What are digital assets?

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Digital asset definition

A digital asset is any type of file saved in digital format. Digital assets can be easily found, identified, and accessed online and across various platforms. Whether it’s a photo, video, document, piece of software, or even a website, each digital asset holds a unique value.

Introduction to digital assets

The business world is increasingly digitized. Businesses now rely heavily on digital assets to operate and grow. That means businesses need to capitalize on the full value that digital assets offer. 

In this guide, you’ll explore digital asset types, the value of digital assets, real-life examples, and how to maximize digital asset value. 

What are the types of digital assets?

Digital assets consist of a wide variety of content types, each serving different purposes within an organization. Here is a list of common digital asset type categories: 

Documents: This category includes reports, spreadsheets, presentations, eBooks, and manuscripts that allow brands to share information and knowledge. Photos and images: Cover everything from marketing photos to product images and are essential for visual communication and branding. Videos: Consists of promotional content, product videos, training materials, and short-form videos like customer clips that engage and inform audiences. Audio files: Includes podcasts, music, sound effects, and other audio content that enhances multimedia projects and marketing efforts. Graphics: Encompasses brand logos, infographics, illustrations, and vector images that define and support brand identity. Sales collateral: Covers digital assets like eBook PDFs, sales brochures, and other marketing materials to support sales efforts and educate customers. Text-based documents: Includes web copy, blog posts, scripts for videos or podcasts, and any other written content essential for communication. Raw creative files: Adobe files, CAD designs, 3D image files, and other rich media used in the creation and production process.

Digital assets can also refer to assets related to blockchain technologies, such as: 

Cryptocurrency or crypto like Bitcoin or Ethereum. Security tokens. Central Bank Digital Currencies. Tokens. NFTs (non-fungible tokens).

What’s the importance of digital assets?

Digital assets are the foundation of a company’s online presence, communication strategies, and customer engagement efforts. Businesses rely on brand assets, imagery, digital marketing assets, and product videos — all are digital assets. 

Of course, digital assets aren’t just for businesses. We have them in our private lives as well. Photos, entertainment, investments, and documents all exist digitally, making them essential to how we live, work, and interact daily. 

The value of digital assets

Shoes being shared from a digital asset library which generates content value over a blue background.

Digital assets create significant value for organizations. By investing in creating these digital assets, companies can build revenue in existing markets. Many of your business’s digital assets will form the backbone of your marketing and communications campaigns. 

Throughout the digital content lifecycle, businesses can use and reuse assets, maximizing their impact and continuously generating more value for the business. 

Businesses can tap into the value of digital assets in multiple ways: 

Build revenue in existing markets: Organizations can use digital assets, such as promotional videos, marketing collateral, and branded content, to enhance customer engagement and drive sales in their current markets. Make content more accessible: By centralizing digital assets for easy search and retrieval, more teams can access assets to make an impact with new audiences across new channels and platforms. Maximize content ROI: By efficiently managing digital assets and refreshing content instead of creating from scratch, companies can quickly enter new markets or channels and scale content production.

Organizations that want to easily find and reuse digital assets need a centralized and searchable library like a digital asset management (DAM) platform. 

For example, the University of Wyoming found that centralizing and organizing its digital content in a DAM platform optimized resource usage and brand management. Using one central source of truth enabled teams across the campus to access and repurpose approved content easily, saving time and resources while maintaining brand consistency. 

By adding DAM software to their marketing tech stack, they ensured that their assets were easily accessible, organized, and ready to be reused whenever needed. 

Five examples of digital assets

Digital assets play a key role in generating positive business results. Here are some real-life examples of how people and businesses use digital assets day-to-day to create business value: 

  1. Marketing campaigns: Suppose you need to create a LinkedIn marketing campaign for an upcoming product launch. You search for relevant, existing content in your marketing asset management library to quickly update and reuse. Your efficient reuse of approved digital assets ensures consistent branding and content quality while accelerating content to market. 
  2. Social media content: A photographer posts a high-quality image on Instagram to showcase their latest work. The digitally-stored image is a key asset for building their online portfolio and attracting new clients.
  3. Business presentations: An employee prepares for a meeting by using and adapting a pre-designed PowerPoint template stored in the company’s DAM software. The approved and accessible template ensures the presentation is professional and aligns with the company’s brand identity. 
  4. Educational resources: A zoo creates educational programming using a mix of videos, infographics, and interactive quizzes — all digital assets they store on a DAM platform. Local schools can access and use those resources, getting students excited about wildlife conservation and their next zoo excursion. 
  5. E-commerce product listings: An online retailer updates its website or storefront with new product images, descriptions, and videos from its marketing resource management library. These digital assets are crucial for showcasing products, engaging customers, and driving sales. 

Maximize the value of digital assets with a DAM platform

Image of a woman in a red dress, with DRM and approval status elements overtop, being shared from Canto's digital asset management platform over an orange background.

Digital assets are invaluable in today’s digital-first world, driving engagement, revenue, and market growth. However, organizations need an efficient way to centralize, manage, and use these digital assets to unlock their potential. In the age of digitization, digital asset management (DAM) platforms make all the difference. 

DAM platforms like Canto lead the way in efficient file management and resource usage. DAM software provides a powerful, user-friendly solution that ensures your content is organized, searchable, accessible, and on-brand. Some other benefits of digital asset management include better control over assets with version control features and brand protection with digital rights management (DRM) tools. 

Whether you’re a small or large brand, a DAM platform empowers you to maximize the value of your digital assets, streamline digital asset management workflows, and maintain a strong, cohesive brand presence. 

Beginner’s Guide to Digital Asset Management

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Digital assets frequently asked questions

Digital assets include a wide range of content, such as documents, photos, videos, graphics, and audio files. Digital asset examples include eBooks, product images, marketing videos, podcasts, and brand logos. Anything created, stored, and used digitally can be a digital asset. To securely store your digital assets, use a reliable digital asset management (DAM) platform. DAM software organizes, backs up, and protects your assets with advanced security features like encryption and access controls. You can also regularly update your content access and user permissions with a DAM platform.