Learn best practices for building an effective folder structure for your digital asset management software. Make it easy to search and browse through folders.

1. WebDAM Solutions
http://www.webdamsolutions.com
© 2005-2011 Virtual Moment, LLC. Company Confidential

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Metadata 101
http://www.damsuccess.com/discover/damprimer-webinars/
Controlled Vocabulary
http://www.damsuccess.com/discover/damprimer-webinars/using-keywords/
User Adoption
http://www.damsuccess.com/discover/damprimer-webinars/user-adoption/

3. Post-webinar survey
Follow us @WebDAM
Live tweet feed #webdamwebinar
Digital Asset Management Blog
http://www.webdamsolutions.com/digital-assetmanagement/
 LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/webdamsolutions
 Facebook
http://facebook.com/webdam
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4. 
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The leader in digital asset management in
the cloud
Founded in 2005
Real world expertise
Implemented across industries
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Education
Travel and tourism
Entertainment
Government
Technology
Manufacturing

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Benefits of using folders
Best practices
Organizational strategies
Real-world case studies
Developing an organizational
structure

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Familiar
Easy to use
Do not rely on metadata

7. 
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Universally understood
No special software needed
Makes migration easy Mac
Web
Bridge
Windows

8. 
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Commonly used in processes
Enables batch activities
Provides way to segment data
Facilitates collaboration

9. 
Set permissions by folder
 Who can view
 Who can edit
 Who can move
 Who can delete

10. © 2005-2011 Virtual Moment, LLC. Company Confidential

11. 
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Alphanumeric only
Keep length under 50 characters
Be consistent
Title case
Use meaningful names

12. Don’t
Do

13. Don’t
Do

14. © 2005-2011 Virtual Moment, LLC. Company Confidential

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Effective when assets are used only by
specific departments, colleges, or other
organizational units.
Example:
European Division > Marketing > Communications
U.S. Division > Marketing > Communications

16. 
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Effective when file type is the primary
criteria.
Example:
Multimedia > Videos
Multimedia > Audio
Photography

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Effective for professional photography.
Example:
Architecture > Bridges
Architecture > Residential
Architecture > Urban

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Effective for teams working on specific
product lines.
Example:
Appliances > Ovens and Ranges
Appliances > Refrigerators
Appliances > Washer and Dryers

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Effective for businesses with assets tied to
a specific event.
Example:
Baseball > 2008 Season > 092208 vs Giants

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Effective for commonly used assets
across many different teams, divisions,
and use cases.
Example:
Employee Forms > Performance Review
Employee Forms > Transfer Request
Employee Forms > Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Forms > Vacation Request

21. 
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Effective for work on projects with
changing assets and team collaboration.
Example:
Advertising Art > New Projects
Advertising Art > Assigned Projects
Advertising Art > Completed Projects

22. 
Organizational unit:
 Photography
 Editorial
 Production
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Product:
 Jan 2011 Architectural
Magazine
 Jan 2011 Outdoor
Magazine

23. © 2005-2011 Virtual Moment, LLC. Company Confidential

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Problem:
 New digital assets for
every issue
 Collaborating across
departments
 Multiple products and
subjects
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Strategy:
 Combined with
emphasis on workflow

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Problem:
 Varied and unique
user needs
 Organizing in a way
that will be understood
both internally and
externally
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Strategy:
 Combined subject,
organizational unit,
and event

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Problem:
 Representing many
brands
 Working with clients
with varying needs
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Strategy:
 Combined with
emphasis on product

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Problem:
 Assets utilized across
multiple channels
 Complex campaign
management
 Brand consistency
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Strategy: Combined
product, department,
and event

29. 
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Who are your users?
Are your users divided by any factors such
as product, department, or location?
When and why are they using the assets?
If using folders in a workflow:
 Which departments are involved?
 What are the steps involved?
 Do the different departments have different
processes in their workflows?

30. 
Recorded version:
http://www.damsuccess.com/discover/damprimer-webinars/organizing-your-assets/
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Next up in the series: User Adoption
http://www.damsuccess.com/discover/damprimer-webinars/user-adoption/
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See a digital asset management software
demo: http://www.webdamsolutions.com/demo/