There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to implementing a digital signage solution. With so many options to choose from and more of your competitors choosing to use digital signs in 2020, how do you know where to start? If you’re looking to boost customer engagement and offer a more customized user experience, here’s a breakdown of the digital signage components that you need to know.

This year we’ve also added a “bonus trend” that you need to be aware of. Check the bottom of the blog to learn more about that.

1. Digital Signs and Displays

Displays come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from small 9” video players to massive video walls. As technology advances, screens are becoming more affordable. More and more businesses are choosing to link multiple screens or install entire video wall solutions to create massive displays that customers can’t possibly miss. You can also choose to create signage networks out of smaller displays scattered throughout their space.

Interactive displays are also gaining popularity in the marketplace. They offer customers a more customized user experience by allowing them to choose the content they want to see. Customers can interact with displays using touch, gesture, near field communication (NFC), and even social media.

2. Mounting Hardware Makes Digital Displays Accessible

You might think that mounting hardware is just the brackets holding a digital display on the wall, floor, or table. Well, you’re right, but there’s a bit more to it than that. Mounting hardware can be used to position your digital signs so they’re most accessible to your audience. If your display is the face of your digital signage campaign, the mounting hardware is the body that makes sure the face is looking the right way.

Plus, if you’re interested in large signs, like video wall displays, mounting hardware could become a significant cost you’ll need to consider.

3. Media Players Drive Content

If your displays are the face and the mounting hardware is the body, the media player is the brain of your digital signage campaign. The signage player is essentially a small computer that tells the system what digital content should be showing at a given time on multiple monitors based on your software programming.

There are dozens of different types of media players on the market, and it’s important to choose one that will work with your hardware and software. Make sure to choose a media player that doesn’t only work for your current setup, but one that can scale with your company and support additional monitors and displays as you grow.

4. Digital Signage Software

Content management software is the component of a digital signage system that tells your media player what to display and when to display it. It’s how you upload, schedule, create, and organize all your content.

There are hundreds of different software providers, and software isn’t always compatible with certain hardware.

Some open-source software  works with most brands and can help to promote cooperation between software and hardware, these can be easily installed on computers using Windows operating systems.

The problem with such types of open-source digital signage softwares is that they need to be managed at each location. This creates a lot of overhead and introduces the risk that each location is showing something that is off-brand.

Many businesses prefer to use cloud-based software that can perform real time updates remotely from anywhere with an internet connection. That means if you manage a large company with multiple locations, you don’t have to set up separate control rooms at each location. Instead, you can manage your entire network remotely over the cloud. Plus, with easier updates, you can display the latest news about sales, promotions, or updates companywide the second they happen.

5. Create Engaging Content

When it comes to digital signage, or marketing of any sort, content is the heart of your digital strategy. It’s the images, video, and information that’s displayed on your monitors. The sole purpose of all other digital signage components is to support content.

To create effective content for your digital marketing strategies, think about your customers. What do they like? What do they dislike? And what’s the most effective way to reach them? Would simple PowerPoint presentations, RSS feeds, and/or videos be effective, or would your customers prefer a more interactive experience using touch, gestures, or a live social media news feed? Once you understand your audience, create content following these rules:

• Keep it simple
• Make sure it’s accurate
• Include eye-catching pictures and designs
• Rotate content to keep it fresh
• Include plenty of calls to action

Digital Signage Solutions from VIEWitMEDIA

Crafting the right Digital Signage solutions can be a difficult and confusing task. At VIEWitMEDIA, we will walk you through the process of choosing the right digital signage components, we will plan and manage the solution installation, support you in your content development, and even help you finance the whole process if you need it. Engage with your customers and contact the experts at VIEWitMEDIA today!