Cleanliness is not usually a term that we associate with the tech space. I think we all have had those months (or years) where our inbox becomes increasingly cluttered, or our “Downloads” folder is a mess of loose files without proper homes. As it gets worse, it becomes increasingly intimidating to address, and the longer we avoid it, the scarier the cleanup feels. But here’s the good news: with a few simple habits, keeping things organized doesn’t have to be a massive project. And who knows--maybe the next time you have to perform a massive cleanup of your files, it will be the last! …Ok, perhaps that’s a bit optimistic, but here are some tips anyway.

Start With Solid Folder Structures
Folders are key to keeping things together-after all, that’s what they’re there for. Having a folder setup that makes sense for your purposes can mean the difference between sifting through a million loose PDFs when you can’t exactly remember the name, and simply double-clicking a folder marked “Proposals for ABC Group.” Consider this setup under a person’s Documents folder, with each line representing a folder:

• Documents  
  • ABC Group
    • ​​​​​​​Proposals
    • Invoices
    • Charts
  • DEF Group
    • ​​​​​​​Proposal
    • Invoices
    • Charts

So on and so forth. But, perhaps you don’t have multiple groups that you’re working with? Not a problem—let’s simply organize by document purpose instead:

• Documents  ​​​​​​​
  • Proposals  
  • Invoices 
  • Charts

This concept of grouping everything by purpose can extend to iMIS, as well. As users of iMIS, we all have run into times where we need to find some elusive IQA that we just cannot locate. Having a specific IQA folder structure can circumvent this. AT favors implementing a structure like this:

• _ABCContacts​​​​​​​
  • Individual Contact Layouts 
  • Organization Contact Layouts 
• _ABCIQAs
  • ​​​​​​​Accounting 
  • Committees   
  • Commerce 
  • Membership
  • Etc
• _ABCReports
  • ​​​​​​​Accounting 
  • Committees 
  • Commerce
  • Membership
  • Etc..

The underscore prepending every folder ensures that it will always be at the top of the list. ABC represents the organization acronym, and the descriptor is just that—a label of the folder’s contents. IQAs that deal with profile pages for contacts would fall into the first folder, further divided by queries for individual vs. organization profiles. General IQAs that can be used for many situations, such as powering email templates or process automation tasks, would go under the second folder. Finally, IQAs used for general reporting purposes would fall into the final folder labeled “Reports.” In each folder, one could include subfolders for each relevant department, section or module that the organization utilizes, such as Accounting or Membership.

Quick warning: Moving IQAs around can break things, so please consult with your IT provider before moving any preexisting queries!

Following Naming Conventions
One thing to note about all the above examples is that they all have basic, but communicative, names. You don’t need anything too fancy, as long as you or users accessing the files have a reasonable idea of what they are opening. Depending on how you approach your folder structure, you may need more or even less descriptive names. For example, if you are only dealing with one group’s proposals, but there are many types, perhaps specifying a date range of proposals in the folder name would be ideal. As long as you stick to a consistent pattern and understand where things are, you have reached the goal. Which brings me to my last topic.

The Glue to Hold Everything Together: Consistency
To bring it all together, this is probably the most important part of organizing your digital file spaces. Once you have a structure and naming convention, the key is to stick to it. Obviously, we are all busy throughout the workday and things can slip through the cracks. However, consider setting aside small pockets of time daily, or even weekly, to organize your files. This will prevent a huge buildup of clutter that ends up being too intimidating to tackle and just keeps growing. Also, keep in mind that the best way to stay organized is truly up to the individual—only you know what works best for your personal workspace, and this could even change. Consistency does not mean rigidity, necessarily. However, trying to stick to a routine of digital cleanliness in general can go a long way in saving time and headaches.

1. Understand what makes a successful online certification program
2. Learn how certifications and micro-credentials support engagement and non-dues revenue
3. Identify common challenges associations face with outdated certification processes
4. See how the right technology streamlines administration and improves the learner experience

Delivering Surveys at the Right Time

• In‑product messages 
• Email invitations 
• Community or user forum outreach 
• Pre‑recruited user panels

Interpreting the Data

• AI, innovation, and trust: Move fast—but with clean data, transparent processes, and a human-centered service model to earn and keep member trust. 
• iMIS Certified App Program: ASI introduced a certification program to validate integrations and add-ons for performance, security, scalability, and long-term reliability—making it easier to choose trusted tools.  
• SEO & GEO: Search is shifting toward AI-generated answers. In addition to traditional SEO, strengthen GEO by clarifying who you serve, structuring key pages, refreshing high-value content, and building credibility through proof points and authoritative profiles.
• Value-driven decisions: Evaluate technology by measurable outcomes—goals, leading/lagging KPIs, and a shared definition of success—so investments prioritize impact, not just cost.  
• Change management: Adoption drives ROI. Communicate the “why,” build skills early, and ensure visible sponsorship to reduce disruption and accelerate results.