10 Reasons Why You Should Use Digital Signage

In the spirit of blog posts everywhere that offer twenty reasons or ten reasons or fifty reasons to do something, we wanted to hop on board with our own list. It’s about digital signage, of course. (You’re shocked, I know.) Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we?

In the spirit of blog posts everywhere that offer 10 or 20 or 50 reasons to do something, we wanted to hop on board with our own list. It’s about why you should use digital signage, of course. (You’re shocked, I know.)

1. It’s All the Rage

The digital signage market is growing like mad. In 2019, the market is expected to reach $20.8 billion, with projections estimated at almost $30 billion by 2024. That means that a lot of digital signage is being used across the world. North America accounted for the majority of the market share, with Europe a close second.

Industries like retail, education, and manufacturing are finding ways to incorporate digital signage to improve communications, streamline costs, and increase revenues. From interactive advertising to engaging images and video, digital signage can be found in business, on street corners, and in stores everywhere.

The only question left is, where will you put yours? No matter how it’s used or why it’s used, incorporating digital signage is all the rage.

2. It Makes Your Brand Stand Out

Red Bull gives you wings. No, really.

In a standout campaign delivered by Red Bull in Vienna, shoppers that may have never experienced “getting their wings” were given the opportunity with a digital sign armed with motion tracking and gesture recognition technology.

By using their bodies to virtually move a can of Red Bull into a particular space on the screen, consumers were not only able to interact physically with the campaign but were also able to attract the attention of people passing by.

Think about it: You’re walking through the mall minding your own business and you see a guy moving and crouching, swaying this way and that, in front of a digital sign. You find it curious so you wander over, right?

When a consumer was able to successfully move the can into the right position, they were rewarded with a free sample of zero-calorie Red Bull.

Whether you like the product or not, one thing is for sure—you won’t soon forget the brand or your experience with it.

3. It Speeds Up Wait Times

We live in a world of instant gratification. We want what we want when we want it, and not a moment beyond. Understanding that this is part of our culture’s make-up, digital signage has found a solution to make time seem to move a bit faster.

How? Distraction. Psychology Today published an article that talked about the phenomenon of waiting. Not many of us are fans of it. As a matter of fact, most people will only wait up to ten minutes before they move on to something else.

That’s why industries like retail and healthcare use digital signage to distract those that have to wait. By engaging clients with videos and interactive advertisements, the perceived wait time is reduced by 35 percent.

4. It Helps the Lost Get Found

Trying to find a specific location in a city or area you’re unfamiliar with can be nerve racking, especially when you’re somewhere that speaks a different language.

Wayfinding is the magic pill to calm racking nerves. Wayfinding is a digital form of traditional map reading. Using an interactive touch screen, users are guided through a physical environment with images and direction.

Universities and college campuses use wayfinding kiosks to help new students navigate the campus and the interior of buildings on campus. Should something change, directions can be updated on the spot. If construction keeps one building temporarily closed or walkways are compromised due to weather, users can find this out via the digital wayfinder.

5. It Educates in Droves

After you play with the touchscreen on the wayfinder in the student lobby, you’ll run into more digital signage as you make your way around campus.

At some schools, digital signage and the Internet of Things (IoT) are making shared learning a cinch. Educators have the ability to measure and share data with other educators anywhere in the world. The can link directly to curricula, too, making the creating and sharing of ideas a seamless process.

The signs are also used to update students about class changes,  special events, and most importantly, safety issues Many colleges and universities have incorporated Emergency Notification Systems to alert students when there is a safety issue. In light of the mass shootings our country has experienced, there’s no question that incorporating a system that can alert and even initiate a lockdown, is vital. The lockdown can automate perimeter security, keeping students safely in and dangerous intruders out.

6. Reach Millions of People in Seconds

I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that digital signage could help you reach billions of people in a matter of seconds.

In 2015, a company called SAWA, in conjunction with the United Nations, launched a seven-day digital campaign called Project Everyone to raise global awareness around the issues of poverty and sustainability.

SAWA is a global cinema advertising association aimed at developing international standards and best practices between cinema advertising companies around the world.

The idea was to spread the goals to every single person on the planet. That’s 7seven billion people in seven days. 450 cities across 28 countries were involved, and millions of people were reached with different digital signs in all sorts of locations.

Can you imagine? That’s the kind of power this technology has.

7. It Makes Your Mouth Water

Restaurateurs are using digital signage to tempt customers to buy bigger and buy more. Gone are the days of flat, boring menu boards. Today, bright digital menu boards have taken their place, some of which can really get whet your appetite.

Imagine, as you wait in line at a fast-casual restaurant, biting into a juicy, hot hamburger that you see on that digital sign over there.

Can you picture it? It’s sizzling hot and fresh off the grill, topped with crisp lettuce and ripe tomatoes.

Yummy, right? That’s the idea. Using these kinds of images on menu boards is driving restaurant sales up. The strong visuals are powerful enough to tell you, the waiting customer, that the burger is what you want.

Oh, and add fries for only 99 cents. Nice upsell.

8. They Look Super Cool in Your Lobby

Digital signage placed in the lobby of your business or waiting room tells those that walk in that you are relevant and up to date. Real estate offices have jumped on board, using high-definition screens to display homes for sale. It’s the first thing buyers see when they walk into a broker office. And if any information changes (e.g. sale price), it can be updated immediately.

They can be found in casinos and hotel lobbies, too. At resorts, visitors can upload pictures from their visit and share them with the rest of the hotel patrons. Even social live-streaming is becoming popular on hotel lobby signs.

Keeping guests engaged and excited gives them a reason to come back and stay again.

9. You Can Do Really Creative Things With Them

  • You can stream live social media feeds.
  • You can use sensors that are triggered by movement.
  • You can emit smells from them.
  • You can engage users to interact.

The list goes on and on. You can make people laugh, smile, cry, respond… the possibilities are endless. Yes, there are digital campaigns that require static images or simple video, but yours don’t have to be.

10. They Make You Smarter

It can be awkward to sit alone at a restaurant table. Maybe you’re waiting for a friend, or perhaps you’re dining alone. Thanks to tabletop tablets, you can keep busy playing trivia and brain games.

Tabletop tablets are not just for passing time. They also promote specials and other foods you might order. And at the end of your meal, you can use them to pay your bill.

Conclusion

Advertising and technology are best friends—you almost can’t have one without the other.

From creating stellar video ads with mouth-watering foods to creating a wayfinding solution that guides people to their destination, digital signage in the 21st century is busting out.

The possibilities are endless. Think of how you can elevate your business using digital signage. You don’t need to be part of the United Nations to do it, either. All you need is a screen and the internet.

These are our Top 10 reasons to use digital signage. What are the reasons you use digital signage?

Last updated: 12/4/19

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