Empathy is central to our values and culture. It’s reflected in our exceptional customer service, respect for our teammates, and commitment to building quality software. Our General Manager, Matthew Gonnering is so passionate about the importance of empathy in business that he made it the focus of his TEDx Talk.

So our interest in building technology that’s accessible to all users is a natural extension of our corporate culture and mindset around empathy and inclusion. We have infused this passion in our digital asset management (DAM) and product information management (PIM) platform at Widen and are carrying this foundation into our user experience (UX) work on all Acquia products, too.

Because this work is so pivotal to who we are, we’d like to share more about our effort to meet accessibility standards across all Widen and Acquia products. 

In today’s modern workplace content creation is almost constant. New files like contracts, presentations, photography, and creative assets are being added daily, if not hourly.

When these files are created, inherently, so is their metadata — or data about data. Metadata can include things like the document’s name, date, file size, and creator. 

As a result, companies are awash with content and its related metadata. They need a system for keeping it all organized. That’s where metadata management comes in. 

In a notable passage from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Juliet ponders the value of a name. She says, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” In other words, she thinks that names don’t really matter all that much. 

But here at Widen, we disagree. After all, names are an important part of any branded experience. And when it comes to tools like a digital asset management (DAM) system, the right name can go a long way in bolstering system adoption and ongoing user engagement. 

That’s why many of our customers give their Widen DAM site a name that is descriptive, unique, or memorable. But finding a name that reflects your site’s purpose and company brand can be challenging. So let’s look at some tips and best practices that will help you choose a top-notch name for your DAM site. 

In today’s content-centric world, many organizations are practically drowning in digital media assets. From video files, graphical elements, and other bits of rich multimedia content, the sheer volume of media being generated by enterprises large and small can feel overwhelming. Far too often, the search for the perfect asset through this sea of content can become a drain on time, productivity, and a team’s ability to hit deadlines. 

That’s where a media asset management (MAM) software solution can come into play – and often, be a lifesaver. But what exactly is media asset management? The term is often used interchangeably with digital asset management (DAM), but while the terms sound nearly identical, there are some important differences between these two concepts.

In June we launched our first-ever Widen Portals Contest, to gather outstanding, real-life examples of how Widen customers are using the Portals application to support business goals. 

And the response was fantastic! We received over two dozen, top-notch submissions across industries and use cases. 

Our panel of judges included Widen’s Creative Manager, Senior Manager of Support and Community, and VP of Marketing and Sales. They selected the winners based on three criteria:

• Clear organization
• Cohesive branding and style
• Strong purpose/use case 
  

The names of people, places, and things help us understand and navigate the world. These terms help us identify exactly what we’re looking for. The same holds true in digital environments, where descriptive names allow files to be easily understood, located, and retrieved. That’s why many teams use file naming conventions to make their content easily locatable.

Everything from file folder directories to collaborative work tools are more effective if their digital files have meaningful and appropriate names. So it should come as no surprise that strong file naming conventions also help maximize the power and efficiency of a digital asset management (DAM) platform.

In this article, we’ll explore file naming conventions best practices that help teams ensure that their content is organized and findable.

The difference between product information management (PIM) and product lifecycle management (PLM) systems can be easily misunderstood — even among those in e-commerce. Although both of these tools are designed to streamline how products are brought to market, they play distinct roles in business operations. While there may be some overlap, it’s important to note that both are valuable solutions. And fortunately, they can work together to create operational efficiencies.. 

If and how organizations use PIM and PLM tools comes down to individual business needs. So instead of pitting them against each other, we’ll take a look at the unique and overlapping features of both to help you determine which system you need to best support your business. 

Understanding how and when to use copyrighted materials like stock photography, logos, videos, and more can be a full-time job. Using a piece of content incorrectly could result in a fine or even a lawsuit. On the flip-side, there’s the possibility of someone using your materials without proper permission. Neither scenario is desirable — and without consistent copyright management, you might not even know it’s happening.

With new material being created at a rapid pace, having a single gatekeeper to keep track of everything is unrealistic — but you need some way to easily see how your content’s being used. That’s why many companies are turning to digital rights management tools to keep tabs on their digital content.

Brand storytelling is an increasingly popular approach to marketing that taps into the foundational human need to connect with others through story. It’s a method that centers your customer as the main character in the narrative, not your brand or your product. When you share relatable stories about life experiences that matter to your audience, you create strong emotional connections with your ideal customers.

Those connections build brand awareness, keep attention on your marketing channels, and establish trust. Not everyone agrees on the best approach to brand storytelling, but everyone knows it matters. Let’s examine why brand storytelling is so important, look at examples of best practices, and explore some ideas for getting started. But first, let’s agree on a clear brand storytelling definition.

Your brand is your company’s most important asset. It’s more than just words on a page or images on a screen ⏤ it’s how you communicate with and attract your audience. From your logo to every customer interaction, it’s the identity of your organization.  

To stand out in a competitive market, consumers need to easily understand who your company is and what you provide. Brand consistency helps consumers feel confident in their decision to become a customer because they know exactly what to expect from you with every interaction.

So, how do you ensure a consistent experience that builds brand loyalty? Develop strong brand guidelines.