Glossary

Content Usage

Content usage can mean several different things, depending on the context and the industry. As it relates to technology and instant messaging applications, it covers interactions with content. The people engaging with content could involve workers, consumers, and even business partners.

What Is Content?

Content refers to anything that can be electronically shared or received in the content usage context. These include text, videos, images, files, and links. It’s important to note that content doesn’t just refer to the message itself but also any multimedia attached to it.

Some companies also categorize content based on the source of origin. Consider the following examples:

  • Microsoft Yammer
  • Salesforce Chatter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Slack
  • Email

Content archiving technology makes it easier for businesses to categorize and store different types of content. Some apps can even help managers determine what kind of content workers or consumers interact with the most.

Usage Scenarios

There are several different content usage scenarios, each with its own content types. Consider these common scenarios:

  • Sharing content with colleagues as part of your job: You might send a coworker a video clip or spreadsheet related to a project you’re working on together.
  • Sharing content with business partners as part of your job: You might send a client a PDF contract or proposal via email.
  • Sharing content for team-building reasons: Examples include sharing photos from a team trip or sending a funny .gif you found online.
  • Sharing content with the world for marketing reasons: Examples include posting a blog entry or uploading a video to YouTube.

Why Does Tracking Content Usage Matter?

Companies need as much data as possible to make informed decisions. These decisions benefit work opportunities for employees and product improvements for customers. These are some additional reasons companies track content usage:

  • To better understand how content is being used and shared
  • To determine which content types are most popular
  • To identify potential content leakages
  • To find out if people use content in ways that violate company policy
  • To prevent data breaches and other security threats
  • To find out what files workers use the most and determine improvement possibilities
  • To provide data used to boost sales effectiveness

Content Usage Tracking and Archiving Challenges

Tracking anything can generate concerns among consumers and workers alike. Consequently, companies need to balance these concerns with the goals for tracking. Otherwise, consumers and workers could decide to find ways to circumvent the tracking system. Successful tracking avoidance could skew the data and make it inaccurate.

Privacy Concerns

Some consumers and workers might feel tracking invades their privacy. In some cases, these feelings could lead to legal action. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation requires companies to obtain consent from consumers before collecting or using their data. This regulation applies to content usage data as well.

Technology Challenges

Choosing the right content archiving solution is another big challenge. There are many different products on the market, and each has its own set of features and benefits. Additionally, some solutions might not be compatible with a company’s existing infrastructure. As a result, it’s essential to evaluate all options before deciding.

Data Security Challenges

Potential data breaches are a top concern for businesses around the world. If sensitive data leaks, this could cause harm to the company and its customers. As a result, companies need to ensure that their content archiving solution includes robust security features.

Storage Space Challenges

Content takes up space on servers and other storage devices. As a result, businesses need to be sure they have enough storage capacity to accommodate their content usage and tracking needs. Regular purging by authorized persons can also ensure that the company keeps relevant data and maintains content crucial for compliance and other business needs.

Cost Concerns

Another typical challenge companies face is the cost of content usage tracking and archiving solutions. Some products can be expensive. Consequently, businesses need to weigh the benefits against the price. Additionally, some companies might not have the budget for these solutions.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, content usage brings up a lot of challenges for businesses. However, there are also many benefits to tracking and leveraging this data. Companies can overcome these challenges and reap the many rewards of monitoring content usage with the right solutions in place.

Using competent archiving tools makes it easy for companies to leverage the benefits of secure storage, insightful analytics, and easy searchability. All of these work together to improve the value of content assets. Find out how LeapXpert provides affordable solutions.