Significance of Metadata for enhancing DAM

Metadata summarizes historical records of digital asset inconsistent form so that information of
digital assets could be stored and worked on, and one could find particular relevant data in no
time. To have better documentation of digital assets, Metadata is a key player in a process. For
accurate, consistent digital asset data, Metadata is important- as it plays the role of “Data of
data”.

Metadata has relevant, descriptive, and accurate information of data, which can be reused as and
when needed. For Digital Asset Management System – DAM, metadata provides accurate
information of when the digital asset-file was created, a description of the file and its
measurements. Thus for the enhancement of DAM, Metadata is very essential.

Types of Metadata:

Metadata is a collective term and it has many types of data embraced in it. For various purposes,
different types of metadata are classified as below. The main five types of metadata are
Descriptive, reference, statistical, administrative and structured metadata.

• Descriptive Metadata: This type of Metadata has descriptive information about your
  digital assets. Information such as asset name, asset creator, keywords related to assets.
  This descriptive asset information is useful in finding and identifying digital assets from
  the bulk of assets stored in the DAM.
• Reference Metadata: This type of Metadata is used for practical implementation, for
  descriptive information on statistical data. Thus Reference Metadata describes the quality
  and content of statistical Metadata.
• Statistical Metadata:  This metadata is a collection of process information about your
  digital assets. It collects information and produces statistical asset data.
• Administrative Metadata: For digital assets, this type of Metadata is very crucial as it
  gives the information of when the digital asset was created, by whom it was created, who
  has access to it, and how to change permissions for particular digital assets- stored in
  Metadata.
• Structured Metadata: This type of Metadata gives characteristics of digital assets. It
  provides information on how the asset was put forward, how it was compounded, and
  provides information on versions of digital assets.

Metadata is the backbone of the DAM, and for various purposes, the different organization
chooses different types of Metadata. One might choose more than one type of Metadata but no
one could enhance their digital assets, without using any kind of above-mentioned Metadata.

Standard Lifecycle of Metadata in DAM:

• Creation of Metadata: Create asset with asset name, date of creation, author of an asset,
  version of the asset, and related assets.
• Accessibility: Once the Metadata is created of digital assets, give access and permission
  to different assets to different users.
• Curation: If the asset is ready and permission is granted, and there is a need for
  additional asset information then assign such relevant additional information to assets.
• Technical and administrative: Technical information of assets- its location and
  properties. And have administrative- give permissions and access to particular digital
  assets.

  The Significance of Metadata in DAM:

  DAM and Metadata are interdependent on each other. Metadata has a significant impact on
  DAM for enhancing its capability. The importance of Metadata is;
  The first and most important use of Metadata is, in searching for digital assets. One could easily
  find files- by searching in text format but when it comes to finding digital assets- like audios,
  clips, and videos the searching at the right time is a little difficult. It needs more effort in
  searching digital assets if they have not been associated with Metadata. Metadata has the feature
  of searching digital assets, so in minimal time and fewer efforts, digital assets could be found.
  The critical process of searching digital assets becomes smooth with Metadata. It helps in finding
  digital assets in a jiffy and gives you access to reusing stored digital assets.

1. Boost in SEO success:
   Crucial SEO success is very important for any organization; with Metadata you come one step
   closer to SEO success. When additional information is added to digital assets, Metadata updates
   the same to web content. So when any changes are made, concerned users are being notified by it
   by Metadata. All can understand the importance of added information to digital assets.
   For successful SEO, relevant keywords on digital assets are important. The use of Metadata only
   makes it possible to have relevant keywords for digital assets by notifying concerned users-
   which would boost SEO.
2. Gives purpose to digital Assets:
   The creation, storage, and usage of digital assets are only possible because of Metadata.
   Metadata gives purpose to digital assets, if the data is recklessly stored without Metadata, then it
   does not serve the purpose of having data. As earlier stated- metadata is data of the data, so it has
   all the information related to specific digital assets.