Metadata is part of your life!

What do you know about Metadata?

If someone woke you up in the middle of the night could you answer this question? I want to help you to understand Metadata and enable you to use it effectively.Now you know this, let’s view some examples how software companies  benefit from your Metadata. Metadata is not going away, NEVER!

• Google: when you search on the internet, they will recognize your IP address, location etc. Google adds keywords of your search to your personal Metadata set. Using their algorithms, they now can present ad’s that are most likely to appeal to you.
• eBay: Using similar technics, they can present you things you might like, it can vary from household appliances to cars and what have you.
• Facebook: The offers and messages are triggered by Likes. Each like is a Metadata key. Isn’t that amazing?

2. Your Daily Metadata use

 Aware or unaware: you use Metadata all day long and always. Even when you create a simple Excel sheet, all column names are Metadata fields. In fact, you tag every item with a column name.

3.Well known examples of Metadata in the news

Best known cases are Edward Snowden and Wikileaks. Even news categories as domestic, foreign, happy, war etc., are Metadata keys.

4. The big advantage of Metadata?

Metadata is a way software program and software vendors to index the data and turn it into information. At the end is easy for you to find everything you search thanks to Metadata

5.Imagine, you, using smart use of Metadata.

Even the brand of a car makes it easy to distinct it from other cars, it is Metadata again. If you add a limited set of Metadata to a document or an item on a list, it makes it easy to see the information from different angles(views). You only must define the Metadata in a way that peoples search for documents or items. This is called finding without searching, and can be seen on the site of a company using Metadata, watch the video. For sure you recognize the situation

6.Resistance

You probably know the nay Sayers that have been using file shares forever and don’t like change…Please don’t ask them to add Metadata to any item. They don’t want it, unless.

7. Is Metadata compelling?

Everyone can benefit from Metadata. Let’s be honest, large companies benefit most. Small companies see it as a burden for starters. Because of the imaginary extra effort Once the resistance has been conquered and you voluntarily start using Metadata there is no end to the benefits It will generate a large return on the investment. Think of the saving of hidden costs related with documents that cannot be found. It will be a joy that you can find without searching

Are you an Office 365 /SharePoint online user, you can start working more efficiently right from this moment on. Please don’t start on your own, take advice of the pro’s or read blogs from Gregory Zelfond and Tracy Vander Schijff

8.History vs present

Typecasting “Avant la letter” could be called as the predecessor of Metadata. Just think about it

Synopsis: THIS is Metadata!

Data about something or someone, used to collect data used to distribute information in a structured way.

Now you know how Metadata works, you can use it for your own benefit. Start using Metadata for your documents, tasks, accounts etc. It makes you and your organization more productive!

• André Salomons is Fast Close and SharePoint trainer, author of the book ‘From Slow Close to Fast Close’, software entrepreneur, speaker, blogger for multiple sites, Tutor at NIVE opleidingen, IFBD He has an own website whit almost all his blog.