make sharing your video content seamless, but you can easily determine what videos have been shared where (and when) without tracking down all your social platforms.

Look for a DAM Solution with File Conversion and Codec Functionality

Codec is software that shrinks the file size of videos by compressing audio and video. They’re typically used to make a video file smaller for storage and decompress those files for playback. Look for a DAM that includes or supports codec so that you don’t need to add another software application to your workflow.

Create a Consistent Video Production and Distribution Workflow

Speaking of workflows, a consistent workflow for managing the production process, permissions, and video distribution is a must. A DAM solution like MerlinOne offers built-in workflows that you can customize to meet your specific needs, automating tedious, time-consuming tasks like file conversion to save your team time. Download our white paper to learn more about MerlinOne’s Workflow Engine.

Have Ample Storage and Processing Speed

Obviously, video files take up substantially more space than static images do (even when they’re compressed for storage). So, you’ll want to make sure you have adequate storage space – you’re going to want to store the highest-quality image files you have (those with the highest resolution and frame rate) so you can convert to other formats as needed but never risk losing the original, high-quality format. And that means you also need enough processing power, including CPU, memory, and hard drive speed, to ensure quick cataloging. Likewise, bandwidth is crucial for quick file transfers.

Digital asset management is about more than just brand logos and images. With videos becoming an increasingly important component of brand management, following these best practices will help you get the most out of your DAM solution for video. Schedule a demo with MerlinOne today to find out how the leading DAM solution trusted by the world’s most iconic brands can help you better leverage your video production and distribution process – and streamline your creative operations.