Just because you can’t see your digital clutter, that doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Your scattered computer files and contacts directory may not be as visible as those stacks of paper on your desk, but they too are evidence of disorganization.

“People are spending about an hour and a half a day looking for things [on their computers],” says Kyla Rozman, a professional organizer with In Order To Succeed in Vancouver. “[It] is a lot of money and time [wasted].”

You can save money and time by organizing your digital information. She offers the following tips:

> Organize your contacts
Your contacts’ information is probably spread out across various email accounts as well as physical business cards and random pieces of paper on your desk. You should organize these details into one system.

Ideally, you should digitally record contact information as it comes in, Rozman says. “Because you don’t want to have to search for it.”

If inputting the details from your collection of business cards seems like a chore, there are applications that can scan and input the data for you. For example, CamCard (https://www.camcard.com) can be installed on Windows 8 computers and mobile devices such as iPhone, BlackBerry and Android smartphones.

Using your mobile device, you take a picture of a business card; the app scans the information displayed on the card and saves it into your contacts. CamCard can be downloaded free of charge on most devices, or for a small fee.

Inputting isn’t the only issue regarding organizing your contacts. Sometimes, it’s good to do a little cleanup as well. Organizing your contacts regularly can make searching for information easier. Start by deleting names you don’t remember. Also, consider deleting any suppliers you haven’t used in three years.

> Sort your digital files
Your computer files also should be stored in one place.

Start by creating a file on your computer desktop called “documents to sort.” Then, move your files from your various sources, such as USB sticks and hard drives, into that folder.

Seeing all of your files in one place will show you whether you have unnecessary items that can be deleted.

The next step is to create categories for your files. Make no more than seven categories, Rozman says, because studies show that’s the maximum number of things the human adult brain can remember at one time.

Categories can include “clients,” “marketing materials” and “white papers.”

The way you label these files is also important. “A labelling methodology,” Rozman says, “could save hundreds of hours.”

Start a file name with a date, using numbers to keep the files in chronological order, then the category, followed by the more specific title. An example title would read “2014 01 10, CLIENT NOTES, Smith, John.”

This is the first installment in a two-part series on cleaning up your digital files.

Next: Organizing you online information.