What is a brand library?
A brand library (also called asset library or digital asset library) is the digital home of all your company's or brand's assets and is part of a wider digital asset management (DAM) system. It acts as a central repository where your branded content is stored neatly and securely; and from which it is easily retrieved when necessary.
The best brand libraries are cloud-based to provide anytime, anywhere access to the content needed, have powerful and intuitive filter structures to find assets quickly, and can successfully streamline secure collaboration between internal and external stakeholders.
How much exactly can your company benefit from a digital asset library? Have a look at our handy guide to get an idea: DAM comparison guide.
What are the benefits of a digital asset library?
The benefits of using a digital asset library are many, that's why most companies rely on a DAM to manage their digital assets. Teams leveraging this library can easily manage, access, share, and track their company's content. DAM libraries help companies maintain brand consistency by featuring version control and making only the latest approved version of each asset available in the DAM.
Using a DAM generally requires little to no training for end-users. They are designed to make it easy to collaborate on assets, helping to streamline operations and reduce project bottlenecks. Here's an overview of the major benefits of a digital asset library:
- Simple and secure, 24/7 access to all business-critical files from any location
- Powerful filter structure to find the right files in a matter of clicks
- Designed to support all types of files–including rich-media files
- User permissions and expirations date to control who has access to what
- Simple and smooth implementation to hit the ground running in no time
- High user adoption so the DAM serves your company's "single source of truth"
- Seamless integrations to continue doing what you used to, just more easily
- Intuitive UX and user-friendly UI, so end-users require little or no training
There are many different DAMs and DAM providers out there. Which one is right for you? Use our checklist to compare DAM solutions against your functional requirements. Download it for free.
Examples of how brand asset libraries are used
Brand libraries offer valuable benefits, here are a few examples that address common digital marketing challenges.
Managing brand image and promoting brand awareness
Brand libraries play a critical role in helping marketers manage the brand image they convey and increase brand awareness and recognition. By providing a centralized portal to create, manage and deliver approved digital assets, brand libraries enable marketers to maintain consistency in branding and messaging—which is essential for building a strong and recognizable brand.
Another benefit of using a brand library is the ease of distributing digital assets to various channels and platforms, such as social media, email marketing, and advertising. This ensures that all marketing materials remain up-to-date and align with the brand's messaging and positioning.
Brand libraries are commonly used for digital files such as images, videos, and PDFs. They can also serve as repositories for brand guidelines and style guides. By utilizing brand libraries, busy marketers can create and manage unified communications and buyer journeys across multiple channels, fostering trust and gaining a competitive edge.
Effective product information management
For brands seeking efficient product information management, brand libraries prove invaluable, especially in the context of e-commerce sites. When selling products online, it's crucial to provide accurate and detailed information, including descriptions, images, and relevant data for each product.
Integrating the library with a Product Information Management (PIM) system allows brands to expedite product launches, enhance internal communication regarding assets, and promote better collaborations across teams. For example, businesses can utilize their brand library to store and organize product images, applying tags and categories for easy retrieval and use. When updates are needed, marketers can quickly make these changes using the library, ensuring that all product information across platforms and systems remains accurate and up-to-date.
