The term “digital asset” is becoming increasingly prevalent in marketing and creative communication. Almost 74% of marketers now incorporate visuals into over 3/4th iota of their content. The use of digital assets has increased, but there is still confusion about what qualifies as a digital asset. Does it just look like any digital file? If not, what other criteria must be met to be qualified as a digital asset?
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What are digital assets?
In simple terms, a digital asset is any digital material owned by an enterprise or individual, such as text, graphics, audio, video, and animations.
Since the beginning of the digital age, most people have considered digital assets to only include photos and videos. However, documents, presentations, and spreadsheets have also been added to the definition in the past few years. Digital assets constantly evolve, so it’s crucial to remember that file formats are only part of the definition.
Another definition component is the value these assets bring to the business. Any file can be considered a digital asset if it meets the following three criteria.
- Digital files owned by individuals or companies
- Creating value for the individual/company
- Searchable and discoverable (typically with metadata)
Visuals and copy are at the heart of every brand’s digital interaction with its audience. However, finding and using assets efficiently is what makes your assets valuable. Many companies now use a digital assets management (DAM) system to store, organize and manage their data effectively and efficiently.
How many types of digital assets are there?
While there are several types of digital assets, the ones that most organizations are likely to need are listed below.
Photos and videos:
Almost every kind of business uses photographs and videos on social media, marketing, or their websites. In the case of a campaign using a photo-shoot image to promote an upcoming event and increase registration, the image would be considered a digital asset.
When a rough screenshot is sent in an email to a potential client, it is unlikely that the image itself would have any long-term value and thus will not be considered a digital asset.
Graphic designs:
A logo, a business card, or a social media template is one of the most valuable digital assets. It makes it easy for designers and marketers to access them from anywhere and at any time by storing them in a secure digital asset management system.
This category shows one great characteristic of digital assets: their reusability. For this reason, they must be accessible within an organized system.
Decks:
The presentation asset category – PowerPoint, slides, decks – plays an important role in today’s digital age. In sales pitches, decks are just digital presentations, typically organized in horizontal format. In a bidding process, creative agencies might design a deck showcasing their work plans, possible budget breakdowns, etc.
In the same way as quality photos or graphic designs, decks can be reused either in whole or in part. You should keep an archive of previous decks to refer to when creating new ones.
Document:
Documents are of various types, from text documents to spreadsheets to PDFs. An example of this would be a spreadsheet that tracks product sales over a quarter. Business strategy meetings can greatly benefit from using this document as a reference.
Likewise, a PDF of the company handbook contains the rules and guidelines of the organization. It’s easy for employees to access and print out a copy of the file when it’s kept in a central digital location.
Audio:
This category is similar to the one for photos and videos. Any audio file with unique value to an organization can easily be termed a digital asset. Another example is the all-hands meetings of a company.
Code:
Lastly, there is a digital asset category containing all the code (HTML, Python, etc.) These are used to develop websites, apps, and other computer programs. Organizations generally use platforms like GitHub to store code versions for current and historical versions of their websites and apps.
Why are digital assets important for business?
As business practices change and emotions influence buying behaviors, advertising must go beyond producing cool ads to drive customer demand. It’s about connecting with customers in the best way.
Nowadays, most of these connections occur online, where digital assets play a key role. Your digital assets are the visual representation of your products, services, culture, and, ultimately, your brand. Digital assets are the links between your company and your customers, allowing you to communicate with them in the way they prefer, when they prefer, and where they prefer.
When you use digital assets to promote your product or service, you can create brand awareness. This can be done via logos, advertising images, and various social media channels. Once you have attracted your target audience’s attention, you can engage them with digital assets such as advertising copy, blogs, and downloads.
To engage with certain markets and improve your online presence, you need a strong digital strategy. Investing in and building a strong digital strategy will pay off now and in the future.
It’s also important to pick the right digital assets for your brand and audience, whether blogging, Instagram, or email marketing. You must distinguish your digital assets to increase traffic, reach customers, and convert leads for your business.
Final words
A digital asset is any online content that gives value to your business and is easy to store and organize. There are many types of digital assets, including videos, images, audio, documents, codes, decks, etc.
Digital assets are essential to any business. They are an effective and rather affordable way to increase your brand awareness and promote your products rapidly.
For your business to thrive in the local market, you need a variety of digital assets to expand your digital footprint, and at the same time, you can reduce costs and streamline operations.
