Launching your very first digital signage campaign is a big deal.
You’ve decided to graduate from sticky notes and posters to a widescreen monitor that talks to people, so you want to make sure it’s done right.
We want to make sure, too. That’s why we publish these posts; because you have questions and we have answers.
So let’s have at it.
Let’s dig into our 8 tips on launching your first digital signage campaign.
Quantum mechanics say that we, as energetic human beings, are all connected.
The Internet of Things (IoT) says that we, as technological human beings, are also all connected.
These connections are about to get a whole lot bigger.
Simply put, the Internet of Things is the idea of connecting any device equipped with an on/off switch to the Internet.
These devices (phones, commercial ovens, restaurant kiosks, digital signs, computers, oil rigs, etc.) communicate with one another, leaving out the middleman and streamlining the entire process.
With broadband Internet becoming more widely available, the cost of connecting is decreasing, and more devices are being created with Wi-Fi ability built right into them.
That includes digital signage.
But why all the connections?
Why do we need our smartphones talking to commercial ovens? To oil rigs in the middle of the ocean? To digital signs smack dab in the center of Times Square?
Because we can.
And because we want to.
And because it’s the way advanced technology is headed.
Let’s look at a handful of industries where digital signage meets IoT, and how it’s changing the face of those industries.
You’re likely reading this post because you’ve been thinking about investing in digital signage, and maybe you never knew it was possible to measure your digital signage ROI.
You know that Company A has seen a decent return on investment, yet you’re not so sure Company B was as lucky. Company C has also been able to pay for the move to digital signage with flying colors…
But will it be different for you?
Video has changed the world.
Since the very first motion picture shot in the summer of 1878, moving pictures have given us reason to stop and stare.
Videos tell stories. They touch our emotions. Very often, they change our lives.
You remember the movie Forrest Gump, right? The story of the mentally challenged man who accidentally showed up during many historic moments, teaching us life lessons on his road to becoming a millionaire?
Forrest Gump is just one example of how video engages, attracts, and shifts the human condition.
But enough about history. Let’s talk about today, and how video integrated into your digital signage campaign can change the way you do business.
For starters, having the software and hardware to create appealing content is only the beginning. If you’re not using video in pieces of what you create, that’s like owing a motorcycle you never ride. You have the machine to get you places; you just don’t do anything with it.
We want you to ride.
Whether you’re using digital signage to educate your workforce or create killer content for potential customers, video can be the one ingredient that changes everything.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Isn’t that how the phrase goes?
The idiom refers to the idea that a complex concept can be conveyed with a single image. The phrase was used to describe the effectiveness of graphics in advertising in the early 1900’s.
Here we are, over a century later, and the expression still holds true.
As digital signage continues to enhance marketing strategies in various industries across the globe, the restaurant industry is boasting impressive financial results with eye-popping digital menus.
Many restaurateurs in the QSR/Fast Casual arena agree that digital menus are a worthwhile investment.
Yet some establishments can’t justify spending money to make money.
In 2011, a survey of 200 restaurant owners revealed that roughly 21% had intention to implement digital menu signage in the near future. And while many certainly have, it still leaves many more wondering if the investment is worth it.
No one likes to wait.
We live in a culture that expects instant gratification. And while that gratification can’t be met at every turn, digital signage in waiting rooms and other areas can give customers some gratification in the way of colored pictures, powerful messages, interactive games, and other visuals that distract them from waiting in endless lines.
Installing digital signage is the answer many businesses and organizations are turning to, from the transportation and restaurant industries to smaller offices and waiting rooms across the globe.
And while a digital distraction won’t actually make the clock on the wall physically go faster, it can mentally reduce the wait time for anxious individuals everywhere.
Having said that, let’s explore some ways digital signage can ease the pain of customer wait times.
If you’ve ever walked into the lobby of a college or business (and we imagine you have), you’ve likely been greeted by some superior digital signage.
If you haven’t, it’s only because that company hasn’t yet embraced the power of a digital greeting. Yet those that have are seeing some incredible results.
Lobby signage is fast becoming one of the more popular ways to attract attention to potential customers that walk into your business.
It’s the first thing they see when they push open your doors, and the last thing they see when they leave for the day. Because of this, it’s crucial you make a strong and lasting impression.
So what kinds of businesses are using digital signage in their lobbies? Why are they using it? And how are they benefiting by putting an interactive and colorful monitor front and center?
Here are 8 examples of how different companies use digital signage in their lobbies in powerful ways.
We talk a lot about digital signage here on the Skykit blog, which makes sense, since it’s our business. But we don’t want to assume that you’re already using digital signage or that you even want to.
So in case you’re on the fence about whether digital signage is really successful, here are 9 reasons digital signage works.
While the retail sector currently makes up the largest part of the digital signage industry, it’s making inroads into restaurants, healthcare, the corporate and financial world, and even education.
You’ve also been seeing some promising statistics on the efficacy of digital signage, and the fact that the industry has a CAGR of nearly 9% is encouraging as well.
Like increasing numbers of business people, you may well be considering installing some digital signage. After all, it seems to be bringing great results for others, and since prices for digital signage systems have been steadily dropping, it seems like an easy way to get returns on an investment.
However, you can’t just get any old screen, slap it up at random, and expect to rake in the dough. They aren’t a magical revenue-generating charm.
