The product video is finished, but the work continues. A shorter cut is created for social media, an international team needs English subtitles, and the sales department wants a version with a different closing offer. Suddenly, one video has become several files that are easy to mix up.
Managing videos in DAM helps teams keep track of which files belong together and which variant is ready to use. This starts with clear descriptions, links between files, and approval rules.
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One video and its related files
The original video, a shorter cut, and a vertical variant for social media share the same content, but each file serves a different purpose. It is therefore useful to distinguish between a video variant and a new version. Correcting an inaccurate detail is an update, while a fifteen second cut is a separate variant.
The files should be linked through shared campaign or product information. Metadata, meaning descriptive information such as language, target market, duration, aspect ratio, and approval status, makes them easier to find. This helps the team locate an English video for social media without opening every file.
Consistent naming makes navigation easier, but the filename does not need to contain every detail. Further information belongs in the description and the relevant DAM fields.
Subtitles and language variants must match the video
Subtitles can be embedded in the video image or stored separately, for example in SRT format. A separate file makes corrections and additional languages easier to manage, although its use depends on the capabilities of the intended player. Embedded subtitles remain visible, but changing them requires a new video export.
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Every subtitle file must match a specific cut. If a few seconds are removed from the opening, the original timing may no longer align. Labelling subtitles by language alone is therefore insufficient. It must be clear which video variant and version they belong to.
A language variant also often involves spoken audio, text within the video, or the closing offer. An English version intended for the British market may need different prices and contact details from one aimed at an American audience. Language and target market should therefore be recorded separately.
Rules for keeping video management organised
Start with a few shared rules.
- Standardise names and descriptions. Define how campaigns, variants, and versions are labelled.
- Record language, market, and intended use. Distinguish, for example, between a Czech version for the website and an English cut for social media.
- Maintain links between files. Identify the corresponding video for each subtitle file and dubbed audio track.
- Assign responsibility for review. Make it clear who approves the translation, timing, and final visuals.
- Separate working files from approved assets. Keep older versions in a way that prevents them from being confused with current ones.
Whenever the content changes, the related files need to be checked as well. Even a small change to a product claim may require updates to several translations.
The right version, ready to use
BrandCloud provides a central place to manage a brand’s digital assets. For videos, this organisation becomes valuable when the team can find the information needed to use each file alongside the file itself.
A well organised video library allows teams to reuse content with confidence that the visuals, subtitles, and language variant all belong together.
