With so many fish in the sea and increased availability of internet-based services, we all ask ourselves “What are the Top Web APIs out there?” After speaking to internal and external web service experts, we have published the answer. Even if you’re not technically inclined, you’re sure to have used some of these popular APIs before. Note that we’d of course rank our beautiful WebDAM API on the list, but since we’re the humble type, we took WebDAM out of the this awards ceremony.

1. Google API http://code.google.com/more/

In the past decade, Google has moved far beyond mere search to maps, social networking, email, and more. Google APIs allow these various tools and services to be interfaced via many applications, bringing the multitude of Google products to just about every nook and cranny of the Internet. Following REST, XML and XSLT standards, Google APIs are designed to be easy-to-use and stable. Google’s endless roadmap of innovation, web services, and web application development make this choice a no brainer.

2. Facebook API https://developers.facebook.com/

The world’s biggest social networking site, Facebook needs no introduction. With the Facebook API, programmers can integrate a more personalized social experience on their own websites, including the ability to “Like” and share pages. Through the Facebook API, Facebook data can connect with countless business apps for endless possibilities.

3. Twitter API https://dev.twitter.com/docs

Known as “the best way to discover what’s new in your world”, Twitter is a real-time information network that continues to allow millions of people to connect and share information for free. The Twitter API is a huge resource —critical to the growth of social media in our world today.  With the Twitter API, programmers have the ability to integrate with everyday personal and business applications, creating automation and quick accessibility for sending and reading tweets. Twitter provides several options, including a Twitter for Websites (TfW) suite of integration tools, along with a Search API, REST API, and Streaming API.  With these web APIs, Twitter is now extended everywhere including blogs, mobile devices, social media sites, and more.

4. Amazon API https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/advertising/api/detail/main.html

Originally a mere bookseller, Amazon is now the marketplace leader selling anything from cat food to web applications —and both Amazon S3 and Amazon EC2 web services offer just as much flexibility. With S3, you can store your files in Amazon’s data center and manage access using the Amazon API, which has both a REST and SOAP interface. Using the Amazon S3 API is a convenient way to expand data storage and leverage other professional web applications. Amazon EC2  is a server farm rental service, where the amazon API can be leveraged for fail-over tools and other web services. The Amazon web API is no doubt, one of the most popular web APIs in the market.

5. Salesforce API http://www.salesforce.com/us/developer/docs/api/index.htm

Salesforce is a leading CRM solution that gives businesses the information and tools necessary to gain and nurture customers. With the salesforce API via the Force.com platform, CRM functionality has become almost limitless. Organizations can customize their salesforce experience to accommodate even the most unique and complex business processes for a streamlined workflow. The salesforce API also allows prebuilt applications to fit any organization. In fact, they provide a number of ways for developers to implement custom features, including a SOAP Web Services API, REST API, Bulk API, Metadata API, Apex, and Visualforce.

6. YouTube API http://code.google.com/apis/youtube/overview.html

The biggest video-sharing website, YouTube’s motto of “Broadcast Yourself” is self-explanatory — average people, not the media, have turned YouTube into an internet juggernaut. This goes even further with the YouTube API, which enables people to integrate the video content and functionality however they want. YouTube provides both a YouTube Data API and a YouTube Player API, allowing programmers great flexibility and control over YouTube’s functionality and content.

7. WordPress API http://codex.wordpress.org/WordPress_API’s

One of the most popular content management systems around, WordPress powers both blogs and websites all over the world. The versatile WordPress API allows many applications to connect with its system via installable WordPress plugins, extending site functionality to incorporate social networks, play multimedia, and much more. Using the open source WordPress API, companies are able apply new functionality and features to Wordpress while instantaneously leveraging a new sales channel. Companies can also use a WordPress API key to manage security of their WordPress API plugin.

8. Box API http://developers.box.net/w/page/12923958/FrontPage

Box.net is a content management system with diverse capabilities to fulfill file management needs in the cloud. From personal users to enterprise solutions, /bin (the Box.net network) provides a box platform, pushing innovative ideas forward for apps built on the Box API. Enterprise technology gets dated quickly in just about any sector, and Box.net focuses on delivering a flexible experience utilizing cloud-based apps integrated with Box. The Box API is becoming more and more recognized as a valuable interface, especially in Silicon Valley.

9. Flickr API http://www.flickr.com/services/developer/

One of the web’s most popular photo sharing systems amongst friends, Flickr offers storage, organization, and display of digital photos. The Flickr API allows for development of different ways to share and organize photos, including integration with other social apps. Flickr also encourages programmers to converse, share, and curate using the Flickr API.

10. Dropbox API http://www.dropbox.com/developers

Dropbox is a collaborative tool that allows for file/document management and sharing across both personal and professional needs. Recently launched, the Dropbox API grants access to Dropbox data from other business applications for easy revisions, file sharing, search, even restoration of previous file versions. Designed for mobile apps and web services on multiple platforms, the Dropbox API is accompanied by various SDKs and tutorials for quick deployment.

Our list of best APIs ranges across many types of features and functionality, but they all have one thing in common: the ability for developers and administrators to evolve business applications into something more. As technologies continue to converge, integration and partnership are becoming increasingly more prominent across the entire landscape. As a result, more and more companies are driving forward together instead of competing with each other. Who benefits from all this? The most important person of all: the user, which is why it’s time to get on the web API bandwagon.

But the prospect said it best with this analogy…

“You know when you go to a friend’s house, and you need silverware, and have to open every single drawer to find a fork… and your friend is like, ‘Isn’t it obvious which drawer the fork would be in?!’ But, if it were your house, you would put the silverware in a completely difference place, so no it is not obvious! That’s what browsing a folder structure setup by our US headquarters is like for our partners in Asia.”

Awesome.

So, your mission is clear: spread the word and advocate to your colleagues about WebDAM and how they can and should use it.  After all, the more your DAM is utilized, the greater value it will bring across your organization.  We’ll get you started with just a few simple pointers:

• Be Original

Give out unique user accounts in order for everyone to take advantage of WebDAM’s rich set of features. For example, every user can have their own lightbox to organize, send, and download digital assets for different projects. Your parents may have taught you to share, but in the DAM space, sharing gets messy and complicated. Do you really want to break up fights between your colleagues over username custody? Be a peacemaker (and company hero); stop the conflict before it starts – unique user accounts is the way to go.

• Launch it

Promote WebDAM to your colleagues like your business depends on it – because it does! You implemented it and know all the specific problems WebDAM solves. And in business, time is money, so get the word out: make a contest, put signs up, Photoshop Lady Gaga and Bono at a desk using it – be creative and have fun with it! We’ve seen one organization promote their WebDAM at their annual trade show with a booth that teaches their users the ins and out. (Oh, and they gave away free DAM swag. Remember, people love their swag.)

• Stay Familiar

WebDAM can brand your DAM for seamless integration with your original website. It’ll feel like your users never even left! With branding, your users will be more likely to learn the system, and adoption is easier when the look and feel mimics what people are already accustomed to.

• Create Convenience

Provide links from your website to your WebDAM for easy accessibility. Can you effortlessly navigate over to your DAM from your site? If not, that could explain a lot about why people aren’t using it. You’re a DAM hero, not a DAM spy, so make it quick and easy for people to access your branded DAM.

• Coach Your Team

Educating your WebDAM users on the system is key for adoption. If they don’t know what to do on the site or even what it’s capable of, then most of it will fall to by the wayside. Coach your team with tips, custom pages, custom training materials, or even extra WebDAM materials. You have our permission to carry a loud whistle if you’d like.

• Communicate Regularly

Create your own newsletter to promote your assets and newest features in WebDAM.  Don’t know what to put on it?  Sign up to receive our newsletter at the bottom right corner of any page. You can take ideas from our newsletters (we won’t tell) or forward it to your users. Better yet, have  them sign up too. Not to toot our own horn (toot!), but we always have great content in our newsletter, like our regular “Feature In Focus” section that highlights a different WebDAM feature every month.

• Never Miss a Beat

Promote RSS feed subscriptions so everyone knows when new assets are added. If you keep everyone up to date, there will never be bottlenecks in distribution. Let’s say you’re on the web team and you’re waiting for pictures from a company event to put on the website. With the RSS feed, there’s no delay because you automatically know when and what is uploaded – even if the photographer forgets to email you saying the pictures were uploaded.

• Set an Example

If you’re using the system yourself (don’t make me come over there and check!), your users should already be familiar with WebDAM’s distribution benefits.  This helps encourage them to use it; just from being a recipient of a download invitation, for example, they already can see firsthand how distribution problems are being solved. Be Zen about it and become the change you wish to see in your workflows.

This might seem a little overwhelming, but you don’t have to do everything suggested all at once.  Just start with a few of the suggested tips and you’ll soon be well on your way to having everyone join the ways of WebDAM. Remember, for a DAM hero, the more the merrier!

With this new time-saving feature, system administrators receive an email daily letting them know that new assets have been uploaded into WebDAM. No need to visit the Upload Tracker to see the latest upload report.  Receive email notifications instead!

To get started with Upload Notifications: From the Admin Homepage, go to the Global Preferences Page. Click on the Assets tab and select the option to “Receive email notification of uploads.”

This process is known as digital media distribution and is a key component to digital asset management. A DAM’s core functionality includes managing, searching, organization and archiving assets, but what happens when you’re inundated by internal and external requests? Without distribution, this creates a difficult situation for busy content managers. So how does digital asset management facilitate distribution of digital media?  Let’s take a closer look at the different approaches to distribution:

• Self-service
  • The self-service model provides your stakeholders with direct access to your photos, videos, brand assets and other types of digital files. Within WebDAM, that means web access to view, search and download what they need through a browser.  However, the self-service model can be as simple as a shared file server made directly accessible to the requester. With the self-service model, the requester accesses what they need with no interaction by the content manager.
• Requests
  • Under this approach, the digital asset management system facilitates requests by providing the requester with a mechanism to contact the content manager for file-access permission. Within WebDAM, this includes providing the requester with preview and search capabilities to confirm the assets of interest. Once identified, the requester can submit a request for review and approval by the content manager, all using an online system. This type of request mechanism saves the content manager a significant amount of time by bypassing the search-and-identify process—all while limiting database access for the requester.
• Fulfillment
  • Fulfillment requires the content manager to do the legwork. The content manager takes the request, searches for potential matching assets, and provides the requester with access to only those selected assets. Fulfillment, unlike self-service, grants access to only a limited selection of files based on the requester’s specific guidelines. WebDAM facilitates this process with its Lightbox and email distribution features, providing an efficient means for selecting and sending files.

So which distribution method is best for you? All of them, in fact! Each distribution method can be appropriate depending on the situation. For example, if a member of the press makes a one-time request for corporate photos, fulfillment may work best. However, if your web team needs regular access to brand assets and product photography, self-service allows them anytime-anywhere access. Regardless of the method, an efficient process for distribution of photos, brand assets and marketing collateral can lead to more efficient production, saving time and money for everyone involved.

FETCH SOFTWORKS
http://fetchsoftworks.com/

Fetch is a full-featured file transfer client exclusively for Mac users. Fetch supports both FTP and sFTP file transfer protocols to ensure compatibility with most internet providers, web-hosting companies, publishers, and more. The Droplet shortcuts and Dashboard widgets make it easy to upload files and track the progress of the upload through the user friendly interface. View your files effortlessly on the web using the WebView tool, which also allows users to copy web addresses. Tired of wasting time and energy on monotonous tasks? Simply use the Automator actions and AppleScript recording to automate repetitive tasks. Fetch assures that all your questions and concerns are addressed through their extensive online help support.

FILEZILLA
http://filezilla-project.org/

For those of you looking for a free FTP solution, FileZilla is what you have been searching for. This open source software is distributed free of charge and provides both clients and a server. Easy to use, this cross-platform FTP, FTPS and sFTP client has numerous features. Unlike other FTP solutions, FileZilla is not exclusive to Mac or PC users but is able to run on Windows, Linux, Mac OS and more. Not to mention that it is available in many different languages. Stay on task and organized with FileZilla’s powerful site manager, transfer queue, bookmarks and filename filter. For files larger than 4GB, this FTP solution supports the resume and transfer of those large files.

ACEFTP 3 PRO
http://software.visicommedia.com/en/products/aceftp/

Whether you’re a novice or a tech savvy professional AceFTP 3 Pro is a FTP client software solution for everyone. Securely transfer your files with the ease and efficiency that AceFTP Pro provides. There is no question that your files will be secure with the software’s password protection and SSL security protocol integration features. The familiar Windows XP-style interface and the dual-plane interface make AceFTP 3 Pro easy to navigate. File transferring has never been easier as this software allows users to execute multiple file transfers simultaneously, conduct server-to-server file transfers, resume interrupted transfers, open numerous FTP sites concurrently and much more.

FLASH FXP
http://www.flashfxp.com/

For Windows users, FlashFXP may just be what you are looking for. Make file transfers easier with FlashFXP as it allows you to transfer files between other local computers running a FTP server, via the Internet, or between two servers using site-to-site transfers. Some of the benefits of FlashFXP include the multi-language support, internal text editor for quick edits, internal schedule and site states to keep track of all uploads as well as downloads among many other features. FlashFXP makes this FTP solution simple to use through the FTP only and FXP views, advances queue control, enhanced drag and drop functionality and the folder bookmarks.

CoffeCup
http://www.coffeecup.com/free-ftp/

If you are looking for a simple FTP solution without the frills and unnecessary features then CoffeCup is for you. This FTP solution is a simple and reliable way to transfer your files, and the best part is its free! Simply upload files by dragging and dropping them from your computer to your server. Due to the set up on multiple server profiles you are able to transfer your files in binary, ASCII, or auto mode. Keep your files organized using the Combo Bookmarks, which allow users save the local and remote folder. This FTP solution also makes it possible for users to pull them both folders up at the same times. CoffeCup’s direct FTP also makes it possible to make changes directly on your server to save you time and energy.

If you are looking for a complete desktop image management solution with built-in FTP, check out my recommendations for the top photo workflow tools.

Adobe Bridge CS4
http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/bridge/
Adobe Bridge lets you browse, locate, organize, view and tag your digital photos. Bridge is included in all six editions of Adobe Creative Suite 4. This is the perfect solution for less advanced workflows looking to centralize and access local files.

Photo Mechanic
http://www.camerabits.com
Photo Mechanic touts itself as both an image browser and workflow accelerator and is a very popular tool amongst professional photographers. Offering a thumbnail view of your images in a contact sheet display window, Photo Mechanic makes it easy to compare and select the best in a group. Batch processing and IPTC and EXIF metadata support make it easy to organize and catalog large volumes of images.

Microsoft Expression Media
http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/expressionmedia2
Organize, share and protect your digital assets quickly and easily using Microsoft Expression Media 2 (formerly iView MediaPro). This software handles organization, cataloging, metadata, editing, presentation, publishing and archiving. Streamline your tasks by simplifying the process of transferring an image from your camera to print.

Adobe Lightroom
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom
Spend less time importing, editing, managing and showcasing your images with the help of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2. The software’s top new features make it essential for today’s digital technology workflow. These features include (but are not limited to) enhanced organizational tools that sort and filter large volumes of data using powerful metadata, multiple monitor support to easily and efficiently manage image workflow, streamlined Photoshop CS4 integration and volume management to manage and organize images across multiple drives.

Apple Aperture
http://www.apple.com/aperture
Lightroom’s biggest competitor, Apple’s Aperture 3 makes it quick and easy to import photos onto your Macintosh computer, even making it possible to preview and adjust images as they are being imported. Organize your files anyway you choose, whether it be through faces, places or descriptive keywords and captions. Aperture 3 allows you to compare images side by side to make selections, flag specific images and add color labels.

How can these tools integrate with your digital asset management workflow? Like WebDAM, all of the above include IPTC and XMP support so your metadata is completely compatible between applications. To further streamline your workflow, each of these tools integrates FTP so you can connect directly to your WebDAM account from your desktop to seamlessly publish your assets to the web to archive, share and distribute throughout your organization.

What are your favorite desktop tools for photo editing and image workflow?